Lions salvage late victory

Press, 14 July 1988, Page 52

Lions salvage late victory

PA Wellington Great Britain struggled to salvage a 24-18 victory in the final quarter of its rugby league match against tenacious Wellington at the Hutt Recreation Park last evening. The test prop, Hugh Waddell was outstanding, virtually holding the Lions together when in parts it seemed as though they would come undone against the over-eager Wellingtonians. Waddell made inroads in the Wellington defence from the start with runs up the middle having a telling effect. But it was the home-

town side which had the first say, the halfback, Jeffery Tangira, just metres out from the tryline put in the grubber kick and began the chase but he was decked without the ball and the Kiwi trialist, David Ewe, easily chipped over the ensuing penalty. David Stephenson equalised for the Lions just minutes later after Wellington was caught offside and duly penalised. In only the ninth minute the looseforward, Mike Kuiti, in a liontaming mood put Wellington onto attack with another grubber kick which

the visitors fumbled on defence. Kuiti following through toed ahead and dived on the ball for the first try which Ewe converted. A bad pass from James Leuluai to Victor Aramoana just nine minutes later made it inevitable that Great Britain would get its first try. Stephenson intercepted and set up and the scrum half, John Joyner, sent in the looseforward, Richard Eyres, for a try converted by Andy Currier. Paul Loughlin who came on as a replacement for Joyner then kicked penalties in the twenty-first and

twenty-sixth minutes conceded through Wellington’s enthusiasm more than anything else. The Lions came out in the second half looking more like an international side playing with deliberate intent rather than just going through the motions of a mid-week match. Scorers:— Great Britain 24 (Karl Fairbank 2, Richard Eyres, Andy Currier tries; Currier conversion, David" Stephenson penalty, Paul Loughlin 2 penalties) beat Wellington 18 (James Leuluai 2, Mike Kuiti tries; David Ewe 2 conversions, penalty). Half-time: 1214.