League history made by New Zealand in 3-0 series win over Britain

Press, 30 July 1984, Page 21

League history made by New Zealand in 3-0 series win over Britain

NZPA staff correspondent Auckland New Zealand made rugby league history when it beat Great Britain, 32-16, in the third and final test on Saturday, a win that gave New Zealand its first 3-0 test series victory against Britain.

New Zealand’s five tries and six goals also gave the Kiwis their biggest score against Britain. But a series whitewash was not easily earned and Great Britain at one stage seemed set for victory. It deserved its 10-8 lead at half-time and when that was stretched to 16-8,10 minutes into the second half, the match appeared to be slowly creeping away from New Zealand. The coach, Graham Lowe, had nothing to lose and decided to bring on the reserve scrum-half, Clayton Friend, for Shane Varley. The move was the turning point of the match. Friend had only played six minutes test football in the series, and the Auckland player was hungry for victory, more than any other Kiwi on the field. They all seemed just to be going through the motions, and were not as dominant up

front nor quick to back up as they had been in the first two tests, won 12-0 and 28-12. Within three minutes of Friend’s arrival, the New Zealand revival had begun. He put back the fire which had been missing round the scrum. From his first scrum three minutes after the substitution, James Leuluai scored the first of his two tries to take New Zealand to within two points of Britain. Four minutes later the scent of success was evident among the Kiwis as Friend scored a superb individual try to take New Zealand ahead for the first time in the match. It was the first of Friend’s two tries. Britain was in slight disarray. The prop, Brian Case, was down injured and the scrum had to be rearranged without a loose forward. Friend won the ball, ran round the

scrum, saw the big gap where the loose forward should have been, and scorched through the square defence to run 30 metres for a try. That was to be the end of Britain, which collapsed mentally and physically. Case went off injured, the fiery scrum-half, Andy Gregory, was sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes for arguing with the referee, and New Zealand took its chance to get on top. For the next 20 minutes the Kiwis never let go of the match and scored two more tries to leave their stamp of superiority on the series. Those 10 minutes after Friend came on saw the match swing from Great Britain’s grasp. Britain had dominated the first half, showing more aggression in play, moving up more quickly, swinging the ball better on the firm ground,

and kicking intelligently to keep New Zealand pinned back. It was all the Kiwis could do to keep abreast of Britain, which went to a 4-0 lead with two penalty goals. The “Man of the match,” Olsen Filipaina, reduced it to 4-2 with a penalty goal, but Britain gained the initiative with a try by Ellery Hanley, who dummied Gary Kemble and raced in at the corner. But eight minutes later New Zealand sparked for the first time and a handling movement among their Hull players put the wing, Dane O’Hara, in for a try. One more penalty each saw Britain ahead 10-8 at halftime. When a try by the centre, Keith Mumby, put Britain eight points clear after 50 minutes, Britain looked to be heading for its first win in six tests.

But then Friend came on and the match changed. The Balmain stand-off half, Filipaina, made two of the four second-half tries. His strength defied Britain’s tackling and time and again he was able to stand up in a tackle and release the ball. Twice Leuluai raced on to the passes and scored with defenders hanging on to him. Britain was unlucky to lose by such a big score, because the final Kiwi try was very doubtful. Friend did not seem to ground the ball as he was tackled in the comer. Scores: New Zealand 32 (tries, Leuluai 2, Friend 2, O’Hara; goals, Filipaina 2 penalties, 4 conversions), Great Britain 16 (tries, Hanley, Mumby; goals, Burke 3 penalties, 1 conversion).

Referee: Mr Kevin Roberts (Sydney).