Morass awaits Canterbury

Press, 18 September 1976, Page 52

Morass awaits Canterbury

Special Carres Auckland Canterbury cricketera do not always have the happiest memories of the standard of the Eden Park pitches and Canterbury rugby players may have similar hard feelings about the ground after this afternoon’s match against Auckland. With the Ranfurly Shield departed and both sides removed from the national championship race, the prospect was for the two teams to produce adventurous, and perhaps carefree, rugby, although the keen rivalry between the sides will surely put some steel into the forward play. However, like most parts of the North Island. Auckland has been buffeted by storms over the last week and the field is in a curious state. For some reason or another a substantial part of the midfield lost its grass early this season and was badly cut up, leaving a large expanse rather like a Taranaki cow yard. When the weather improved the bare area rolled out hard grassless and flat like the Eden Park cricket pitches of old. Sadly, the recent rain has brought back the bog and yesterday afternoon a large part of the midfield was treacherous, and still with rainwater sitting in the footholes. By contrast, the areas be-

tween the 22 metre lines and the goal-lines are well grassed and reasonably firm. Auckland found earlier in the season it was difficult to produce planned attacking moves over the muddy area, and Canterbury may find the same problem today. The secret, which Canterbury should discover quickly, is to kick from the mud and run from the grass — and to keep your face out of the smelly mud in the rucks. Auckland has paid Canterbury the compliment of picking what appears to be its best team of the season.

In terms of forward play Auckland’s best has been very good. There is strength in the tight play from Brad Johnstone, the All Black who is now fully fit, Steve Watt, Andy Haden and Stuart Conn, and any amount of speed and drive from the loose trio of Dave Webb, Dennis Thorn and

Barry Ashworth. They are unlikely to muster the dynamic driving power that Alex Wyllie can sometimes generate from the Canterbury pack, but with Haden is such good form Auckland should win its share of the lineouts and hold its scrums without too much discomfort.

The Auckland back-play is of rather more doubtful quality. Bruce Gemmell has come out of the cold at halfback and is a rather better passer than the injured Lin Colling. Terry Morrison and Jon McLachlan have speed on the wings and Colin Farrell’s running in from full-back is effective.

But if Canterbury is to break up Auckland’s attacking pattern, it will probably be in midfield/ Mike Richards is still a clever little player but he has produced a noticeable crossfield drift in the backline this winter, a

crab-like progress accentuated by Perry Parlane’s wayward running at second five-eighths. Auckland will see many new Canterbury faces today and there is much interest in the wing play of Scott Cartwright, the half-back The teams are:Canterbury: M. D. Heffernan; D. J. McGuigan, A. C. R. Jefferd, S. C. Cartwright, M. R. McEwan, T. Mehrtens; S. Scott; A. J. Wyllie; S. E. C. Cron, B, Farmer, G. Higginson, J. K. Phillips; J. C. Ashworth, M. W. Hall, B. A. Thompson. Auckland: C. P. Farrell; T. G. Morrison, T. M. Twigden, J. S. McLachlan, P. J. Parlane, P. M. Richards; B. M. Gemmell; D. A. Webb; B. G. Ashworth, S. B. Conn, A. M. Haden, D. N. Thom; B. R. Johnstone, A. Bi Hathaway, S. L. Watt. Referee: Mr N. Whittaker (Manawatu).