Rugby New Zealand Wins Second Test 32-6

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28531, 10 March 1958, Page 10

Rugby New Zealand Wins Second Test 32-6

(Special Correspondent N.ZJ’.AJ (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) OSAKA, Western Japan, March 9. Sheer strength and superior fitness in the second half allowed the New Zealand Rugby team to win the second test match against Japan at Hanazono Ground, Osaka, this afternoon by 32 points to six. ’ '

The Japanese team was much stronger than the team which lost the first test 34-3. They were trailing the New Zealanders by three points to eight at halftime but they still took the honours of that spell. The New Zealand score comprised seven tries, four of them converted and one goal from a penalty. Japan’s points came from a try and a penalty. Played at a fast pace throughout, the match provided some of the best Rugby of the tour with both teams playing at times brilliant Rugby. The final issue was never in doiibt after half-time although the New Zealand supporters in the crowd were worried at half-time. In the second half the New Zealanders cracked on the pace to add 24 points to the total. New Zealand: P. T. Walsh, R. R. Cossey, E. J. Thompson, J. R. Watt, T. R. Lineen, R. H. Brown. K. Briscoe, A. J. Soper, E. A. R. Pickering, C. E. Meads, K. C. Barry, A. Hayes, W. J. Whineray (captain), J. Creighton and A. C. E. Rowlands. Japan: H. Sato, K Miyai, M. Watanabe, R. Raniguchi, H. Hibino. T. Aoi, T. Saito, R. Umi, S. Sudo, Y. Katakura, T. Tsuchiya, K. Kano, K. Kobayashi. K. Kikkawa, and A. To.

The Japanese were again much smaller than the New Zealanders. The toss, again decided on the scissors-stone-paper game went to New Zealand. Whineray decided to play into a strong breeze and into the sun.

The New Zealand forwards, with Pickering and Soper prominent, led a rush over the opposition 25 and two minutes’ after the kick-off the tourists were in a good position. A Japanese forward was penalised in front of his goal, but Barry, who has been kicking well at training, missed badly. The ground was easily the best the New Zealanders have played on in Japan. Among the crowd of about 15,000 was the New Zealand Minister to Japan, Mr J. S. Reid, who was introduced to both teams before the kick-off, and Mrs Reid.

The Japanese Minister to New Zealand, Mr Shimadzu, was also to have seen the match but he is in hospital after being involved in an accident in Tokyo. Before the match the New Zealand team sent him a telegram wishing him a quick recovery from his injuries. The up-and-under technique was turned against the New Zealanders today as the Japanese tried to catch the New Zealand defence out of position. Almost every time they had a penalty awarded, the Japanese would send up a high kick.

They had the tourists scrambling but did not look like scoring at any stage in the first quarter hour. Once the winger Miyai got away but Cossey grabbed him from behind. Few Gaps The New Zealanders attacked strongly but the opposition up to this stage was leaving very few gaps. Half way through the spell Barry made a break, dribbling the ball down the line. Pickering was there in support and ne scooped up the ball to cross for a try 10 yards from the corner. Barry converted, making the score New Zealand 5, Japan 0. The New Zealand forwards had a big weight advantage but were being pushed back in the set scrums. They were winning most of the ball in the line-outs. Japan scored in the 25th minute with a penalty kicked by Watanabe. It was a good goal from the sideline. From this stage the Japanese took the initiative and for the next 10 minutes the New Zealanders had many desperate moments with play only a yard or so from their line. It was not until Whineray broke clear to give the ball a hefty kick upfield that the New Zealanders were again able to get over half-way. It was not for long. They were driven back again by a series of penalties. Penalties Queried Whineray tried to find out what the penalties were for but all he could tell his team mates was conveyed with a shrug of his shoulders. The rulings were inconsistent and the interpretation seemed to differ from minute to minute. Just before half-time the ball swung along the back line to Cossey and he out-paced the speediest Japanese to score in the corner. The half-time score was New Zealand 8, Japan 3. With the wind and the sun behind them -in the second half, the New Zealanders were soon dominant. The first try of the half came after four minutes when Walsh broke through on the blind side and let Watt in for a try which Barry converted. New Zealand 13, Japan 3. Soper was next to score. He scored ten yards from the post after backing up Briscoe on a run from the scrum. Barry missed the kick. New Zealand 16, Japan 3. Meads gained 40 yards for New Zealand with a typical burst from a line-out and when Japan was penalised close to its own goal Barry kicked a goal. New Zealand 19, Japan 3. Brown went to the blind side and linked up with his backs for Thompson to score under the cross-bar. Barry converted. New Zealand 24 Japan 3. Japan closed the gap slightly when Tsuchiya flashed In for a try after a misunderstanding be-$ tween Walsh and Thompson. The kick was charged down by Cossey. New Zealand 24, Japan 6.

There was a noisy demonstration from the crowd after an incident involving two New Zealanders and a Japanese forward who had been guilty of obstruction. The referee called the two teams together and then restarted play with a scrum. Five minute* from the end.

Brown broke through for a fine solo try after a 35-yard run. Barry’s kick missed. In the last couple of minutes Lineen scored and Walsh converted to make the final score New Zealand 32, Japan 6. Mr D. Kaada was the referee. Sydenham Club Officers elected at the annual meeting of the Sydenham Rugby Football Club were as follows: Patron, Mr G. Dobbs; president, Mr J. O. Hattersley; vice-presidents, Messrs J. Gibbs, C. Rhodes, M. Brazil, and C. Hardie; club captain, Mr I. McDonald; secretary, Mr K. R. McNeil; treasurer, Mr. B. R. Mason; delegates to Canterbury Rugby Union, Messrs J. O. Hattersley, C. Rhodes, C. Hardie, and J. Gibbs; committee, Messrs N. Falloon, E. Barabithe, I. Bisman, R. Hazelhurst, D. Gemmell, M. Jackson, and W. Prestage; delegates to Junior Advisory Board, Messrs J. Coleman, W. Chadderton, J. Jamieson, N. Falloon, C. Rhodes, and I. McDonald. In recognition of their services, Messrs R. Grigor and G. Goward were elected life members.

Opening day was set for April 12 at Waltham Park, with preliminary games at North Hagley Park on March 29.

Australia-France Test

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) PARIS, March 7. Three Australian Rugby Union players will make their test match debuts against France at Colombes Stadium, Paris, on Sunday. The three new internationals are the winger, Tony Fox, the breakaway, Ken Yanz, and the fiveeighths, Ron Harvey. None of the three played in the four-match test series against the British Home unions.