RUGBY LEAGUE Canterbury Well Beaten By British Team, 26-5

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29891, 3 August 1962, Page 5

RUGBY LEAGUE Canterbury Well Beaten By British Team, 26-5

A big crowd sat in disappointed silence when Canerbury was beaten by the touring British Rugby League team at the Addington Show Grounds yesterday. Great Britain won by 26 points (six tries, four conversions) to five (a try and a penalty), having led 21-2 at half-time.

In the first half-hour the British forwards had run the Canterbury pack ragged, and although both sides scored a try a-piece in the second I spell, Britain left no doubts i of its superiority. I At times the Canterbury I players appeared embarrassingly overawed by their more experienced opponents, and never at any stage played with the authority or certainty which has marked their play in previous games this season. Britain’s dominance of possession—W. Sayer heeled from 23 of the 31 scrums—forced Canterbury into chasing the ball and defending desperately for lengthy spells. When Canterbury’s defence

lapsed, as it often did among .the forwards, Britain was swift to seize the chance. In the last quarter of the first spell Canterbury's tackling was woefully bad and Britain scored all but one of its six tries in this period. The teams were:— GREAT BRITAIN.—E. G. Fraser (captain); G. S. V. Round, N. Fox, L. Gilfedder, F. Carlton; Gary Cooper; P. E. Small; R. Evans; R. Huddart, J. Taylor; N. Herbert, W. Sayer. K. Noble. . CANTERBURY.— K. Harding; C. Preece, J. Walshe, R. Carey, P. V. Smith, J. A. Bond; R. irvine; M. L. Cooke (captain); E. J. Tavendale. J. Flanagan; G. R. Cooper, P. Rutherford. G. H. Turner. Huddart Outstanding The dominating figure of the match was the massive British second row forward. Huddart. He came from the tour of Australia with glowing reports and gave further evidence that he is among the very finest of all forwards. He emerged from the rucks with surprising speed to gain considerable ground and everything he did had a touch of real class. In and around the play-the-ball movements all the British forwards played exceedingly well. N- Herbert and R. Evans were almost as strong and as forceful movers as Huddart, and Sayer was an admirable dummy-hall. At scrum-half. Small, usually a centre, had a wonderful match. His swift and clever running from the scrums was made with splendid timing and three such moves resulted in tries. It was not the fault of the Canterbury captain. Cooke, that his side lost. His tackling in the tight was made ■ with all earnest and his chasing and following from the scrum were tireless.

At first five-eighths. Bond had a busy day and came out on the credit side, but the most pleasing Canterbury back was the half-back, Irvine, the smallest and one of the most, gamest players on the field. His cover defence was superb and twice he brought Huddart to earth with hard low tackles, an object lesson more of his team could have followed. For Britain tries were scored by Gilfedder (2). Round. Fox. Huddart and Small. Fox converted four. Bond scored a try for Canterbury and Tavendale kicked a penalty. Mr D. C. Wilson, of Canterbury, was the referee.