SHAUN JOHNSON became a record breaker as New Zealand handed Scotland another harsh World Cup lesson.
The Bravehearts tried hard but were their own worst enemies at times, kicking out on the full twice and failing to find touch with a penalty.
Winger Jason Nightingale bagged two of 14 tries in a defeat that would have been heavier had Johnson mastered the breeze with his kicking boots.
But stand-off Te Maire Martin went one better with a hat-trick and also setting up Dean Whare’s effort in front of a healthy Christchurch crowd.
New Zealand have been virtually written off by many after a series of players defected to Tonga.
But they went back to basics – literally basics – in their preparation, and it appears to have created a stronger bond between David Kidwell’s players.
While the Kiwis are building, Scotland looked to be up against it after being thrashed by Tonga in Cairns then flying to Christchurch, some 2,500 miles away.
Full-back Lewis Tierney revealed it took 10 hours to get there and things do not get any easier for Steve McCormack’s men.
LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN England vs Lebanon from the Sydney Football Stadium
For it is back up to Cairns to face Samoa in their final group game.
However, Scotland – who drew with the Kiwis in last year’s Four Nations – started excellently, piling the pressure on to New Zealand’s line.
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But Kenny Bromwich crashed over on nine minutes, with Nightingale and Joseph Tapine touching down in ominous fashion.
And once Nightingale for a second time, Martin and former Warrington man Peta Hiku went over, it was clear there was to be no repeat of Scotland’s Four Nations heroics.
Russell Packer, who was sent to prison for assault in 2014, added his first Kiwis try in what was becoming a procession.
Highly-rated Martin danced over for his second before he set up Whare, then Hiku, who joins New Zealand Warriors next season, went over again after Danny Brough’s error at the penalty.
It was set up for Johnson to break New Zealand’s points record of 168 and sure enough he beat Matthew Ridge’s mark with a 62nd minute try as Scotland’s afternoon got worse by the minute.
Kidwell’s men turned on the style with the game wrapped up and Hiku wrapped up his hat-trick with 11 minutes left.
Oscar Thomas got Scotland on the board on 71 minutes with a well-taken try, stealing over from 10 metres out.
But it was soon back to errors, with Brough throwing the ball into touch and Martin punished him with his third before Elijah Taylor rounded it off, with Johnson booting nine goals.
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