N.Z. LOSES TEST

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27096, 20 July 1953, Page 7

N.Z. LOSES TEST

RUGBY LEAGUE

18-16 Win To Australia

POOR TACKLING COSTS TRIES

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, July 19.

New Zealand deserved to lose the third Rugby League test against Australia at Carlaw Park yesterday. Until the last quarter-hour the New Zealand defence had been pretty sound but then it lapsed with a vengeance and in this dramatic period New Zealand’s lead of 16-8 tinned to an 18-16 loss. There was some heavy rain on Friday night and the ground was still heavy but fit enough for open play, except in a few muddy patches with small pools of water. The crowd was estimated at about 30,000. The game had plenty of thrills and will be remembered as New Zealand’s lost opportunity. It looked decidedly the better team. The backs tackled well for most of the game, and were every bit as dangerous as the opposition, and the forwards, although slightly bettered in the scrums, were more mobile.

Australia merited its win by the manner in which it capitalised on its opportunities. In addition, it played without B. Davies for about 12 minutes in the second half when he retired with a bruised rib.

The turning point of the game occurred when N. Wells went through without being touched. Wells looked extremely lucky not to be declared offside by Mr R. Avery, the referee. Three minutes before time. Wells scored again and Pidding again made sure of the conversion. Although a few blows were exchanged, especially in the last few seconds of the game, there was not nearly as much rough play as in the Auckland-Australia game the previous week. Three experienced New Zealand backs marred their reputation with poor tackling. They were D. H. White, T. O. Baxter, and J. Edwards. The match was lost when Baxter missed Wells badly for the Australian’s second try. The New Zealand centre had played a sound game until then. The New Zealand captain, J. S. Haig, played a great game, especially in his sharp running from the scrum and in geting his backs on atta«A from all positions. He and Eas+lskt were the stars of the New Zealand line, although V. Bakalich, making his first international appearance, made a promising debut. Eastlake made the opening for White’s try, and one splendid run was halted only a few yards from the line. F. Mulcare, A. Atkinson, and R. Neilson were the three best New Zealand forwards, although the whole pack played well. Atkinson showed the speed of the good track sprinter he is when he caught Pidding with a beautiful flying tackle. Mulcare and Neilson were in everything and each scored a fine try. Interest was taken in the first Auckland appearance of K. McCaffrey, the Australian vice-captain, who after his trial run at Carlaw Park yesterday, decided to play. He always looked dangerous and made a couple of neat openings from the centre position. The high-scoring Pidding looked as if he would have been particularly dangerous on a hard, dry ground, and played a sound game. The captain and full-back, C. Churchill, made a couple of bad handling errors, but he atoned for this with his clever runs when joining the back attacks. One of these efforts led to an Australian try. But if yesterday’s game was a sample of his play, Churchill does not appear to deserve the wonderful reputation that he holds in world League. The Australian hooker, K. Kearney, bettered G. W. Davidson, while one of his props, R. Bells, was one of the best forwards of the match. B. Drew was usually close to the game and was one of the hardest Australians to stop. The Play The opening score came when Neilson passed to McLennan in the Australian twenty-five. The ball was kicked over the line by McLennan and Edwards raced

across to force' down. White converted. A few minutes later Pidding kicked a penalty goal to open Australia’s scoring. Eastlake made a fine opening in Australian territory and White, coming in to make the extra man, went over. The score at half-time was: New Zealand 8, Australia 2.

Churchill made an opening for Pidding, who quickly passed to R. Banks, who galloped about 60 yards to score a relativ'ely simple try, with the New Zealand backs well out of position. New Zealand then had a long period on attack, and after several had gone close to scoring, R. Neilson crashed over. White converted. Australia retaliated and Pidding scored. Mulcare sent a dummy and went over to give New Zealand its final points. Wells then scored the simplest of tries, which Pidding converted with three minutes to go. He brushed off a tackle from Baxter and scored close to the posts. Pidding made no mistake with the conversion.