Wallabies almost toppled

Press, 24 July 1986, Page 46

Wallabies almost toppled

PA Hamilton Waikato came within centimetres of triumph before drawing, 21-21, in the international rugby match at Rugby Park, Hamilton, yesterday. Australia’s hopes of ending its tour unbeaten all but crumbled to dust in the first encounter of their 14-match tour when the Waikato full-back, Andrew Strawbridge, lined up a deciding penalty inside injury time. The scores were tied after Australia had led, Waikato had recovered, then led, 21-12, within sight of full-time, only to be deprived of their ad-

vantage by a late Australian fightback. A crowd of about 26,000 sat hushed as Strawbridge prepared his kick, 38 metres from the goal-line and 10 metres in from the right-hand touch.

He struck the ball cleanly but it cannoned into the right upright to rebound into play. “It was devastating,” Strawbridge said. "The kick lost the game and it was a game we deserved to win.”

. A momentary lack of concentration in the second half when Waikato led by nine points allowed Australia back into the match.

Strawbridge contributed 14 points to Waikato’s scoreline through a try, two penalties and two conversions.

He provided the most tangible evidence of changed fortunes 2i/ 2 minutes into the second half when he scored the first of Waikato’s tries and added a conversion which tied the scores.

Australia led, 12-6, at half-time and deserved to. Its points came from penalties and those goals from the impeccable boot of the new full-back, Andrew Leeds. Australia was territorially embarrassed through the first 20 minutes of the

second half and suffered from a weakened scrum and lax lineout control.

It fought back, however, and earned the plaudits of its coach, Alan Jones, for courage when David Campese scored a vital try in the sixty-fourth minute. Leed’s conversion and the penalty, eight minutes later, tied the scores. Scorers:

Waikato 21 (Andrew Strawbridge, Steven Burkhart tries. Strawbridge two penalties, two conversions. John Boe drop-goal). Australia 21 (David Campese tiy. Andrew Leeds five penalties, conversion). Half-time: Australia 12-6.