ALL BLACKS’ TOUR New Zealand Scores 41 Points In First Game

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29824, 17 May 1962, Page 6

ALL BLACKS’ TOUR New Zealand Scores 41 Points In First Game

(Special Correspondent N.ZJ’jA.) BATHURST (New South Wales), May 16. The 1960 All Blacks gained an overwhelming victory in the opening match of their Australian tour at Bathurst today, winning by 41 points (eight tries, four conversions, three penalties) to 6 (two penalties) against Western Districts of New South Wales* The match, played in fine but cold weather, showed the All Blacks have some distance to go yet before they reach top form, but with six newcomers in the side, the match and the result must be regarded as better than satisfactory.

The All Blacks were on top throughout, and although they were unable to dictate the trend of the game in the first half to the extent they would have-liked, they played some fine, free-running Rugby in the second half.

At half-time, they led by 12 points (a try and three penalties) to nil, but once they had settled in after the interval, the tries came regularly.

The Western Districts provided tough opposition. over the early stages, but in the second half the better condition of the tourists told, and by mid-way through this spell the AM Blacks were in complete control. The Districts’ forwards kept the New Zealanders fufiy-occupied around the scrum in the first half, but for a while in the second the All Blacks’ pack ran wild, with little opposition. The lack of an adequate covering force counted dearly against the Districts. The All Blacks were kings in the line-outs once they had settled down, while Creighton won a good supply of the ball from the set work, taking half-a dozen against the head. He, like the other five making thpir debut for New Zealand, had a most satisfying match. New Boys Score

Four of the six new boys —Nathan, Barry, Watt and Heeps—each scored, with the honour of first tour points going to Nathan. Both he and Barry scored two tries.

Other try-scorers were McKay and Colin Meads Clarke kicked two conversions and three penalties; Briscoe converted two tries. For a team that had had only two training runs, it was a most encouraging, if not completely satisfactory win. Ths worst fault was the time the players took to settle down. For almost the entire first half, they were at sixes and sevens, especially against close-marking opposition.

Once they settled down, however, they looked a different side, with the newlook of 1961 evident again. Goals Mised At full-back, Clarke was never bustled and turned in a first-class performance, although he had only a fair day with his kicking. He missed a total of nine goals, either from conversion attempts or from penalties, but none of them was an easy shot and none missed by more than a foot or two. Heeps was slightly erratic on the left wing, missing a couple of chances by running inside when a go for the corner looked the best thing. From one of his inside bursts, however, he scored a glorious try, leaving the opposition standing.

Of the other backs, the best were Briscoe and Watt. Watt was particularly good value with his hard straight running. He suffered a

nasty bang from a piece of unnecessarily robust play early in the second half and moved to centre, with Brown and O'Sullivan each moving in one place.

Macewen In Form

Of the forwards, Macewen and S. T. Meads were the steadiest, with C. J. Meads making some dashing breaks in the open from the back of the scrum. Macewen had a first ~class day in the lineouts, receiving good support from Le Lievre and S. T. Meads. The Western Districts’ men who had the best games were the three stalwarts of the corresponding game against the 1957 All Blacks, Stanbrook, Gunther and White. Teams were:—

New Zealand.—D. B. Clarke, T. R. Heeps. T. P. O'Sullivan. D. W. MeKay. R H. Brown, B. A. Watt. K. C. Briscoe, C. E. Meads, K. R. Barry, N. MacEwen, S. T. Meads, W. J. Nathan, J. M, Le Lievre. J. N. Creighton, W. J. Whineray (captain). Western Districts.—H. D. Wilson, J. Standbrook, B. J. Harland. M. McDade, M. G. Cox, T. F. Evans, N. Brodie. C. J. Forbes, W. J. Gunther, W. H. Marchment, R. W. M- Johnson, J. Brazier. C. A. Roberts. B. S. Bennett. J. P. White. The referee was Mr T. Hector. Drop Kick Bid

After the hurriedly puttogether haka had been given its first public performance—and a good one, too—Clarke kicked to the far corner. A minute later he let fly with a mighty drop kick at goal. It missed, as did a shot he had from a penalty in the fourth minute. So far the New Zealanders had done all the attacking, and after seven minutes the first points of the tour were scored. Heeps gathered and ran infield, and passed to Nathan who went over with several team-mates alongside. Clarke missed the goal. The Districts’ players were proving stronger than their Sydney publicity had suggested. There was a tendency on the part of some of their forwards, however, fo make it a trial of strength ' rather than skill. Whineray’s nose was bloodied from the second or third scrum The All Blacks’ line-out work was still fairly untidy, although Mac Ewen was winning some good clean takes, with valuable assistance from Le Lievre. Mid-way through the half. Clarke had another shot at goal from a penalty but missed. Handling Lapses The New Zealanders were well on top, although their moves were breaking down, most of the backs having handling lapses. There were cries from the sideline of “where is the open Rugby New' Zealand," but the Districts’ players were expert spoilers, and forced the All Blacks to play a much tighter game than they had wanted to.

