10 POINTS IN THREE MINUTES

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31084, 13 June 1966, Page 16

10 POINTS IN THREE MINUTES

ALBION 16: K. Baker and R. J. Phelan tries; A. G. Harrison two conversions and two penalty goals. LINCOLN COLLEGE 8: C. Broad a try; J. M. Keoghan a conversion and a penalty goal. Although it had had wins in its two previous matches to Albion's one loss and one draw, Lincoln College did not start to perform like a favourite until after an hour’s Rugby. By then It was too late to change the trend of the game sufficiently to overcome Albion’s lead. For a start, speed and brilliance were displayed by Albion, but in the later stages the side did not appear to be running with the same spirit or purpose. Albion won the game on the strength of a burst of brilliant back play mid-way through the first half; in three minutes Albion scored 10 points and made Lincoln College’s defence look inadequate. The try scored by Baker, a burly lock, was the product of one of the finest movements seen on Rugby Park this season. Phelan, at centre, passed inside to J. R. Adams during an Albion back attack and the Albion captain whipped through a gap and passed to G. Baldwin, the left wing. A well-judged centre-kick by Baldwin was caught on the full by D. Warren, the No. 8, and when Baker took the final pass the defence was yards away.

During this period of brilliance by the backs, the Albion forwards won twice as much possession as Lincoln College. R. Rowlatt was the dominant figure in the line-outs and D. Sexton and P. Sands seldom strayed far from the ball.

In the second half Lincoln College reasserted itself in the forwards. A. J. Banks came into his own in the line-outs and he and his fellow forwards gave Albion a lesson in ducking. But the Lincoln backs did not play with the slick assurance of their markers and seldom looked likely to capitalise on the good ball won by their forwards. W. J. Thompson was sorely missed; his presence in the Lincoln back-line might have changed the course of the game. Adams and Phelan made their usual valuable contributions to Albion’s success, but the team’s hero was the full-back, Harrison. His goal-kicking was splendid and he saved his side many times with tremendously powerful punting, which had the twin virtues of length and accuracy. Albion worthily won an entertaining match, but it must not overlook the unpalatable fact that it was penalised 20 times. Lincoln College, with 14 penalties against it, has nothing to boast about, either.

The referee was Mr F. B, Campbell.