LEAGUE BRITAIN WINS SECOND TEST

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28661, 11 August 1958, Page 11

LEAGUE BRITAIN WINS SECOND TEST

Weak Tackling By N.Z. (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, August 10. The weakest' tackling imaginable for an international match contributed to the New Zealand team’s defeat by Great Britain by 32 points to IS in the second test at Carlaw Park yesterday. New Zealand won the first test 15-10. The conditions were ideal and the crowd was close on 30,000. New Zealand had a firm grip on the game at half-time, leading 12 points to 10, having risen to the occasion .after Great Britain had scored 10 points in the first seven minutes. In the second half, there was a procession of tries scored-from superior speed by Great Britain’s backs and better positional play. In almost ev&ry movement the New Zealand backs were caught out of position, and four of the six tries scored were runaways.

The teams were:— Great Britain: Full-back, E. Frasec; threequarters, I. Southward, E. Ashton, J. Challinor, M. Sullivan; five-eighths, A. Davies; half-back, A. Murphy; forwards. B. McTigue, B. Edgar, T. Harris. D. Goodwin, R. Huddart, V. Karalius. New Zealand: Full-back, C. Eastlake; three-quarters, T. Hadfield, N. Denton, G. Turner, R. Griffiths; five-eighths, G. Mehzies; half-back, K. Roberts; forwards. J. Ratima, D. Butterfield, C. Johnson, T. Kilkelly, R. Percy, H. Maxwell. Eastlake, as in the first test, missed six attempts at goal from reasonable positions. Two he missed were in front of the posts less than 30 yards out. The New Zealand forwards lost nothing in prestige. Maxwell, Ratima, arid Johnson tried hard to break through and several times missed tries by inches. The match was a triumph for the ) Great Britain half-back, Murphy, whose speed gave overlap to M. Sullivan, one of the fastest three-quarters ever seen in Auckland. The clever play of the centre, A. Ashton, captain of Great Britain, proved troublesome to the New Zealand centre, Denton, whose fiefence was not up to test standard. Britain Out-hooked

The New Zealand hooker, Butterfield, got most of the ball from set scrums, beating Harris, 14-11. In the second' half the British backs scored four beautiful tries, most of them from the excellent service of Murphy and A. Davies, the fast lock forward.

V. Karalius played a great game for Great Britain, his backing up being a feature of the game. The game was played in' good spirit, with the referee (Mr V. Belsham) having little trouble. Roberts Impresses

K. Roberts, the Canterbury halfback, was perhaps the best Kiwi back. He made some very nice openings but was not well supported. Eastlake did- a lot of fine work on attack. Neither Menzies nor Turner showed their form of the first test.

Within seven minutes, Great Britain outplayed New Zealand, scoring two brilliant tries, both converted. New Zealand made a remarkable recovery, backs and forwards hitting back with speed and purpose. Eastlake opened the New Zealand scoring with a penalty goal, and five minutes later Percy ran wide from the scrum and sent an infield pass to Roberts, who scored a try. Eastlake missed a simple conversion. From another penalty Eastlake goaled, but twice afterwards he missed easy goals. Just before half-time New Zealand scored its best try. The forwards Kilkelly, Butterfield, and Johnson swept upfield, Menzies snapped up, the ball, cut past Davies and sent a perfect back-hand pass to Hadfield. The fast winger ran around the full-back, Fraser, for a try. Eastlake made no mistake with the conversion to make the halftime score New Zealand 12, Great Britain 10. Fast Winger New Zealand faded/out of the picture within four minutes of the start of the second half, when Sullivan scored two tries by sheer speed. The Kiwi defence fell away soon after when Murphj> was let through for another run-

away try, which gave Britain a 15-point lead. There was a pleasing rally when, from a fine opening by Roberts, Percy made a spectacular try. Just before time Murphy sent Ashton over for a simple try, with no New Zealand back in sight The game was a splendid /display of fast, thrilling football. For Great Britain, tries were scored by Sullivan (three), Ashton (two), Murphy (one). Fraser converted six and kicked one penalty. For New Zealand, Roberts Hadfield, and Percy scored tries. Eastlake kicked two penalty goals and one conversion.

Controversy Over Coach

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, August 10. The British Rugby League team’s coach (Mr J. Brough) denied on Saturday evening that he was pressing for a full inquiry into the circumstances of the letter expressing no confidence in him sent by the team to the English Rugby League Council. “I cannot imagine how this reported statement was credited to me. It is certainly not my wish at all.” he said. During the dinner given by the New Zealand council to the touring team and the Kiwis after the test match on Saturday, the financial manager of the visiting team (Mr B. Manson) alluded to the controversy.

Speaking to the toast. “Rugby League.’’ Mr Manson said: “No touring team should ever go away without the assistance of a good coach He may not always be popular, ne may put in certain disciplinary measures which are not agreed with by some of the side.

"But people expect to see 13 fit, robust men on the field and this can- come about only through the efforts of the coach,” Mr Manson said.

In another speech. Mr T. Mitchell, the manager, said: “Some people say we look upon football here as some sort of relaxation. That is not so. We expected to find it hard and we have played football to win “Today’s game has put the sea] perfectly on a wonderful tour.” he said. “I want to say. ‘Thank you. Kiwis,’ and hope to see many of you over in England a short while from now.”

After the dinner, the acting chairman of the New Zealand Council (Mr T. E. Skinner) presented silver-mounted kiwis to the three English officials and a travelling clock to the captain (P. Jackson).

AUCKLAND TEAM CHOSEN

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND. Aug. 10. The former Auckland captain and New Zealand forward, H. Maxwell, has been dropped from the side to meet the British Rugby League team at Carlaw Park tomorrow. Two other players in the test on Saturday, the winger, B. T. Hadfield, and the five-eighths, G. P. Turner, are not available because of injury.

The Kiwi full-back, C. E. Eastlake, has been moved to five-eighths, and a former New Zealand full-back, R. McKay, more recently a forward, takes his position. A somewhat unexpected choice is that of R. Webber, a North Island five-eighths, on one of the wings.

The team is: Full-back, R. McKay; three-quarters, V. A. Bakalich, N. Denton, R. Webber; five-eighths. W. Sorensen, C. E. Eastlake; halfback, L. Eriksen: back row. I. Grey; middle row, J. Yates, K. Bell: front row, J. Ratima, J. Patterson. C. R. Johnson.

The British team is not expected to be chosen until tomorrow morning.

Games In Other Centres

Palmerston North.—Kiwi 20, Kia Ora 16; Feilding 26, Celtic 13. Wellington.—Wellington Colts A 20, South Auckland Colts A 12. Dunedin.—Celtic 36, Caledonian 21; City 21, Athletic 15; University 39. Kia Toa 19.