mt.wellington
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Under the guidance of master coach Bill Sorensen, the Aucklanders delivered wins over Australia on June 1 (19-15), Great Britain on June 14 (14-10) and France on June 21 (17-0).
The achievement was all the more exceptional because it contrasted with the Kiwis’ uninspiring efforts in their World Championship matches against the visiting teams just days earlier with many of the Auckland players backing up from those Test matches.
After the Kiwis had lost 12-27 to Australia at Carlaw Park on May 29, Auckland – with five players backing up from the Test – provided thrills aplenty in beating the Kangaroos 19-15 on the same ground three days later.
On June 12, the Kiwis were abject in a 12-30 defeat by Great Britain in Christchurch but seven of the Kiwi side then fronted and excelled 48 hours later to help Auckland beat the Brits 14-10 at the beloved Carlaw Park.
And while the New Zealand side was unconvincing in a 28-20 win against France on June 19, seven Kiwis then helped Auckland complete the clean sweep with their 17-0 victory over the French.
In all 19 players were used by Sorensen in Auckland’s campaign with 14 of them either Kiwis already or destined to wear the black and white jersey. Five of them captained the Kiwis and five of them were inducted as Legends of League by the NZRL – Dennis Williams, Mark Graham, Kurt Sorensen, Olsen Filipaina and Bill Sorensen – while others who would have long Kiwi and professional careers were Fred Ah Kuoi, Dane O’Hara and Gary Kemble.
The 1977 team was previously honoured by the Vodafone Warriors in 2007, marking the 30th anniversary with a special replica strip the Vodafone Warriors wore in their last home match of the season against Manly. On a sensational day – with 12 1977 veterans in attendance – the Vodafone Warriors beat Manly 36-14 in front of 25,070 fans (the ground was sold out two days earlier).