RUGBY BRITISH ISLES BEAT WELLINGTON

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28963, 3 August 1959, Page 12

RUGBY BRITISH ISLES BEAT WELLINGTON

15-point Margin In Brilliant Game Skilled determination in the forwards and adventurous play by the backs gave the British Isles a convincing win by 21 points to 6 over Wellington at Athletic Park on Saturday. The British Isles scored five tries, most from brilliant back movements, and three conversions. Wellington's points came from two penalty goals. Although most of the points were scored by the backs, much of the credit for the win must go to the Lions’ forwards who dominated their formidable opponents by sound scrummaging and outstanding jumping in the line-outs. The speed of the Lions’ pack to the ball served the team well.

Once it settled down the Lions’ pack, with the sprightly Jeeps at its heeels, gave the backs numerous chances against a defence which did as well as it could against the more orthodox moves. The match was notable for the determination of both teams to keep the game open. Wellington had the forwards to do this for some of the game, but the backs did not have the ability to sustain their effort. As in every game with an abundance of passing and running there were mistakes, many elementary, but most springing from a desire to keep the ball moving. The ground was in first-class order, and the crowd of 47,000 equalled the record attendance for the Springbok match in 1956.

The teams were:— British Isles: K. J. F. Scotland: J. R. C. Young, M. J. Price, D. Hewitt, M. C. Thomas; A. B. W. Risman; R. E. G. Jeeps; H. J. Morgan; N. A. A. Murphy, R. W. D. Marques, R. H. Williams, W. R. Evans; H. F. McLeod, A. R. Dawson, S. Millar. Wellington: J. D. P. Taitoko; R. W. Smith. J. R. Watt, R. W. Caulton; D, T. Bradburn, J. W. Lees; B. A. Cull; J. Grbich; D. N. Mclntosh, K. F. Gray, D. G. Harker, M. V. Bevan; M. H. Vodanovich, C. Currie, I. N. Mac Ewan. Mr R. Forsyth (Taranaki) was the referee. It was generally thought that the Wellington forwards would be too strong for the Lions’ forwards, whose inconsistent form on the tour had given the impression that they had not yet mastered the New Zealand style of play, with its hard driving and rucking. And, indeed, in the early stages it seemed as if the Wellington forwards would win the match, but no one could have foreseen that the lighter British Isles pack, even with its heaviest men included, would have so much success. Lesson Turned to Account

The Lions’ forwards, repeating the lesson learned from Canterbury last week and supported in the second half by a brilliant backline, achieved a notable victory over Wellington. The match was not won by planning, but by ingenuity.

As in many of the Lions matches this tour, the first quarter was a time for test and appraisal. During this stage it was mainly a forward struggle and the few moments of promise outside were but loose ends which no-one seemed to be able to tie up. It was neither spectacular nor satisfying for Risman to have to kick in this period, but the Wellington loose forwards were on him so quickly he had no choice For the rest of the spell, poor handling and good tackling stopped the Lions’ from developing any scoring movements. But Wellington could not capitalise on these mistakes and the Lions returned to the attack because they had the backs to extricate the side from difficult situations by swift and clever running. Through the excellence of Marques. Williams and Evans the Lions got more ball in the lineouts, even against such formidable opponents as Mac Ewan, Harker and Gray; they hunted the ball in the loose, they broke through from rucks and wheeled the scrum to advantage, and in short, gave their best forward display so far. Application in Lineouts

The Lions' habit of playing musical chairs in the lineouts to confuse the opposition was not in evidence, which was a tribute to the reputations of Wellington's line-out experts. Early in the game Mac Ewan got a lot of the ball from near the front of the lineout but the wingers' throws were ruled not straight so oiten that Mac Ewan must have lost confidence, and for much of the game his opposite, Marques, won possession.

Marques played very well, ano some of his efforts in the loose were as conspicuous as those oi Morgan ana Murphy. His partner, Williams, was as good, but his play was a great deal quieter, even unassuming. He, too, won a lot of the ball in the lineouts, thanks occasionally to some generous throwing by the Wellington wings. The No. 8. Evans, another lineout expert, was usually too far back in the line to see much of the ball.

