Combined Team Scores First

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30279, 4 November 1963, Page 14

Combined Team Scores First

The first downpour determined the character of the game and the first 15 minutes or so were one line-out or scrum after another. The All Blacks were making no bones about playing for touch and under the circumstances it would have been hypercritical to contest the worth of their tactics.

However, the New Zealanders were making a great many handling mistakes, rather too many even for the conditions, and one of these, a knock-on by Graham close to the goal-line, cost a try which would have been a presentation for M. J. Dick on the right. So it was the Combined team which scored first after a break from the line-out. When the ball was flung to Herewini in the in-goal area he seemed to hold it, force it and in the same movement let it go. An opposing prop. L. Cunningham, dived on the loose ball and the referee, Mr F G. Price, declared it a try. Nathan Burst Various retaliatory moves by New Zealand included a punt and a knock-on by Laidlaw close to goal, a ferocious burst of energy by W. J. Nathan in an attempt to charge around the ruck to the goal, and a kick by Herewi»i which went too far for Dick to have a hope of reaching the ball. In this series of moves Walrfi was hurt and so, coincidentally. was Cunningham, who went off the field with a deep cut on the head swallowed copious draughts of whisky while four stitches were being put in the wound, and returned briskly to play a vital part All of these adventures and misadventures were forgotten when Smith went in for his try. and at was 3-3 art halftime. When Walsh returned the All Blacks scrummed seven men foe the rest of the game, and Mnong the heroes of the reduced pack none shone out more than S. T. Meads who was the soul of honest endeavour.

Weight Lacking C I. Meads, too, was out--owwting, especially in the hne-out. Mid if D. Young suffered three to two in the tighthead count it was because the AD Blacks could not find the weight be needed A great deal ot rugged manhandling went on in the line-outs, to the detriment of accurate handling, and very often two fine local loose forwards. P. Jones and D. Morris stormed art Laidlaw or Hecewwa. After 20 minutes Nathan got offside art a scrum and the cheers surged and surged again while Hodgsons' kick travelling onward to clear the bar by a fractkxi. In the excitement the crowd began to sing the hymn, “Cwm Rhondda. 1 It was a herald of evil fortune Herewini placed his beautiful punt and Little got his try Several fierce Combined rushes led to counter attacks in two of which Hodgson, a

very fine player, was hurt and D. B. Clarke, whose goal-kicking at five or six attempts had been woefully below his best, heartened the AU Blacks by banging back long line-finders in something like his old form. Found The Gap TTie AU Blacks were now. as they had been for most of the game, in command but in conditions they were unable to capitalise possession because of the slippery ball until Herewini once more punted for and found the gap for Gray and Clarke. It was a just verdict, for the AU Blacks on the whole were the sounder and stronger team, but the indifferent quality of the handling had to be remarked and perhaps Herewini might have used his three-quarters to a greater extent by making grubber instead of lofted kicks. D. B. Clarke's form showed a distinct improvement during the game. Smith positively flashed in to score his try. Graham scored a black mark by a leg trip which very properly aroused the crowd. A. J. Stewart made some fine catches in the lineout without being able to make full use of his drive, and Whineray nursed his forwards along extremely well Gray, as before, was worth every ounce cf his weight. It was not a complete performance and there is stiU room for much improvement, but it was a great deal better than the standard reached at Newport. And the conditions, one must say again, were dreadful. It was a great effort by Laidlaw and Herewini to play so well in spite of them.