RIDICULOUS FIRST TRY

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31162, 12 September 1966, Page 3

RIDICULOUS FIRST TRY

For the first 10 minutes > there was cut and thrust as both teams tried to use their backs and the crowd simmered happily as the ball was passed quickly and crisply. The Lions looked just a ■ little sharper than the All I Blacks, with Gibson and Me-1 Fadvean making some dan-; gerous thrusts. The first try was a surprise. | Herewini kicked to the cornerj flag, and Bebb had plenty of time to clear, but he knocked. the bouncing ball over his | goal-line. When tackled by j Herewini. he let the ball roll 1 into touch.

C. Meads picked it up. threw It to Nathan, and the All Blacks had a ridiculously easy five points when Williment converted.

Crunching forward, the New Zealand pack began to exert pressure on the Lions, and Herewini and Lochore almost scored Dick took his chance when Herewini's dropped goal attempt was charged down, and, with the All Blacks leading 16-0. things looked ominous for the Lions.

Then Pask was iniured and had tn leave the field. That wrought an amazing transformation in the Lions* team. The pack became more spirited, the backs more dangerous, and the two brilliant tries, to McFadvean and Hinshelwood. brought drama to the game. The crowd, which had been quiet until then, began anxiously calling “Black. Black," as the Lions harried New Zealand with swift back-line attacks There was a response from New Zealand but a certain try was lost when Herewini mistimed his pass to Dick, who was unmarked. and 15 yards from the line. The halftime score of 10-8 placed the match in much the same situation as at Christchurch. The Lions had to score first if they were to win. but try as thev did. they could not gain control. Two defensive penalties took the All Blacks into the Lions’ half The match was still In the balance until 25 minutes, but

Macßae s try, after Gibson had fumbled the ball and Macßae and Tremain had kicked ahead, made the score 15-8.

Sensing that this was the vital try, the All Blacks were at the Lions' throat immediately. Five minutes later Herewini dropped a goal and two minutes after that Tremain burst through, passed to Hazlett, who handed the ball on to Steel for the Canterbury wing to score his third | try for the series.

Now the Lions were disjointed and dispirited, and penalty goals by Williment and

Wilson advanced the score to 24-11. In a last brave gesture the Lions swung the ball across field. Bebb flew towards the line, but Williment hurled him over the side-line. There was, too, a lovely run by McFadyean, but he was caught from behind by Dick. A second later the game and the tour was over. There were the formalities of the speeches and the singing of “Now’ Is the Hour” by thousands of spectators, before the weary and sad British, players moved into their dressing room.