Auckland XV pipped at post by Sydney

Press, 16 April 1979, Page 22

Auckland XV pipped at post by Sydney

NZPA Sydney Sydney rugby received a shot in the arm with a 14-12 victory over Auckland that wrenched back the TransTasman Cup at Concord Oval, Sydney, on Saturday.

Sydney scored two tries and “bombed” at least two more while keeping its own line intact. The margin of victory could have been much wider had Tony Melrose not suffered an inexplicable lapse in kicking form. He landed only one out of five penalty attempts but partly compensated by scoring a crucial field goal. The Auckland half-back Richard Dunn, scored all of his team’s points with a penalty and a field goal in each half. Auckland led 6-4 at half time through Dunn’s boo* with Sydney’s response a try

by the captain. Don McDou gall.

Sydney led for the first time 10 minutes into the second half when Melrose kicked the field goal but Dunn soon grabbed it back again for Auckland. Melrose edged Sydney ahead again when he steered his only penalty between the posts before the prop John Coolican barged over for a try to put Sydney 14-9 ahead.

Dunn’s fourth successful kick reduced the deficit to only 12-14 but Sydney managed to hang on until the whistle. “Sydney should have won by at least 10 more points,” said the Auckland coach, Brian Craies. "We made too many mistakes individually and missed too many line kicks. This cost us dearly and we did not get. enough possession to play the running game we

would have liked.” The undoubted man of th match was the Sydney full

back Laurie Monaghan who repeatedly split the Auckland defence and was always safe under pressure.

Sydney’s back rowers And' Stewart. Greg Craig and Peter Medway marauded well in the loose but Auckland were unlucky to lose their best breakaway Steve Vaotuua through njury. The All Black winger Bryan Williams, occasionally raised Auckland's hopes with some crashing runs but was generally well marked.

Auckland’s best were Dunn, Michael Richards, Brad Johnston and John Allen.

The young winger, Gary Cunningham, who was outstanding against Australian Universities on Wednesday, seldom had a chance to show his ability.