MATCHES DESCRIBED

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 14, 17 July 1939, Page 15

MATCHES DESCRIBED

WELLINGTON LUCKY

DRAW WITH JOHNSONVILLE

On the general run of the play AVellington ivere somewhat fortunate to flnish on level terms—six all —with Johnsonville, at Athletic Park. Practically throughout Johnsonville shaped the trend ,of play with their rigorous bustling style of ~ game at which they are past masters. There were many times when the suburban team had AVellington in some very tight corners; they stormed the Wellington line and came again and again until it seemed that the AVellington ranks must yield. Particularly was this the case in the last five minutes or so. when Johnsonville, after playing flat out all the way, put all they had left into a final effort to win. More than once in those tense closing stages they went very near to scoring, but in the end they had to be content with a draw.

Although Johnsonville badly worried and scared AVellington, there is this to be said: they .could not attribute their failure to win to Jack of opportunities. A try scored alongside the posts presented a very good chance -of collecting winning points with the goal Kick, but simple though it was, the lack was missed. For all that a win to Johnsonville would not Iniye been against tbe run of the play. /Johnsonville .started out on their bustling tactics early and soon had Wellington doing a lot of scampering about. "Wellington often bad to fight hard for it and they were not helped in their endeavours to make bettor beadway by a series of penalty kicks against them These seemed to take some of the starch out of the side for a while. The Johnsonville forwards played with great strength, keeping themselves well together and forming themselves into a very formidable battering rara. In the rucks, scrums, and line-outs the Johnsonville forwards were equally at home, playing hard, bustling football and gaining the major share of the ball. The side had the misfortune to lose one of ther backs early through injury, and thereafter the back line on attack was not nearly as good. But for this casualty Johnsonville probably would have been able to make greater uso of the advantage gained by the forwards.

The only time AVellington gave any real indication of getting the upper haud was about fifteen minutes after the opening of the second spell. Then for a time it appeared that Johnsonville were tiring, but it was only a very temporary lapse, Johnsonville rallying well and finishing in great style.

The AVellington backs, who were without Fulton, did not see a great deal of the ball, and tvhen it. did get out among them there was not a great deal of thrust. The Johnsonville backs were watchful on defence and Lyons in particular acted promptly whenever Sherratt rrot the ball. However. Sherratt put bis head down right at the end of tlie first spell and with sheer determination slipped through tbe defence to touch down for a try. Earlier J. Burns had kicked a fine penalty goal for Johnsonville. so at half-time tlie teams were on tevel terms. In the second half Wellington, ■vent ahead with a penalty goal by Taylor, after •vliich a strong Johnsonville loose rush was '.opped off with a try by Lyons. And there ihe scoring ended. Johnsonville 6, AA'ellington 6.

The referee was Mr. B. Matthews