LEAGUE NEW ZEALAND DRAWS WITH FRANCE, 6-6

Press, Volume C, Issue 29669, 13 November 1961, Page 17

LEAGUE NEW ZEALAND DRAWS WITH FRANCE, 6-6

Gruelling Match Played In Driving Rain (Special Correspondent NEPjt.I BORDEAUX, November 11. New Zealand and France drew, 6-6, in the first test of their three-match series played at Bordeaux today in driving rain which 'made handling and kicking almost impossible. The weather limited the crowd to 6000. Each side scored two tries, one in each half, in a gruelling match, marred by rising tempers during the later stages. The New Zealand forwards, especially Emery, Hanunond and M. .Cooke, gave a great display. However, they were guilty of infringements in the scrum several times, which, if the conditions had been better, would have brought France point's from penalty kicks.

The teams were:— New Zealand: W. R Harrison; B. T. Hadfield, R. S. Cooke, R. W. Bailey, B. T. Reidy; J. A. Bond; W. L. Snowdon; R. W. Harrison, J. G. Patterson, H K. Emery; R. D. Hammond, S. Edwards; Mi L. Cooke. France: Carrere; Dubon. Mantoulan, Fabre; Etche. berry, BenausSe; Dautant; Bescos, Pano, Lianas; Eramouspe, Estiau; Fages. The French were dangerous from the start, soon penetrating the New Zealand twenty-five, and the Kiwis were hard put to keep them out. Then the French centre, Mantoulan, just failed with a penalty kick from 30 yards out in the first five minutes. Trance was awarded several other penalties for infringements in the scrums. Benausse missed one penalty in the forty-fifth minute, and Mantoulan also missed one soon after that. Both attempts were from 45 yards out. The first try—for France—came after 20 minutes. The French full-back, Carrere, always up with the attack, started a run, and passed to

Mantoulan, who scored. Montoulan failed to convert. New Zealand countered, but the effort was spoilt when Patterson, the hooker, was penalised. Bond was nearly over for the Kiwis in the thirtieth minute, after receiving from Snowdon, but was tackled on the line. New Zealand maintained the attack, and Hammond equalised when he scored after receiving from M. Cooke, who missed with tHe kick. M. Cooke was again prominent four minutes later, with a great run of 50 yards, but was pulled down just short of the French line. A minute before half-time, Carrere ran over,the Kiwis’ line but lost the ball, and Harrison the New Zealand full-back, kicked it dead. The half-time score remained: France 3, New Zealand 3. Soon after the resumption, France was awarded another penalty kick which brought it into the New Zealand twenty-five. The Kiwis were hard pressed, until M. Cooke came out of a scramble, and took the ball back to halfway. He was again in the limelight a minute later, when he scored a try to put the Kiwis ahead, 6-3. He tried the conversion himself, but missed with the heavy, slippery bail. Emery, the Kiwi prop, who was outstanding throughout, was nearly over a minute later, but was pulled up ’ sharply by Carrere, the

French full-back. Players on both sides were now showing signs of strain, and the rain had increased.

France countered, and went (dose with several attacks. Ben aus se missing a penalty from a scrum infringement New Zealand was holding play around the half-way line, but in the fifty-ninth minute another penalty brought the ball back into the New Zealand twenty, five. An intense scramble followed on the New Zealand line, and Carrere got across by the flag. Benausee missed a difficult kick at goal. New Zealand fought back, and Snowdon was stopped 15 yards from the French goalline. When the French counter-attacked. R. Cooke cleared the line with a penalty kick given for French off-side play. Another penalty kick by Benausse missed from 30 yards out. Benausse had a second chance from the same distance, but again missed, and the match ended in a draw.