Kiwis struggle hard but last chance lost

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33064, 3 November 1972, Page 20

Kiwis struggle hard but last chance lost

(From ALAN GRAHAM, N.Z.P.A. staff correspondent)

PARIS.

Superb tackling by the Kiwis brought them honours but no reward as Australia beat New Zealand, 9-5, in the Rugby league World Cup yesterday. The individual skill of the Australian stand-off, R. Fulton, plus a little bit of luck, put the Kiwis out of the 1972 World Cup calculations.

The Kiwis played so much better in the forwards than they did against France last Saturday that they were almost unrecognisable.

The Australians had to produce their top form to score two tries in the grasp of Kiwi players on the fourth tackle. Their coach, Mr H. Bath, said after the game: “The Kiwis were as tough against us as Britain. We

were hard pressed to win.” Now, the Kiwis will play Britain on Saturday with the sole aim of avoiding a third successive defeat. At least they know they played well yesterday, while Britain can be expected to play its second-line men as its place in the final is assured.

Yesterday, J. A. Whittaker scored a try and J. Wilson kicked a penalty for New Zealand. Fulton scored a try and a dropped goal, D. Ward a try, and R. Branighan

kicked a conversion for Australia.

- New Zealand and Australia were 0-0 at half-time in the magnificent new Parc de Princes before a crowd of about 7000 in a stadium built to hold 50,000. Australia had been awarded three penalty shots to New Zealand’s one, but M. K. Eade had hit the comer flag with a dive for the line and the Kiwi loose forward, W. P. Gurnick, was almost over when he charged down a clearance from Australia’s captain, G. Langlands. The Kangaroos won the game with a concentrated assault on the New Zealand line at the start of the second half. This brought a try to Ward after Fulton had kicked ahead and the bearded winger, J. Grant, had carried play to the New Zealand line.

Earlier, Fulton had kicked his dropped goal — surely the only time in a Rugby league test match the scoreboard has recorded 1-0. From 0-6 down, the Kiwis hit back with a penalty goal by Wilson, but a try on the fourth tackle by Fulton after sustained pressure extended Australia’s lead until the second to last minute when Whittaker dived over for New Zealand. This was a wonderful try, with F. R. Christian, B. J. Tracey, Wilson, D. A. Williams,Gurnick and Whittaker all handling. Unfortunately, it came too late for the Kiwis. Six New Zealanders and six Australians were cautioned during the match for rough play, and the Kiwis were full of praise afterwards for the tight control maintained by the English referee, Mr M. Naughton.