Kiwis ‘should have won’

Press, 12 November 1985, Page 60

Kiwis ‘should have won’

NZPA special correspondent BRUCE MONTGOMERIE Harrogate The Kiwi coach, Mr Graham Lowe believes New Zealand should not have lost the third rugby league test against Great Britain at Leeds.’ New Zealand led for 45 minutes until the British second row forward Lee Crooks landed a phenomenal sideline penalty goal to draw the test 6-6. Britain was awarded the penalty after Gary Prohm swung his arm in a tackle on British wing Des Drummond.

A touch judge ran on to the field and told the Australian referee Mr Barry Gomersall, that Prohm had hit Drummond. Mr Gomer-

sail awarded Britain a penalty. Crooks’ successful kick drew the match with two minutes to play. “I have had time to reflect on the game and still think the interference of touch judges had a big influence on the game,” said Mr Lowe. “(Mr) Gomersall was not going to penalise Prohm until the linesman made his report and I do not think Prohm had punched Drummond.” The New Zealand manager, Mr Jim Campbell, said it had been an excellent match. “If you count how many times the English linesmen went on to report fouls on our side but didn’t go on to

report fouls on their side you will see who should have won the test,” said Mr Campbell. “The game had to erupt at some stage. I felt the referee wasn’t pulling up things he should have been at that stage. “New Zealand missed a try when it had a three man overlap and Prohm passed unintentionally to (the) British wing, Des Drummond.” Meanwhile the Kiwi captain, Mark Graham, said he did not knock the ball forward when he scored the only try. British sports writers claimed Graham “seemed to drag the ball forward along the ground” and “appeared to knock the ball on as he tapped it forward”.

“I played the ball forward and picked it up clean,” said Graham, who scored the try in the thirty-third minute to give New Zealand a vital 60 lead. “New Zealand tackled magnificently and I was proud of my team.” But while New Zealand just managed to hold on to square the three test series, it has been costly. The tourists could be without Graham for the rest of their tour. Graham has been told he has pulled bones away from the ankle he injured in the first test, and cannot walk on it. New Zealand had won the first test, 24-22, with a last minute try at Leeds, on October 29, and Great

Britain gave a brilliant display to win the second test 25-8 at Wigan on November 2. New Zealand still has nine matches, including seven in France, to play with the first test there on Saturday week and the second on December 7. The Canterbury rugby league three-quarter, Marty Crequer, who withdrew from the Kiwis’ tour of Britain when his jaw was broken, is to join the team to strengthen the backline. Mr Michael Knowles the New Zealand Rugby League secretary-general, said Crequer will join the team as quickly as possible. “He has been pronounced fit, is available and willing to travel,” said Mr Knowles.