When one of the Western forwards tried to join in the wrong side of the scrum Clarke was given another chance at goaling. This time he made no mistake from 30 yards to make it 6-0. Evans had a long shot from a penalty for Western Districts soon after but It was unsuccessful.

Eight minutes before halftime, Clarke kicked his . second penalty after a scrum infringement. Three minutes later, the Districts’ centre, Harland, cut through beautifully between Brown and O’Sullivan and was within five yards of the New Zealand line before •he was brought down. Heeps had a chance of scoring, but tried to cut inside and was brought down. Clarke, however, added another long penalty goal soon after, to make the half-time score: New Zealand 12. Western Districts 0. Try By Watt The second half was enly a minute old when Watt added to the All Blacks’ total with a try scored when he jinked his way through a mass of blind-side defenders. x Clarke converted. Clarke was not too popular with the crowd, mainly because of the length of his kicking. However, he earned a good round of applause for one kick which went a full 70 yards. Ten minutes into the half the New Zealanders scored again, this time Barry crossing for a try following a nice dash by O’Sullivan. Clarke’s conversion attempt was ruled out, although the New Zealand touch judge. K. R. Tremain. raised his flag for a score. Barrv went over again soon after; this time Clarke converting to make it 25-0.

Watt took two heavy bumps and moved out to centre, and then came some of the open Rugby the crowd wanted to see. Clarke took a quick throw-in five yards from his own line, received the ball back from McKay, brushed off a couple of haif-hearted tackles. and reached the half-way mark. Nine In Movement By this time, the All Blacks were lined out across the field, and when Colin Meads finally went over for a try near the corner, at least nine of the side had handled. Heeps was the next scorer using his speed to beat the opposition. and McKay went over for an equally good try in the next minute. Briscoe converted, and the score was 36-0. Thirty minutes had gone tn the second half when the home side opened its account with a long penalty by Evans. With five minutes to go, Nathan scored his second try at the end of a good forward rush and Briseoe converted. Evans kicked his second penalty for the home side to make the final score: New Zealand 41, Western Districts 6.

Lions Prepare

For Tour

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter— Copyright)

LONDON. May 16.

The first major sporting team from the United Kingdom to tour South Africa since it became a republic, the Lions Rugby Union team had its first full day’s training at Eastbourne yesterday. Members fly to Salisbury on Friday and th.eir first match is on May 26 against Rhodesia and Bulawayo. Four tests, will be played.

CORRECTIONS TO DRAW

Under sst 71b B.—Lin B v. Suburbs B, Nth Pk 12; Alb v. Pap. Nth Pk 13. Both these matches commence at 11 a.m.— not 10 a.m. as incorrectly advertised yesterday. —Advt.

COLTS’ SQUAD

CHOSEN

The following is the Rugby colts’ training squad:— N. J. O’Brien (Teachers’ College, senior reserve), T. J. Morris (University, senior), R. J. Vivian (University, senior). W. T. Flewellyn (Christchurch, senior reserve), P. H. Clarke (Air Force), M. J. Summerfield (University, senior reserve), L. Price (Marist, senior), G. L J. Stanley (New Brighton, senior). W. J. Thompson, J. Elvidge and W, J. Thompson (Lincoln College. senior reserve). D. Pirie (Merivale, senior), M. Millar (Old Boys, senior), J. R. Guerin (Marist. senior), K. Inwood (Belfast, senior), S. W. Wakelin (University, senior), R. Tomkies (Old Boys, senior), C. Brown (Marist, senior). A. Bateman (Albion). Training will be at Rugby Park on May 20 at 9.45 a.m. Any players not available please ring P. D. Clark, 'Ph. 45-459. —-Advt.

Bulgarian" Visit. The Soviet Prime Minister (Mr Khrushchev) received an enthusiastic welcome' from Bulgarians when he arrived in Sofia today with Mrs Khrushchev, for a six-day visit.— Sofia, May 14.