KIWIS BEATEN 7-3 IN FIRST TEST

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30153, 10 June 1963, Page 12

KIWIS BEATEN 7-3 IN FIRST TEST

Cans, Bottles, Punches Thrown In Torrid Game

“The Press” Special Service

SYDNEY, June 9.

Two penalty kicks, awarded against New Zealand for incidents which were unseen by the referee, Mr J. Bradley, helped to give Australia a 7-3 upset victory over the New Zealand Rugby League team in the first test at Sydney on Saturday.

Both teams scored a try and Australia two penalty goals in a torrid game played on a mud-covered ground which was so bad during the last 15 minutes that the players, who were nearly unrecognisable, could hardly stand on the slippery, slimy mess.

The Kiwis were penalised an enormous amount in the play-the-ball movements. The Australians were allowed to stand up close all day while the Kiwis were forced back far more than the regulation three yards. The Kiwi captain, M. L. Cooke, summed up the situation correctly when he said: “We did not stand three yards back; we were eight yards back. I am a carpenter by trade and I should know my measurements.”

Mr Bradley, an Australian, taking his first test match, came in for much criticism. Few of the 48,332 who attended the match, including the referee, saw the incident which gave Australia its last two points.

This came when the Australian centre, G. Langlands, standing about four feet behind the referee, swung a mighty blow at Cooke. Mr Bradley did not see the incident, as he admitted alter the match. A linesman from the far side of the field, more than 40 yards away, reported that Cooke had swung at Langlands and Mr Bradley •warded Australia a penalty where the incident had occurred, in front of the Kiwi posts, and only 25 yards out.

The Australian goal-kicker, R. Hagan, made no mistake with the gift goal, to make the score 7-3.

Certain Try Within a minute from the end the Kiwi half-back, W. L. Snowden, appeared to save the day when he burst through from a play-the-ball movement, took an intercept on the halfway line, and raced unopposed for a certain try. The referee ruled that Snowden was offside although he had been facing in the opposite direction, watching the play-the-ball movement. Snowden said after the game that he had definitely not been offside.

Earlier, Mr Bradley had featured in some inexplicable decisions when he awarded Australia 22 penalty kicks to New Zealand’s seven In the first half penalties favoured Australia. 15-4

This half was marred by far too many stoppages but all credit must go to the Kiwis for. even with these disadvantages. they held Australis to 0-3 at half-time. Reeled Backwards

The New Zealand wing. N. L. Denton, incurred the wrath of the crowd about 15

minutes after the start of the second half when he tackled Langlands, five yards short of the Kiwi goal-line. Langlands reeled backwards as he began to get up from the tackle and lay on the ground. Denton was pelted with beer cans and bottles as the Australian centre received medical attention. Mr Bradley awarded Australia a penalty goal as Langlands raced back to his position, apparently none the worse for wear.

New Zealand, officials were not happy with the result. Although they would not openly criticise the refereeing, it was obvious they felt it was not up to standard. Mr G. G. Plant, the manager, said:

“I felt on the day and the occasion the best team won. It was very difficult to see from the stand why most of the penalty kicks were awarded. According to the players their three yards was eight yards and everybody felt that the penalty kicks went to the wrong side.” Mr W. Telford, the coach, thought the match could have gone either way. "The margin of penalty kicks just did not exist. As far as I am concerned the whole game centres around the question of refereeing. Most Australians saw the breach by Langlands but New Zealand was penalised, to the astonishment of nearly everyone} including Australians Amazed At Decisions

“People were amazed ait the referee’s decisions. New Zealand had been asked before the game to adhere to the rules in the play-the-ball movements but apparently three yards back was not enough.’’

Mr C. Churchill, the Australian coach, said that New Zealand had beaten themselves. "If they had not persisted in standing offside all day they could have won.” The new Kiwi hooker, G. C Blackler, broke even in the scrums and performed creditably in the loose play. The best Australian was the former English club player, K. Thornett, who was a thorn in the New Zealand side during nearly every attacking movement. The best of the Kiwis was Cooke H. K. Emery and B. S Lee toiled hard in the forwards, while Snowden and G. M Kennedy played well in the backs. Australia had the better of the forward play, with the Queenslander. K Day outstanding.

Threw Quick Pass The first points came when the Australian centre, R Gasnier. scored. The loose forward J. Raper, threw a quick pass from dummy half after K Irvine had been tackled to allow Gasnier to dive over near the sideline. Walsh missed the kick. Hagan missed three penalty attempts in this half while G. R Phillips missed one

Denton evened the score 12 minutes after half-time when Snowden threw a long pass, missing out two players. Denton forced his way over in the corner Phillips missed the attempt at conversion, f

Hagan added a penalty goal three minutes later, and after Phillips missed an attempt at a penalty goal from the sideline. Hagan added another goal eight minutes from the end.