Australia avoided its first back-to-back defeats to New Zealand in half a century yesterday when it won a water-logged Tri-Nations rugby league test 28-26 at Ericsson Stadium.
Captain Darryn Lockyer and center Matt Cooper scored two tries each as Australia, by six tries to five, avenged its 38-28 loss to the Kiwis in Sydney last weekend.
New Zealand led 16-8 at halftime and threatened to notch its first consecutive wins over Australia in 52 years but the Kangaroos scored three tries in six minutes at the start of the second half to take a lead they didn't relinquish.
Lockyer was one of several Australian players whose selection was disputed after New Zealand's historic win in Sydney -- its first in the Aussie league capital in more than 40 years -- but he answered his critics Friday with a display of heady leadership.
Australia was rocked by New Zealand's skill and tenacity in the first half but the Kangaroos took charge of the match in the second with their hallmark mix of professionalism and stellar backplay.
Tries to Mark Gasnier, Lockyer and Cooper in the fourth, sixth and eighth minutes of the second spell turned an eight-point halftime deficit for Australia into a 24-16 lead.
New Zealand came back twice, with tries to winger Jake Webster and substitute David Faiumu on either side of Australia's last try to fullback Anthony Miniciello, pressing Australia until the final whistle.
"It was pretty nervous towards the end but a win's a win and we go over to the United Kingdom now on pretty even terms," Lockyer said.
"Last week when we got in front we took our foot off the pedal and we pretty much did the same thing here but fortunately we held on."
New Zealand outplayed Australia throughout the first half and might have led by more but for a number of controversial decisions by English referee Steve Ganson.
New Zealand gave up an 18-0 lead in Sydney as Australia fought back to 18-18 at halftime, but recovered to lead again and win that match convincingly.
"I think it was in the same period as last week, just after halftime, that we let them back into the game," said Kiwis five-eighth Nigel Vagana. "For the moment it's back to the drawing board."
Lockyer opened the scoring with a 12th-minute try but New Zealand replied with tries to Webster and Vagana, and with a penalty to Stacey Jones to lead 10-4.
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