Superior kicking gives Wales edge

Press, 7 December 1981, Page 36

Superior kicking gives Wales edge

NZPA Cardiff The courage of the halfback, John Hipwell, who played for more than an hour in agony from a torn hamstring shone through the gloom of Australia’s shattering 13-18 loss to Wales at Cardiff Arms Park yesterday. Hipwell was in severe pain from the third minute of the match but battled on until a second injury — a damaged rib cartilage — finally forced him off mid-way through the second half. “It was one of the gutsiest things I’ve seen,” said a teammate, Andrew Slack. “I heard Hippy yell out a few times.” However, the 33-year-old veteran’s inspiring bravery did not earn its just reward: the fulfilment of a long cherished dream of victory at “The Park.” Three times he has taken on the Welshmen at Cardiff in a full international with, the same result. “It’s too much," muttered a distressed Hipwell who, on his last visit in 1975, was

carried off with a serious knee injury. The thirty-fifth cap he won yesterday could well be his last. The coach, Mr Bob Templeton, said the damaged rib would take up to three weeks to heal, which would rule him out of the Scotland test on December 19. The remaining 19 minutes after Hipwell staggered off, when Australia was clinging to a 13-12 lead, degenerated into a nightmare for Australia. Within four minutes, the Welsh captain and fiveeighths, Gareth Davies, edged his team in front for the second time in the match with a 35-metre field goal. On the stroke of normal time, the full-back, Gwynn Evans, capped a faultless goal-kicking display by landing a 45-metre penalty to open up a five-point margin. Yet in the incredible dying seconds of the match, after four minutes of injury time, the Australians went desparately close to salvaging their bid for a British

Isles grand slam. The outside centre, Slack, who had scored the first of the Wallabies’ two tries, intercepted the ball just outside his own quarter, broke clear and careered upfield. In a long bursting sprint, he charged over the half-way line but with defenders closing on him with every stride, made it only to the Welsh quarter. Hemmed in, he slung a desperation pass to his winger, Mitchell Cox, but he too was grabbed before taking more than a couple of steps and Australia’s hopes died. It was ironical that Australia’s two try-scorers should play out the final stunning act in a drama that gripped the 50,000 crowd almost from the start. The Australians, who appeared overawed in the opening stages, fell behind in the tenth minute when the full-back, Evans, landed a 25metre, field goal. Seven minutes later, the five-eighths, Paul McLean, levelled the scores with a 35-

metre angled penalty for a late tackle on the full-back, Roger Gould. However, it was to be McLean’s only success from four penalty attempts in probably his worst-ever international kicking performance. He was off-target with two more in the first half, plus the conversion of Slack’s try in the thirty-fifth minute. The try itself was doomed to controversy after the Queensland centre hoisted a superbly judged up-and-under that the Welsh halfback, Terry Holmes, caught only a metre from his line. Holmes asserted he called for a mark but the Irish referee, Mr John West, ignored the plea and in the next instant, the Welshman was sent flying as three Australians charged into him. Holmes was sent sprawling, spilling the ball across the line and, Slack pounced on it to score. However, in the third minute of added time in the first half, Evans slammed over a

15-metre penalty after the Australian mid-field backs were caught offside under the posts. Three minutes into the second half the No. 8, Mark Loane, burst from a scrum 15 metres out and found the right winger, Cox, who plunged over in the corner for a try on his international debut. McLean raised the flags with a superb sideline conversion, boosting Australia to a 13-6 lead. However, another three minutes later Wales’s second-rower, Richard Moriarty, also playing in his first test, rounded off a back-line sweep by crashing over for Wales’s only try. Evans’s impeccable boot found the target again and once more the Australians were defending a one-point lead, at 13-12. The odds against their hanging on slumped almost immediately when the centre, Michael Hawker, left the field clutching a damaged shoulder joint. He was replaced by the winger, Mick r

Martin, who took over on the right flank with Cox moving to the centres. After Hipwell’s departure, Cox was joined by his older brother Phillip. The Welshmen deserved their victory. They were spearheaded by a spirited, well disciplined pack which worked relentlessly in the loose and delivered cleaner possession from the set pieces. Despite McLean’s unaccountable kicking lapse, the Australians had sufficient opportunities to carve out an historic win. However, indecision in tight situations and too heavy a reliance on tactical kicks cost them dearly, especially during a 20-minute period of sustained secondhalf pressure. Mr Templeton reacted angrily when questioned about the “mood” of the Wallabies after their defeat. “Of course we’re depressed,” he said. “But if you’ve got any guts and fortitude, you’ll come back again.”