Canterbury’s Quest Not Hopeless

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30762, 28 May 1965, Page 13

Canterbury’s Quest Not Hopeless

(By

Our Rugby League Reporter.)

The traditional Auckland style of attacking Rugby League has been developed by continually having fast forwards available for selection, something that only the West Coast has been able to equal in post-war years.

These forwards have one purpose—to make a hole in the defence and send the ball out to their fleet-footed backs to complete the move.

By these means Auckland has defeated most overseas touring teams in the last 20 years as well as most provincial teams, the period of West Coast supremacy (19461951) excepted.

This is the type of play that Canterbury will have to compete against tomorrow at Auckland.

On paper the task looks hopeless; on current form it seems impossible for Canterbury to win. A Southern XIII beat Canterbury 27-20 on tlie same day that Auckland demolished a similar Northern XIII, 40-9. One Weak Link New South Wales Country lost to Auckland, 5-18, the day after it had wiped Canterbury aside, 32-10. But there is a weak link in the Auckland team—and it is in its back line.

Although five of the backs are Kiwis and another, R. F. Christian, is a test reserve, only the full-back, J. E. Fagan, is a noted defensive player. The others tackle high to a great extent and, although they often stop their man, this type of ckle can be broken by a determined attacker. It is through the backs that Canterbury must make its challenge Fastest Backs

In possession the Auckland backs will take much stopping. Christian is the fastest Rugby League player in Auckland: B. T. Reidy is not much slower as he showed when scoring three tries in

the second test of the 1963 Australian tour; R. W. Bailey and P. Schultz, who replaced G. R. Bailey, are also noted for their speed and J. D. Ellwood can be very dangerous from the scrums. To direct this wealth of attacking power will be the cool head of the Auckland captain and scrum-half, W. L. Snowden.

But Canterbury lacks little in comparison. P. J. Tongue is as dangerous as Fagan on attack and his defence is

good. Although not as fast as Christian, R. O. Moffat has plenty of speed and the brains to use it, but C. C. Preece may be struggling to keep up with Reidy. In the centres, B. W. Langton and the only new-comer to inter-provincial football, D. Cockroft, will be relied on to give Moffat and Preece their opportunities. Much depends on Cockroft, but this determined little player has got

plenty of courage and he will not let the team down. R. F. Neiman has been selected for his ability to attack and it is this that he must concentrate on. Ellwood is not a great defensive player, but Neiman will have to keep a wary eye on the loose forward, H. R. Sinel. Just as good as Snowden on attack and better on defence, R. S. J. Irvine has the opportunity to play himself into the British touring party. After a sample of Irvine’s deadly tackling the Auckland attack could well be disrupted. Even without R. D. Hammond, the Auckland forward pack is a mighty one and Sinel, E. Wiggs and the promising A. Chaafe form the most dangerous forward attack in the country. As props E. Moor and R. Roberts, who is regarded as almost a certainty to make the tour, are fast enough and strong enough to pound Canterbury to a standstill. Must Stop Forwards The 1959 Kiwi, W. T. Schultz, has been given the hooking position in preference to L. Morgan and G. Mattson and B. T. Barron will have a tough job to win a good share of the scrums. Canterbury’s forwards must get up on Moore and Roberts and not let them gain the momentum that would carry them through the defence. If this is not done then Auckland could make a cricket score. There will be no letting up for every man in the Auckland XIII has his eyes set on the British tour. To win the Northern Union Cup Canterbury must get the ball to its backs and, In turn, squash any Auckland attacks where they begin—from the scrums and the play the ball.