Rugby RETURN TO FORM

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30191, 24 July 1963, Page 11

Rugby RETURN TO FORM

Auckland Wins 52-3

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, July 23. Scoring 15 points in the last three minutes, the Auckland Rugby team completed a rout of Thames Valley by 52 points (eight goals, two tries and two penalty goals) to 3 (a try) at Te Aroha today. Playing against a stiff wind Auckland immediately took command and led 24-0 at halftime. Thames Valley improved, but Auckland still made breaks in the fourth and eleventh minutes and then scored goals in the thirty-eighth, thirtyninth and fortieth minutes of the second half.

In doing so Auckland played with much more purpose and fire than in its early games. The tight forwards hammered Thames Valley and the backs and loose forwards shot holes in the defence.

L. W. Fell, the No. 8, was the outstanding player in many of these attacks and he scored four tries—all of them by supporting attacks from the backs. M. C. M. Cormack, the fullback, also had a field day with 25 points from eight conversions (several of them easy) two penalty goals and a try—his first for Auckland.

Besides Fell and Cormack. T. R. Tataurangi (2), R. J. Patterson (2) and W. J. Nathan scored Auckland’s tries. M. Rang! scored Thames Valley’s try.