Last-minute goal wins students sodden rugby

Press, 17 April 1978, Page 26

Last-minute goal wins students sodden rugby

PA

Auckland

A 38-metre penalty goal by the former All Black, Kit Fawcett, in the last minute gave New Zealand Universities a thrilling 19-18 win over a shadow New Zealand Maoris team in Auckland yesterday.

Conditions were foul for the match, which marked the opening of the expansive headquarters at Glen Innes of the University Rugby Club of Auckland.

Both teams played rugby with zest and imagination and considering the conditions they contrived a match full of movement and life and of no little skill. After Fawcett’s penalty there was still time for a last, rousing Maori raid, headed down the right flank by Billy Bush, but even though Bush cross-kicked expertly to the goalposts a University man made the touchdown.

As well as producing miserable conditions the weather had wrecked airline schedules throughout the North Island, and various players from southern parts arrived while the match was in progress. Paul Oliver, the Canterbury prop, arrived just in time for the reopening of the bar.

The Maoris played with enthusiasm down - wind in the first half and after

Joe Whiu punched a penalty goal 40m into the wind early in the second half the Maoris led, 18-6, and seemed good enough to win by more. Then the Maori forwards rather ran out of steam and the Universities pack] launched some fine loose raids. One brought a try to Graeme Haise (Auckland) and another produced a quick-witted try by Greg Roper, of Massey. Mote importantly, Doug

Heffernan had reti.ed from full-back, Fawcett was moved there and his speed and elusive ass gave the Universities’ back-line the thrust it could not find early in the game.

Fawcett’s early play was erratic, which earned him a continual barrage cf advice — not all of it complimentary — from the hardy souls on the open bank. But Fawcett had the

i last word and under the conditions his winning penalty goal was a masterly effort. The scorers were:— New Zealand Universities 19 (G. Haise, G. Roper tries, C. L. Fawcett, conversion, penalty goal, D. Heffernan 2 penalty goals), New Zealand Maoris 18 (P. Kingi, M. West, tries, J. P. Whiu two conversions, two penalty goals). The Maoris led, 15-6 at half-time.