Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), Thursday 24 August 1972, page 28


Wallabies

triumph

in bruising

match

TAUMARUNUI (NZ) Wednesday (AAP). — The Australian rugby union team, although making many errors, won its

second match of the New Zealand tour when it beat King Country 13-6 at Taumarunui today.

It was a scrappy and at times brawling game, but Australia had plenty o£ possession and should havo won by more.

Promising movements broke down through silly moves by the Wallaby backs, although their handling was better than in their previous matches.

The Wallabies revelled

in the hard, dry conditions, and looked dangerous whenever they ran with the ball.

The King Country team was not over-endowed with finesse, but its bruising tactics upset the Australians frequently.

A blood-stained Colin Meads was an inspired leader, and it was by his example that the King Country pack stayed in the

game.

Marred by

brawls

Tho match was marred by several brawls, some of which were up to 50 yards behind the play.

The Australian forwards combined a lot better than in previous games, and it was this improvement which led to their first try, when Garrick Fay broke from a ruck, charged upfield, passed infield to Bob Wood, who went over in the corner.

David Rathie's try came from scrambly play in the in-goal area when he dived on to the ball after an upand-under from skipper Greg Davis.

Scorers: Australia: R. N. Wood, D. S. Rathie tries; R. L. Fairfax, conversion and a penalty. King Country: A. Gordon, two penalties.