1977 Counties-Thames Valley v British Lions:
3rd August 1977:
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Official Match Programme
Signed to the cover by Faulkner, Windsor & Price
(This was the first time the Pontypool front row would play together for the British Lions)
Counties-Thames Valley were well beaten by the Lions by 35 points to 10 at Pukekohe – a game which turned into somewhat of a benefit match for Lions halfback Doug Morgan.
Morgan was in superb goal-kicking form and managed to score three penalties and three conversions topped off with a try to give him 19 points for the match. Added to Morgan’s fine effort were two tries each to full back Bruce Hay and winger Gareth Evans.
But long after memories of the Lions effort fade, the locals will remember the great 80 metre run by the Valleys winger Don McMillan in which he beat Mike Gibson to the line to score a dazzling try.
And there was Counties hero Bob Lendrum who came into the line from full back, dodged inside his second five-eighth, and almost strolled through a bewildered Lions defence to score next to the posts.
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Match Ticket
The Lions again had the better of the possession – their massive scrummaging power leading to four of their five tries – but ragged attacks by the backs were quickly stemmed by the combined side and it was not until well into the second half that the tourists gained control.
Combined Captain Andy Dalton (future All Black) did his homework on the Lions and it paid handsome dividends, Dalton took three tightheads off Lions hooker Bobby Windsor and conceded only one. “I’d watched the Lions on television closely & and I worked out a plan for myself” Daltons plan was to strike twice for the ball on the Lions put in. “I’d strike once before the ball was put in, then strike immediately” when the plan worked it was because the halfback fed the scrum immediately after he saw my first strike” Dalton shared with Waikato’s Pat Bennett the honour of most tight heads off the Lions.
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Match Photos
Counties-Thames Valley: 10
McMillan (1 try), Lendrum (1 try & 1 conversion)
British Lions: 35
Hay (2 tries), Evans (2 tries), Morgan (1 try, 3 penalties & 3 conversions)
Venue:
Pukekohe
Attendance:
reports vary from 26,000 - 30,000
Referee:
Mr P McDavitt
Touch Judges:
Mr J Innes & Mr G Way
Counties-Thames Valley:
B Lendrum, D McMillan, B Robertson, B Milner, B Duggan, G Taylor, M Codlin (replaced by T Sheehan), A Dawson, H Harbraken, R Craig, J Rawiri, P Clotworthy, J Spiers, A Dalton (Captain), J Hughes
British Lions:
B Hay, G Evans, D Burcher, M Gibson, E Rees, J Bevan, D Morgan, J Squire, T Neary (Captain), M Keane, A Martin, T Evans, G Price, B Windsor, C Faulkner
References:
1977 Scrapbook - Peter Douglas-Davies
Rugby Memorabilia Society
Peter Douglas-Davies
07/02/2018