Points galore at Nelson

Press, 17 April 1980, Page 34

Points galore at Nelson

Trafalgar Park, Nelson, has been the scene of some fast run scoring during the cricket season, but seldom, if ever, have 148 points been scored in 160 minutes of rugby on the park.

That was the tally of points from the two games played there yesterday. In the main game, Nelson Bays came with a late run to outpoint the All-Japan Under--23 side 42-37, and in the early game. Buccaneers (which included some of the Japanese touring party) beat the Nelson Bays Maori XV 45-24.

The handling of the Japanese in this early game heightened the expectation of the crowd for some exciting rugby in the second match, and it was not disappointed. It was not until 19 minutes in the second half that Japan opened up a lead of 11 points over the home side, but' this gap was closed almost instantly and, finishing very strongly, Nelson Bays scored four tries (three converted) in the last 15 minutes to win the match.

By half-time (13-9 to Japan) Nelson looked set for its second defeat of the season. Bays Coach Merv Jaffray obviously had some harsh words to say at half time about the amount of good possession Nelson Bays kicked away in the first half. It ceased almost entirely in the second half. Nelson Bays tightened up its forward play, and backs and forwards combined well to score the necessary points.

The honours did not all go to Nelson Bays. The handling, running, passing, and tackling of the young Japanese side will stay in the memories of the crowd whq saw this match long after the score has been forgotten. Only late in the second half did Nelson Bays’ superiority in mauls, line-outs, and driving play begin to tell, and the Japanese paid dearly for two lapses in handling when

the loose ball was intercept ted and 12 points scored.

All the Japanese tries were superb.. Players were cut out in long passes defenders wrong-footed and outpaced. The Nelson Bays tries were more of the bread-and-butter variety, but still the product of some excellent team-work.-,

The outstanding Japanese backs were both wings. Hitoshi Shimosaka, and Narimasa Mitani, the centres Hiroyuki Koizumi and Kanehiro Kikuchi, and the halfback, Yoshimitsu Konishi. In the forwards. Tsuyoshi Seki never stopped trying in the lineouts or the loose. The whole pack at least twice had the distinction of, not marching, but galloping the heavier Nelson Bays scrum into reverse.

The Nelson Bays pack deserved full marks for a fine effort. The side’s game came together in the second half. Hooker Paul McKay who came on as a replacement for an injured flanker, Terry McGrath, made his presence felt immediately and lan Grant, having his first game as hooker for the team, won many tight heads ,and was in the vanguard of most of the driving movements. Bruce . Smith and Steve Phipps dominated the lineouts, and Smith also led many of the forward passing movements.

Stewart Dayman had a good game at full-back with his kicking, and did everything else well. He impresses more with each game. For Nelson Bays tries were scored by Will Demster, Smith, McGrath, .Stewart Robertson, Dave Hobson, Bob Neighbours, and McKay, and Dayman kicked two penalty goals and converted four tries. For All Japan, the two wings, Shimosaka (two) and Mitani (three) scored five of the seven tries. The other two were scored by Kikuchi and Konishi. Kikuchi also kicked a penalty goal and Kozuhiko Honjo converted three tries.

Mr Graeme Anderson was the referee.