N.Z. Universities score five tries

Press, 31 May 1982, Page 28

N.Z. Universities score five tries

PA Auckland New Zealand Universities ran in five tries to beat the All-Japan rugby team, 22-6, at the Pukekohe Stadium yesterday. . Only in the third quarter of the match, when AllJapan scored its only try,to trail, 6-12, did the 6000 spectators stir hopefully in their seats at the prospect of a tingling finish. But Lachie Cameron, the Universities second fiveeighths, rather dashed those hopes with a chop back through a large gap and steadfast progress through the thinning defence for a try between the posts.

It was to be the only try that the Universities’ fullback, David Halligan, could convert. Halligan and his partner, Grant Fox, had eight kicks at goal for one success, and Kazuhiko Honjo, of All-Japan, succeeded with one of three. The Cameron break showed the Japanese weakness on defence against unorthodox attacks. Their first-time tackling in set play was superb, even if the Universities back-line lacked an attacking rhythm, but whenever the Universities were able to set up second — or third-phase — attacks, or launch an im-

promptu attack, the Japanese defence was strained. Facing hefty pack the to commit all their forwards to the tight struggle, and the longer the struggle the thinner became their cover defence. The Japanese forwards worked extremely hard, Toshiyuki Hayashi and Yashuhari Kawase won most of their incessant two-man line-outs, and when they were fired up just after half-' time the Japanese managed to win some useful rucks. . In this best part of the match the Japanese backs managed some superb outflanking moves. They lost one try when. Etsuro Tsuji

dropped a pass with the left corner open, but scored a cracker when Yuji Matsuo and Seiji Hirao opened up the Universities’ defence for Honjo’s try. But for all their industry and eagerness, this was the only time the Japanese , looked like prising loose the grip which the Universities ; forwards held on the game, i Only rarely did Albert Anderson or Miles Knight or ' John McDermott lose their I throw-ins from touch, the Universities scrum was par- : ticularly solid, and the speed i of McDermott, Peter Eggle- ■ ton and Dirk Williams, supt ported by a very mobile i prop, Bryce Bevln, usually

meant that Universities soon commanded the ball at the ruck or maul. Universities did manage two tries in classic manner — one to Tim Coppiestone (which lifted Universities to 8-0 at half-time) and a flowing second-phase thrust which put Halligan across in the corner for a 12-0 lead. But too often the Universities back-line was a mixture of inaccurate passing, or over-enthusiastic running. Scores: N.Z. Universities 22 (A. Anderson, D. Williams, L. Cameron, T. Coppiestone, D. Halligan, tries; Halligan, a conversion). All-Japan 6 (K. Honjo, a try and conversion).