Canterbury’s N.I. league tour was a ‘learning experience’

Press, 29 April 1987, Page 34

Canterbury’s N.I. league tour was a ‘learning experience’

By

JOHN COFFEY

There were considerable benefits of both a football and administrative nature to be derived from the Canterbury rugby league team’s northern tour, according to the coach, Ray Haffenden.

“While quite satisfied” with Canterbury’s record of two wins and one loss, Mr Haffenden said there was . rooip for improvement on and off the playing fields. Canterbury came from behind to beat Bay of Plenty, 18-14, it thrashed Waikato, 38-4, but was decisively out-pointed by Wellington, 28-14, in its third match within six days.

"The tour was a learning experience for many of the players, and the week of training and playing should do them good,”

said Mr Haffenden. “I was happy with the performances of 99 per cent of the players.” He was extremely impressed with a Wellington combination that had been markedly strengthened by “imports” from other provinces and had been training since February.

Mr Haffenden said that Canterbury’s strong administration, in comparison to the minor leagues, should ensure it remains among the most successful team at first-class level.

"But I learned a few things up north and I believe Canterbury should also look at recruiting any promising players from

other areas who wish to move.

“By that I don’t mean we should go flogging players from the West Coast and everywhere else. But there are good footballers going begging because they are not getting competition of the standard they require to further themselves,” he said.

“I am not saying it is a good thing for rugby league as a whole, but some of the minor leagues have problems that make it inevitable they will lose players to places such as Wellington. “Of cqurse, Canterbury has to make sure it has to hold on to its own guys first,” said Mr Haffenden in reference to the transfers of seasoned internationals such as Marty Crequer (Auckland) and Adrian Shelford (Wellington).

Shelford was one of several “foreigners” in the Wellington line-up. Tony Kemp, Geoff Tangira, Barry Harvey (and the coach, Howie Tamati) previously represented Taranaki, and Kelly Makaore came from the rugby league outpost of Hawke’s Bay. Reviewing the tour, Mr Haffenden said Canterbury had overcome difficult climatic and ground conditions and a physical Bay of Plenty side to start its campaign with a win.

“Waikato was not as

strong as expected, and had a lot of young players, Canterbury did play very well, the backing up ofter being superb,” he said.

“We termed the Wellington match our ‘test’ of the tour, and in terms of defence that is how it was played. Wellington is a much more professional outfit now, it has covered its old weaknesses and is much fitter than normally at this time,” said Mr Haffenden.

In the early stages Mr Haffenden was confident of victory, and by a considerable margin. Canterbury led after Brendon Tuuta’s try and a goal by Phil Bancroft.

“Then they came back into it. We bombed a try in the first half, and the ball was dropped over our try-line from a kick from Wellington to score. It could have been 14-8 to

Canterbury at the break instead of the other way around.

"Wellington then scored just after half-time,” said Mr Haffenden, who had special praise for Kemp in the Wellington centres. “He has developed tremendously in England, and proved he has really got the goods to play for New Zealand in the future.”

In addition to his attacking skills, Kemp was prominent in an “umbrella” style defence which prevented Canterbury from bringing its three-quarters into play. Canterbury must now look towards its "second test” with Wellington at the Addington Show Grounds on May 12. It is the opening match of the southern zone first division championship which this winter has been reduced from a home-and-away basis to only one round between the two leagues and West Coast. “That match is vitally important to us, and to Wellington,” said Mr Haffenden. “We have to win if we are to continue in the national championship, and also to boost confidence for the 75th anniversary match with Auckland on Queen’s Birthday Monday.” By then Mr Haffenden expects Wellington to have its latest recruit — James Leuluai, the prol-ific-scoring former Auckland, New Zealand, Hull and Leigh centre who is likely to partner Kemp in midfield.