RUGBY UNCHANGED TEST XV

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29931, 19 September 1962, Page 21

RUGBY UNCHANGED TEST XV

Wallabies Lose Again, After Leading 11-3

(New Zealand Press Association)

TE AROHA, September 18.

Australia, beaten for the fifth time in its last six matches when it lost, 14-16, to Thames Valley today, has kept an unchanged team for the third and final test against New Zealand at Eden Park on Saturday. The team is: J. Lenehan, J. Douglas, R. Marks, B. Ellwood, J. Boyle, P. Hawthorne, K. Catchpole, R. Heming, G. Chapman, P. Crittle, J. Thornett (captain), R. Thornett, J. White, P. Johnson, J. Freedman.

A 40-yard dropped goal six minutes from the end by the Thames Valley full-back. T. E. Shaw, sealed the Australian fate today after the tourists had led 11-3 at halftime.

Earlier, Shaw had kicked another dropped goat, and also converted two secondhalf tries scored by J. Maxwell and T. Kilpin. The Australians scored three tries, a conversion and a penalty goal. It was a disappointing game for the Australians on the eve of the third test. At no stage did they have the complete mastery of the Thames Valley side which played for all but the first five minutes one man short. The team’s winger, J. Mita, had to retire with an injured shoulder. A Good Start For Thames Valley there could have been no better way to start an international record. Until today teams from the Valley had always been combined with another union in matches against a touring side. The teams were:— Australia.—J. T. Spence. B. J. Harland. R. J. P. Marks, B. J. Ellwood (captain). J. S. Boyce. P. F. Hawthorne, K. V. McMullen, R. J. Hemlng. D. J. O'Neill.

R. J. Thornett, C. P. Crittle, G. A. Chapman, R. B. Prosser, A. A. Laurie. J. P. White.

Thames Valley.—T. E. Shaw, J. Hita, T. Kilpin. R. J. Wells, W. Walsh, A. Wilkinson, R. C Kerby. M. Rang!. G. Higgins, K. E. Barry. J. Darrah. D. Mold R. Holden, A. Townsend. J. Maxwell.

Maxwell and Kilpin (tries), Shaw (two dropped goals, two conversions) scored tor Thames Valley. Boyce McMullen and Thornett (tries). Chapman (conversion and a penalty) replied tor Australia. The Australian forwards showed little of the drive displayed in recent games, and tried to play it fast and loose throughout. These tactics played right into the hands of the opposition, whose own bustling style had the Wallabies in trouble. Too Much Kicking The tourists won a major share of the ball from set play —as to be expected against a side one man short—but the backs preferred a kicking attack. McMullen and Hawthorne were both under fairly heavy pressure but there was no need for them to have kicked the ball nearly as often as they did. Ellwood, too, seemed Imbued with the idea of kicking instead of running the ball, and Marks, at outside-centre, and the two wingers, saw little of the ball. It was in the second half that Marks first handled the ball in a passing movement. Possibly the most dangerous attacking back the Wallabies have, Marks had a few opportunities late in the game, but they were too late to be of any use. Boyce's try was a good one, but that was about the only chance he had all day. In patches the Wallaby forwards were In first-class form, moving the ball among them at speed, but for the most part they appeared disorganised. At no stage did they match the driving force of the opposition whose play in the “tight loose" was as good as that achieved by the Southland pack when they beat the tourists last Tuesday. Maxwell Darrah, Holden and Barry formed a fiery quartet in the line-outs and broken play. The Thames Valley backline was .competent, although its display, too. was marred by much kicking.