20 MINUTES OF APPALLING FOOTBALL Kiwis thrashed; Britain’s 11 tries cup record

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33066, 6 November 1972, Page 28

20 MINUTES OF APPALLING FOOTBALL Kiwis thrashed; Britain’s 11 tries cup record

(From

ALAN GRAHAM,

N.Z.P.A. special correspondent)

PAU. - Conceding five converted tries in an appalling first 20 minutes, the New Zealand Rugby league team was beaten, 53-19, by Britain in its last 1972 World Cup game at Pau on Saturday.

Britain’s tally of 11 tries was a cup record, and the 20-year-old stand-off half, J. Holmes, set an individual record with 26 points, from two tries and 10 conversions.

Britain led 33-8 at halftime. Tries came from Holmes (2), J. Atkinson (2), G. Nichols, C. Sullivan, P. Charlton, C. Hesketh, M. Stephenson, D. Jeanes, and S. Nash. Five tries were scored for

New Zealand, by J. A. Whittaker, A. P. Coll, D. A. Williams, W. J. Burgoyne, and M. K. Eade. J. Wilson kicked two conversions.

New Zealand’s tackling, for the most part, was atrocious; at times British players shrugged off five Kiwis. And the backs kicked away possession badly in the first 20 minutes.

In this time, the Kiwis kicked three times on the firt tackles and twice on the second, and this at a time when the British team, need-

ing to conserve strength for the final, should have been forced to play physical football.

By the time the Kiwis found their feet, they were down 3-25, and the game was lost.

Few show form

Only Coll, Burgoyne and Whittaker enhanced their reputations, although W. P. Gumick was useful before he was injured, R. S. Walker ran well as his replacement, and Eade played well in bursts.

The New Zealanders* hopes of winning this game were based on their powerful tackling against Australia last Wednesday, but the forward heroes of that game, the props, D. K. Mann and D. J. Gailey, were the main culprits yesterday. Probably, the Kiwis were still too sore from Wednesday’s bruising game to repeat the performance. The Kiwi coach, Mr D. A. Barchard, said he appreciated

that Britain had also played on Wednesday. “The difference is that they are professionals who are used to two tough games a week, whereas we are Saturday footballers,” he added. “We just were not good enough and we tackled very badly.” The Kiwis did not lack possession for the penalties went their way 10-1, and Britain took the scrums only by 11-10.

Even on attack, however, the Kiwis did not look exceptionally sharp, and most of their tries came when Britain relaxed. Week of rest The half-back, S. Nash, was brilliant for Britain, while the big second row forward, P. Lowe, demoralised the Kiwis, even though he did not score a try. The New Zealanders now have a week in France with nd matches, and will lick their wounds before playing three clubs in Britain.