Tries and beer for Bevan

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32677, 5 August 1971, Page 24

Tries and beer for Bevan

(By

J. K. BROOKS)

The British Lions’ left wing, J. C. Bevan, will remember his tour of New Zealand this season for two reasons—the big tally of tries he has amassed and his acquiring of a taste for beer.

Yesterday, at Palmerston North, the hard-running Welshman scored four tries to bring his total to 16, one behind the record set by another left-wing, A, J. F. O’Reilly, during the 1959 Lions’ tour. P. B. Jackson (1959) and K. J. Jones (1950) both scored 16 tries for Lions' teams in New Zealand. Bevan is assured of at least one more game, and there is no doubt his fellow backs will give him every opportunity to break the record.

In his first four games in New Zealand, Bevan

scored 10 tries, but then he became prone to handling errors and he scored only twice in his next six appearances. One of these tries was his outstanding effort against Canterbury. In Wellingast last week, the Lions’ coach (Mr C. R. James) paid special attention to improving Bevan’s handling and his execution of the outward

swerve. The lesson paid rich dividends yesterday. An outstanding gymnast as well as a fine footballer, Bevan was not a beer drinker at the start of the tour. But during one spell of mid-week inactivity he tried a few tentative sips, and was con-

verted. Now he is loud in his praise ' of New Zealand beer—in places where he can get it. »