Auckland in league upset

Press, 5 June 1982, Page 60

Auckland in league upset

Northern Districts caused the biggest upset in national junior rugby league for some years when it beat Auckland. 17-10, during the first day of the New Zealand 19-years tournament at the Show Grounds yesterday. Although Northern trailed on two occasions, it was a thoroughly deserved winner. Northern had a positive attitude from the start, and its entertaining style of football enabled it to score five of the seven tries in the match.

The big. mobile Northern props. Dennis Smith — who was recently chosen for the tour of Papua New Guinea with the Junior Kiwis — and Riki Ngariki were dominant around the play-the-balls. making inroads into Auckland's defences and capitalising on the support of an enthusiastic back line.

Canterbury began its bid to improve on the runner-up positions it has filled in each of the last two seasons with a 33-point victory at the expense of West Coast. It was a particularly prosperous afternoon for the Canterbury loose forward. Richard Setu, and the right wing. Pomara Connell. The very impressive Setu, only 17, positioned himself with stunning effect to gain four tries, and Connell completed three try-scoring manoeuvres as Canterbury became increasingly dominant.

Three tries by the prop, Simon Foua. greatly assisted Central districts to a 21-9 success over Hamilton. Central had to resist a strong comeback by Hamilton in the third quarter, before Foua brushed past several defenders to seal the result with his third try. Results.— .• Canterbury 33 (Richard Setu four. Pomare Connell three, John Green,. Wally . Langatule tries; Peter McClintock two, Martin Crequer goals) beat West Coast 0. Half-time, 14-0.

Northern Districts 17 (Rodney Thomas, Dennis Smith,' Riki Ngariki, Rahu Katene, Eric Butler tries; Poko Daniels goal) beat Auckland 10 (Dean Orr, John Fue tries; George Sorensen two goals). Half-time. Northern, 6-5. Central Districts 21 (Simon Foua three, Siapue Pue. Stephen Aswood tries; Eddie Hema three goals) beat Hamilton 9 (Cliff Rapira'two; Louis Leeff tries). Half-time. 16-3.