Northland comes after the cup

Press, 27 May 1981, Page 30

Northland comes after the cup

By

JOHN COFFEY

It seems that Northland will’not be lacking in confidence when it challenges Canterbury for the Rugby League Cup at the Show Grounds on Saturday. The Northland officials- have even made it known that they will be bringing a special crate with them to transport the prized trophy. But the chairman of the Canterbury board of control, Mr Jim Anderson, was equal to that suggestion when he recommended a photograph of the cup be taken and presnted to the northerners after Canterbury retains possession.

However, while the administrators have joined in good-natured banter during negotiations for the challenge, the Canterbury coach, Gary Clarke, has been cautioning his squad not to take Northland lightly. “They must be fairly confident if they are spending so much money to come down to Christchurch and Greymouth,” Mr Clarke said. Northland is to play West Coast a day after its game against Canterbury.

Northland and Canterbury have never met at rugby league, but Northland (then known as. North Auckland) did have a brief tenure of the cup when it beat South Auckland (now Waikato) at Carlaw Park in 1931.

The code in Northland celebrated its jubilee in 1979, but it has not always enjoyed a buoyant existance. It has survived two recesses, numerous financial difficulties and fluctuating support.

But Northland rugby’ league seems to be in good heart at present. It is outlaying $6500 for its southern tour, with the players having joined in the fund-raising; if they show similar enthusiasm on the field, then Canterbury could be extended.

Financial fortune smiled upon the Northland league last year when it won a $15,000 car raffle run by the New Zealand Rugby League. It is commendable that much was invested in land at Jubilee Oval, Whangarei. Northland’s stocks have also been boosted by its

performances this season. It' thrashed Hamilton, 59-0, and beat Midlands, 27-13, as a final preparation for its cup quest. Tim Johnson, the Northland coach, is reported to have his team functioning smoothly, and 20 players have been chosen for the two matches in the south. The best-known Northland representative in recent seasons has been- the prop, Danny Campbell, who, while a member of the Wigan club, was called into the Kiwi team for the match against Leigh late last year. He thus became Northland’s second

international Ted Meyer’ toured Australia as a midfield back in 1930.

But Campbell has now signed a three-year contract for Wigan, said to be worth £17,500, and Mr Johnson has had to look to another seasoned front-row forward, Paddy Matthews, to captain Northland. Matthews was a national trialist in 1978 and has played for Northern Districts.

If Campbell will be absent, Northland has two others with British club experience. Anthony Murray — whose twin brother, Thomas, is also in the side — had a few

appearances with Wigan, and the scrum-half, David Bristow, spent two seasons with Blackpool Borough.

Brendon Power, a centre who was a reserve for New Zealand Maoris against Britain in 1979, Bristow, and one of the wings, Harry Toi, have been prolific try-scorers for their province against north- i ern opponents. ' Canterbury should be a much more formidable opponent than those to which Northland is accustomed. But Canterbury has not played since it relieved Wellington of the cup 11 months ago, and Mr Clarke will no doubt recall that' on the last occasion that it encountered an unfamiliar rival — Taranaki — the cup was lost by the remarkable score of 43-13.