Kiwi coach puts on brave face
NZPA London The Kiwis’ managercoach, Mr Ces Mountford, put a brave face on Great Britain’s 10-2 rugby league test win yesterday. Commenting immediately after the match he said: “We can’t have any complaints. Great Britain deserved to win this one. We were well in the game until late into the second half, but we missed far too many chances and because of that, mustn’t complain. “The dedication of all the players in the party has been tremendous throughout the trip. “If we could have set the record by remaining unbeaten in the tests it would have been due reward for all the players’ efforts over the last seven weeks,” Mr Mountford said. “After our visit to London we seemed to go off the boll in two or three games. I thought we were back to peak form in training during the week but it just wasn't to be today. “Great Britain produced a far stronger challenge this time and on the run of play deserved to win.” Auckland’s Mark Graham, the New Zealand captain, said: “Naturally we are disappointed not to have retained our unbeaten test record.
“Things got hot early on but when we settled down we had out chances. The game was there to be taken but we -missed too many chances. , “It’s been a really great tour and several of the
squad will return to New Zealand much better players for their experiences on this trip.” Great Britain’s coach, Johnny Whitely, was wellpleased by his team’s performance. “We still have a long way to go yet and have several faults which need sorting out,” he said, “but we proved today we can hold our heads up again in International rugby league.” Mr Whiteley singled out Mick Burke at full-back as “brilliant” under heavy pressure. “Des Drummond is a superb team player and his speed in finishing tipped the scales our way.” The British manager, Mr Colin Hutton, said he was “really delighted for all our players.” “We certainly deserved to tip the scales on the Kiwis but' their work in the earlier tests posed a lot of problems for us,” he said.
Kiwi coach puts on brave face
Press, 17 November 1980, Page 40
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