Irvine scores 17

Press, 21 December 1981, Page 21

Irvine scores 17

NZPA Edinburgh Andy Irvine booted a record 17 points at Murrayfield yesterday for Scotland when it beat Australia, 24-15. Only victory over England in two weeks can preserve the Wallabies’ credibility.

Presented with nine shots at goal, Irvine landed six of them to break by one point his own Scottish record and wipe out a 3-1 try advantage on which the Australians should have coasted home. The unaccountable decline of Paul McLean, so often Australia’s saviour, gained a seemingly uncontrollable momentum as he missed all but one of seven attempts at goal.

Two weeks ago at Cardiff Arms Park, he managed only two from six as Australia crashed, 13-18, to Wales. The gritty Scots clawed their way back from a 9-15 deficit midway through the first half and finished up running the Australians ragged. Tony Shaw’s men were held pointless after leading, 15-12, at the break through

tries by the flanker, Simon Poidevin, the left-winger, Brendan Moon, and the centre, Andrew Slack, and McLean’s only success, a 30m angled penalty.

But the nerveless Irvine, who has scored more than 200 points in 42 internationals, kept Scotland in touch as the Australians insisted on giving away penalties.

Ironically, Irvine giftwrapped Australia’s first try when his attempted clearance kick in the

eleventh minute was charged down by.Poidevin, who raced through to score as the ball rebounded over the try line.

The Scots resumed the second half with a barrage of up-and-unders that put the Australians under almost incessant pressure. After two minutes, Irvine drew them level and, with the Scottish forwards developing more drive in the loose, the five-eighth, John Rutherford, edged theft ahead, 18-15, in the twentyeighth minute with a 30m field goal. Four minutes later, the centre, Jim Renwick, virtually put the match beyond Australia’s reach with a brilliantly taken opportunist try. Rutherford hoisted a snowcapped “bomb” from. inside his own half, sending the Wallaby fullback, Roger Gould, hurtling back towards his own line to retrieve the ball. But the ball bounced clear of his outstretched hands and into the arms of the grateful Renwick, who charged over next to the posts.