The Australian Schoolboys team - featuring Queensland schools stars Tesi Niu (Marsden State High School) and Palm Beach Currumbin pair Tom Dearden and Juwan Compain - are in the midst of a month-long tour of the UK and have already taken part in two warm-up matches.
The tour began with a game against the England Colleges, which resulted in a 92-0 win over the English Colleges XIII at Newcastle's Kingston Park.
While they were able to dominate in their opening tour match; there most recent game against Yorkshire Academy in Castleford was a much closer call.
The home side caused Australia a big scare and led 12-4 at the halftime break; with the visitors forced to come-from-behind twice to secure a 30-22 win.
- Read the match report thanks to Rugby League Football Limited >> REPORT
Australian Schoolboys coach Tony Adams spoke to Forty20 TV (via Facebook) after the match and said that his side would need to improve as they headed towards their Test matches following an “ugly” win.
“(The team were) very well-skilled and they certainly took the game to us ... it was a close contest and Yorkshire Academy certainly didn’t go away at all and to the (Australian) boys credit, they toughed it out.”
Watch the full interview below:
Australia will now have a few days off as they travel to Manchester where their next opponents will be the Lancashire Academy side.
Their Test games against their England counterparts will take place at Leigh Sports Stadium (December 8) and at Emerald Headingly (December 14).
- England Rugby League are offering a live stream of the matches via their My League service. More information is available at the My League (England Rugby League) website.
*Main image via Australian Schoolboys Rugby League Facebook
Read the QRL Media Tour Preview here --> Young talents ready for Schoolboys tour of UK
