Pressure on N.Z. after dismal performance

Press, 31 March 1981, Page 32

Pressure on N.Z. after dismal performance

NZPA Hong Kong, Pressure for New Zealand to send a more fully representative team to the annual Hong Kong international seven-a-side tournament will increase after the dismal performance by Auckland at the week-end.

Auckland’s preparation and keenness was no substitution for the experience and class of players in many of the 20 teams taking part. A 10-12 loss to Canada in its opening match on Saturday effectively put an end to Auckland’s chances of qualifying for the main championship on Sunday. Further humiliation came in the semi-finals of the plate event, when Tonga, the eventual winner, outclassed Auckland, 22-o.'

In other matches, Auckland was beaten by the Scottish Co-optimists, 18-6, and recorded wins over Singapore (22-4), Indonesia (30-6), and Muscat (22-9). The match against Canada was vital to Auckland’s chances of any success, but after taking an early 10-0 lead the effort wilted in the humidity and heat of the I Hong Kong Football Club stadium. ' Auckland’s coach, Bryan s

i Craies, later admitted his team had let the match slip away. "They looked good at the start, but they just ran out of steam,” he said. Mr Craies said he did not want to make excuses, but sides from northern hemisphere countries had the advantage of match fitness.

He said that the competition in the Hong Kong tournament had become so tough that New Zealand would need to take more interest in seven-a-side rugby if it expected to do well at future tournaments. “I understand we are thinking of sending a national team next year, but even it could be humiliated unless more attention is paid to sevens,” Mr Craies said. This was the sixth Hong Kong international sevens, and New Zealand has been well represented by the Cantabrians, Marlborough and Manawatu (on three occasions) previously. Observers at earlier championships appeared unanimous that this year’s Auckland team did not match up to New Zea-

land representation in the jast. The team clearly lacked be organisational ability ihown by so many of the

other sides from countries with a better appreciation of seven-a-side rugby. But the team did have some good moments. A back, Mike Mills, was in outstanding form, and scored three tries to lead a fightback from 0-9 down against the Gulf state of Muscat — a team of expatriates that included an Aucklander, David Winter.

| The championship was i won by the British Barbai rians, which beat Australia, 12-10, in a hard-fought final. Both teams scored two tries. The difference came from the boot of Les Cusworth, who converted both Barbarian tries, while Roger Gould succeeded with one out of two for Australia. The Australians also suffered the misfortune of losing their captain-coach, Gary Pearse, with a leg injury just before half-time. Earlier, the Barbarians had eliminated the titleholder, Fiji, 10-6, in one semi-final, and Australia had beaten the Scottish Co-optimists, 18-10, in the other.

Tonga beat Japan; 22-18, in the plate finaL A crowd of more than 10,000 attended on both days of the championship.