Universities XV beats Manawatu

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33870, 16 June 1975, Page 18

Universities XV beats Manawatu

(N.Z. Press Association) PALM. NORTH. A purposeful display by its forward pack led the New Zealand Universities Rugby team to an 18-7 win over Manawatu yesterday. The students led 12-3 at half-time.

Manawatu, without its All Blacks, John Callesen and Kent Lambert, had no answer to the solid drive of the University eight, who were well led by Otago and South Island prop, Paul Sapsford. Despite a wealth of possession, the Universities found it hard to run the ball through its back-line because of the wet conditions. Manawatu capitalised on many handling errors through the speed of All Black discard, Kevin Eveleigh, in the loose. But when Eveleigh left the field halfway through the second half with an injured leg, Manawatu was not nearly so prominent, although a former All Black, Sam Strahan, making a return to representative Rugby, did his best. The Manawatu backs seldom looked impressive, but Bruce Stephens and Russell Hawkins showed plenty of midfield thrust for the students, and the fullback, Kit Fawcitt, made many

timely entries into the backline. For the Universities, Hawkins, Stephens, and Mark Romans scored tries, and Fawcitt kicked three conversions. For Manawatu. a try by Ken Granger and a penalty by Alan Innes.