SPECTACULAR TRIES IN ARMY VERSUS WELLINGTON GAME.
When Wellington .beat the Trentham Army team on June 22 it was All Black J. M. Taylor's goai-kickinj; which .brought about tlhe downfall of the soldiers 19—17. In tlhe return game at Athletic Park last Saturday Taylor was an absentee, despite which Wellington's margin of victory was increased to 22—15. