Rugby LIONS BEAT JUNIOR ALL BLACKS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28990, 3 September 1959, Page 23

Rugby LIONS BEAT JUNIOR ALL BLACKS

Bursts Of Scoring In Second Half

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, September 2.

Asserting in the second half a superiority it had to concede in the first, the British Isles beat the junior All Blacks by 29 points (four goals, a try and a penalty goal) to 9 (a try and two penalty goals) at Athletic Park, Wellington, today.

For four-fifths of the match the Junior All Blacks had only 14 men. D. J. Davison was badly injured after play had been in progress only 17 minutes. The No. 8 forward, R. D. Greene, was sent out to take his place on the wing, and through this New Zealand lost its cover defence, and the British Isles weight advantage in the scrums was more marked.

The lighter New Zealand pack played with fire and determination for the remainder of the first spell after Davison left the field, but against a much stronger pack it wilted badly in the second half. It was in this last 40 minutes that the Lions scored 26 of their 29 points.

These were secured in two scoring bursts. Trailing 6-3 at half-time, they added another 13 points in a period of 13 minutes shortly after the resumption of play, and in the last four minutes scored another 13 points.

1 The match, played on a very ground before a crowd of ■: Fut 45,000. had many exciting sages, especially in the last minutes of the first half and ruch of the second half. The teams were:— I British Isles.— T. ■J. Davies: k. J. F. O'Reilly, D. Hewitt, J. Butterfield, M. C. Thomas; G. H. Waddell; K. J. F. Scotland; A. kshcroft, N. A, Murphy, W. A. |:ahy, R. W. D. Marques, G. K. h. T. R. Prosser, B. V. Mere(captain), S. Millar. nior All Blacks.— W. A. es; D. J. Davison, W. S. ling, T. P. O’Sullivan; M. H. B. A. Watt; A. A. T. Edgar; ). Green, R. H. Graham, M. t, K. Nelson, N. J. Mears, W. Allen, J. N. Creighton, r. Spencer. le margin of 20 points is a one, but it rather flatters the ity of the Lions’ play. Still ■rihg from the effects of conion received in the third test, is did not play and Scotland, took his place, was not a >y choice. Scotland is a atile player but he was sadly ea in such a specialist posiand most of the unhappy endeavours of the backs in the first half could be traced to him. The British Isles play in the first half was disappointing. As the ball was being thrown into the lineouts, the backs adopted a more shallow formation- and when Waddell received the few good passes from Scotland after clean takes in the lineout the line was flat-footed and crowded. There were many poorly-directed and dropped passes and some very high and ineffectual tackling. The best back play in this half came from the Junior All Blacks and there were several occasions when back movements nearly brought well-deserved tries. The forwards also instituted several memorable dribbling rushes and linked up effectively with the backs. It was this type of play that kept the Lions pinned in their own twenty-five for the last 10 minutes of the half. Lack of Weight

The lack of weight in the Junior All Blacks’ pack made itself very apparent in the second half, especially in the scrummaging, and little by little the seven forwards were worn down. Had the scrummaging been tidy, the New Zealand forwards would probably have lasted better, but it was for from tidy. Hardly a scrum went down that the ball was not put in more than once, and three and four times was common. The Lions did not make their chances in this half, they waited for them and once the opportunities presented themselves they made the most effective use of them. Only from one set movement did a try result, and this involved only two players. But in the more broken play and from the rucks the Lions’ backs excelled and their guile and speed were too great to be con-

tained by a tiring team. It would be pleasant to record that this was a hard but cleanlyfought game, but unfortunately it was not Early in the first half, Allen and Prosser came to blows, and Allen was penalised. Thfen, throughout the game Millar and Allen could be seen wrestling and trading what looked suspiciously like short-arm jabs in the scrummages. Meredith questioned the referee after every penalty given against his side and for this he earned the crowd’s displeasure.

