World Cup berth for Paper to Paper Wallaroos
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8 August 2009
World Cup berth for Paper to Paper Wallaroos The Paper to Paper Wallaroos have qualified for the 2010 Women's Rugby World Cup in England after securing the Oceania position in the draw by beating Samoa 87-0 in a must win qualifier. "I am very pleased with the girls. They played to the plan and they played well. They have worked very hard and we're going to London for the World Cup in 2010," John Manenti, the head coach of the Paper to Paper Wallaroos said. Kristy Giteau, the big sister of Qantas Wallabies super star Matt Giteau, made her debut for Australia in the first half and proved her ability by scoring her first try at the nine minute mark. "I had to double check that I had actually placed it down properly," Giteau said. "I took a double look and realised that I had scored a try, and then the grin on my face just grew." The match kicked off at 1pm (Australian Eastern Standard Time) today in the Samoan capital of Apia, just 12 hours before Kristy's younger brother Matt turns out for the Qantas Wallabies against the Springboks in South Africa. The Australian captain Cheryl Soon was extremely happy with her teams' 87-0 result. "I didn't expect that. I am very honoured and very proud of the girls and their performance they put on, Soon said. "I asked several things of them and they went out there and did it…we executed our game plan which resulted in a huge win for us." All the Wallaroos on the bench got a chance to play today and five debutants earned their first cap for Australia; they were Cobie Morgan, Kristy Giteau, Emerna Marsh, Rebecca Clough and Ashleigh Hewson. Australia scored a hat trick of eight tries and two conversions in the first half to give them a handsome 46-0 lead over Samoa at the break. The depth of the Wallaroos talent was evident with seven player putting points on the board in the first 40 minutes of play. Ruan Sims scored two tries at the two minute and 24 and a half minute marks. Nicole Beck also put two tries on the board at the 17 and a half and 38 minute marks. Kristy Giteau, Rebecca Trethowan, Tricia Brown and debutant Cobie Morgan scored the other four tries in the first half, and Tui Ormsby put a further six points on the board by converting three tries for Sims, Beck and Morgan. The Paper to Paper Wallaroos continued to power towards World Cup qualification after the break when they dominated play and kept Samoa scores. Lock Kate Porter, a Services representative and member of the Australian Army, scored the first try for the Wallaroos at the 43 and a half minutes, which extended their lead to 51-0. Rebecca Trethowan then scored two quick tries at the 56 and 57 and a half minute marks respectfully, but unfortunately none of these tries were converted. Chris Ross scored next and put an extra five points on the board. Debutant Ashley Hewson then made a conversion to take the Wallaroos lead to 68-0. Then Sharni William, Seei Sau and Kylie Pennell all scored a try each, and Hewson made a further two conversions for Sau and Pennell to seal the Wallaroos' 87-0 victory over Samoa to gain a berth into the 2010 World Cup in England. "I think now after having such a solid performance, I think it is realistic that we're not just going to the World Cup, we're going and we are going to be really competitive - if not in the top two," Giteau said. "I think it is going to be a really awesome experience and something that we're all looking forward to." Australia 87 - Tries (Ruan Sims (2), Kristy Giteau, Nicole Beck (2), Rebecca Trethowan (3), Tricia Brown, Cobie Morgan, Kate Porter, Chris Ross, Sharni Williams, Seei Sau Kylie Pennell) Conversions (Tui Ormsby (3), Ashleigh Hewson (3)) defeated Samoa 0. Paper to Paper Wallaroos team list:
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