RUGBY N.Z. BEATS WESTERN N.S.W. 33-6 IN BRIGHT MATCH

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28284, 23 May 1957, Page 14

RUGBY N.Z. BEATS WESTERN N.S.W. 33-6 IN BRIGHT MATCH

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.)

(Rec. 9 p.m.) WARREN (N.S.W.), May 22. The All Blacks today played their most enterprising match of the Australian tour so far when they beat a strong West-. era and Central Western New South Wales side by 33 points to 6 at Warren today. Although the game was scrappy for the greater part, the willingness of the New Zealanders to throw the ball around delighted the crowd estimated at between 3000 and 4000. The All Blacks score came from three converted tries, three tries, and three penalties. The Western State side scored two penalties. The half-time score was: New Zealand 20, Western and Central Western 3. The top scorer was J. R. Watt, who scored 16 points with a try, two conversions, and three penalties. He had to leave the field 15 minutes from full-time with an ankle injury. He will be X-rayed this evening although the injury is not expected to be serious. The way the All Blacks played must have done a great deal for Rugby Union in the far west of New South Wales, until recently a League stronghold. At times, they sparkled with rare brilliance but at others their play fell well below standard. Foolish Mistakes The backs relished the number of opportunities that came their way but unfortunately many of these chances were frittered away with foolish mistakes. The forwards were on top except for a few times when the fast, loose opposition men were able to drive through. For most of the time, however, the pack lacked real All Black fire. The ground which had been thoroughly doused with water by the local union over the last month and again by a heavy shower on Tuesday night was in good order. Because of a cold wind, most of the spectators remained in their cars which ringed the field. Some of the more enterprising customers had drawn up large articulated sheep trucks as grandstands. One farmer invited a crowd of about 30 to watch the match from the top of a load of baled wool. Making his first appearance for New Zealand as a full-back since the second test against South Africa, P. T. Walsh did not put a foot wrong. When he joined the back line, which he did quite frequently, Walsh gave an added edge to the attack. His line-kick-ing was accurate. Scorers for New Zealand apart from Watt were: H. J. Levien, two tries; Walsh, a try and a conversion; M. J. Dixon and W. R. Archer, one try each. Both of Western’s penalties were kicked by J. Stanbrook, who was the kicker for New South Wales last Saturday. . His first kick, which appeared to go outside the left-hand upright. was allowed by the referee, although both touch judges had wiped it out. Had it not been for mistakes near the opposition goal line, which cost them a number of penalties, and mishandling in midfield, it is likely the New Zealanders’ tally would have been much higher. They played with the strong wind in the first half. Watt used his opportunities well and finished well ahead of Stanbrook, who marked him at Sydney last Saturday. Dixon, on the other wing, was disappointing, however.

W. N. Gray had another bad day at centre, and allowed his marker, B. Barringer, too much latitude. Barringer also put it over the youthful Levien, who was playing his first match for New Zealand. * Levien redeemed himself by scoring two good tries. Archer’s Lead W. R. Archer, vice-captain for the day, controlled his backs well and was the launcher of most of the back runs. His combination with the half-back. B. P. J Molloy, sufferea at times beca’ise of Molloy’s slowness to the rolling ball. When Molloy had time he threw out copybook passes, but he was inclined to get rattled when pressed. New Zealand s best workers in the forwards were I. J. Clarke. F. S. Hill, captaining the side for the first time, I. N. McEwan, and the flanker, D. Gillespie. 7 The Waikato breakaway, E. A.

Pickering was not as fast as expected off the side of the scrum, while A. J. Soper, playing in the back row, was also relatively slow off the mark. D. Young, the hooker, won several tight heads without losing one. Both he and F. S. McAtamney were penalised several times for reasons that were not always clear. The local hooker, L. Lewis, struck manv times as the ball was leaving the half-back’s hands but he was seldom penalised. The All Blacks must have left the field a wondering group. This was the third match and the third set of interpretations of the rules they had struck although the referee for their first two matches was the same man. The teams were:— New Zealand: P. T. Walsh; J. R. Watt, W. N. Gray, M. J. Dixon; H. J. Levien, W. R. Archer; B. P. J. Molloy; A. J. Soper; D. W. Gillespie, S. F. Hill (captain); I. N. Mac Ewan, E. A R. Pickering; S. F. McAtamney, D. Young, I. J. Clarke. Western and Central Western New South Wales: P. Stroud; J. Stanbrook, B. Barringer, E. Johnston, B. Tranter; B. Weels; D. Staines; K. Dean; J. Lord, J. Williams, A. Roberts; W. Gunther (captain); J. White, L. Lewis. W. King. Won Toss The All Blacks won the toss, and after two performances of their haka, played with the wind. Seven minutes from the start, Western was penalised and Watt had a shot at goal. The ball hit the crossbar from 35 yards out. Half a minute later he goaled with a second attempt. The New Zealanders were having the better of things but could not finish off their moves. Then Walsh came into the backline and put the All Blacks in a scoring position with a run from over half-way to within 10 yards of the line. Archer cross kicked and Levien took the ball over for a try. Watt missed the kick. The score went to 9-0 a minute later when Levien and Watt made a fine sideline run which ended with Archer going over for a try Watt again missed the kick. Half the spell had gone when the Western team entered New Zealand territory for the second time. The All Blacks were penalised on their twenty-five line and Stanbrook had his second shot at goal. Both touch judges wiped out. the kick but the referee allowed it. Fourteen minutes before halftime, Watt made it 12-3 with a penalty kick from straight in front. Eight minutes later Watt kicked his third penalty. Just before the half-time bell rang. Watt streaked in ,for a good try scored a few yards from the corner. He converted to make the half-time score New Zealand 20, Western New South Wales 3. Second Half New Zealand was lucky in the first minutes of the second half when Stanbrook managed to get away from Watt, and it was only a desperate jersey pull by the New Zealander that stopped the Western winger. Five minutes into the second half Pickering was penalised 35 yards out, and Stanbrook had a shot’’ at goal but was well out. After 10 minutes Dixon scored at the end of a chain passing movement. Watt missed converting this try, but converted the try scored by Levien a few minutes later to make the score New Zealand 28, Western 3. Stanbrook kicked his second goal for Western five minutes later. Pickering came out of the scrum and went on to the left wing when Watt was injured. With 10 minutes left Mac Ewan was penalised on his own 10 yards mark, and Stanbrook had a shot at goal but missed. Walsh, faster than all the opposition, made several slashing runs by coming into the backline, and he was rewarded with a good try scored after a solo run from half-way. He converted his own try. Walsh tried to kick a goal from a penalty soon after, but when the final bell rang the score remained New Zealand 33, Western New South Wales 6.