Boy costs Fox first test try

Press, 20 November 1989, Page 1

Boy costs Fox first test try

NZPA Dublin The AU Black, Grant Fox, had never heard of/ a 14-year-old Dublin schoolboy, Garret Tubrldy, before yesterday. He might not’ forget him for some time, however, after Tubridy’s intervention cost him his first test try in,yesterday’s inter- :> national against Ireland. ."''/ The AU Blacks won the game, ■ 2M. ’ . Fox thought i the. wait for his first try was over after he crossed tai; the right-hand ' corner midway through the second ' half. • ' ‘ ■.?/• ■ The Auckland first , fiveeighths, playing; his twentieth test, has set records with his kicking exploits, but a test . try.

has eluded him. However, the Australian referee, Sandy Mac Neil, changed his decision after consulting the Scottish touch Judge, Jim Fleming. ./. ? The try was cancelled when Mr Fleming pointed out that the AB Black hooker, Sean Fitzpatrick, had stepped into the field of play while throwing the baß ; into a lineout about 3 minutes before Fox scored. ; Television replays showed that Fitzpatrick bad marginaßy stepped over the touchline. Mr Mac Neil had not seen Mr.-’-Fleming*.flag out and play continued for 3 minutes — including two further lineouts — until Fox - was preparing to take the cow

version. / ; ... ■ - Hie schoolboy, a baß boy on, Mr Fleming’s side '.of the field, asked the lineman why he did . not .'rim on to the field .to tell Mr MacNeß of the infrlnge- ■ ment ■ /// ' '•» /. '/ Told that Mr Fleming was not. allowed to, the Blackrock Coßbge boy, carrying- bis bucker-pf sand .. - for the goalkickers, ran across to the far side of the field/to tell Mr ,MacNeß. /.-/' r ; . ■' Fox was. unhappy, about-the ? /decision, buttook a philosophical view of the setback. “Obviously Pm disappointed that some/lineman decided to interfere.-But c’est la‘vie, thafs ' tbe way it goes,” he .'said.'-. ..-,5? % •Tt wm'U- niee feeling but it’s

not down in the book/so it doesn’t count.” . Botb the All Black captain,. Wayne Shelford, and the coach, Alex Wyllie, were critical of Mr Mac Neil’s decision. 7 "On the average Pd ’say MJ per cent of bookers have , got’ their feet. over: the line /when-. . . they/-: throw the v ball into. 2 the/ ?? ; - f *!T]fiit. line umpire -ruled it It was disappointing. .SomeTbodkers -come a metre into the/Held of play/ But that’s Hie way it was . ruled so you Just get on with Mac Neil’s decisiort w triviaL” ' <i* j" - Match report, back