All Blacks’ match to 1970 team

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32425, 12 October 1970, Page 26

All Blacks’ match to 1970 team

(New Zealand Press Association) MASTERTON. Although a record crowd of 5400 braved the uncertain weather to attend the All Blacks’ reunion match in Masterton yesterday, the standard of play did little to justify their support.

The match, organised by the Masterton Rugby Football Club to help finance their new ground, was won by the 1970 All Black side to South Africa by 24-15 over the 1967 team.

An unimaginative first half ended with C. E. Meads’s 1970 team ahead, 9-0, after an unconverted try by the winger, B. A. Hunter, and two penalty goals by the fullback, G. F. Kember. The second half produced more of the Rugby expected of New Zealand’s top- 30 players. In the first minute I. R. Macßae, playing at second five-eight for B. J. Lochore’s 1967'side, worked

a clever scissors movement with the centre, W. L. Davis, who scored under the posts. W. F. McCormick converted to lower the score to 9-5.

Shortly after, another run by Macßae sent W. Birthwhistle over, and with McCormick’s conversion, Lochore’s team led, 10-9.

The 1970 side quickly reestablished its lead with further tries by W. D. Cottrell, and A. J. Wyllie (two). All three were converted by Kember, who kicked accurately throughout.

The well-beaten 1967 team managed to have the final say with a try by Birtwhistle, which McCormick converted to end the game.