Britain levels league series

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33580, 8 July 1974, Page 24

Britain levels league series

i (By J. O. COFFEY) SYDNEY. The skill and courage which carried Great Britain to its 16-11 victory over Australia in the second Rugby league test on Saturday was typified by the outstanding individual display of its hooker, J, Gray. Gray had his forehead cut open early in the match, returned after having five stitches inserted — Britain played on with 12 men for 10 minutes — and finally had to leave the field with a dislocated finger just before full■time. But in the time between his two visits to the casualty room, Gray played a prominent role in Britain's unexpected triumph. He won the ball from nine of the 17 scrums in which he took part, converted all three of Britain’s tries, coolly droop°d a field-goal and ignored his

severe head injury to tackle and run in a manner that must have inspired his team,mates. Had it not been for the mishaps suffered by the tourists’ specialist hookers, K. Ashcroft and R. K. Bridges, and the refusal of the Penrith (Sydney) club to release the former British international. M. Stephenson. Gray iwould not have been playing. An English Rugby representative hooker last, year, Gray has appeared mostly as a loose forward since changing codes. However, on Saturday he proved that he has learnt to counter the loose{ness of the Rugby league scrummaging formation and he was not reluctant to slip across the channel between .the front rows to beat his rival, J. Lang, to the strike. Gray was not the only hero in Britain’s brave bid to tie ■the series. The second-row forwards, C. Dixon and E. Chisnall, claimed a try apiece I with alert backing up — rewards for determined allround efforts that were a contrast to the tame Britishi

pack's play against New ■South Wales the previous week — and the stand-off half, K. Gill, justified his inclusion by combining smartly with his scrum-half. S. Nash, ito contribute the third touchdown. The Australians had many ■ opportunities to establish a winning break in the first half, particularly when Britain lost three consecutive {scrums, and two chances to goal from handy penalties ■while’ Gray was being attended to. Australia failed to capital ■ise, and it was not until the {last 10 minutes — when the i forwards, Lang and R. Coote, i claimed tries to reduce the [margin to five points — that ■ the home side attained a standard that justified the ■ pre-match confidence of its; ■ supporters. Betting card operators were: ■giving Britain 12| points: [start, the Kangaroos’ coach, i Graeme Langlands, predicted { ‘a 20-point win, and most! critics suggested that Britain’s injury-plagued squad i would not be able to offer 1

more than token resistance. It seemed that all of these opinions would be proved correct when Bob Fulton wriggled through two tackles to open Australia’s account in the eighth minute. Australia continued to dominate, territorially, without any positive return, until Gray came back with his head heavily bandaged. The pendulum suddenly swung in Britain's direction. AH of the sluggishness that had been shown in the loss to New South Wales was shaken off as Gill, G. Nicholl and Nash slipped away up the. centre of the field to send the. long-striding Chisnall across by the posts. Just four minutes later Gray dummied before releasing the ball to the rampaging Chishall, who broke away again. The British captain, Chris Hesketh, came into the movement and Dixon finished it off to give the tourists a 10-3 lead at the interval. The match had begun on a tense note and a wild flare-up occurred after 12 minutes. Cautions were issued to six

players and the game settled down into a most exciting encounter, with Britain taking the honours as the fullback, P. Charlton, centres D. Eckersley and Hesketh. halves Gill and Nash, and forwards, Nicholls, Dixon, Chisnall and Gray proved themselves superior to their more highly-rated opponents. In spite of expectations of a one-sided game, Britain’s tradition of being able to overcome even the greatest odds drew 48,006 spectators. Britain did not disappoint and a capacity crowd is assured when the countries ] meet again in Sydney on July 120. Chisnall, Dixon and Gill ■scored tries for Britain and Gray kicked three goals and a field-goal. Fulton, Coote and Lang replied with tries for Australia and M. Cronin added a goal. At Queanbeyan yesterday, [Britain beat Monaro, 34-7. R. Millard (2), J. Butler (2). M. Richards, G. Nicols, S. Norton, and N. Ramsey scored ■ tries, and Millward kicked five goals.