Best Backs The best of the British Isles backs were Waddell, who scored three tries, O’Reilly,* who scored two superb tries, Hewitt and Davies. From set movements Waddell was hamstrung by Scotland’s service, but in the loose play he excelled. Two of his tries were great efforts and the third, •ngineered by Scotland, was a masterpiece. O’Reilly had little to do until the last two minutes when he showed the crowd just what he could do with his tremendous pace. Both his tries resulted from magnificent running from his own half. It is debateable whether he would have scored these if Davison had been on the field, for early in the game O’Reilly found he could not run round this speedy wing. Hewitt made several brilliant breaks, once clapping on the pace to such an extent that defenders appeared to be jogging. At fullback, Davies handled beautifully and his line-kicking and goalkicking were long and precise. Thomas had little to do and Butterfield was for the most part but a link. Scotland may have i been a poor substitute half-back, but he atoned for this with some first-class cover defence and t tactical kicking. . Of all the forwards none played ' such an inspired game as Prosser. I He did not let up for the full 80 minutes, disputing possession in

the line-outs with tremendous ferocity, driving and tackling’ hard and yet always seeming to be on hand either to begin a movement or to keep one alive.' Meredith and Mulcahy were two; others who showed great vervej and Murphy and Ashcroft were' two exceptionally good loose for-! wards. Marques, Mulcahy andProsser had the better of the lineout play and when they did; not gain possession, they drove through the New Zealand line on to Edgar. Movements From set movements the Junior All Blacks line looked more formidable, but its tackling at times was weak. Edgar and Watt linked quite well and Watt made two splendid runs .the first of which took him weaving through some very poor defence. Ball’s greatest contribution to his side was a blind-side run which took him diving over Davies for the goalline and which, many asserted, ended in a try. The tackling of Ball and Fleming was indifferent. On attack, however, Fleming made several masterful breaks. Until he was injured Davison did not put a foot wrong and on the other wing O’Sullivan had one or

two stirring runs. After a splendid start, Davies’s play deteriorated. His catching throughout was excellent —in some cases brilliant—but a fly-kick and. an unsuccessful attempt at a long field goal both ended in tries, being scored against his side. His two penalty goals were, however,! good efforts. The outstanding Junior All Black forwards were Mears, Nelson and Scott. Right up to .the, last whistle these three chased the ball and played with a ten-; acity of purpose surpassed only' by Prosser. Graham was very fast from the side of the scrum; and helped to unsettle Scotland even further. Green did not have much play at No. 8, but he did his best on the wing. Allen’s great tight play was spoilt by his difference with two lions forwards. Creighton was another who gave his best with the odds against his pack.

The Play The Junior All Blacks’ first attack originated in a jinking run by Watt and, with Mears and Scott backing up, the movement nearly resulted in a try. It was stopped 10 yards short of the line. New Zealand attacked again a few minutes later and the ball went along the line to Davison, who was injured when by Murphy 10 yards short of tne line. Graham and Mears combined in a passing rush and when this was stopped, first Watt and then Davies attempted dropped goals. Botlj. failed. After 20 minutes the Lions were penalised and Davies kicked a long penalty goal. Scotland and Waddell attempted a reverse pass, but it failed, and the New Zealand forwards were nearly across. Then from almost the same place that he kicked his first penalty goal, Davies kicked another. With nine minutes to go T. J. Davies missed a shot at a penalty goal, but succeeded a few minutes later. In the last 10 minutes of this half, the Junior All Blacks made attack after attack, but the Lions’ tackling was too deadly. Just before half-time W. A. Davies had another shot at goal from a penalty, but missed.

Breka by Hewitt Five minutes after the re- ; sumption Hewitt made a break! through second five-eighths and 1 Thomas completed the movement with a nice run round behind the posts. Davies converted. Five minutes later, after Scotland had kicked to the corner, Scotland received from a scrum, ran round the open side and reverse passed to Waddell who went over wide out. Davies converted. With 18 minutes gone Scotland put up a high kick and when O'Reilly caught Davies in possession, Waddell received and went over in the corner. The Junior All Blacks took play into the Lions half and after a fine blind-side run Ball dived over Davies but the touch judge ruled that his foot had gone into touch. After 22 minutes the Lions were penalised and New Zealand used the short kick. The ball went out to O’Sullivan and after making a good run he centred. Waddell muffed the catch and the ball went out by the corner flag. From the throw-in Scott jumped high, took it cleanly and dived over. With 12 minutes remaining Murphy was off-side in a scrum but W. A. Davies missed a long shot at a penalty goal.

With four minutes remaining, Waddell received in loose play and made a lovely run down the sideline to score in a handy position, Davies converted. Then came the two most thrilling tries of the day. Davies attempted a long field goal. O’Reilly took the ball on hi* own twenty-five

and outpaced everyone to score under the posts. Davies converted. With the clock showing time, Meredith gained possession and on his 10 yard line passed to O'Reilly. Once again none of the defenders could catch him in his run down the sideline. Mr R. L. Hines (Thames Valley) was referee.