AUSTRALIA WINS TEST

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27369, 7 June 1954, Page 12

AUSTRALIA WINS TEST

FIJI BEATEN, 2219, AT BRISBANE

TOURISTS PLAY FIERCELY (NJZ. Press Associotio?!—Cojn/rightj (Hec. T pun.) BRISBANE, June 6. Australia, playing a man short for 60 minutes of toe game, withstood the burly fierce-tackling Fijians for a meritorious win by 22 points to 19 in toe first Rugby Union test match at Brisbane yesterday. On occasions savage tackling and wild pushing by toe Fijians drew roars at disapproval from a record crowd of 39,450. The Australians wer? not blameless, but the Fijian play was. toe fiercest Rugby Queenslanders had setsn. for many years. Australia’s win was a result of great teamwork, and was a tribute to the open style of play advocated by toe coach, Mr Wally Meagher, who decided to play toe Fijians at their own game of handling, passing and. backing up. Australia, however. was able to do this more successfully than toe determined Fijians because toe Queensland hooker, Paul Mooney, gave them a feast of toe ball. Australia dominated toe line-outs fry 15 to 6, but Fiji improved in toe second half in the line-outs to be down only 15-X4. Penalties favoured Australia, Z-€. Mooney won the 15-6. Cbvalevu's Good Display _ ■ For toe Fijians the inside centare, George Cavalevu, gave a world-class display. He was always formidable with, the Dall roiling loose, and was responsible for the majority of Fijian backline moves. The Fijian full-back, Rarravue, made some fine kicks to get his side out of trouble. Vatabua kicked two conversions and one penalty. Australia lost its right wing threequarters. Stapleton, with rib injuries in the nineteenth minute of toe game and, although he resumed for a short time afterwards, he left the field 10 minutes before half-time. When Stapleton was injured, Australia led 3-0, but with, a major share of the ball from the scrums and. line-outs they led 11-0 after 22 minutes, and 14-8 at half-time. There were many stoppages for injuries. but only Stapleton had to pull out of the game. For Australia tries were scored by Cameron, Jones, Phipps, Cross, and Tate. Conversions were kicked by Barker and Tooth and one penalty goal by Barker. Navorisi. Cavelevu. Domeni and Burogolevu scored for Fiji- Two conversions and one penalty were kicked by Vatabua.