Llanelli RFC 9–3 New Zealand

As part of their 1972–73 tour of the Northern Hemisphere, the New Zealand national rugby union team's fourth match saw them take on Llanelli RFC of Wales at Stradey Park, Llanelli, on 31 October 1972. In one of the most famous results in rugby union history, Llanelli won the match 9–3 in front of 20,000 spectators. Llanelli centre Roy Bergiers scored the only try of the game, charging down a clearance by All Blacks scrum-half Lin Colling after a penalty from Phil Bennett rebounded back into play off the crossbar. New Zealand full-back Joe Karam scored a penalty to give them their only points of the game, before Llanelli wing Andy Hill hit a penalty to secure victory for the Scarlets.^[1] The result was immortalised by Welsh entertainer Max Boyce, whose poem 9–3 appears as the opening track on his Live at Treorchy album.^[2]

Llanelli 9–3 New Zealand

Llanelli New Zealand 9 3
Date	31 October 1972
Venue	Stradey Park, Llanelli
Referee	Mike Titcomb (England)
Attendance	22,000

Background

As part of their 1972–73 tour of the Northern Hemisphere, the New Zealand national rugby union team played 32 matches, of which their visit to Stradey Park to play Llanelli RFC was the fourth. In North America, they had already beaten sides representing British Columbia (31–3) on 19 October 1972 and New York Metropolitan (41–9) on 21 October, followed by a 39–12 win over a Western Counties side in Gloucester on their arrival in England a week later. They were unbeaten since the British Lions had visited New Zealand in July 1971, a run of 16 matches without defeat.

Match details

31 October 1972

Llanelli	9–3	New Zealand
Try: Bergiers c Con: Bennett Pen: Hill	Report	Pen: Karam

Stradey Park, Llanelli Attendance: 22,000 Referee: Mike Titcomb (England)

FB 15 Roger Davies RW 14 J. J. Williams OC 13 Roy Bergiers IC 12 Ray Gravell LW 11 Andy Hill FH 10 Phil Bennett SH 9 Chico Hopkins N8 8 Hefin Jenkins OF 7 Gareth Jenkins BF 6 Tommy David RL 5 Derek Quinnell LL 4 Delme Thomas (c) TP 3 Barry Llewelyn HK 2 Roy Thomas LP 1 Tony Crocker Replacements: SH 16 Selwyn Williams FL 17 Alan James PR 18 Chris Charles LK 19 Brian Llewellyn FH 20 Gwyn Ashby HK 21 Meirion Davies Coach:   Carwyn James

FB 15 Joe Karam RW 14 Bryan Williams   OC 13 Bruce Robertson IC 12 Mark Sayers LW 11 Duncan Hales FH 10 Bob Burgess SH 9 Lin Colling N8 8 Alan Sutherland OF 7 Ian Kirkpatrick (c) BF 6 Alistair Scown RL 5 Peter Whiting LL 4 Andy Haden TP 3 Graham Whiting HK 2 Ron Urlich LP 1 Keith Murdoch Replacements: WG 16 Grant Batty   Coach:   Bob Duff

Touch judges:
J Kelleher (Wales)
D G Watts (Wales)

References

1. Pope, Bruce (31 October 2002). "Day the pubs ran dry". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
2. Thomas, Simon (24 October 2008). "The day the All Blacks were humbled at Stradey". WalesOnline. Media Wales. Retrieved 2 November 2019.