Backs disappointing, but. . . ALL BLACK FORWARD POWER TOO MUCH FOR KEEN SYDNEY XV

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33532, 13 May 1974, Page 22

Backs disappointing, but. . . ALL BLACK FORWARD POWER TOO MUCH FOR KEEN SYDNEY XV

(From

RON PALENSKI,

N.Z.P.A. staff correspondent)

The All Blacks won the battle in the forwards and beat an injuryhit Sydney team, 33-10, yesterday. It was the tourists fourth successive win in Australia.

The All Blacks scored five tries to one and overwhelmed the young Sydneysiders in all phases of play. The big New Zealand forwards, with W. K. Bush and P. L. Whiting outstanding, constantly harassed the opposing inside backs, forcing the local side into frequent errors.

New Zealand led 13-3 at half-time and maintained its superiority throughout the second half. Sydney’s left wing, O. G. Stephens, a 1968 All Black, had the distinction of scoring the first try against the tourists, when he touched down five minutes into the second half. Tried hard Sydney was a better team than pre-match forecasters gave it credit for, and it tried desperately to match the All Blacks in the forwards. The New Zealand backs did not perform as expected and could not produce the type of hard, running game wanted from them. Only on half a dozen occasions did the ball go through the back-line. For New Zealand, G. B. Batty (2), G. E. Crossman, O. D. Bruce and B. J. Robertson scored tries, and J. F. Karam kicked two conversions and three penalties. In addition to Stephens’s try, L. Monaghan kicked two penalties for Sydney. The All Black coach, Mr J. J. Stewart, was satisfied with his team’s overall-per-formance. “The forwards were splendid but the backs did not click as I would have liked them to.” he said. "However, their handling should improve after today’s outing, and the Australian public can expect big things from them in the major matches ahead.” Class player At least Robertson confirmed his rating as a class player. He defended sternly and showed his skill late in the second half when he sidestepped several Sydney players and scored a magnificent individual try. G. N. Kane generally had an unhappy debut at second five-eighths, and Karam also had one of his off days, missing six kicks at goal and also being off line at times with his kicking for touch. Back-line faults affected Sydney even more. The halfback, P. Carson, and the first five-eigths, M. Love, were both late selections for the team and looked to be out of their class.

The only two Sydney backs who appeared to have genuine talent were Stephens and J. V. Cole. The New Zealand loose forwards, A. R. Leslie, R. E. Barber and K. A. Eveleigh

were dominant in their department, but the locks, J. A. Callesen and Whiting had some troubles in set play from the Wallaby, G. Fay, and his locking partner, R. Lamaro. The flanker, R. Price, was also a very useful forward for Sydney. The All Blacks were penalised in a line-out on their own 10-yard line after two minutes but Monaghan’s attempt to open the scoring was wide. After five minutes, Sydney was penalised in a ruck on halfway and Karam attempted a long-range kick but it was well short. He was more successful with a penalty for off-side in the tenth minute from 40 yards and put New Zealand 3-0 ahead. The first try came after 20 minutes when, from scrappy play after Kane and then Batty had been caught in bids for the line, Crossman was fed from a ruck and ran over Karam converted. Monaghan replied for Sydney with a penalty from 50 yards after 28 minutes.

Four minutes before the end of the half Bruce kicked high and Monaghan could not control it. Eveleigh took the bail from him and kicked ahead, and Batty beat Stephens and R. Andrews in the chase over the line. New Zealand wasted no time increasing its score in the second half. Batty was caught on the line and from the ruck I. N. Stevens sent Bruce away. He cut inside Love and scored by the posts. Karam converted.

Best of tries Sydney kicked a second penalty a minute later, and then Stephens went over in the comer six minutes into the half. Cole had made the break on halfway and passed to Andrews, who fed Stephens. He was caught by Batty but broke away and dived over. Monaghan missed the kick.

Karam added two more penalties, and then, after 31 minutes, Eveleigh took play

to within the Sydney 25, and from a ruck Stevens passed to Bruce. Kane sent it on to Robertson who cut through the Sydney cover defence in spectacular fashion. Two minutes from the end, Cole went through the All Black line and crossed in the corner in Kane’s tackle. However, he could not force the ball down. Karam restarted piay from the 25 and kicked left for Batty, who picked up the ball, sprinted away, and scored with a despairing Cole clutching at his ankles and C. Blunt chasing him.