PLUNKET SHIELD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 21, 26 January 1939, Page 27

PLUNKET SHIELD.

EDEN PARK MATCH. WELLINGTON ELEVEN. LAMABON BACK IN THE SIDE. Wellington did not waste any time in t.ik ug up tno gauntlet thrown down yest*r lay by tho announcement of Auckl.iri.i s Plunket Shield eleven to meet the southerners at Eden Park on February 3, 4, (i and 7. C. S. Dempster, the former Wellington representative, who i a now captain of Leii rstershire and hag come out to New Zealand in advance of his fellow members o' Nr .fulien Calm's team, will not, however, appear nt Auckland, as had been expected. What would have been the posit ion had he not damaged a finger wliilo fielding in the slips for Institute Old Bovs against Wellington College Old li"»H last .Saturday, is problematical. The "Sports Post" writer had this to gay last week, the paragraph, of course, having !"•' ii written before Dempster's retire'he position oi Dempster in leg.inl to inclusion in the Plunket Shield father peciiiiar. Whether he will 1"' included, or whether the attitude will be taken that ho is purely a member of a touring eleven, to be seen. As it is, he is eligible to play." A Press Association message from the capital to-day states that Mr. A. W. Duncan has chosen the following playere to conn north for next week's content: K. W. Tindill (Midland). J. R. Shellield (University). J. KM (Wellington). J. A. Onglev (University). W. (J. Huinbird (Wellington College Old Boys). J. R. Lamason (Wellington College Old Hoys I. 1). 8. Wilson (Kilbirnie). J. A. Ailioiulen (Kilbirnie). M. Hi •owne ( Karon). T. I'. Pritchard (Manawatu). N. 11. (tallichan (Manawatu). The twelfth man will be T. A. Harpur (University). Lamason (former Wellington skipper and a 1D37 New Zealand representative on the tour of the United Kingdom) and Browne replace H. F. pice (Kilbirnie) and .1. McKeown (Institute Old Boys), who fielded against both Otago and Canterbury.

Although Tindfll (wicket-keeper) captained the aide ably against Otago. at Basin Reserve, and Canterbury, at Lancaster Park, no indication waa given in th« telegram whether he will be skipper againat Auckland. On thia aubject a Wellington writer aaid before aelection of tho team: "If Lamaaon bo included, and there ia an excellent chance that he will be, the question of captaincy will be rained. With hia vast experience in the position Lamason—if aelected—would probably relieve Tindill of the responsibility." Esmx Coach 1 * Position. The Essex coaoit, Sheffield, lias been retained in the eleven. Hia opening club partner, Harpur, who made 72 last week to Sheffield'* 12, against. Midland, has been relegated to twelfth man. In other respects general opinion in Wellington baa been vindicated by the dropping of Rice aid McKeown, a» well aa Harpur. No doubt Sheffield, aa coach, has developed a fine team spirit in the Wellingtoniana, and he has been specially helpful in the 1 advancement of the youthful Ongley, who at Christmas hit a century on hia Plunket Shield debut againat Otagn. Beaides being a fine alip fielder the Engliahman was for several years wirketkeaper for Es«ex and hk presence in the side Would relieve an awkward situation if for any reaaon a substitute had to be found for Tindill. How They Stand. Plunket Shield points at present are:— Auckland 12, Canterbury 10, Wellington 8, Otago 0. Points are allotted on the following basis:—Outright win, S pointa; win on first innings, 4; loss on nrat inning*, *5 tie on firat innings, 2 each; tie on match, 4 each; no result after aix hours play, 3 each. With the positions of the teams ai they are now it will be necessary for Auckland to beat Wellington outright if it is to make absolutely certain of winning the ahield. A win for Auckland on the first innings at Ivlin Park would give the shield to Canterbury, provided that province beats Otago outright on the same dates at Carisbrook. A loss of any kind would put Canterbury out of the Wellington con I<l win if it beat Auckland outright, even if Canterbury did secure first innings points at Duncdin. Since tho destination of the shield depends on the results of the two matches Ft ill to bo played, it is interesting to note that the tinal points last season were: — Am kl.ind 1«, Otago 18, Wellington 12, Canterbury 0.