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Nail-biting stoush to secure cup

Sam JonesNorth West Telegraph
The game was to remember four fallen police officers.
Camera IconThe game was to remember four fallen police officers.

Pilbara residents and visitors travelled to Newman to honour four fallen police officers at the Bloody Slow Cup on the weekend.

The event began with a ceremony to commemorate the loss of Newman police officers Gavin Capes, Philip Ruland and David Dewar and Karratha police pilot Donald Everett in a plane crash near Newman airport on Australia Day, 2001.

The pre-match proceedings saw the WA Police pipe band pay tribute to the fallen police officers.
Camera IconThe pre-match proceedings saw the WA Police pipe band pay tribute to the fallen police officers.

After the ceremony, the community gathered for a series of sporting events that pitted Australia against New Zealand, including cricket, netball, touch rugby and the main-event rugby match.

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The rugby battle was split into quarters instead of the standard halves because of the heat, with the two nations going tit-for-tat throughout and providing excitement for the more than 1000-strong crowd.

Family of the fallen officers walked through a commemorative banner before the start of the match
Camera IconFamily of the fallen officers walked through a commemorative banner before the start of the match

It was the Newman Zealanders who struck first, catching the Aussie players off guard to run it in between the posts and set up an easy conversion and take a 7-0 lead.

A traditional New Zealand Hakka was performed by the Kiwi team before the game.
Camera IconA traditional New Zealand Hakka was performed by the Kiwi team before the game.

The Aussies continued to look shaky in the first quarter, allowing the Kiwis to put through a penalty kick for an extra three points before going into the break.

The hard fought Bloody Slow Cup battle saw New Zealand edge the win in the final minutes of play.
Camera IconThe hard fought Bloody Slow Cup battle saw New Zealand edge the win in the final minutes of play.

Not wanting to let the game get away from them, the Aussies turned it on in the second quarter, fighting back from 10-0 down to score a try, conversion and a penalty kick to see the scores even at half-time.

Australia crosses the line for a try in the third quarter.
Camera IconAustralia crosses the line for a try in the third quarter. Credit: Sam Jones / North West Telegraph

The second half saw the Kiwis come out firing, scoring the first try of the third quarter and holding the ball in the Aussies defensive 20 for most of the quarter.

Luckily, the Aussies managed to get one back at the end of the third quarter, again tying the game up heading into the final quarter, 17-17.

The hard fought Bloody Slow Cup battle saw New Zealand edge the win in the final minutes of play.
Camera IconThe hard fought Bloody Slow Cup battle saw New Zealand edge the win in the final minutes of play. Credit: Pictures: Sam Jones

With 12 minutes left on the clock New Zealand managed to break the deadlock, putting the ball down for five points right on the sideline but missing the conversion, pushing the score out to 22-17.

The final 10 minutes saw absolute carnage as the teams battled it out for victory.

With just two minutes left on the clock Australia’s Dion Sae charged through on the wing, getting the five points to tie the game up, and giving Australia a chance to win with the conversion.

Australia's Dion Sae celebrating his try near the end of the game, which tied up scores with just two minutes to go.
Camera IconAustralia's Dion Sae celebrating his try near the end of the game, which tied up scores with just two minutes to go.

Unfortunately, mother nature wasn’t on the Aussies’ side as the wind pushed the kick wide of goal and the scores remained equal with just two minutes to go.

Some choice words exchanged between the teams had New Zealand fired up, as the all blacks powered their way through the Australian defence to get within scoring distance.

The Kiwi team won it with an after-the-siren kick.
Camera IconThe Kiwi team won it with an after-the-siren kick.

A penalty just 10m from the line saw the Kiwis given the chance to seal the win with a spot-kick, an opportunity they made the most of for their fourth BS Cup in a row.

Newman police officer-in-charge senior sergeant Jon Munday presents New Zealand captain Shane-Dion Moiri with the Bloody Slow Cup
Camera IconNewman police officer-in-charge senior sergeant Jon Munday presents New Zealand captain Shane-Dion Moiri with the Bloody Slow Cup

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