N.Z. SOLDIERS’ RUGBY WIN

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29179, 13 April 1960, Page 20

N.Z. SOLDIERS’ RUGBY WIN

F.E. Land Forces’ Champions

(N.Z. Army Information Service) New Zealand soldiers in Malaya have crowned their Rugby achievements in just four months in the South-east Asian theatre by winning the Rugby championship of the Far East Land Forces in Hong Kong by 14 points to 3. In spite of the long trip from Malaya to Hong Kong, and wet, slippery conditions unsuited to the Kiwis’ fast open style of play, the 2nd Battalion, New Zealand Regiment, won the championship by beating the Ist Battalion of the Lancashire Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Volunteers). The game was played at the Hong Kong Football Club Stadium recently before a large and appreciative crowd, which included many of the local New Zealand community. The New Zealanders outplayed their opponents in every department of the game, and thrilled spectators with fast, attacking back play. Ably led by O. Perry, the pack gained a< slight advantage in possession throughout the game, and was mobile and effective in the loose. R. Brown and A. McCutcheon were always prominent. New Zealand was three points down after two minutes, when the Lancashires’ full-back landed a long penalty kick, but the Kiwis never looked like losing and equalised almost immediately. From a scrum the ball went to P. Niall at centre, who burst away and passed to the winger R. Johnson, who scored in the corner. T. Thompson, the fullback, missed this and two other difficult attempts to convert, but these were his only errors in an otherwise faultless game. Before half-time, the New Zealanders went ahead. T. Nathan, the best back on view, came across from the blind-side wing to make the extra man (a favourite move of his teain) and the ball went out to the second fiveeighth, C. Blake, who cut through a gap to score another unconverted try.

The New Zealand Battalion scored twice more in the second half. Once McCutcheon went through after a tremendous forward rush had smothered the opposing full-back, to score wide out. Finally an orthodox move ended with the winger, T. Nathan, outpacing the defence to the corner flag to score a fine try which was well converted by T. Thompson.

The Second Battalion, New Zealand Regiment team, was:—Cpl T. Thompson, Sgt T. Nathan, Cpl P. Niall, Pte R. Johnson, Pte G. Blake, Cpl R. McAndrew, Pte J. Blyth, Cpl R. Church, W.O. II O. Perry, Pte J. Somerville, Sgt R. Brown, Lt E. Torrence, Pte A. McCutcheon, Lt R. Dearing, Pte F. Cooper.