Morgan played on the side of the scrum with an inspired -sense of anticipation. He poised himself beside the scrum, amd when Wellington was winning the ball from scrums and rucks he stared fixedly at the half-back. Cull, until the ball was out. or nearly nut. If the crowd thought that Morgan was off-side in his eagerness, the referee thought better, and Morgan gave Cull quite an ordeal. On the ether side of the scrum Murphy did much to set play going from dropped passes, whicn were frequent in tne first quarter, ana broken play. He was the best o£ the Lions’ forwards in breaking through after lineouts and it says much for the skill of the Wellington first five-eighths, Lees, that he was occasionally able to slip past Murphy McLeod played a grand game in the front row tor the Lions, and his lack of weight w’as less a handicap than a great asset to his side in the loose. Miller, the other prop, had one chance only in the lighter play and he took it with bo'h hands and bolted for the line with a savage determination that ended in a try Dawson urged his team to noble efforts, and shared possession in the scrums with Wellington I “skill and Judgment After some early moments of indecision and mishandling, l ie Lions backs ran and passed with fine judgmen* and skill In the second I half, especially, they thrilled the crowd with sudden switches of play and delightful side-steps. The Lions seemed to side-step without effort, and it was this manoeuvre more

than any other which breached the defence.

The half-back. Jeeps, stood up well to the Wellington loose forwards. Outside him Risman was brilliant and piayed his best game of the tour. Risman, when he ran, was generally half-way through the defence before it realised the attack was on.

The centres, Hewitt and Price were kept in check only by resolute tackling. Hewitt early demonstrated his ability when he sliced through the Wellington backs three times, his last run ending in a try to Price. Although he had fewer chances, Price was always aggressive ana his strong running, rather than any trickery, worried the Wellington backs.

The wings. Thomas and Young, saw less of the ball than any of the backs, but Thomas impressed the crowd with his adventurous play and determined defence. Every time he got the ball he made ground, and two of his runs took him 50 yards to the goal line. Young missed his opposite twice, but play rarely reached him and the Wellington inside backs in respect of his speed never made the mistake of kicking to his wing. Scotland, fully recovered from his injury last week, positioned himself astutely tor his well-angled kicks and his deceptive, swinging run paved the way for the Lions’ last try when he came into a back movement. Cull Best Back The best oi the Wellington backs weie the half-back. Cull, who was a match for Jeeps until he was hurt in the second spell, the first fiveeighths, Lees, and the left wing three-quarters. Caulton. Lees made several openings. Caulton ran very strongly and earned respect with his well-timed swerve.

Wellington’s consolations, in the first spell at least, were nearly all round the scrummaging, or in the loose where the flankers, Mclntosh and Bevan, used their speed to good account Grbich was particularly fast and saved well when the situation looked desperate. Mac Ewan was less successful in the line-outs than usual, but he still remained Wellington s best forward. Gray did many good things and Currie and Vodanavich were seldom seen in the open.

The Scoring In the early stages Hewitt made several breaks and one ended in a tackle, neai the side-line. A ruck formed and the ball went across the Lions' backs to Hewitt, who sped through and passed to Price who scored

Watt kicked two penalty goals for Wellington soon after, and at halftime the score was: Wellington 6, British Isles 3. The Lions had much the better ot the second spell. From a ruck. Jeeps worked the blind side and Risman sent Price on a 30-yard run to score in the corner. A few minutes later Millar intercepted a pass from Harker and ran 20 yards to score. Risman converted. The Lions scored their fourth try when Risman ran his backs into position, then side-stepped infield and scored easily under the posts Risman converted. Ten minutes before full time. Scotland came into a movement, drew the Wellington full-back, and passed to Young, who outpaced the defence to score in the corner. Risman converted. Final score: British Isles 21, Wellington 6.