Welsh fire rekindled

Press, 7 March 1983, Page 21

Welsh fire rekindled

NZPA-Reuter Cardiff Wales regained its. fire before a. home crowd at the week-end to put ’ paid . to Ireland’s hopes of winning the rugby union grand slam by beating the Irish, 23-9. Ireland, previously unbeaten in the Five Nations championship this season, started in fine form, its ageing pack looking sharp and backs full of invention. The Ireland full-back, Hugo Macneill, put the Irish ahead with a converted penalty after eight minutes. But Mark Wyatt, playing in only his third international and looking amazingly cool, steered Wales to victory by scoring a try which he converted and three penalities for match total of 15 points. Wyatt’s try beside the post left Wales 12-6 ahead at halftime and the home side went further ahead soon after the interval with a try from Terry Holmes.

The Irish must then have known it was not going to be

their day, and Wales put it beyond doubt when the right wing, Elgan Rees, scored a third try and Wyatt scored his third penalty.

Wales’ victory takes it to the top of the table with five points from three games. It was an unhappy afternoon for Ireland, which was last year’s outright champion, and an unhappy twentyninth birthday for its star kicker, Ollie Campbell.

He amassed 25 points in the first two matches of the championship to set an Irish record of 169 points in 18 appearances, but yesterday he managed to kick only two penalties. His first penalty managed to put Ireland back in the lead for what proved to be the ‘ last time after Jeff Squire infringed in a line-out. His second came in the fiftysixth minute but by then Wales was virtually unbeatable.

Ireland had a real chance to dominate the match and secure at least a share of the

title early on, but after Wyatt’s try, Wales grew in confidence and control. The full-back, who was tested several times early on by high up-and-under kicks, was served by a perfect pass from David Richards and touched down beside the posts. He capped this with a conversion.

The second try came when Campbell fumbled a ball on his line and Holmes swept over from the resulting scrum.

Elgan Rees’ try came in the forty-seventh minute when a ball kicked upfield by Wyatt bounced awkwardly for two Irish defenders but not for the Welsh right wing who collected it up and scrambled over the line. The Cardiff result leaves a three-way battle for the championship among France, Ireland and Wales. Wales will meet France in Paris in two weeks buoyed by yesterday’s victory, while bottom-of-the-table England travels to Dublin.