RUGBY N.Z. Ends Tour With 56-3 Test Win

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28543, 24 March 1958, Page 12

RUGBY N.Z. Ends Tour With 56-3 Test Win

(N'Z. Press Association—Copyright)

(Rec. 10 p.m.) TOKYO, Mar. 23.

New Zealand this afternoon beat All-Japan, in Tokyo, 56-3. The half-time scores were: New Zealand 27, All-Japan three. New Zealand points were:— Tries, Walsh (4), Cossey (3), Watt (3), Brown and Pickering, one each- Watt converted seven tries and kicked one penalty. Brown drop-kicked one goal. AllJapan scored one try. The singing of Auld Lang Syne in English and Japanese by the teams preceded the third test match which ends the New Zealand team’s tour of Japan.

The New Zealanders were too strong in every position and later in the match were scoring at will.

The teams were: New Zealand. —B. M. J. Dineen; J. R. Watt, P. T. Walsh, P. R. Crossey; T. R. Lineen, R. H. Brown: K. C. Briscoe: A. J. Soper, E. A. R. Pickering, C. E. Meads, K. R. Tremain, A. Hayes, W. J. Whineray, J. Creighton, and A. G. E. Rowlands.

All-Japan.—H. Sato; K. Miyai, T. Arai, R. Yaguchi; H. Hibino. K. Kosaka; F. Saito; Y. Unei. T. Tsuchiya, K. Mano, Y. Katakura, M. Ozkin, K. Kobayashi, K. Kikkawa, and Y. Kaimoto.

The Chichibu ground was in good order after overnight rain, and held a near capacity crowd when the patroness of the Japan Rugby Union, Princess Chichibu. and Prince Yoshi, second son of the Emperor, met the teams before the match

Japan kicked-off with a slight breeze. Their initial rush carried them over the New Zealand 25-yard line, but the tourists were soon hammering back at the Japanese line, After seven minutes Watt opened the scoring for New Zealand with a penalty kick near the sideline. First Try

The New Zealanders settled down from the start; forwards were winning the ball from all set play and the backs were running well. Three minutes after the opening score Walsh crossed for New Zealand’s first try. He intercepted the ball on the Japan 25-yard line and shot through a gap to score between the posts. Watt converted.

As with Keio University, the Japanese forwards were varying their scrum formation 3-4-1 to 3-2-3, but with little effect. The

New Zealand forwards seldom lost a ruck, were taking all of the ball in the line-outs, and the back-line was able to sparkle. Midway through the half, Walsh broke through and sent Watt in for a try, three yards from the comer. New Zealand 11, Japan 0.

The Japanese left winger, Miyai, made the crowd cheer when he was able to get away from Cossey, but the New Zealand backing up was first-class and the Japanese sprinter got only to the New Zealand 25-yard line. That was only the second time that Japan had got out of its own half, and the stay on this occasion was very brief. New Zealand counter attacked and play went to the other end of the field. From a ruck on the 25-yard line, Briscoe swung the ball to Brown, who was standing deep. Brown kicked a snap goal to make the score, after 25 minutes, New Zealand 14, Japan 0. Cossey had his revenge over Miyai. He beat the Japanese winger and scored two determined tries in quick succession. Watt converted one. Japan’s turn came when the tourists were caught scrambling on their own line. The side-row forward, Ozaki, followed up quickly and scored a nice try near the post. The kick missed. New Zealand 22„ Japan 3. Just on half-time, Walsh went over for his second try. Watt converted with a fine kick. Field Day iFor Watt

Watt was having something of a field day and opened the second half by scoring with a try he converted himself after five minutes’ play. The New Zealanders were keeping on the pressure and only a minute later Cossey was in for his third try of the day. Watt missed the kick.

New Zealand scored from the Japanese kick-off. Tremaine took the ball perfectly and the ball went along the back-line in copybook style. Lineen broke through and then reverse passed to Brown who scored beside the posts. Watt converted. New Zealand 40, Japan 3. With 15 minutes to go, Watt went over for his third try which he again converted. Walsh made it 48, and then 51 points, with two good tries. Both were solo efforts. Then Pickering scored and Watt converted. This was the final score, New Zealand 56, All-Japan 3.