Rugby Union: All Blacks pick up nine tries

NEW ZEALAND crushed a Victorian President's XV 53-3 in Melbourne yesterday, their hefty winning margin achieved on the back of the five-point try.

The All Blacks scored nine tries, but managed to convert only four of them. Victoria's points came from Tim Wallace, a guest from the Gordon club in New South Wales, who kicked a penalty early in the second half.

Zinzan Brooke broke through from close range in the sixth minute after peeling off a maul and Marc Ellis ran in the first of his two tries eight minutes later.

New Zealand led by 27 points at the interval. Jon Preston then took over the goalkicking from Matthew Cooper and converted three of four further tries by Ellis, Stephen Bachop, Michael Jones and Eric Rush.

The All Blacks next play Queensland in Brisbane on Sunday.

Victoria: Penalty Goal Wallace. New Zealand: Tries Ellis 2, Brooke, Cooper, Clarke, Wright, Bachop, Jones, Rush; Conversions Preston 3, Cooper.

New Zealand: M Cooper; E Rush, M Ellis, E Clarke, T Wright; S Bachop, J Preston; G Purvis, G Dowd, S McDowell, B Larsen, J Joseph, M Jones, M Cooksley, Z Brooke (capt).