THE Australian Schools rugby union outfit, and Bathurst gun Rory Suttor, has defied a half-time deficit to storm to a commanding 39-17 win over Fiji Schools on Thursday in Auckland.
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Now a student at the Shore School in North Sydney, Suttor started at lock for the game played at Sacred Heart College, with the Australians keeping their Fiji opponents scoreless in the second half to wrap up the 18-point win.
Forcing his way over from close range, Suttor crossed for the green and gold just after the break, ensuring his side began the second half full of running against the Pacific Island nation, although they still trailed 17-15 after Suttor’s five-pointer.
Speedy winger William Eadie scored a second half double, however, and along with a try to Yirrbi Jaffer-Williams, the Australians ran in a convincing win.
The win was made all the more impressive after some heavy overnight rain clouded the quality of the playing conditions, but with a clearing sky the playing surface, although a little heavy, was good.
It was Suttor’s first start in Australian colours, after coming off the bench in the team’s 50-10 win over Samoan Schools earlier in the week.
The tour marks the first time since 2001 that the Australia Schoolboys had met their Samoan equivalents.
The Australian Schools’ next game is against NZ Schools Barbarians in Auckland on Monday, October 3.