British Score Runaway Win In Wellington

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32349, 15 July 1970, Page 19

British Score Runaway Win In Wellington

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON.

Britain scored the biggest win of its tour of Australia and New Zealand so far when it slaughtered a plucky Wellington invitation XIII, 60-8, on the pond-like Rugby League Park yesterday.

The tourists’ previous best winning total was 49-16 against Newcastle on June 27. Its collection of 14 tries yesterday, eight between A. Smith and J. Atkinson, also bettered the previous best by four. In heavy rain, Britain produced a breathless display

during the first 40 minutes. The atrocious conditions seemed to have no effect on the tourists as they tossed the ball about to the bewilderment of the invitation team, and led 41-3 at half-time. As the paddock became little more than a sea of puddles and the ball was saturated, Britain’s play lost its edge: but by then it did not matter. . ( “Why don’t we declare,” -the British loose forward, D. I Laughton, joked at half-time. I Although Britain’s manager i (Mr J. Harding) did not conl sider it a threat to his team’s Ichances of winning the second test at Christchurch on Sunday, Britain conceded an astonishing number of penalties. “We got a bit slack towards the end,” Mr J. Whiteley, the team’s coach, said. “We’ll need to tighten up before the test in Christchurch.” The “player of the day” award went to the British winger. Smith, whose speed and clever changes of pace netted him five tries. Britain’s full-back, R. Dutton, made a splendid return after being on the injured list for more than four weeks. He converted nine of Britain’s 14 tries, some with magnificent kicks of the heavy tall, and his general play was sharp. Britain had only one of its first test forwards playing but

there were several in the pack of a high standard. The big, 20-year-old P. Lowe and his second row partner, D. Robinson, were among those who! had good games. Apart from R. Mackenzie, who won the hooking duel against P. Flanagan, 11-9, the pick of the invitation side were the full-back, B. Mann, and the scrum-half, G. S. Cooksley.

Smith (5), Atkinson (3), Hesketh (2), Flanagan, Shoebottom, Lowe and Laughton scored tries for Britain, and Dutton kicked nine conversions. For the invitation side. Rolleston and Toleafua scored tries, and Mann kicked a conversion.