Wallabies Falter And Nearly Lose To Bush

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30529, 26 August 1964, Page 19

Wallabies Falter And Nearly Lose To Bush

(Neto Zealand Press Association) PAHIATUA, August 25. The lowly-rated Bush Rugby team staged a second half rally which nearly brought it victory over the touring Australians today.

In the first half it was Australia all the way, but the tourists were outplayed in the last 20 minutes and were lucky to be still leading, 19-13, at the end.

A sudden breakdown in the Australian forward play with the loss of the No. 8 forward, E. Heinrich, gave the eager Bush side the chance it needed. In the first spell Australia looked an international side. The forwards won much of the ball and the backs, after one or two fumbles in the first few minutes, handled well. For about the first time on the tour there was evidence of set pieces leading to points. Dug Deep Holes As the first spell progressed the Australians climbed more and more on top. The loose men, J. Guerassimoff in particular, barged through the Bush pack to dig deep holes into the local defence, and although they went into the game without a line-out specialist, the Wallabies held their own here. At half-time, with Australia leading 14-0, it appeared that the game would take its predicted pattern and the Bush side would gradually slip out of the game. Then came the change. Three minutes into the second spell the Australians carried play into Bush territory and Heinrich came away from the back of the scrum with the ball. He was pounced

on by the Bush loose forwards and when the players sorted themselves out, Heinrich was on the ground, holding his left wrist. He left the field for treatment and was later taken to hospital for an X-ray examination. Bush Backs On Top A minute later the Wallabies scored again, but gradually Bush pushed them back, and after 19 minutes opened its account after a fine back movement. Until the end it was Australia doing the defending, the Bush forwards winning most of the ball and its backs handling in a way that could not be faulted, kicking ahead at just the right moments, and doing the scoring. The Australian captain, J. E. Thornett, played well throughout, but on this occasion he failed to carry the rest of his forwards with him. The stocky J. Guerassimoff proved a handful in the loose, while P. Crittle did most of Australia’s work in the lineouts. There were some occasional bright moves from the other forwards, particularly L.

Austin and D. Shepherd, but in general the standard of Australian forward play was well below that of earlier games this tour. Simple Kicks Missed The Australian full-back, T. V. Casey, at first appeared to have found the kicking form which has eluded him this tour. He put over a penalty from well out and wide in a tricky wind, but marred his performance with misses on a couple of simple shots. The Bush pack capitalised on the sudden reversal of play, but it was the home team’s three-quarters who really impressed. When they got into their stride in the final stages of the game they looked as good as any the Australians have met this tour.

The centre, R. Elliott, was the key, and the wings, P. Brooks and G. Humphrey, showed a lot of speed to take half the field from the Australians on several occasions. For Australia, tries were scored by P.I F. Hawthorne (two) and Heinrieh. Casey kicked two conversions and two penalties. For Bush, tries were scored by Brooks, Elliott and Humphrey. I. McHardy kicked two conversions.