Coach blames referee for defeat

Press, 16 July 1986, Page 64

Coach blames referee for defeat

NZPA-AAP Wagga Wagga

The New Zealand rugby league coach, Graham Lowe, blamed the referee, Barry Priest, for the Kiwis’ 14-16 defeat to Riverina at Wagga Wagga yesterday. Riverina, inspired by a former test forward, Les Boyd, led 12-8 at half-time and was helped by a lopsided 20-8 penalty count.

“While New Zealand played well we lost the game because of the referee,” claimed Mr Lowe. “Things were made harder by the referee and put the Kiwis under extra pressure.”

Riverina had a 10-4 penalty share in the first half and Mr Priest sent the Kiwi half-back, Gary Freeman, to the sin bin for five minutes for con-

tinual “scrum infringements”. The Kiwis’ manager, Tom McKeown, was equally outspoken about the referee. “It was the worst exhibition of refereeing I have seen and he wasn’t up to the job,” declared Mr McKeown. It was the first time

Riverina had beaten New Zealand. The match was played on a wet, slippery ground which made handling difficult. The Kiwis had little possession in the first half and made the most of their limited opportunities. In the second half the

Riverina forwards led by Boyd, Rod Slater and Colin Scott continued to outplay the Kiwi pack. The captain for the day, James Goulding, and Peter Brown toiled away for the New Zealand forwards with Tea Ropati, his brother, Joe, and the half-back, Freeman, pro-

vidlng most penetration in the backline. Freeman was the most consistent of the backs winning the man of the match award. New Zealand was rocked early when a former Manukau player, Michael Rawiri, snared an intercept to score under

the posts. After New Zealand had hauled back its second half deficit to 14-14 Elwin landed an easy penalty goal 12 minutes from the end for what turned out to be the winning points.

The Riverina coach, Ron Pilon, said he had expected Riverina to beat New Zealand.

“We have a good pack of forwards and beat them up the middle,” said Mr Pilon.

“I was not impressed with the New Zealand side and it probably didn’t expect such a hard game.”

Scorers for Riverina were Rawiri and Tony Morgan tries, with Elwin landing four goals. New Zealand’s try scorers were James Leuluai and Freeman with Peter Brown kicking three goals.