The South Pacific came from behind to beat the New Zealand Hawks in the first of two AFL clashes in Wellington last night.
Playing the curtain-raiser to the AFL Premiership match between Brisbane and St Kilda, the Hawks led 20-14 at quarter time and maintained a slender one point advantage at half-time.
But the South Pacific team, which features players from New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Solomon Islands, struck back in the second half to run out convincing 63-38 winners, kicking nine goals and nine behinds.
It's the first time the Pacific team has beaten New Zealand, who won the corresponding series last year 2-0.
The teams will meet again in Lower Hutt on Sunday morning.
