‘Shadow’ test team pushed by Kiwi hopefuls

Press, 2 July 1984, Page 22

‘Shadow’ test team pushed by Kiwi hopefuls

The "shadow” New Zealand test team did not have matters all its own way in the final Kiwi rugby league trial at Carlaw Park on Saturday. Playing under the title of Lion Red All Stars, the six British-based contenders and their highly-rated team-mates beat the New Zealand-domiciled Lion Brown Country combination, 24-12. There were flashes of outstanding attacking play from the Red XIII, and four tries came in less than 15min either side of halftime. But the Brown XIII struck back with two excellent try-scoring efforts of its own in the final quarter. Three of the four Hull players, Garry Kemble, Dane O’Hara and James Leuluai, touched down, Red’s other try coming from the Widnes prop, Kevin Tamati, who surged

35m after Shane Varley, Leuluai, and Hugh McGahan had been prominent in the move.

However, the most spectacular try was the first claimed by the opposing side. Clayton Friend retrieved his own chip kick, John Ackland and Marty Crequer surged up in support, and Crequer stood firm in a tackle to return the ball to the unmarked Friend. A few minutes later the K Ricky Cowan, aged 20, red Tamati’s earlier effort by charging 45m in an imposing exhibition of strength and speed. Cowan, Ackland, and Crequer were players who must have enhanced their prospects of further inclusion in the Kiwis, and the Canterbury hooker, Wayne Wallace, shared the hooking honours with Howie Tamati. It was something of a

surprise that Joe Ropati was entrusted with the goalkicking for the Red XIII. He did quite well with four successes from six attempts, and also had a forceful attacking game in the three-quarters. Although much of the football was of a typical trial nature, it was encouraging that the New Zealand-resident players matched their professional rivals for so long. Two of the tries were conceded while Ron O’Regan was in the sin-bin after tackling high, and the others immediately after half-time positional changes had been made. Scorers:

Red Xm 24 (A. J. Leuluai, G. E. Kemble, K. R. Tamati, D. B. O’Hara tries; J. Ropati four goals) beat Brown XIII 14 (C. Friend, R. Cowan tries; N. Wright three goals). Halftime, 14-2.