Counties thrashes North Harbour

Press, 29 May 1985, Page 8

Counties thrashes North Harbour

PA Auckland North Harbour, fresh from a 62-10 drubbing of Queensland Country last week, came back to earth with a thump yesterday, being trounced 43-7 by the Counties rugby side at Onewa Domain. Takapuna. A crowd of 7000 saw Counties score seven tries to North Harbour’s one. After a slow start the big Counties pack took charge, dominated the set pieces and plucked the ball back from secondary phases. Counties won the line-outs 16-6, the rucks and mauls 17-6 and the scrums 27-6.

“We learned a good lesson you can’t play without the ball,” said the North Harbour coach, Mr Peter Thorburn.

“They put extreme pressure on us and, under pressure, we made the mistakes.

“They were a particularly good team and when they did apply the pressure thev never made mistakes."

Counties based its forward effort on the big front row. Rod Ketels, Andy Dalton and

Henry Maxwell. Paul Tuoro and newcomer Wayne McGregor had a feast of possession in the line-outs. While the Counties' backs did not show the flair of a fewseasons ago, there seemed to be wisdom in the game plan of the coach, Mr John Hughes. “After the way we got cleaned out at the line-outs by North Harbour in the first game and more recently byQueensland, we had to put on an improved performance," said Mr Hughes. “Otherwise we were going to have to have a good look at ourselves before starting the national first division championship. “It didn’t flow too well in mid-field, there was a bit of indecision, but I guess that was just the surprise of getting so much ball." Scorers: Counties 43 (M. Moore, S Lineen 2, L. Raki. T. Clarke. W. McLean. T. Welsh, tries; R. Fry. 6 conversions, dropped goal). North Harbour 7 (F. Botica try. penalty goal). Half-time: Counties, 18-7. f