Test Match No. 12: All-Australian student team's second visit to Japan, game 3

日本語 Photo Article Journal
4 March 1956 at Heiwadai Rugby Stadium
●Japan 14-16 all-Australian student team○
Lost the very close 1st test match
 
Data:
04/03/56, 1st Test
Japan 14 Combined Australian Universities 16
Heiwadai Stadium, Fukuoka
Half-time: 3-5
Referee: Shinichi Hirayama (Japan)
Touch Judges: unknown
Crowd: 15,000
 
JAPAN: 15 Hidehiko Sato, 14 Kunio Miyai, 13 Haruo Matsuoka, 12 Hiroshi Teranishi, 11 Isao Kondo, 10 Hirotoshi Hori (capt), 9 Manabu Mitoma, 8 Masaaki Matsushige, 7 Haruhiko YamaZaki, 6 Toshiaki Tsuchiya, 5 Takashi Shibata, 4 Katsuhiro Mano, 3 Teruo Kitajima, 2 Koji Kikkawa, 1 Kazumitsu Minokuchi.
Tries: Yamazaki, Matsushige, Matsuoka; Conversion: Matsuoka; Penalty Goal: Matsuoka.
 
COMBINED AUSTRALIAN UNVERSITIES: 15 John Henry Dowse, 14 D.B. Hill, 13 Ainslie Glenister Ross Shiel, 12 Jihn Michael O'Neill, 11 Roderick Phelps, 10 Richard Murray Tooth (capt), 9 A.J. Walker, 8 John Edward Thornett MBE, 7 M. Hughes, 6 Carles Roy ‘Chilla' Wilson, 5 W.A. Gahan, 4 D.B. Richardson, 3 T.D. Bolin, 2 W.T. Wright, 1 F.M. Elliott.
Tries: Richardson (2), Wright, Hughes; Conversions: Dowse (2).
 
Scoring sequence (Japan's score shown first): 7min-pen Japan, Matsuoka (missed), 25min-try Aus. Univ., Richardson; conv. Dowse-0-5, 30min-try Japan, Matsuoka; conv., Matsuoka (missed)-3-5, Half-time, 45min-pen Japan, Matsuoka-6-5, 49min-try Aus. Univ., Wright; conv. Dowse (missed)-6-8, 53min-try Matsushige; conv., Matsuoka-11-8, 54min-try Aus. Univ., Richardson; conv. Dowse-11-13, 63min-try Aus. Univ., Hughes; conv. Dowse (missed)-11-16, 66min-try Japan, Yamazaki; conv. Matsuoka (missed)-14-16.
 


The first test was a good see-saw match. A big loss for Japan was that full back Sato had to be replaced due to an injury from the 20th minute of the first half to halftime. In the 25th minute, Richardson received the ball from Hill and scored a try, but this would have been prevented if Sato was on the ground. In turn, Matsuoka of Japan made a dash and scored a try to make it 3-5 at the break. In the 5th minute of the second half, Matsuoka kicked a penalty. In the 8th minutes, Wright dribbled and scored a try. Japan shifted the game to 11-8 when Matsushige helped stir up the opponents and scored a try (they also scored a goal). Australia's ‘bullet' Phelps darted in the 14th minute and gave a cross-punt, and Richardson caught the ball and scored a try. They also scored a goal. In the 23rd minute, Tooth and O'Neill got through with scissor passes, and Hughes scored a try to extend Australia's lead, 11-16. Japan fought back. In the 26th minute, Kondo made a dash and gave a cross-punt. Yamazaki picked up the ball bouncing in front of the goal and managed to try under the posts. However, as Matsuoka kicked from too close, the ball was charged by an Australian player. Japan lost by 14-16. It was a very regrettable goal kick indeed.