All Blacks make mockery of opponents: 10 tries

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33540, 22 May 1974, Page 26

All Blacks make mockery of opponents: 10 tries

(From RON PALENSKI. N.Z.P.A. staff correspondent)

QUEANBEYAN.

The All Blacks ran in 10 tries — seven of them in the second half — and beat Australian Capital Territory, 49-0, at the Sieffert Oval, Queanbeyan, yesterday. J. F. Karam had an off-day with his kicking, but still scored 13 points, taking his total for the tour to 111.

A.C.T. held the All Blacks to 17-0 at halftime but the New Zealanders just ran away after the interval, making a mockery of the opposing defence.

For New Zealand, G. N. Kane (2), B. J. Robertson (2), R. E. Barber (2), Karam, i A. J. Gardiner, K. W. Stew-

art and J. S. McLachlan scored tries, and Karam kicked three conversions and a penalty. P. McGrath missed the only attempt he had at a penalty for A.C.T. Ball hidden At one stage the All Blacks- played with A.C.T. The half-back, I. N. Stevens, sent the ball to O. D. Bruce, who held it behind his back while his colleagues ran at him, pretending to take it. None did, and the A.C.T. players, completely confused, stood still and looked on.

Two of the A.C.T. backs, R. Brown, at full-back, and P. Dodds, at half-back, had reasonable games under the considerable pressure exerted on them. The home forwards began well but the All Blacks gained control and took over completely. The first score came after 13 minutes when Dodds was penalised for offside in a scrum and Karam’s 35-yard kick was on target. After

22 minutes, I. A. Hurst found a gap after the ball had come from a line-out, carefully controlled by Barber. The ball went via Robertson to Kane, who went over 10 yards in from the corner.

With 12 minutes to halftime, A.C.T. carried the ball over its own line, and from the five-yard scrum Barber made an attempt for th? line. He was held up but from the ruck Gardiner came out with the ball and went over. Karam again missed. A minute later, Karam redeemed himself when he came into the line on the short side after the All Blacks had won a ruck within their 25. He cut through what A.C.T. defence there was, scored and then converted his try. Weak tackling The second half brought a procession of tries for the All Blacks. Robertson broke through four weak tackles land scored, then Barber

i powered his way across | from a ruck after Kane was i caught just short of the line.

Five minutes later, Robertson scored his second try when he again sliced through the defence, leaving the A.C.T. players no chance. Karam converted this one after missing the previous two. A minute later Bruce broke through after the A.C.T. backs could not handle the ball. He passed to Robertson, who was caught; K. A. Eveleigh picked up and was held; and Stewart wrenched the ball away and scored easily. K. Karam put himself back into favour with the crowd when he was unable to handle the pass and instead booted the ball soccer fashion to the wing where Kane scooped it up and dived over in the corner. The next score came after a ruck on halfway and Eveleigh had a clear run for the line. He was caught, but passed to Barber, who was fast up in support and he ran in the try. Nearing injury time, Bruce passed forward to McLachlan but the referee did not see it and McLachlan went over for the All Blacks' final try. Karam kicked the conversion.