The touring Australian Indigenous U20 rugby team played their second tour-match against an American Native XV Tuesday night in very cold conditions at the famous Route 66 township of Gallop, NM.

The historic match pitted the American natives up against a select Australian Aboriginal team - the first time the two peoples had met in any football code. The Indigenous Warrior America team included five sets of brothers and was assembled from five different states. The match which was staged at the local football stadium and played in blinding snow that had the visitors thermally shocked, as most of them come from tropical climates where the temperature rarely falls below 70 degrees.

The young Australians opened the scoring in the first minute with a try after their kickoff to flanker Eathan Schoebar, who scored following a turnover. A few minutes later the tourists got over the line again through turnover possession for Elliot Thompson to dart down the left flank. As the snow began to fall the bounce of a dropped Australian pass favored the Indigenous Warriors and they scooted 40 yards and passed to a support player in Mateo Cardiel to score their first ever try. Kai Louwah scored the next try for the Aussies after some good forward work. Schoebar landed his second try after another powerful run. The dogged Warriors continued to make runs into their opponent’s territory but were unable to finish those promising breaks.

Australian Indigenous Vice-captain Kieth Morgan put in the next five-pointer with a determined 30-meter run. The last Australian try was dotted down again by Ethan Schobar, who got his hat trick and placed the final score at 41-7. Both teams played with passion, but it was the incredible spirit of the Native American team, put together on late notice, that was evident from the playing of their anthem to the final whistle.

The Indigenous Australians defeated combined Universities of New Mexico 84-17 on Monday evening and will play Arizona State University on Saturday as their third tour match.
 

- David Conyers