Drab Game Tour’s Worst

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31226, 25 November 1966, Page 15

Drab Game Tour’s Worst

(N Z. Press Assn. — Copyright' LONDON.

The Wallabies 3-3 draw against Newport on Wednesday was the worst game of their tour, the “Daily Sketch” said yesterday.

“Newport and the Wallabies cast away open Rugby in favour of a boring exhibition of kicking,” the newspaper’s Rugby writer. Chris Lang, said.

The report said the crowd was driven to jeering and slow slapping at the end of the match. However, the Wallabies did have the satisfaction of scoring the game’s only try.

The “Daily Express" said the game was so dull that even partisan Newport fans were driven to slow handclapping. “That, it seems, is the price Australians are willing to pay to come to terms with British styles.” The report said, however, the game had shown that the Wallabies had learned a few lessons since they met Cardiff at the beginning of the tour. “The Wallabies have tightened up in front so well that, even with three top forwards on the injured list, they matched Newport in most phases,” it added. The “Daily Mail” described the game as a vigorous, scrappy affair, punctuated by 28 penalties—lB against the Australians. “Bill McLaughlin, the Aus-

tralians’ manager, claims this type of Rugby has been forced upon the tourists, because while their forwards have improved their backs have deteriorated, particularly in the accuracy of their handling,” the “Daily Mail” added.

The “Guardian” said both sides, and a referee who was too lenient in early stages, were to blame for “an unhappy match.” It blamed the Australians for the “grim” style of play. “The greatest disillusion of the tour so far is that the Australians’ brand of open Rugby does not seem to pay,” the newspaper said. “Now, no doubt preparing for the match against Wales on Saturday week, they had set out to play a tighter game.”