North team dominates league trial

Press, 19 June 1986, Page 38

North team dominates league trial

Special correspondent

The Auckland-domin-ated Northern Zone team scored all 44 points at the expense of the composite Rest XIII in the first New Zealand rugby league trial at Carlaw Park, Auckland, last evening. Although the match was by no means as one-sided as suggested by the result, Northern Zone had too much combination and finishing power for an opposition drawn from both British-based and New Zealand-resident contenders for next month’s tour to Australia and Papua New Guinea.

All but one of Northern’s eight tries were scored by its backs. The exception was that completed by the fast young prop, James Goulding, after his scrum-half, Gary Freeman, had made the initial break near the half-way line. Darrell Williams, given a trial at centre, was as commanding in his performance as he had been in his specialist full-back role for Auckland against

South Island last Sunday. Freeman and his skilled stand-off half, Shane Cooper, were also in fine touch.

But the outstanding individual was the Northern loose forward and captain, Ron O’Regan, who kicked superbly in general play. Goulding, Owen Wright and Dean Lonergan also impressed in the Northern pack. Barry Harvey, the Rest hooker, won two of the three tight heads against Tracy McGregor, and was given solid forward support by Adrian Shelford and John Green. Less was seen of the Rest backs, though Gary Mercer and Kelly Shelford had their moments.

The final trial, between Southern Zone and a revamped Rest XIII, will be played at the Addington Show Grounds on Sunday.

Scores: Northern Zone 44 (Mark Elia two, Shane Cooper two, Marty Crequer, Darrell Williams, Gary Freeman, James Goulding tries; Peter Brown six goals) beat The Rest 0.