Shelford’s penalty goal sinks Australia

Press, 13 July 1989, Page 40

Shelford’s penalty goal sinks Australia

PA Auckland An inspired Auckland rugby league side pegged back a six-point deficit to beat Australia, 26-24, at Carlaw Park last evening. Trailing 24-18 with ISmin to go, Auckland scored a converted try through Shane Hansen, while Kelly Shelford kicked a controversial penalty goal with Just minutes remaining. The Auckland changing room was a mass of noise afterwards.

“What a great buzz,” said the hooker, Peter Ropati. “We just kept coming back.

“When we were down (24-18) we just got together behind the goal line and said: ‘Let’s keep this ship together.’

“We could have been content with just closing up and keeping it down to a close score. But we went back and attacked.”

Australia did not field its strongest line-up but the local side had been given little chance of winning considering the number nf its players who dropped out of the match.

Auckland gave a hint of a boilover in the fourth minute when the centre, Mike Patton, got the touchdown after the Australian wing, Michael O’Connor, had fumbled a Shelford chip kick.

O’Connor levelled with a try in the twentieth minute, from a Peter Jackson push pass.

Australia took the lead in the twenty-sixth minute with a converted try to the fullback, Dale Shearer. But Auckland came back when the centre, Dave Watson, who became Auckland’s backline danger man as the game progressed, ran on

to a Shelford pass and went over by the posts. Shelford’s conversion made the score 10-10 at half-time.

Auckland opened the second-half scoring with a penalty goal from Shelford — thrown Hi to the kicking role through the unavailability of Phil Bancroft and Peter Brown.

The Aucklanders took an 18-10 lead with a Francis Leota try, from a Ropati surge and pass. Shelford converted.

Tony Currie got Australia in reach with a try, while Shearer’s second gave the visitors a 20-18 lead, and Greg Alexander’s effort in the 61st minute put them ahead, 24-18. Auckland was looking a little ragged, but there was no lack of heart.

The Kangaroo secondrower, Bruce McGuire,

provided controversy with a punch or two in a tackle on Ropati, Watson darted around near the posts from the penalty, and Hansen was on hand to storm through for the try. With the scores tied after the Shelford conversion, the referee, Billy Shrimpton, penalised Alexander for flicking the ball away after he had been caught in the sixth tackle in front of the posts. Shelford obliged the crowd — and Auckland held back the desperate Australian attack until the final whistle.

Auckland 26 (Mike Patton, Dave Watson, Francis Leota, Sbane Hansen, tries; Kelly Shelford, 3 conversions, 2 penalty goals) beat Australia 24 (Dale Shearer 2, Michael Hancock, Tony Currie, Greg Alexander, tries; Michael O’Connor, 2 conversions). Half-time: 18-10.