Auckland Should Retain Rugby League Cup

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31077, 4 June 1966, Page 19

Auckland Should Retain Rugby League Cup

(By Our Rugby League Reporter.)

Auckland, fielding a team as strong as any provincial combination in New Zealand over the last decade, must be strongly favoured to defeat Canterbury in the Northern UnioA Rugby League Cup challenge at the Show Grounds on Monday.

Auckland appears to have greater speed amongst the backs, mobility in the forwards and all-round experience and teamwork.

Canterbury’s strongest positions will be

the second row and the halves. Yet Canterbury bas a fine record against Auckland at the Show Grounds in recent years.

Although it has defeated Auckland only once since the Second World War and only twice in its history, Canterbury’s largest margin of defeat in the last four matches in Christchurch has been only six points. STRONGEST TEAM

The addition of A. N. Amer, R. S. J. Irvine and I. T. Drayton to the Canterbury team allows the province to field its strongest team this season. Drayton’s goal-kicking will be vital, particularly as Auckland has E. Wiggs and R. B. Tait to capitalise on any penalties against the home team. Particular interest will be taken in the play of the Auckland wing, R. A. Mincham. A former Auckland Rugby representative, Mincham scored three tries against New South Wales Country in his firstclass league debut. Having F. R. Christian and

R. W. Bailey inside him will assist Mincham and it was Christian, in particular, who set Mincham up for his tries against the country team. J. D. Ellwood is likely to be the stand-off half, with either the Kiwi utility back, P. J. Schultz, or the promising young G. Brown at scrumhalf. KIWI CANDIDATE Irvine and G. H. Clarke give Canterbury an advantage close to the scrum. A fine performance by Clarke at stand-off in addition to his excellent displays at scrumhalf this season would make him a leading candidate for Kiwi honours. Irvine needs to prove to the selectors that he has recovered from injury. Amer will add penetration and speed to the back-line, but P. M. V. White and B. W. Langton cannot afford any lapses against Bailey and Christian.

The full-backs, Tait and P. V. Smith, are sound players with Tait being the more experienced. Oddly enough, both have extensive experience in the centres and at stand-off half. The former All Black, V. M. Yates, the 1964, Kiwi, E. Wiggs, and the high scoring prop, O. Danielson, are the personalities of the Auckland pack. . Yates changed codes last year and it will be interesting to see whether he has adapted himself successfully. Wiggs has the build and power to

crush his way through most defences and it is surprising that he has had so few opportunities at international level. After playing for Auckland against Australia last year without any ' great success, Danielson has come to the fore this season with his strong runs. Holding the ball in one hand, he is deceptive and dangerous close to the line.

W. Satherley, who has outhooked W. T. Schultz and L. S. Morgan consistently in Auckland dub play, is expected to have an advantage over W. P. Noonan in the scrums.