Storm Soaks Pitch

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29829, 23 May 1962, Page 15

Storm Soaks Pitch

A severe thunderstorm two hours before the match kept the crowd down and left large pools of water on the field. However, overhead conditions were ideal. Queensland kicked off sharp at 10 p.m. New Zealand time, and as in the last match at Sydney on Saturday, the All Blacks were penalised immediately. But the shot at goal was missed. It was not long before the New Zealanders splashed their way to the opposition 25 where they stayed for a considerable time before opening their account with a penalty by D. B. Clarke, after eight minutes. All Blacks 3. Queensland 0. The ball and the ground surface were treacherously slippery. and because of this the opening stages were largely kick and follow although the New Zealand backs were soon in action. The tourists increased their lead with a second penalty by Clarke after 12 minutes All Blacks <. Queensland 0. Queensland's left-wing. McDermott. broke past McKay, but he was brought down a couple of yards from the corner The first real excitement came when Moreton. playing at centre, made a bold bid for the line and actually crossed it with the ball. As he was about to ground it. the ball slipped away from him and no try was allowed. The Queenslanders had no answer to the foot rushes of the New Zealand forwards once the latter got in top gear, but the home forwards, too. made some spirited drives on their own. The conditions made for poor handling, but both teams were making the best of it. The All Black five-eighth. Watt, got a mild roasting from the crowd because of his kicking. but with the opposition standing right up on him he had little alternative. Meads and Tremain made a beautiful break, but the movement was stopped. The first try came after 32 minutes when Watt kicked to the right corner, and McKay crossed the line. Al! Blacks 9, Queensland 0. Three minutes later. Nathan rounded off a fine burst with another try. Clarke's conversion attempts both went wide. All Blacks 12, Queensland 0 Towards the end of the half the New Zealanders were having very much the better of the game, but Queensland, aided bv local knowledge of playing under lights, was able to handle the conditions with more certainty in some respects than the New Zealand team.

Just on half-time Connor kicked high and Nathan went away with the ball, but the referee ruled a knock-on. The first half had not been inspiring, but most of the few bright spots there were had been provided bv the Al! Blacks. Their handling had been well below par. but with a ball as slippery as a cake of soap, not much more could be expected. The first minutes of the second half provided the same kick and rush tactics. The Queenslanders had a couple of dashing runs, and for a side which had been termed the weakest State combination in years it was doing a remarkable job of containing the tourists. Thirteen minutes had gone when Gueraadmoff had his third shot at goal for Queensland. This one, from the twenty-five, was unsuccessful, as were the others , Midway through the half Barry went over the line with the ball, but the referee ruled no try. Clarke had another penalty attempt In the next minute but just missed from a long shot. The home side had bad luck when McDermott wrong-footed Clarke and went within 10 yards of the line before the ball slipped from hla graap The All Blacks cleared, and with 15 minutes to go were well on attack once again. Tremafn increased the side's lead with ’a try, but Clarke, booed bv the crowd almost every time he touched the ball at thia stage, missed the kick. All Blacks 15. Queensland 0 Then came the moment for which the crowd had waited Queensland's centre, Marks, the most prominent of the home backs made a beautiful break, and with several of the NewZealand backs showing a strange reluctance to tackle, he shot through to score a trv between the post*. Guerasslmoff converted. All Blacks IS. Queensland 5 From then until the end of the match the Queenslanders tried their hardest to whittle down the New Zealand lead, but they had left their run too late. Result: All Blacks 15. Queensland 5.