Sydney upsets Queensland

Press, 26 April 1983, Page 27

Sydney upsets Queensland

NZPA-Reuter Brisbane Sydney’s rugby XV made history by defeating Queensland for the first time at Bally more on Saturday but had to survive a late challenge before taking the match 27-22.

However, the Sydney coach, Peter Fenton, blamed the ball supplied by the Queensland Rugby Union for the closeness of the scores.

“It’s slippery and hard to handle even in dry conditions,” he said.

Light rain fell throughout the first half and the game was marred by constant bad handling from both sides. The secretary of the Q.R.U., Mr Terry Doyle, said that the brand was the

only difference between the balls used in rugby tests and those used in representative matches at Ballymore. “Otherwise there’s no difference at all and I can’t understand Mr Fenton’s complaint,” Mr Doyle said. Sydney held a comfortable 27-10 lead with eight minutes remaining when Queensland’s conservative backline suddenly erupted with a brilliant passing display which ended in two converted tries. Scores:

Sydney 27 (Mick Martin, Simon Poidevin, Brad Selby tries, Mark Ella goal, two penalty goals, Glen Ella, two goals, a penalty goal) defeated Queensland 22 (Peter Grigg, Andrew Slack, Ross Hanley tries, Michael Lynagh, two goals and two penalty goals).