Britain intent on clean sweep in league series

Press, 11 August 1979, Page 56

Britain intent on clean sweep in league series

PA Auckland If the Kiwis need an extra spur to perform well in today’s third rugby league test against Great Britain, it is the prospect of a place in next year’s touring side. A win against the tourists will give each of the Kiwi XIII his greatest chance of consolidating his claim to a place in the northern hemisphere tour. But the win won’t come easy.

Although the visitors have already won the series, they are intent on making a clean sweep of the three tests.

But the Kiwis, accused in recent years of lacking dedication as well as skill and speed, can prove the critics wrong today.

They must realise that their best chances of a win and enhanced reputations will come from attacking football.

They showed, as the national selection panel convener, Mr Snow Telford described, “an ability to suck the British in to the middle and create the gaps on the outside.”

The misfortune was that the game was not read well enough for the ball to be swung quickly to the wings —Dane O'Hara in particular — to finish the attacking moves.

The Kiwis also need to keep following up in support once they have passed the ball.

In both the earlier tests, the Kiwis have won the scrums, gained the possession, yet lost the matches. The hope for today is that the more mobile back-row forwards — Tony Coll, Barry Edkins and Mark Graham — will capitalise more on the possession. The change in referees from John Percival to Kevin Steel has not bothered the tourists.

Mr Harry Womersley, the Great Britain manager was very pleased with Mr Steel — "an excellent referee” — and his control of the Maori match, although he was emphatic that he had no complaints of Mr Percival’s control of the tests. The teams are:—

Great Britain: George Fairbairn; Eric Hughes, John Joyner, Mike Smith, Steve Evans; John Holmes; Gary Stephens; Trevor Skerrett, David Ward, George Nicholls (captain); Len Casey, Jeff Grayshon; Mick Adams. Reserves: John Woods, Phil Hogan.

New Zealand: James Leuluai; Dane O’Hara, Olsen Filipaina, Lewis Hudson, Kevin Fisher; Fred Ah Kuoi (captain); Shane Varley; Mark Broadhurst, Howard Tamati, Kevin Tamati; Tony Coll, Barry Edkins; Mark Graham.

Reserves: John . Smith, Paul Ravlich. Referee: Mr Kevin Steel (Auckland).