LAST CLUB MATCH OF YEAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 244, 14 October 1940, Page 13

LAST CLUB MATCH OF YEAR.

MANUKAU TAKES PHELAN SHIELD—KICKING DISPLAY BY HEMI, WHO TOPS THE CENTURY.

The curtain was,rung down at Carlaw Park on Saturday as far" as "club football for the season is concerned, when in thcj final for the Phelan Shield Manukau beat Mount Albert, 20 to 14. As a display it did not rise to the best heights, as com, bination on both sides was faulty. l'la* was at a fast pace all the way, and Mount Albert made great efforts near the end to make up the leeway it was faced with. There was much hard play and fiery tackling, and towards the end of the first half some unnecessary rough play. Hemi's Century. "When Henii started the match lie indicated that he would be in goal-kicking form by putting the ball high between the goalposts, a goal that did not count, of course. Later he converted a try with a nice shot and won much applause, as it marked hid hundred points for the season. He'con-i verted two more tries, but the fourth Manukau try, scored between the posts, he failed to improve from the easiest position of all. But lie crowned everything near the end with a remarkable field goal, a shot from near the sideline, which landed the ball on the crossbar before it bounced over . to make his points tally for the season 108. Missed Three Backs. The absence of Banham, Mclnnarney and Cowley weighed heavily with-Mount Albert in its match against Manukau. Banham, who was the team's key player, has gone back to Australia, and neither of the other pair, two of the most bril-

liant League backs, was available. Ae it was, Mount Albert had an improvised backline, but there were three of tiie regui lar players in Clements, Cato and McLachlan. and each, in his individual way, gave good service. Although Hemi played an outstanding game, the liveliest attacking back was Martin. Earlier in the season he gave good, service at full-back and on Saturday he showed decided possibilities as a fiveeighth. Fast off the mark, he has a weaving run and is singularly elusive. Hooker to Retire. After 24 yeans of football, Bert Leatherbarrow, of the Mount Albert team, played his final match. He has decided to retire. He made a start with football when seven years of ag? and was then goalkeeper for the Xorth Shore fifth grade Soccer football team. In-vhis school days at Devonport he played: Rugby, and he also played Rugby in Xorth Auckland and Taranakij Then lie played League in the Xorth Shore junior grades. For several seasons lie has been one of the outstanding forwards of the Mount Albert Club and last season, for the first time, won Dominion honours, being selected to go with the Xew Zealand team to England.. This season he got 65 points for Mount Albert, scoring 15 tries and kicking-10 goals. Apart from his value as a hooker, lie has safe hands, and in loose play displayed- speed and initiative. He always kept up with the play, with an eye for a pass, an opening and the goal-line ahead. He lias in his time played in every position from the front row to full-back.