Late Penalty Gave Country Victory

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31399, 19 June 1967, Page 16

Late Penalty Gave Country Victory

"The Press" Special Service LEVIN. The touring Canterbury SubUnion’s Rugby side, in the first game of its four-match northern tour, scored, a 38-yard penalty in the last minute to beat Horowhenua, 17-14, at Levin on Saturday. Leading 8-8 at half-time, and up to this stage a side well in command, Country was battered around by a stirring second half rally by Horowhenua. In the first half Couptry should have scored at least 15 more points, but through a lack of basic essentials the chances went begging. N. Cornelius, in spite of a leg injury, led his forwards by inspiration, but they seldom played as a unit, although there were other fine individual performances, that of A. Wyllie being outstanding. There are few forwards who have impressed more thl® year, and Wyllie’s rampaging runs were a match-winning factor.

K. Dunster was another player quick to the loose ball, and he toiled hard in the tight.

while H. McDonald, although he lost possession at times in the line-outs, showed enterprise. The backs were unlucky to lose R. Phelan in the first half, and the thrust came from F. Fowler and W. Brooks, the latter being very unlucky on two occasions. D. Mcßae had a good game, and w.hen he came into the back-line to score his try it was another example of his versatility. When Mcßae was asked to turn a draw into victory with his last-minute penalty kick, his concentration did not falter. B. Maxwell and D. Wyllie had their moments.

Mcßae opened the scoring tn the second minute, and then converted a try by Fowler, who split the defence wide open. Early in the second half the Country pack exerted pressure in a push-over scrum for a try, and Mcßae scored his try and kicked the winning penalty. Horowhenua's points came from tries by A. Fairburn, B. Seymour and J. Betty; B. Wilson kicked a penalty and a conversion*.