TACKLING FIERCE

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33061, 31 October 1972, Page 28

TACKLING FIERCE

British beat Australia

(N Z. Press Assn —Copyright) PERPIGNAN (France).

The Australian Rugby league team was shocked out of its complacency by a determined British side in Perpignan.

In bright sunshine before about 6000 spectators, Britain won its World Cup match, 27-21, after leading 17-12 at half-time.

The win gave Britain, the underdogs before the match, a valuable boost for the World Cup final at Lyon on November 11.

Two years ago, when the World Cup was played in England, Australia won the final after losing to Britain in the preliminary round. The British team tackled fiercely all day, forcing the Kangaroos into handling errors and exposing a lack of support. When the British had the ball, they found the Australian tackling weak. Only in the first part of the second half did the Australians tackle well. In the 20 minutes they went from 1217 down to lead 21-17. The best player for Australia was the five-eighths, R. Fulton, who scored three of Australia’s tries and set up the fourth for the half-back, T. Raudonikis. The Australian captain, G. Langlands, kicked two penalties and two conversions, and the second-row forward, R. McCarthy, kicked a field goal. Britain’s points came from five converted tries and a penalty. The prop, T. Clawson, aged 32, brought back into test league after 10 years because of his kicking, scored all of Britain’s goals.