Flattering win to Auckland

Press, 14 August 1980, Page 30

Flattering win to Auckland

PA Timan Auckland looked anythin; but a Ranfurly Shield hold ing side when it recorded i flattering, 30-12, win agains South Canterbury at Timan yesterday. The home team played th< best it has all season am made the northerners 100 l quite ordinary in manj facets of play. Auckland was also aider by some very dubious deci sions by the referee, Dave Millar, of Otago. A criiciai try when the score was 18 12 was awarded to the lock

i John Allen, for Auckland, when he was yards off-side ; in the open. ■- Auckland’s coach, Bryan l Craies, was the first to : acknowledge after the match i that the player had been offside. > Auckland scored five tries I to one but cannot be very : confident about its performr ance. The wing, Brian Williams, I was in devastating form, • however, and scored 14 of : his side’s first 18 points . with two tries and three ■ conversions from the side- , line.

The visitors led two tries to one at half-time (12-6) but looked fairly ordinary, especially in the much vaunted backline where there was indecision and mistakes galore. The home side emerged with a lot of credit for its gutsy performance and was unlucky in many respects. When the breaks came, either from refereeing decisions, or the bounce of the ball, they seemed to go the visitors’ way. Territorially South Canterbury had the best of both halves and had its share of

good possession from most forward play. Auckland won more second-phase ball but the link of the half-back, Grant McCurragh and Stevb McCullough at first fiveeighth, hardly functioned properly all day.

Scorers. — Auckland: B. G. Williams two tries, three conversions, Lindsay Harris, Tim Twigden, John Allen, tries. Richard Falwasser a conversion, Steve McCullough, a coh* version.

South Canterbury: M. Hynes a try, T. Kelly a conversion and two penalties.