AUSTRALIA DOMINATES SECOND LEAGUE TEST

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31411, 3 July 1967, Page 22

AUSTRALIA DOMINATES SECOND LEAGUE TEST

(From J. O. COFFEY, N.Z.P.A. special correspondent)

BRISBANE. Australia beat New Zealand, 35-22, to retain the Trans-Tasman Cup in a sensational second Rugby League test at Brisbane on Saturday afternoon.

The match was full of incidents—two players were ordered off after only 90 seconds of play, cautions were issued to two other New Zealand players, there were 11 tries and 57 points scored, and the football played by the Australian backs was magnificent.

The brilliant Australian backs dominated the game with their speed, fine ball control, and bewildering reverses of play. New Zealand was not able to use its superior speed in the forwards because of the sending off of R. L Orchard, and the loss of J. K. Dixon with an ankle injuiy five minutes before half-time. The match was probably the first test in which a try was scored after the half-time and fuH-time hooters were sounded.

In the first half L. Hanigan scored for Australia when C. E. O’Neil miskicked to J. McDonald on the fourth tackle, and E. H. Baker dived on a kick-through by the Kiwis after full-time. Rushed On Police and officials took several minutes to clear the ground to allow R. B. Tait to take the final conversion. The Australian tries were scored by McDonald 2, K. J. Irvine 2, Hanigan, J. W. Raper and G. F. Langlands. McDonald kicked six goals—two were magnificent kicks from the side-line—from eight attempts, and Langlands was successful once from three opportunities.

H. R. Sinel, R. S. J. Irvine, Tait and Baker scored tries for New Zealand, and Tait kicked five goals from seven attempts. Two of Australia’s tries resulted from passes that appeared to be forward but the Kangaroos nearly scored on three other occasions. K. J. Irvine was recalled after he had crossed when he

took a forward pass from Langlands; Hanigan had the ball knocked from his hands by Tait when he seemed to have beaten the Kiwi fullback; and Tait just managed to dive on a loose ball over the New Zealand line after a wild pass by O’Neil.

Scrum Lead

O’Neil held a narrow 14-13 advantage over A. F. Burnan in the scrums in spite of having only four forwards at times when Sinel stood off the scrum in an effort to curb the elusive running of W. J. Smith.

The penalties were shared 13-13. Australia was penalised in the scrums nine times to New Zealand’s three. All seven penalties received by the Kiwis in the second half resulted from scrum technicalities.

After the early tussle there were few incidents, but there were a number of heavy tackles and Mr Pearce cau-

.boned 0. Danielson (twice) and P. J. Schultze during the game. It was a fast match but Australia did not hold a marked territorial advantage. New Zealand often worked deep into Australian territory but Orchard was not there to use his strength and deceptiveness.

The New Zealand defence often appeared suspect against the Kangaroos’ more orthodox movements and it had no answer to the switches of play that proved so profitable for Australia, which seldom used its forwards to attack. Two Chances Only twice did New Zealand appear to have a winning chance, when Sinel scored to pull New Zealand up to 13-9 before Australia went away to 18-9 at half-time, and again when the Kiwis scored eight points in two minutes to trail, 17-20, after 12 minutes of the second half. Australia led, 20-9, when Tait scored a try inches from the corner.

R. Irvine whipped the ball from R. W. Gasnier’s hands to scamper 35 yards and score as the professional sprinter, McDonald, engulfed him on the line.

The firm ground helped the Australian backs to show their mastery. Tait’s defence was generally sound and his line-kicking and goal-kicking accurate.

The wings. Baker and W. P. Southern, were not able to match their opponents' speed. Bailey and Christian kept a reasonable hold on Gasnier for much of the game, but the brilliant Australian captain found an able partner in McDonald to capitalise on his breaks. Made Break Dixon made the initial break for Sinel's try. Danielson tackled strongly on occasions. A. P. Kriletich had a sound all-round test debut, but O’Neil and W. P. Noonan made many errors on defence. Sinel was the best Kiwi forward.

Smith generalled his Australian backs well. Gleeson made the occasional break and fed his flying threequarters competently. Speed and deception took care of the rest.