The New Zealand Heartland XV beat the Pacific Coast Grizzlies 35-12 in the first game of their American tour in San Francisco earlier today (NZT).
The Grizzlies are a composite side, made up of the best talent from local clubs as well as those within the Pacific Coast area.
West Coast winger Lasa Ulukuta and Mid Canterbury flanker Jon Dampney picked up a brace of tries each for the New Zealand side. A strong forward game gave the Heartland XV domination at set pieces and they went out to a 21-0 lead before a period of sustained pressure on the Heartland XV line led to the Grizzlies scoring on the stroke of halftime.
The Heartland XV scored a further three tries in the second spell, the last an outstanding set-piece move that led to the second of Ulukuta’s two tries, which he scored under the posts. Kevin Moore also dotted down for a try, while all five were converted by Poverty Bay’s first five-eighth Scott Leighton. Another strong performer was Poverty Bay number eight Michael Broadhurst.
The match was played in good conditions before a crowd of around 600 at Rocca Field in San Francisco.
The Heartland’s XV second and final game of the tour is against a USA Select XV in Salt Lake City on Sunday (NZT).
Heartland XV: 35
Tries: Lasa Ulukuta (2), Jon Dampney (2), Kevin Moore. Cons: Scott Leighton (5)
Pacific Coast Grizzlies: 12
Next match: 8 November: Heartland XV v USA Select XV, Real Salt Lake Stadium, Salt Lake City at 1:15pm (9.15pm Sunday NZT)
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