Kiwis Lose First Test 9-8

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28921, 15 June 1959, Page 7

Kiwis Lose First Test 9-8

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) . SYDNEY, June 14

New Zealand’s- Rugby League sequence of six successiive wins ended with a one. point defeat by Australia in the first test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground yesterday afternoon. Australia won 9-8, after a scoreless second half.

Conditions were frigid by Sydney standards, and the football and attendance were grievously affected by rain which fell for an hour and a half before the match started.

New Zealand would have done better had its kicker, C. Eastlake, been on form. Eastlake kicked only one goal out of six attempts.

Australian Rugby League officials had expected an attendance of 50.000, but the gloomy weather kept the crowd down to 38.113.

The New Zealand captain. C. Johnson, won the toss and Australia played in the first half with the advantage of the strong, bleak south-west wind. Less than nine minutes from the start the Australian captain, B. Carlson, at full-back, kicked a penalty goal from the New Zealand twenty-five. Immediately afterwards, with the Kiwis in a strong attacking position, their full-back. G. Phillips, attempted a field goal from an easy position but the ball rebounded from the post. The Kiwis persisted in their attack and the forward. R. Ackland, was nearly in for a try. Then the burly Maori prop, H. Maxwell, crashed across for a try. Eastlake missed the first of several easy goals to make the score, New Zealand 3, Australia 2, after 14 minutes. Forwards Offside The New Zealand forwards were too keen and were offside 35 yards out, straight in front. Carlson kicked his second penalty goal to make it Australia 4, New Zealand 3. Eastlake missed a 30-yard penalty, and Phillips. T. Kilkelly, Johnson. J. Butterfield and Maxwell made lone, solid runs for New Zealand. After*? 25 minutes. Eastlake kicked a penalty goal from the Australian twenty-five. The Queensland prop forward, D. Beattie, hurtled through a ruck to score Australia’s only try. Carlson goaled. to make it Australia 9. New Zealand 5. Eight minutes remained before half-time, when Eastlake scored a dazzling try. He headed for the Australian line at top speed, skipping out of two tackles. He missed the conversion.

The half-time score was Australia 9, New Zealand 8.

The New Zealand and Australian

hookers each won seven scrums in the first half. Each side was awarded four penalties. Second Half The rain had ceased as the second half opened, but the damage had been done, and the players had difficulty keeping their feet as they sidestepped or swerved. The greasy ball slipped away from the players, and the match became a dour struggle between the forwards, with Australia resolved, almost at any cost, to retain its slender lead.

New Zealand was unfortunate that the strong wind of. the first half had decreased to a relatively mild breeze. Eastlake took his next kick at goal from 30 yards out, but it was a disastrous day for him, and the ball swirled wide*of the posts. New Zealand tried hard enough, throwing the ball around, but none of the breaks came its way. Overeagerness when in apoarent scoring positions cost the Kiwis dearly as they were penalised for offside.

To add to New Zealand’s unhappiness. Maxwell was hobbling around taking extremely little part In play, as he had a right knee injury. Up to this stage Maxwell had been one of the best forwards on the field.

< Poor Attempt Eastlake made a poor attempt at a penalty goal, and with only three minutes to go Australia was awarded a penalty on the New Zealand twenty-five. It would have been a simple kick for Carlson. He decided the risk was too big, however, for if he missed New Zealand would have gained possession and could have snatched the test out of the fire.

Carlson tossed the ball to a comrade, and Australia kept possession with a tap kick. With two minutes of play left. Australia was given another penalty for a New Zealand scrum infringement. Again Carlson debated whether he would take a kick at goal, and again he decided too much was at stake. For the second time, a tap kick was preferred. Australia clung to the ball and was attacking when the final bell rang.

For the greater part of the second half the Australian forwards clasped the ball and barged. Passing was completely vetoed by Carlson. The Australian hooker. Kelly, of Queensland, won the second half scrums 7 to 6. New Zealand was awarded seven penalties to five. The New Zealanders leave tomorrow for Queensland for matches leading to the second test in .Brisbane on June 27.