Auckland tightens grip on league title

Press, 9 May 1983, Page 24

Auckland tightens grip on league title

By

JOHN COFFEY

Auckland virtually assured itself of over-all victory in the Sony inter-dis-tricts rugby league championship when it beat South Island, 34-22, at the Show Grounds on Saturday.

Even should Auckland suffer its fifth consecutive loss to Central Districts in the final round at Carlaw Park on July 2, its massive victory over Northern and 12-point margin at South’s expense should be sufficient for it to stay ahead on a count-back.

Although not giving a totally convincing display, Auckland always appeared to have the attacking potential to repulse a spirited, but far from consistent, challenge from South. Auckland trailed South for much of the opening quarter, the totals were tied at 12-12 at the interval, and South was again briefly ahead soon after the resumption. The winning break came soon afterwards, with quick tries to Geoff Ackland and Mark Bournville and two simple goals by Nick Wright. However, Auckland could not afford to relax its efforts. With just seven minutes left, and Auckland defending a six-point advantage, the South centre, Richard Hampton, was dragged down only one metre short of the Auckland try-line. Had Hampton reached his goal and Lewis Hudson retained his perfect kicking record South would have drawn level. But that was to be South’s last gasp and Auckland surged back upfield, even though its ranks had been reduced to 12 men when its aptly-named hooker, Lindsay Hooker, was sent to the sin-bin for disputing the rulings of the referee, Mr Des O’Sullivan (Wellington). It was fitting that Auckland’s final try should be scored by its strapping prop, Owen Wright. For the second time in the match, Wright highlighted South’s major weakness — a failure to mount a firm defensive

formation close to the play-the-balls.

Somewhat surprisingly, though, the Sony “man of the match” award went to Wright’s front-row partner, lan Bell, who had a comparatively anonymous performance. Equally unexpected was the choice of the second-row forward, Doug Thompson, as South’s award-winner.

That Auckland claimed six of the eight tries in the game testified to its superiority in achieving clean breaks when in possession, and its ability to capitalise upon them. Most of the inroads into South’s territory began with the Auckland forwards, particularly Wright and also Geoff and John Ackland, but even the long-legged wing, Bournville, found an open passage by skirting around a play-the-ball. The Auckland backs had less freedom, a tribute to the stern tackling of Hampton and Hudson in midfield. Only when Dean Bell left his right wing, joined in an attack instigated by the forwards, and evaded the cover to score, was traditional Auckland three-quar-ters play seen in its best light.

South sadly lacked the flair which might have produced tries to save the situation. Hudson’s kicking was admirable — he was on target with six goals and two field goals from as many attempts — but was not enough to shake Auckland’s confidence. The South tactics were quite predictable, yet its captain, David Field, twice threw Auckland’s positioning away with simple changes of direction. Hampton capitalised on his opponent’s hesitancy to claim a spectacular try after evading three attempted tackles,

and 40 minutes later wayne Dwyer also ran away from a tattered Auckland defence for his try. Only occasionally were South’s forwards able to make much headway. Rex Dalzell was strong in his running on to the ball, and he, Thompson and the replacement, Ross Taylor, managed to break clear once each before the Auckland cover restored order. Dalzell alone was free of the handling errors which beset the South forwards. The prop, Peter Harris, was all heart in his other work, but all thumbs when seeking to launch short-passing thrusts. It was because of South’s mistakes that Auckland had a decisive 10-4 scrummaging supremacy. Those figures are deceptive when rating the respective hookers, for Wayne Wallace had two of the three tight heads for South. Auckland would have had the result in safe keeping much earlier had its goalkicker, Nick Wright, been able to match Hudson’s length and accuracy. Wright kicked five goals, and three

of his five failures were relatively simple. The incisiveness that Nick Wright displayed against Northern was also largely missing on Saturday. Dean Bell’s try was expertly taken, but his handling generally disappointed. Bournville enthusiastically accepted his two scoring chances, Ron O’Regan stepped away from several tackles, and the scrum-half, Darryl Morrison, was adept at extending the breaks made by his forwards.

South’s back-line was revamped at half-time. Glen Gibb, who had defended with grit, was replaced by John MacGougan, and Robin Alfeld, who started on the wing, and the full-back, Tony Wildermoth, swapped positions. The changes were quickly countered by Auckland. Bernie Green in one fine, fending burst along the left flank, and Hampton, with his quickness to dart through the rare gaps that were available, provided most of the more memorable moments for the South backs.

If neither side produced the form of a true championship combination, there was consolation for the players — both the winners and the losers — from the after-match comments of the New Zealand test coach, Graham Lowe. He noted an improvement on what he had seen in the first round of the series. Details:—

Auckland 34 (0. Wright two, Bournville two, D. Bell, G. Ackland tries; N. Wright five goals) beat South 22 (R. Hampton, W. P. Dwyer tries; L. E. Hudson six goals, two field goals). Half-time, 12-12. Scrums, Auckland, 104. Penalties, South, 18-17. Referee, Mr D. O’Sullivan (Wellington).