N. Auckland outclassed

Press, 11 July 1983, Page 38

N. Auckland outclassed

PA Whangarei Auckland outjumped and outpushed North Auckland to win by 13-9 the national championship and Coronation Shield rugby match at Okara Park stadium at Whangarei yesterday. North Auckland led 3-0 at half-time. The key to the game was Auckland’s line-out superiority where the All Blacks, Andy Haden and Gary Whetton, gave them a 28-11 advantage. Grant Fox and Tim Bircher scored Auckland’s tries. Fox kicked a penalty goal and conversion. Geoff Valli scored all North Auckland’s points with three penalty goals.

At Westport, the Southland rugby team beat Buller 16-12 in a division 2 championship match on Saturday. Rain and strong winds limited scoring opportunities throughout the clash, which looked like ending in a 12-all draw until a late defensive blemish by the home side produced an unexpected try for the centre, Paul Laidlaw.

Southland’s points came from tries by Laidlaw and winger, Bruce Pascoe, while Brian McKechnie converted one and added two penalty goals. David Baird kicked all Buller’s points—four penalty goals. In Oamaru, Otago completed its national rugby

championship preparation with an 88-3 thrashing of North Otago at Centennial Park.

Otago, which will play Canterbury in its first division one match on Wednesday, scored 17 tries almost at will against North Otago, whose only response was a lone penalty. Scorers.—

Otago: Phil Young (3), Noel Pilcher (3), Paul Turner (2), Dean Kenny (2), James Lang, Wayne Graham, Lindsay Smith, Martin Flannery, Andy Hollander, Trevor McLennan and Ralph Milne, tries. Turner, 10 conversions. North Otago: Ross Wilson, penalty.