20 Nov 2009

The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Rugby League program has scored an impressive 16–13 win over France’s under-18 team at Tonneins, near Villeneuve, on 17 November, in the first of four international matches.

Soon after kick-off it became very clear to all that the French team had turned up to play, and from the outset they attacked the Australian team in both offence and defence.

The French team scored first, with a surprise field goal in the first nine minutes in front of a vocal home crowd.

The AIS hit back a few minutes later, with a field goal by first-time captain Dean Blackman and conversion by Kyle Fields, taking the lead 6–1.

The French scored their first try in the 30th minute, and at half time Australia’s lead had slipped to 6–5.

After the break, France scored the first try from a penalty goal 25 metres out from the Australian line to take the lead 7–6.

The AIS team were spurred into action, and eight minutes later five eight Paul Carter scored a terrific try, but France kept attacking, scoring a try and taking the lead 13–12.

With just three minutes to go, the AIS team executed a brilliant passage of play, with centre Ryan Pooley converting a try and sealing the game for Australia. Carter was named best on ground for the AIS.

AIS head coach Brian Johnson praised his players for the way they stayed in the game and came away with the win, especially as they had just arrived in France, but he was concerned with the team’s execution of passes.

‘We weren’t great tonight, but we’ve been travelling for three days solid across the world to get here and had very limited preparation,’ Johnson said.

In the second match on 19 November, the AIS was narrowly defeated by an older and more experienced French under-19 side, 27–20.

The next two matches in the series will be played in the United Kingdom on 26 November and 6 December.

The AIS Rugby League program was established in 2001 to support the training and development of talented footballers between the ages of 16 and 18 years based in rural and regional areas of Australia, while allowing them to study for an education through Year 11 and 12.