New Zealand ran in 17 tries to overwhelm Japan and post the highest score of the IRB Under 19 World Championship 2007 with their 107-6 victory at Deramore, Belfast Harlequins – a result which sees them move to the top of the Division A standings.
Flanker Luke Braid opening the scoring with the first of his three tries in the match after six minutes, wing Sean Maitland having made good ground before slipping a pass inside to Braid when he was confronted by the Japanese full back Yasutaka Sasakura.
Daniel Kirkpatrick kicked the conversion, the first of seven the fly half kicked in the match which, together with a try in each half, gave him a personal haul of 28 points in the victory as New Zealand’s superior firepower in both the forwards and back line proved too much for the Japanese.
Further tries followed in the first half from Jackson Willison, Liukanasi Manu, Sean Maitland, Israel Dagg, captain Winston Stanley, Braid, Paea Fa’anunu and Zach Guildford. However Japan stuck to their task and were rewarded for a foray into the New Zealand half by a Takaya Iida penalty after 29 minutes.
Keeping up the pressure
New Zealand had already made certain of the victory by half time, leading as they did 64-3, but that did not stop the 2005 and 2006 runners up attacking at every opportunity against a Japanese side who bravely battled to try and stem the flow of points.