12-Man Team Wins League Test

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30782, 21 June 1965, Page 3

12-Man Team Wins League Test

<NZ. Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 20. A gallant band of 12 Australians fought back from 0-6 to defeat New Zealand. 13-S, in a tight, incidentpacked first Rugby League test at Carlaw Park on Saturday.

Australia was forced to play one man short for 47 minutes when it had the star centre. G. Langlands, ordered off seven minutes before half-time. Langlands was sent off after hr had tackled the Kiwi fullback, J. E. Fagan. Fagan received a cut over his right eye and could not continue. He w r as later taken to hospital where he received < nine stitches. This was only one of the many incidents. Earlier in the first half the Kiwi forward. H. K. Emery, had flattened the Kangaroo stand-off half. J. Lisle, with a head h’eh tackle Lisle refused to go off. After receiving medical attention he was moved out to centre where he was well protected by his back-line. In the second half tempers flared again when the new

[Kiwi, P. Schultz, was tackled ihigh by the Australian wing, M. Cleary. Schultz played the ball and then imm* diately chased Cleary across the field to the sideline where they staged a stand-up fight. They fought between the sideline and grandstand fence for some time and not until the New Zealand masseur. Mr J. Sommerville, leaned across the fence and grabbed Cleary did they stop. Cleary swung at Mr Sommerville after the pair had been separated. Immediately after this the Australian centre. R. Gasnier. was laid low by a stiff arm tackle by the New Zealand centre. R. W. Bailey.

There were other punches thrown but in between these incidents Australia played magnificent football to overcome the handicap of playing short. It was the brilliant Australian backs who finished off most of the movements, and the wing, K. J. Irvine, was in outstanding form to score two tries. He proved why he is called the best wing in the world with his dashing display. The Australian half-back. Smith, was also dangerous on attack.

The Kiwis had no excuses. They had plenty of possession

in the first half but had no penetration. The best feature of the Kiwis was their defence, in which it had been thought before the game that they would be extremely weak. R. D. Hammond and E. Moore worked tirelessly, covering for the other forwards who failed dismally. In the backs the best defender was Bailey, who p-oved he can tackle low and G. M. Kennedy, who was flawless during his 47-minute appearance. It was mainly the great tackling by the Kiwis which saved a heavier defeat. Kennedy came on just before half-time to replace the injured Fagan and moved to full-back, a position he once played for his province, West Coast, and was flawless. He saved many dangerous situations with his perfect low tackling.

The Kiwis did little right in the first half. They were supplied with a 6-3 advantage >n the scrums by their new hooker. C. O’Neill, but could not score. The worst feature of their play was their failure to retain possession, and their line-kicking was shocking Fagan. Kennedy and Moore all failed to find touch with nenalty kicks, making a gift of the ball to the dangerous Australian backs.

There was no doubt on the day which was the better

team, and had Johns been in better kicking form Australia would have won easier. He landed only two out of seven attempts. Irvine (2) and L. Weier scored tries for Australia, Johns kicked a penalty and a conversion. For New Zealand, Fagan and Kennedy each kicked two penalty goals. Two Players Added Yesterday, the New Zealand selectors added two Bay of Plenty players, R. Orchard and S. K. Edwards, to the squad to train for the second test at Carlaw Park next Saturday. The squad is: J. E. Fagan (Auckland), R. F. Christian (Auckland), B. W. Langton (Canterbury), R. W. Bailey (Auckland), P. Schultz (Auckland), G. M. Kennedy (West Coast), J. D. Eliwood (Auckland), W. L. Snowden (captain, Auckland), H. R. Sinel (Auckland), R. D. Hammond (Auckland), E. Moore (Auckland). R. Orchard (Bay of Plenty), J. K. Dixon (West Coast), R. O. Schofield (West Coast), S. K. Edwards (Bay of Plenty), C. O’Neill (Wellington).