Scotland and France win openers

Press, 23 January 1984, Page 19

Scotland and France win openers

NZPA-Reuter Paris France confirmed its favouritism for the Five Nations rugby championship in Paris yesterday when it beat Ireland, 25-12, while Scotland had its second successive win in Cardiff when it beat Wales, 15-9. France, favourite to win outright the title it shared with the Irish last season, lost prop Jean-Pierre Garuet in the second half when he was dismissed by Welsh referee Clive Norling for punching. But playing with only 14 men for the last 20 minutes made little difference to the French who played with the hallmer?. of champions. They took the lead after only three minutes when the first five-eighths, JeanPatr ck Lescarboura, charged down a kick from Ollie Campbell and exchanged passes with the wing, Patrice Lagisquet, who set up the half-back, Jerome Galion, for a try.

Then Lescarboura set the line up again with a pass for the other wing, Philippe Sella, to go over unopposed in the corner.

France fell away in the second half but Lescarboura ensured victory by equalling the French record with 17 points from his boot, over-

shadowing Campbell, who scored all Ireland’s points with four penalties. In Cardiff, it was the first time Scotland had won twice in succession on Wales’ home ground since 1883.

A try in each half by forwards lain Paxton and captain Jim Aitken, both converted by Peter Dods who also kicked a penalty, gave Scotland a well-mer-ited win. The Welsh fullback, Howell Davies, opened the scoring after some early exchanges between the two forward packs when he kicked a 30m penalty after half an hour.

Scotland though made most of the early play with some clever interchanges between the halfback combination of Roy Laidlaw and John Rutherford and it was a break by Rutherford which led to Paxton’s try soon before half time.

The Welsh, cheered on by the capacity crowd of 62,000, fought back and the right wing, Mark Titley, scored after 21 minutes of the second half.

Dods soon equalised with a penalty two minutes later and then skipper Aitken clinched victory with his try 22 minutes from time.