SCOTLAND has made history, becoming the first of the minnows to claim a Four Nations point after snatching a deserved 18-18 draw from New Zealand on Saturday (AEST).
Skipper Danny Brough kicked the all important goal to convert Euan Aitken’s try two minutes from the end to claim a share of the spoils with the Four Nations holders.
A draw was the least Scotland deserved after outplaying the Kiwis for long periods.
The outcome means that England will go through to the final if they beat Australia at the London Stadium on Sunday, while the Kiwis will go through with a Kangaroos victory.
Unsurprisingly, the reaction to the incredible result was overwhelming in its disbelief.
New Zealand radio personality Tony Veitch tweeted: “What the hell is going on with the sporting world!”
Literally unbelievable from @scotlandrl, one of the greatest sporting shocks of all time. FT 18-18 v @NZRL_Kiwis #rugbyleague #4Nations
— talkSPORTDrive (@talkSPORTDrive) November 11, 2016
Full time
— Scotland RugbyLeague (@scotlandrl) November 11, 2016
With one of the greatest performances in international #rugbyleague history, Scotland have drawn 18-all with the Kiwis
Incredible night in Workington. Magnificent @scotlandrl draw with the mighty @NZRL_Kiwis 🏉 highlights @BBCOne 1:15pm tomorrow
— George Riley 🎙 (@georgeyboy) November 11, 2016
Incredible game in this mornings #4Nations between @scotlandrl & @NZRL_Kiwis Stand tall & stand proud Scotland players.
— Clint Newton (@c_newton11) November 11, 2016
“The Kiwis appear to be going backwards rather than improving over the course of the Four Nations and were lucky to escape with an 18-18 draw against Scotland,” he wrote.
“Coach David Kidwell’s men are a long way off living up to their billing as the world’s No. 1-ranked team and were made to look ordinary and complacent against the spirited Bravehearts.”
It was a performance of true grit and determination from the Bravehearts. Brough needed a pain-killing injection before kick-off to combat a knee injury and he lost his halves partner Danny Addy for a concussion assessment after 11 minutes.
Four penalties enabled Scotland to play the first quarter of the match in their opponents’ half and it was against the run of play when the Kiwis took the lead on 23 minutes, with a try from winger David Fusitu’a.
Issac Luke’s conversion made it 6-0 but Scotland struck back just three minutes later when Wigan winger Lewis Tierney scored a spectacular try, leaving the scoreline at 6-4 at the break.
The turning point appeared to come after 50 minutes when Fusitu’a got on the end of a sublime pass from Shaun Johnson to cross for his second try that extended New Zealand’s lead to 10-4.
However, four minutes later Lachlan Coote released Tierney down the right flank and second rower Ben Hellewell took the final pass to dummy his way over for a glorious try.
Brough’s first conversion tied the scores and he put his side in front three minutes later with a 35-metre penalty goal.
The dream looked to have been dashed as the Kiwis quickly re-grouped and centre Gerard Beale went over for two tries in three minutes.
However, the never-say-die Scots who struck back with Aitken’s try and Brough did the rest.
