Bell back to best form in Britain

Press, 21 November 1986, Page 20

Bell back to best form in Britain

By

JOHN COFFEY

A return to the playing fields of northern England and a reunion with his Kiwi coach, Graham Lowe, have seemingly restored all of the verve and vitality to Dean Bell’s rugby league career.

The former Auckland three-quarters never found his niche during two seasons with Eastern Suburbs in Sydney, and, by his own very high standards, Bell performed below his potential against the Australians in two tests this year. Bell missed the third test because he had been suspended after a dismissal during Easts* premiership match at Canberra. Twelve months earlier he had made a delayed start to the New Zealand tour of Britain — because of an ordering off in the Australian capital.

But it was to the 23-year-old Bell that Mr Lowe looked when, in one of his first acts as coach of the wealthy

Wigan club in Britain, he filled the one overseas vacancy in the Wigan squad.

The introduction of Bell to the New Zealand team had coincided with Mr Lowe’s appointment as Kiwi mentor in 1983. Bell was a wing in the shared home-and-away series with Australia that season, then scored three tries as a centre against Papua New Guinea at Auckland.

His further development in the cleansweep over the British at home in 1984, and Mr Lowe’s recommendation, aroused the interest of Eastern Suburbs officials. They rubbed their hands with glee when Bell scored an amazing, up-the-centre try against the Australians at Brisbane last year, but only on rare occasions was such zip evident in his Sydney club football.

Bell first made his mark with the second division club, Carlisle — along with his uncle, lan Bell, and cousin, Clayton Friend — in 1982-83. Inevitably, . the first division scouts took note, and he wore the blue-and-gold of Leeds in the next northern winter.

Tours to Britain with the New Zealand Maoris and to Britain and France with the full national team also unveiled Bell’s affinity for conditions in those countries. In spite of his late beginning, Bell was without doubt one of the very best performers during the 1985 Kiwi itinerary.

Already this British season Bell has assisted Wigan to retain the Lancashire Cup, and his inclusion among the Wigan outside backs has been at the expense of the former Springbok

rugby union player, Ray MordL

Video tapes of Wigan’s 18-28 loss to the Kangaroos have shown that Bell has lost none of his pace and penetration — nor has there been any lessening of his competitiveness when confronted by a squad of Australians.

Bell played a major role in Wigan’s fight back from 2-29 and a potentially embarrassing hiding. Having moved from right wing to midfield, Bell completed an 89m try-scoring movement initiated by the Wigan inside backs, and he created Wigan’s third

try with a typically incisive change of direction and perfectly-judged pass back over his right shoulder to an unmarked Joe Lydon. Another New Zealander, Graeme West, was primarily responsible for Wigan’s other try. A fully fit Bell would be a valuable asset to the Kiwis la their home series against France next season. Even the rampant Kangaroos can testify that he is well capable of improving on his test statistics of eight tries in 18 appearances as New Zealand seeks to restore its somewhat tarnished reputation as an entertaining and successful rugby league nation.