COAST DEFEATED, BUT EMERGED WITH CREDIT

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31136, 12 August 1966, Page 15

COAST DEFEATED, BUT EMERGED WITH CREDIT

(By Our RuSby League Reporter) After trailing by 16 points at half-time and playing with only 12 men for the final 38 minutes, the West Coast Rugby League team emerged with credit from its 27-5 loss to Great Britain at Wingham Park, Greymouth, yesterday afternoon. __________

There were several injuries. The Coast full-back, Mann, was forced to leave the field after suffering a head injury in a tackle two minutes after the intervalWest Coast played without a full-back after the referee, Mr E. W. Gutberlet, had refused to allow a replacement. When Mann left the field the reserve back, B. Sweetman, ran on. Mr Gutberlet asked him to leave the field as the international law allowed replacements only

up till the end of half-time. The British captain, Poole, was prepared to allow Sweetman to remain.

Britain had two changes Wriglesworth, one of the stars of the first half, came off because of a trap nerve injury in the shoulder, and was replaced by Aspinall. The prop forward, Roberts, suffering from influenza, was replaced by Clark. Seven Tries Britain scored seven tries and was the vastly better team in the first half. However, Keegan could succeed with only three of his eight attempts at goal. For Britain tries were scored by Stopford (two), .Dooler (two), Burgess, Fogerty and Roberts. Rocfoford scored a try for West Coast and Kennedy kicked a goal. Mann missed four attempts and Kennedy two. One of the features of the match was the pleasing debut of the 20-year-old West Coast hooker, Mason. After trailing 3-7, at half-time he won 12 to the 20 second J half scrums to even them with Flanagan at 15-15. Mr Gutberlet was very severe on Britain in the scrums—where Flanagan repeatedly used a loose arm and struck too soon—and West Coast received 16 penalties to three. The match was free of foul play but both teams tackled hard. Ball Thrown About The firm ground and fine weather enabled the tourists to play some attractive football. The ball was thrown around once an initial advantage had been gained, although Britain suffered from injuries to Brooke and Hardisty. as well as to Wriglesworth and Roberts. As the injuries mounted the backline was shuffled around and Burgess played in the centres for much of the game. Weir played an outstanding match for West Coast and brought himself in line for New Zealand honours. He made two fine breaks in the first half that would have led to tries had he received any support. At all times his running was strong and his defence good. Dennehy was also quite impressive, although the defence restricted his usual deceptive running. The scrum half, Kiely, was the most penetrative back and his little darting runs worried the usually sure cover(defence. Kennedy played a fine administrative role and j Brown made the best of his : opportunities. The wings, Brereton and Rochford, received limited chances but the bustling Brereton in particular played ! with credit. Mann’s defence ' had been good until he was (injured, but Johnsen missed [a few important tackles. One of Stopford’s tries fol-

lowed a 55-yard run and Ms speed and the deceptiveness and strength of Burgess made Britain a dangerous attacking unit in the three-quarters. Work In Backs Keegan spent much of his time in the backs and Hardisty was the most attacking of the inside backs. He did not escape Kennedy very often from set play but Kennedy, who was the only back tackling for a period in the first half, could not cover the whole field and Hardisty found a few gaps further outThe powerful Roberts and Watson, roving around the centres and running like backs, breached the defence quite often and Poole played a fine game himself. Much of the penetration from the rucks was started by Fogerty, another who ran like an outside back. West Coast’s try followed a dropped pass 20 yards from the line just on half-time. Kennedy picked up the ball, drew Poole, and sent the ball out to tiie perfectly-positioned Rochford.