Manawatu defeated

Press, 23 April 1979, Page 30

Manawatu defeated

NZPA Brisbane The Queensland rugby side proved that it could withstand solid pressure, when it registered a hard-fought win over Manawatu at Brisbane yesterday. Queensland defeated Manawatu by 31 points to seven, but the score was not truly indicative of the match. Manawatu mounted a concerted attack in the first half, and had the home team reeling as it pushed play back to the Queensland line and kept it there. The Manawatu forwards impressed with their hard rucking, and gave their backs a glut of possession from early lineouts. It was from line-outs in fact, that the Manawatu team’s points eventually came. The half-back, John Gilmer, came away from a ruck which developed from a line-out and scored neatly near the corner after 35min. However, Queensland quickly answered with a try by the replacement wing, Peter Grigg, who took a long pass to score well wide of the posts.

Paul McLean kicked the difficult conversion, the only one he landed all day. Manawatu put itself ahead at half-time with a drop-goal from the full-back, Alan Innes.

Manawatu led Queensland into the second half by seven points to six, but was already showing signs of suffering from Brisbane’s 29degree heat. The New Zealanders never looked the same team in the second half, and allowed three quick tries from the Queenslanders within the first 20 min. All three tries came from set forward movements by Queensland. First across the line to score was the Wallaby hero, Greg Cornelsen, followed by Stan Pilecki, then Paul McLean found a gap in the Manawatu centres to score. Manawatu settled down briefly after Queensland’s scoring feast and took play out of its own half, but mistakes under pressure cost it points when Paul McLean kicked three penalty goals, one of them just on full time. Queensland’s last try came

from the young wing, Brendan Moon, who ran almost three quarters of the field to score from a mistake by Manawatu close to Queensland own line. Queensland’s coach, Bob Templeton, said after the match he could not feel unhappy with his side’s performance. “They (Manawatu) were a strong side, and I think we proved something by sacking to our task in the second half after being down one point at half time,” he said. Mr Templeton said he believed Manawatu had gone out in the first half to “rattle” Queensland, Manawau’s coach, Graham Hamer, said he was disappointed at his team’s loss but wanted to congratulate them on “a gutsy performance.” “They finished on, that is the main thing,” he said. Scorers for Queensland were.— (tries, Peter Grigg, Greg Cornelsen, Stan Pilecki, Paul McLean, Brendan Moon. Goals Paul McLean 3 penalties, 1 conv.) 31. Manawatu: (try, John Gilmer. Goal: Alan Innes) 7.