Junior All Blacks take a 41-3 drubbing from try-scoring Queensland

Press, 3 July 1978, Page 22

Junior All Blacks take a 41-3 drubbing from try-scoring Queensland

Brisbane

Queensland smothered the Ne w Zealand Junior All Blacks with an avalanche of tries as it cruised to a 41 -3 win in the rugby union match at Ballvmore Oval yesterday.

The Junior All Blacks'

winning sequence came to an abrupt halt as Queensland ran in eight tries to none after gaining a 19-0 stranglehold at half-time. "It was just like running into a solid brick wall,” the veteran coach of the Junior All Blacks, Mr Eric Watson,

(aid after the game. "If this is any indication, Australia will do very well against New Zealand next month.”

The Queenslanders, with nine Wallaby tourists on display lived up to their reputation of being extremely hard to beat in the fiery atmosphere of Ballymore. Almost from the kick-off, Queensland clamped an iron fist on the Juniors’ pack. The free-running forwards, Greg Conrelsen, Mark Loane and Tony Shaw punched holes in the defence. Also prominent through-

lout was the big Peter I McLean, who played well enough today to wear the Australian colours. McLean repeatedly outjumped the towering Junior All Black forwards to win clean ball from the line-outs.

He proved he has the temperament to mix it with the best and the Australian selector. Mr Bob Templeton, admitted later that his colleagues on the selection panel must now give serious consideration to McLean’s claim to the vacancy left in the Wallaby side caused by the withdrawal of David Hillhouse.

The fly-half, Geoff Shaw, got Queensland away in fine style with a scorching try in the opening minutes. The Maroons dominated the rucks and mauls, and the Juniors found it impossible to get into the match. Shaw’s trv was quickly followed by three more from the back-line before the break as the home team took control.

By comparison, the highly reputed Junior All Black back-line looked slow and clumsy although the backs had limited chances to show their skills. In the second half Cars nelson capped a fine display with two tries and Mark Loane crossed after a piledriving run from 10 metres out. But it was the Queensland three-quarters that brought the crowd to its feet.-

A wing, Peter Grigg, from Townsville, playing in his first game for Queensland, was impressive with his agressive running, while on the other flank, the powerful Paddy Batch made many crushing runs down the touchline.

Australia’s second-string full-back, Roger Gould, had a mixed day. He was sadly astray with his kicking, landing only three from 10 attempts. But he underlined his value as an attacking player by linking frequently with

his back-line and he crossed for two smart tries. Behind such a powerful pack, the half-back, Rod Hauser had little pressure on him and he turned in a i no-nonsense, no-mistakes game with quick service to : his inside backs. For the Junior All Blacks, the lock, Geoff Old, looked the best in a beaten side 1 while the full-back, Clive : Currie showed plenty of courage to get firmly under . high up-and-unders in the ; face of the charging maroon horde. After the match, the New ; Zealand, Robert Kururangi, I had five stitches inserted in ' the back of his left hand : and five-eighths, John Waldron, was treated for a dam-

aged shoulder. Queensland 41 (R. Gould 2, G. Comelsen 2, M. Want, P. Grigg, G. Shaw, M. Loane tries; R. Gould 3 conversions, A. Slack, field goal). Junior All Blacks 3 (C. Currie a penalty goal) at Ballymore Oval.