AVAILABLE Auckland Deserved League Cup Win

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30830, 16 August 1965, Page 6

AVAILABLE

Auckland Deserved League Cup Win

(By

Our Rugby League Reporter.)

Although Canterbury could in some ways have been considered unfortunate not to win the Northern Union Cup at the Show Grounds yesterday, Auckland fully deserved its 8-6 victory. The Auckland forwards played magnificently over the final 20 minutes, thumping their way upfield and winning the scrums. There was more crispness about Auckland’s passing and it looked the more dangerous team on attack.

No tries were scored in the match but this failed to take any of the excitement and tenseness away from

the game. Canterbury came back over the last few minutes and could have drawn the match when what would have been a simple goal kick was discarded iln favour of an up-and-under. This was the correct tactics for a draw would not have won the cup for Canterbury. Canterbury played its best game of the season, using the kick through to advantage. However, L. S. Morgan’s advantage of 36-25 in the scrums was a decisive feature of the match. He was ahead only by 16-14 at half-time when Canterbury held Auckland to 2-2. Canterbury was awarded 12 of the 21 penalties. Very Good Kicking For Auckland, E. Wiggs kicked four goals while I. T. Drayton kicked three for Canterbury. There was some very good kicking, Wiggs twice finding the posts from half-way and Drayton succeeding with a 45-yard effort. However, Wiggs missed three comparatively simple attempts and Drayton missed an easy one. The Slippery ball was difficult to control, and the kickers had to scrape away loose mud before kicking. Teams:—

Auckland: C. Smith; L. Mills, I. M. Erceg, J. D. Ellwood (captain), J. E. Sparnon; E. Hogg, W. Harford; R. Bolton (replaced by D. Mann); O. Danielson, R. Devonshire; E. Wiggs, I. S. Morgan, A. Wiggs. Canterbury: P. J. Tongue; G. J. Abercrombie, T. Tamihana, J. Martin, C. C. Preece; J. M. Bray, W. J. Godfrey (replaced by W. R. Campbell); M. J. Worters; I. T. Drayton, J. A. Flanagan (captain); W. E. Butterfield, J. H. Fisher, M. H. Mohi. Referee: Mr F. Hassan (West Coast).

When it was winning the ball in the first spell Canterbury looked extremely dangerous and was rather unlucky not to score just after half-time. Minor errors upset the combination at vital times and Auckland gratefully pounced on any loose balls.

The loss of Godfrey was a greater blow to Canterbury than the loss' of Bolton was to Auckland. Whereas Bolton was replaced by another specialist, Canterbury was forced to improvise. Tongue was brought up to scrum-half and Campbell went to full-back. Campbell, who is not a kicking full-back, has had considerably more experience at scrum-half than Tongue and it was surprising that he was not played there. Similarly, W. P. Noonan could have come en and Worters moved to scrum-half where he has played before. This replacement was a vital issue for Auckland won 19 successive scrums after Godfrey went off. Until then Canterbury had held its own and victory was still possible. E. Wiggs was the outstanding player in the match. His kicking was of a high standard with two goals magnificent efforts from half-way. However, his liking for the torpedo kick near the posts did not assist his accuracy and he would probably have done better to stand the ball upright. One of his 50yard goals hit the cross-bar before bouncing over.

In his general play E. Wiggs was outstanding. He continually battered away at the defence and nearly scored when he intercepted a pass and ran 50 yards down the touchline before a desperate cover defence stopped him. Morgan did his share by winning the scrums and Danielson and Devonshire assisted E. Wiggs in the forward movements. A. Wiggs played a tough brand of football that was not always appreciated by the crowd. Bolton, and his replacement, Mann, covered well and completed a fine workmanlike pack. The Canterbury forwards were shaded only in the scrums and in diving on the loose ball. Their handling was much improved and the ball was moved efficiently amongst the players. Fisher's Fine Flay

Fisher was outstanding, particularly on defence. He showed a fine appreciation of the kick ahead and on several occasions gained large stretches of ground with line kicks. He held Morgan well in the first half scrums but, with Harford continually throwing the ball under his hooker’s feet, was not nearly as successful in the second spell. Showing more fire than in recent matches, Drayton gave his best performance of the representative season. He ran with greater determination and it usually took two or three men to bring him down. He also kicked well for the line and two of his goals were from difficult positions.

Until he received a severe knock late in the first spell Mohi had been showing the same

attacking football that characterised his performance in the inter-island match. Butterfield’s play was also much improved and his handling and general play was the best he has produced for Canterbury. Apart from electing to take an attempt at goal when two points behind with 10 minutes remaining, Flanagan led his team quite well. He kept his forwards to their work and assisted Fisher and Worters on defence.

Until he was injured Godfrey played a fine game. He revelled in the terrible conditions and broke away from Harford on several occasions. Bray made no mistakes, had one or two runs, and kicked very well for his wings. Only good defence by Auckland stopped tries resulting from Bray's tactical kicks on several occasions.

Martin handled poorly and was not impressive. He was inclined to run infield when defending and left his opposite unmarked on several occasions.

Tamlhana did not see very much of the ball and Abercrombie and Preece had only one run each. Tongue played soundly at fuH-back and kicked fairly well, while Campbell made no mistakes in the 25 minutes he was on the field.

Smith was also very sound at full-back for Auckland while the wings, Mills and Sparnon, seldom had an opportunity to show their pace. Erceg and Ellwood were dangerous in the centres, but it was not a good day for the backs and they tried only one or two moves, generally preferring to play orthodox football.

The stand-off half, Hogg, was content te remain a link and Harford had one or two dabs through the Canterbury defence. He was given more freedom after Godfrey was Injured.