RUGBY UNION Tourists 'lack enterprise' as students profit

RUGBY UNION

The Australian Universities coach, Dick Laffan, has criticised England A's lack of enterprise after his side edged a tight match at the Sydney University Oval 32-30 yesterday. Although both sides scored four tries, the students triumphed through the kicking of Jason Madz, who scored three conversions and two penalties.

Laffan said the tourists relied too heavily on kicking the ball upfield. "They were prepared just to kick it into the box," he said. "My impression was that they hoped some sort of lightning bolt would strike the person under the ball."

The tourists' captain, Paul Hull, who played at full-back but handed the helm over to Paul Grayson for this match, admitted he was disappointed. "It was a hard slog and we did start very poorly," he said. "We made two basic errors: we didn't find touch and our scrum went backwards."

The hosts leapt to a 17-0 lead in the first 16 minutes but England A fought back to two points down at half-time, with tries by Richard Metcalfe and Andrew Gomersall. Steve Hackney touched down within the first minute of the second half and Hull scored a spectacular try for England before Nick Hill's second try after 74 minutes sealed the game for the students.