AUCKLAND V. WELLINGTON.

Auckland Star, 4 September 1939, Page 12

AUCKLAND V. WELLINGTON.

Askew, (lie Wellington full-back, defended resolutely, lmt In- was not up to the standanl of Dempsey, tlio Aucklander, whoso positional piny was good, and knowledge certainly better. » Similarlv the Auckland three-quarter Hue out-starred the Wellington three. Hardgrave. with speed an<l elusi veness. cave a brilliant exhibition of attacking play and is certainly the outstanding witis in New Zealand. McKen/.ie played soundly in tlie centre, and Nurse, on the other wing. showed lively enterprise. Kdie. one of the Wellington wings, is a young player of possibilities, and his allround play was of a very high standard. The play of the Wellington inside backs never rose to a high plane, and individually and collectively they were not the equal of the Auckland men. Walker played with polish and judgment at halfback. and Donaldson, at second five-eighth, provided a pivotal attack that often carried his side into scoring position. There were some flaws in the play of Graham, the voung Richmond player, at first fiveeighth, but there was an occasional brilliant patch in his game, and he has the sharp penetration which so many fiveeighths lack. It was in backing up in loose play to support their backs that the Auckland forwards alone showed superiority over the Wellington forwards. Shad-bolt and Cameron, the Mount Albert pair, were impressive, and Petersen was prominent for fast raiding work in the loose. Wellington sent up four first class forwards in Herkt, I.eahy, Mustchin and Cootes. and for lionest set-scrum work gave their best. Their opening effort was so solid and determined that in the early stages of the game Auckland was held on the defensive. It was only when the Auckland backs got chances to get into action, that the tide set against Wellington. For Auckland tries were scored by [Cameron, McKenzie. Donaldson. Nurse (2>. Donaldson converting three and kicking a penalty goal. | For Wellington tries were scored by I Herkt, Kdie and Carroll. I PHELAN SHIELD. City had the better of their contest with Nfirtti Shore, winning by 9 to 3. For City tries were scored by Silva, Raesbeck and Smith. Brown scored a try for North Shore. There was even play in the match Jjctween Newton and Ponsonby, each team getting four tries, Newton winning by 16 to 14. For Newton tries were scored by Housham. Proctor, Stephens and Blacklaws, Brimble and Anderson each converting one. For Ponsonby tries were scored by Briggs, Dormer, Saunders and Carr, Morgan converting one.