Lions’ Backs Show Best Form On Test Eve

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31108, 11 July 1966, Page 3

Lions’ Backs Show Best Form On Test Eve

(Special Correspondent N.ZJ’.A.) WHANGAREI. In the brightest match of the tour so far, in spite of the wet and slippery conditions, the British Lions beat Northland by six points (two tries) to three (a penalty* goal) at Whangarei on Saturday.

This was the tourists’ fifth win in nine matches. Both sides threw the ball around in the first half and the Lions did so again towards the end of the second spell.

As a pre-test morale booster, the victory must have been of immense help to the Lions. But the forwards, although they played Mell individually, were more inclined to favour loose play. The biggest Slip for the Lions was the manner in which the backs went about their task. They spun the ball well and for the first 20 minutes it did appear as if they were going to run riot. Speed, Cohesion This is the first time that there has been speed and cohesion in the backs. Admittedly, a few passes were dropped but this was understandable under the conditions. The first half produced some exciting Rugby, especially when the Northland backs settled down. However, the

The Northland backs never had a chance to show their paces. This was particularly unfortunate for the winger, Panther, who needed a first-class game to win his place in the All Black side for the first test. All the Lions’ forwards played well but the return of Lamont, the Irish flanker who injured his arm in the Otago match, was of immense assistance. Recognised as the best side-row forward in the British Isles, he certainly made his presence felt. His try was a typical Tremain effort and he very nearly brought off another one. The Welshman, Price, was again in grand form. As in the match against Bay of Plenty, he dominated the line-outs. He leapt high and gave his scrum-half, Young, a rich service. , Campbell-Lamerton had one of his best games of the tour. He worked very hard in the line-outs and constantly exhorted his forwards in all the tight play. The prop, Norris, just about played himself into the test team. He not only worked like a trojan up

front in the line-outs but also showed more vigour in the loose.

The Irish hooker, Kennedy, who has been on the injured list since the Wellington match, made a good comeback. He won three tight heads and lost none. One was vital to the Lions, resulting in Savage scoring in the corner. Telfer also ranged the field far more impressively than he has done before in New Zealand. Young handled the slippery ball with great skill and threw out some long and swift passes to Watkins. But he could be even speedier if he did not make so much of a deliberate turn when he throws his pass. Watkins was again the little gem of the back-line. Constantly he eluded the particularly quick-breaking Northland flankers, Robinson and Hewitt, and his line kicking and tactical placement of the ball was also superb. Watkins and Gibson, who were playing together for the second time on tour, showed a marked improvement as a

The first half produced some exciting Rugby, especially when the Northland backs settled down. However, the second spell developed into a line-out struggle, which the Lions won easily but could not put to any great advantage because of the kicking tactics adopted by Northland.

The Lions also had more success in the forwards than they have had previously. The Northland forwards were workers, but they were too light for the Lions.