Japan heats Taranaki

Press, 23 April 1979, Page 3

Japan heats Taranaki

PA New Plymouth The young all-Japan rugby team celebrated last evening after scoring the first win of its New Zealand tour against the Taranaki under-23 team, 19-10 at Hick’s Park, Hawera, yesterday. Some of the gloss was taken from the Japanese win because for the last 20 minutes of the match, the Taranaki team had only 13 men on the field. Earlier, the Japanese team showed a lot of potential, especially in the forwards and with plenty of bail in the final quarter, the speedy backs had the Taranaki men under intense pressure. Japan scored three tries, two conversions and a penalty goal, after being down 3-10 at half-time. The Taranaki under-23 team scored one try and two penalty goals. Replacements for injured players created great confusion for the Taranaki team. It lost flanker Murray Evans in the first spell with’ an ankle injury. After 18 minutes of the second spell, lock, Pat Nganeko retired with a knee injury and two minutes later, hooker John Steiner left with a head injury. But then the fullback, Mark Thomson, who had played for some time' with a neck injury, left the field. Before a replacement could come on, the New Zealand liaison man with the Japanese team (Mr J. Jeffs), objected, saying that only two replacements could be made under international rules. Thomson offered to return to the field, only to have the referee (Mr G. Mcßeth) send him off again under another rule which states no player; leaving the field with an injury may return.

Meanwhile, the first fiveeighth, Kevin Walsh, twisted an ankle and also left the field, leaving the Taranaki side with only 13 men.