Test Match No. 66: French and Dutch Tour 1980, game 1

日本語 Photo Journal
4 October 1980 in Hilversum
●Japan 13-15 The Netherlands○
Lost despite a 10-point lead
 
Data:
04/10/80
Japan 13 Netherland 15
National Stadium, Hilversum, Netherland
Half-time: 13-3
Referee: F. Flingou (France)
Touch Judges: unknown
Crowd: 2,500
 
JAPAN: 15 Hideo Toshima, 14 Masaru Fujiwara, 13 Shigetaka Mori (capt), 12 Yoichiro Minamikawa, 11 Hirotaka Ujino, 10 Shinichi Oikawa, 9 Junya Matsumoto, 8 Kazuo Sejimo, 7 Takeo Ishizuka, 6 Takashi Ito, 5 Ryutaro Fukurodate, 4 Hikaru Kawachi (18 Kyoichi Toyoyama --), 3 Takeshi Nakayama, 2 Tsuyoshi Fujita, 1 Jiro Ishiyama.
Reserves: 16 Toru Wada, 17 Koji Horaguchi, 19 Yoshimitsu Konishi, 20 Mitsunobu Sunamura, 21 Nobufumi Tanaka.
Tries: Fujiwara, Mori; Conversion: Oikawa; Penalty Goal: Oikawa.
 
NETHERLAND: 15 C. Zwitser, 14 G. Von Del Born, 13 J. Dongelmans, 12 C. Jacobs, 11 A. Michel, 10 B. Kasteel, 9 F. Duquesnoy, 8 K. Huysman, 7 J. Von Altena, 6 D. Altink, 5 J. Dudinc, 4 M. Van Deel Loos, 3 C. Koemans, 2 J. Schaap, 1 H. Vermeulen.
Reserves: 16 W. Rijsdm, 17 M. Visser, 18 P. Engelhard, 19 P. Dorrestijn, 20 M. Jorritsma, 21 ---------.
Try: Michel; Conversion: Kasteel; Penalty Goals: Kasteel (3).
 
Scoring sequence (Japan's score shown first): 25min-pen Japan, Oikawa-3-0, 30min-try Japan, Fujiwara; conv. Oikawa-9-0, 39min-try Japan, Mori; conv. Oikawa (missed)-13-0, 40min-pen Netherland, Kasteel-13-3, Half-time, 48min-pen Netherland, Kasteel-13-6, 56min-try Netherland, Michel; conv. Kasteel-13-12, 62min-pen Netherland, Kasteel-13-15, 67min-pen Japan, Oikawa (missed), 38min-pen Japan, Oikawa (missed).
 


Japan lost the first match of the tour though it was close. A mistake can be fatal in a test match. Though, of course, the Netherlands are a strong team and not easily defeated, it was a shame to lose this match in the way Japan did. Japan was first on the scoreboard. Oikawa scored a penalty in the first half. Fujiwara scored a try to widen the margin. Soon after the Netherlands scored a penalty, Japan's Mori scored a try (Oikawa kicked a goal) in the 37th minute. In the second half, the Netherlands added a penalty, a try and a conversion in the 16th minute, 12-13, trailing Japan by 1 point. Then they came from behind in the 23rd minute with a penalty. Japan failed to score a penalty in the 29th and 36th minute. We missed a chance given by the opponent twice and failed to come from behind. It was predictable that we could not win the match.