Rugby Second-Spell Burst By Lions Brings 37-11 Win

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28983, 26 August 1959, Page 8

Rugby Second-Spell Burst By Lions Brings 37-11 Win

(Aeic Zeutana Press Association)

After a stodgy exhibition for the first hour of their match with Wairarapa-Bush at Solway Oval, Masterton, today the Lions in the last 20 minutes played some of the brightest Rugby of their tour. Those 20 minutes apart, however, the match was scrappy. The Lions, leading 13-3 at half-time, romped away in the second half to win by 37 points to 11. The combined team provided unexpectedly tough opposition for all but the last 20 minutes, when its defence crumbled.

The match, watched by a record crowd of more than 18,000. was the nineteenth for the Lions, although their form over the early stages suggested it could have been one of the first of the tour. They scored seven tries, five of them converted, and two goals from penalties, to the converted try and two penalty goals scored by the combined team.

J. P. Horrocks-Taylor, who arrived in New Zealand only four days ago, had a tough introduction to New Zealand Rugby, and for a man who has not played for several months was in good form. He scored one try and converted another.

Big. and a strong runner, he made a line impression, although he was forced into kicking too much over the early stages. Later in the match he came to a fine understanding with the scrum half, R. E. G. Jeeps, and although he will need several matches before he comes up to peak fitness, it would not be over-sur-prising if he is selected for the third test at Christchurch next Saturday. Hewitt’s Thrust His form must have been a pleasant surprise to the British team’s selectors, as also must have been that shown by the young Irish centre. D. Hewitt, who had to miss five successive matches because of injury. He provided the midfield thrust which had been missing in the Lionsrecent displays, and carved through the opposition with the greatest of ease. He scored 20 points with two tries, four conversions, and two penalty goals. The other centre, J. Butterfield, also had a fair day, doing some things, such as drawing his man. to perfection. Hewitt and Butterfield gave the' wing three-quarters. A. J. F.l O’Reilly and P B. Jackson, more] chances in the one match than: they have had in three or four! of the last ones combined, and! both made full use of them. Jackson ran himself and the team into trouble twice with his sidestepping and weaving, but he also got the Lions out of several scrapes with his covering play. Jackson and O’Reilly scored two tries each, and both now

MASTERTON, August 25.

look likely to break Ken Jones’s record of 16 tries for a New Zealand tour. Jackson’s tally is 15 a and O’Reilly’s 14. 7 AJ full-back, K. J. F, Scotland ’ made two mistakes, but generally he was in top form. He did not enter the backline as frequently as in some matches on the tour, but each time he did a try looked ", possible. He made possible the sec- ’ ond try scored by Jackson. He took “ the ball near the touchline and t) un e 6round before kicking the . ball ahead. Jackson won the race for the ball from the combined . teams full-back. I. McHardy, and '• grounded the ball just before it j bounced over the dead-ball line. 'I , F° r a start the Lions’ backs 'Showed a marked reluctance to nr un the ball - but in the el!? 8 .- u o ., m . ini £ cs the * P l;, y ed some * I delightful Rugby. The Waira- " rapa-Bush backs showed plentj' of d!r?? ris . e for a start - bu t then into the background when n Llons . came into their own. - combined team’s tackling 0 hl ? h l lad been fair *y good for a . start, deteriorated badly in this time, and at stages was almost non-existent. v Fine Halfback The best of the home team’s backs was the half-back, R. Svvanney, who threw out longer and better passes than most New Zealand halves have done on the Jour so far. Occasionally he and! the first five-eighths, R. Rikvs. could not make contact, but for most of the match Swannev’s passing was first class. A. Eames ran nicely, and it was only the lack of a yard or two of pace that stopped him from doing more when he twice sliced through the Brtish opposition. The left wing, J Small, marked Jackson fairly well, and although he u some of his pace over the years—he played for the combined team against the 1950 Lions he is still a valuable wing. The British forwards could not control their lively opponents until late in the match, when their superior size became a big factor. For most of the first half the Lions’ forwards were beaten in the line outs. They were back to their old style of tapping the ball to the half-back, tactics that suited the combined forwards admirably. With R. Blake and A. W. Blake and the promising young side-row man, B Lochore, going well in this department, the tall Lions had to work hard to break, although R. W. D. Marques and A. Ashcroft won the ball with clean takes in the second half. Lochore. a forward of distinct promise, was never far away from the ball at any stage. The liveliest of the Lions were G. K- Smith and H. J. Morgan. Morgan was the most constructive forward in his team.

j The teams were: British Isles: K. J. F. Scotland;! A. J. F. O'Reilly, D. Hewitt, J. Butterfield. P. B. Jackson; J. p Horrocks-Taylor; R E. G. Jeeps: A. Ashcroft; H. J. Morgan R H Williams, R. W. r>. MarqGes, G K. Smith; T. R. Prosser B. V Meredith. S- Millar. Wairarapa-Bush: 1. McHardy; J. Small, R Graham, R. Jensen' R. Eames, R. Rikys; R. Swanney : K. Keegan; B. Lochore, J Kerridge, A. W. Blake, R BlakeJ. Speedy, P. Travers, M. Peachy. Mr F. G. M. Parkinson (Manawatu) was the referee. Hewitt opened the scoring with a try after seven minutes of play j He carved a wide swathe before touching down in the corner. He j missed the kick. Five minutes later R Blake evened the scoring with a penalty goal O'Reilly scored and Hewitt converted after 16 minutes to give the tourists an | 8-3 lead. Before the half ended I Blake had three more chances 1 of kicking goals from penalties, and Hewitt also missed. In the last minute of the half Jackson side-stepped and sped to the goal line for a trv, which Hewitt converted to make the half-time score: British Isles 13. WairarapaBush 3. i O'Reilly scored again in the first [minute of the second half. Hewitt I converting. Blake kicked his [second penalty goal in the thind minute of the half, and two minutes later converted a try scored by Travers. The ball had been kicked ahead by Meredith to McHardy The full-back broke up field and kicked ahead. Scotland failed to take the ball and Speedy got it out to A. W. Blake, who charged towards the line. I: He was taken only a couple of ! feet from the line. The ball lolled clear, and Travers snapped [ it up to score. That made the ! score 18-11. A penalty goal by Hewitt and ! then a try by Horrocks-Taylor. , converted by Hewitt, put the combined team well out of the game. A second penalty goal to Hewitt, a try to Jackson, and one to Hewitt, with the conversion by Horrocks-Taylor, completed th* scoring-