England 'A' 22-26 Australia - Thorman Blinder

[eelman03]

In a tight finish , Parramatta bound 5/8 had a strong game and caused the Kangaroos plenty of headaches.

AAP

 

[eelman03]

World champions Australia were given a mighty scare by England's youngsters in a thrilling game at Griffin Park.

The Kangaroos lead 26-6 after 49 minutes thanks to tries from Danny Buderus, Matt Sing, Robbie Kearns and Michael Crocker.

But England 'A' hit back with second-half touchdowns from Martin Aspinwall, Martin Gleeson and Andy Lynch.

Craig Fitzgibbon kicked 10 points for Australia, with Chris Thorman replying with six points for the home side


England 'A': Briscoe, Calderwood, Gleeson, Aspinwall, Gardner, Thorman, Burrow, Lynch, Diskin, Parker, Tickle, O'Loughlin, McGuire. Reps: Higham, Sculthorpe, Hock.

Australia: Lockyer, Sing, Hegarty, De Vere, Lewis, Gower, Kimmorley, Clinton, Buderus, Civoniceva, Simpson, Fitzgibbon, Ricketson. Reps: Crocker, Kearns, Waterhouse, Mason.

Referee: G Black (New Zealand).

 

[The Colonel]

Looks like Dykes may have more competition that Witt may.


Though looking at the Australian team I still ask how they can function properly with four wingers in the side. Hegarty and DeVere were only used in the centres after injuries to other players. Opes is a joke.

 

[eelman03]

more reports...............

Young Poms scare Roos
October 29, 2003
England A 22 Australia 26
THE Kangaroos were pushed all the way to eke out a tough win in the second match of their European rugby league tour in London today.

The Kangaroos led 14-6 at halftime and raced to a 26-6 lead early in the second-half but the young English side rallied and made the tourists fight hard for the four tries apiece win.

Although the Australians were a more cohesive unit than in last Saturday's scratchy 34-10 win over a French Selection, they wilted towards the end under immense pressure from the home team at Griffin Park.

Danny Buderus and Matt Sing crossed for first-half tries for Australia and when Robbie Kearns and Michael Crocker scored early in the second-half it looked like the Kangaroos would run away with the game.

But the home team, inspired by Parramatta-bound five-eighth Chris Thorman, picked up the tempo and tries to Martin Aspinwall and Martin Gleeson added to Ade Gardner's first-half effort to bring the game alive at 26-16.

The English pressured Australia's line and had several chances before prop Andy Lynch finally barged over in the 74th minute to make it 26-22 following Thorman's third goal for the night.

Craig Fitzgibbon's perfect five goals from five for Australia made the difference.

England A had one last chance with a minute left but Australian skipper Darren Lockyer fielded a difficult chip kick to save the day.

Details:
AUSTRALIA 26 (D Buderus, M Sing, R Kearns, M Crocker tries; C Fitzgibbon 5 goals) ENGLAND A 22 (A Gardner, M Aspinwall, M Gleeson, A Lynch tries; C Thorman 3 goals) at Griffin Park, London. Crowd: 6,817. Ref: G. Black.

 

[PB]

He apparently missed a tackle on Lockyer in the lead up to the first try, but plenty of quality players have missed Lock. But the good thing is he has now played against quality NRL opposition.

I am hoping to get a tape of the game next week and may burn it to the computer if anyone is interested.

 

[Parra_Eels]

you beauty i bet if he hadn't of signed with us several coaches would be taking notice right now

 

[MR GEORGE]

looks like dykes better wake up to himself or he will be in preimier league next year.

 

[Redback71]

excellent to bad it was not on tv sounds like a good game once again let down by channel 9
cant wat till next year to see him play

 

[terracesider]

Even the, Daily Telegraph the UK's biggest selling, and most pro-onion, broadsheet found space for
a report twice as long as might be expected.

Huddersfield had to let Thorman go in 2001 when we got relegated, so we know how good he is. A quality signing who should be in the GB team.

 

[Pazza]

Lets face it, Dykes will be injuried for a majority for the season. A Thorman/Witt halves combination looks promising!

 

[Ron Jeremy]

Well Well Well.....what can i say????, am i surprised?...of course not!!, i've been saying how good he is for a long time now!!

A majority of people on this site know that i was a strong supporter of Thorman & espically him starting the NRL in First Grade...not only did he actually now play against NRL standard but??....the standard of the actual Australian side!!....sure there where some omissions from the Oz side but...they still had many great players in that side & Thorman's help was from mainly a bunch 20,21 year old's!!

I hope now the sceptics know what i've been saying for a while now & they now realise he has played against the "cream of the crop" and he was simply outstanding!!

The gap between Super League & NRL is getting closer & closer each year!

 

[Eelectrica]

I'm sold. The last question remaining to be answered is how well he goes with the week to week grind of the NRL where every game is a big game.
Won't know the answer to that until next year. At least we have Dykes to back him up.
Definatley have to get to the Ballina trial game now to catch his first :?: game as an Eel.

 

[Ron Jeremy]

I'm sold. The last question remaining to be answered is how well he goes with the week to week grind of the NRL where every game is a big game.
Won't know the answer to that until next year. At least we have Dykes to back him up.
Definatley have to get to the Ballina trial game now to catch his first :?: game as an Eel.

He will handle it!!....the bloke is as keen as mustard for playing in the NRL espically Parramatta.....he would have paid Brian just to play for Parramatta!!

He's a big game player who will adapt to the NRL no problems.

Dykes really better watch him self as this bloke has to much enthusiasm & skill to be overlooked!

 

[Twizzle]

Yeah....he is looming as an interresting prospect.

Lets hope he is on the right side of Smith so he does not get the same treatment as others have got.

Knowing how loyal Smith has been to Dykes, he will get first crack at the 5/8 spot when the season begins.

I'm sure we will all get a good look at Thorman in the trials.

Thorman wil probably start off as the "Craig Wing" of Parra.

We probably wont know where he slots in till about the middle of the season.

Either way, he looks a good prospect.

 

[Big-Hitter]

He will handle it!!....the bloke is as keen as mustard for playing in the NRL espically Parramatta.....he would have paid Brian just to play for Parramatta!!

He's a big game player who will adapt to the NRL no problems.

Dykes really better watch him self as this bloke has to much enthusiasm & skill to be overlooked!

Playing for Parramatta is gonna cost Thorman a fortune financially (when you consider the contract he would've been on at Hull) so I think that should tell you something about his hunger and desire.

He definitely has the talent, the temperament and the cajones to cut it in the NRL. I think you have got yourselves a good un!

 

[Ron Jeremy]

He will handle it!!....the bloke is as keen as mustard for playing in the NRL espically Parramatta.....he would have paid Brian just to play for Parramatta!!

He's a big game player who will adapt to the NRL no problems.

Dykes really better watch him self as this bloke has to much enthusiasm & skill to be overlooked!

Playing for Parramatta is gonna cost Thorman a fortune financially (when you consider the contract he would've been on at Hull) so I think that should tell you something about his hunger and desire.

He definitely has the talent, the temperament and the cajones to cut it in the NRL. I think you have got yourselves a good un!

100% right!.....he knocked back big money just to have a shot at the NRL!!, this say's heaps for the guy & i hope he is a massive success which im pretty sure he will be...bar injury!!

I really hope he's a favourite of Brians as Twizzle pointed out!, i'd hate to see the youngster come over here risking everything and not been given a shot to prove himself!

Bring on the trials