New Brighton Pair Win Junior Black Places

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32073, 22 August 1969, Page 13

New Brighton Pair Win Junior Black Places

Two members of the New Brighton Rugby Club’s senior team, L. R. Dickson, the half-back, and G. J. Bacon, the hooker, yesterday won selection in the New Zealand under 23 team to play Tonga at Wellington tomorrow.

They were the only Canterbury players named in the list of 10 Junior All Blacks announced after the trial matches at Athletic Park yesterday.

New Zealand’s young Rugby talent provided some surprisingly good football despite atrocious conditions a sticky field, a savage southerly wind, and frequent showers and hail, said a N.Z.P.A. report. The team to play Tonga is

B. Lendrum (Counties): M. Collins (Otago), M. G. Duncan (Hawke’s Bay), D. L. Palmer (Auckland); B. R. Niven (Wellington), A M. Watkins (Auckland); L. R. Dickson (Canterbury); B. Holmes (North Auckland); T. Marriner (King Country), F. J. Oliver (Southland), P. J. Whiting (Auckland), A M. McNaughton (Bay of Plenty); G. Whiting (King Country), G. J. Bacon (Canterbury), R. Craig (Counties). Reserves: G. E. Falconer (Wairarapa), T. A. Julian (Nelson Bays), H. J. Paewai (Hawke’s Bay), B. Williams (Auckland). In the main trial, the Blacks, captained by the Can-

terbury prop, A, McLellan, beat the Whites, under the Counties flanker, M. Gudgeon, 23-13. In the early game, the Whites, captained by the Otago hooker, D. Pescini, defeated the Blacks, skippered by the Taranaki prop, A Gardiner, 20-9.

In its match, McLellan’s XV had to overcome a 10-3 deficit at half-time but always looked superior, the forwards winning better quality ball from line-outs and rucks. Lendrum scored 11 of the side’s points, with three penalties (two from at least 50 yards) and a conversion from the sideline.

The superiority of the Black forwards owed much to good soUd work in the tight by Holmes, P. J. Whiting, the tigerish McLellan and G. Whiting. P. K. Shorter (Auckland). Marriner and A. Campbell (Taranaki) were an impressive loose forward trio, with Shorter, who has yet to play for his province, possibly the outstanding forward of the day. He showed great speed in

making several runs and his cover defence work was unflagging. It was a surprise he failed to gain selection. W. N. Rowlands (Wairarapa), G. Wiig (Hawke’s Bay) and W. J. Risman (Canterbury) formed the core of the Whites pack, and both S. E. Cron (Canterbury) and McNaughton battled frantically in the loose.

The hooker, Falconer, bullocked his way across for a try early in the game, but was well beaten on the tighthead count by Bacon.

The Blacks wings, Collins and Duncan, Rad decisive advantages over G. I. Barbara (Counties) and L. J. Bradley (North Auckland). Collins, in particular, was outstanding, scoring two tries as the result of hard and clever running. The 17-year-old Wellington full-back, J. Karam, was the star of the early trial, scoring 14 points—two tries, two penalties and a conversion. One of the penalties was from a muddy patch 50 yards out. His play showed poise and a good deal of skill. This match was much more closely fought than the Whites’ 11-point winning margin would suggest. There was little in the forward battle and for at least three quarters of the game the Blacks’ back-line appeared to have more combination and skill. Whites were well served in the lineouts, with Julian, D. M. Waller (Wellington) and W. Robinson (Horowhenua) taking the greater share from Oliver and R. L. Stuart (Hawke's Bay). The Whites also had the best loose forward of this match in the aggressive, energetic Bay of Plenty flanker, J. B. Teat.

At half-back, Dickson hurled out some booming passes, but frequently had trouble finding his first fiveeighths, S. Bowater (Canterbury). However, near the end they worked a slick movement on the blind-side which resulted in a try.