South rugby league captain confident of win at Auckland

Press, 19 May 1984, Page 72

South rugby league captain confident of win at Auckland

JOHN COFFEY

David Field, the South Island rugby league captain, believes that Auckland will not only be beaten in the Travelseekers championship final at Carlaw Park tomorrow, but that South will win by a comfortable margin.

“I will probably be laughed at for saying it, but I think that South has been going well enough to win by 15 points,” said Field. In making such a bold prediction, Field stressed that he was not underrating Auckland. He feels, however, that Auckland faces a difficult task to recover from its loss to Queensland Country in Brisbane last Wednesday night. “Psychologically, that must have hit the Auckland players pretty hard and it will take a good effort for them to hit their straps again so soon,” said Field. South’s excellent team spirit, and the form shown in its victories over Central and Northern in the earlier inter-districts fixtures, reminds Field of the positive attitudes displayed in the upset of the 1980 Australians and in taking the 1981 districts title. Field also welcomed the prospect of a firm playing surface at Carlaw Park. Such conditions should suit the mobile South forwards,

while the backs will not be hampered as they were in beating Central on a wet ground in Greymouth. Both Field and his coach, Ray Haffenden, emphasised the need for South to further tighten its front-line tackling. Auckland’s secondrowers, Owen Wright and John Ackland, are particu-

larly adept at slipping passes to their supports. Mr Haffenden also intends that South adopt an expansive style when in possession — “we won't find any holes in Auckland’s defence by charging up the middle.” The Auckland squad did not return from Australia until last night, and it might still be without the services of the Kiwi centre, Dean Bell, as well as the high-scoring loose forward, Hugh McGahan. “Frankly, I would like to play the strongest side Auckland can put on the paddock, without being distracted by personalities. As far as I am concerned, the opposition will comprise 15 guys who are standing in the way of our fellows making the Kiwis,” said Mr Haffenden. While team-work of a high standard will be needed if South is to beat Auckland at Carlaw Park for the first time since 1979, it is inevitable that the participants will also have considered the trial nature of the game. The New Zea-

land' XIII to meet Queensland in Brisbane on June 5 is to be announced tomorrow evening. For the South forwards, particularly Wayne Wallace, Wayne Dwyer, Barry Edkins and Ross Taylor, and the backs with past international experience, Robin Alfeld, Bernie Green, Marty Crequer and Field, the match has special significance. It is in their positions that national selection is most accessible. Edkins (two) and Green were try-scorers when South upset Auckland at Carlaw Park in 1979, and Alfeld, as a wing, also played in that game. Green, again a tryscorer, Dwyer. Edkins and Wallace shared in the disappointment of losing, 27-28, two years later. Now that Queensland Country has dented the traditional confidence of the Aucklanders, South must be conceded at least an even chance of success. Not many southern sides have run on to Carlaw Park with such favourable odds.