Easy win for Wasps

Press, 12 April 1982, Page 14

Easy win for Wasps

PA Rotorua The New Zealand Maoris playing in the Wasps’ colours proved too strong for the New Zealand Barbarians at Rotorua yesterday, winning 27-12 in the first major firstclass rugby game of the season. However, the 8000 spectators who came to the International Stadium expecting a feast of fast-running rugby went away disappointed. Only occasionally did either team choose to run its back-line with purpose and close markings did not allow’ the play to flow. Two evenly-matched forward packs also cancelled out each other in the set play. In the end it was the superior team work of the Wasps that won the day.

Down 9-12 at the break, the Wasps came back with three tries between the fiftieth and sixty-sixth minutes to clinch the game. The score line should have been greater had Warren McLean not missed the conversions and also a firstminute penalty. The Wasps' back-line failed to put its act together, standing too shallow and not passing the ball quickly enough. Eddie Dunn did not help their cause by kicking on at least two occasions when enjoying a four-to-two advantage. Those misdemeanours apart he turned on a sound game as did Robert Kururangi and the last-minute

replacement half-back. Sam Pye. In the forwards Jim Love. Paul Koteka and Hika Reid had useful games. Kiernan Crowley was a sound full-back for the Barbarians and Dave Loveridge showed his class at halfback. It? the forwardes Brett Wilson, who replaced Andy Dalton, turned in a grand game and received solid support from Garry Whetton. Graham Mourie and John Ashworth. Scores: Wasps—Paul Koteka. Victor Simpson. Robert Kururangi. Miha Melson. Warren McLean, tries: Sam Pye. 2 penalties: Warren McLean one penalty and one conversion. Barbarians: Mike Gunson, try; Kiernan Crowley 2 penalties, one conversion.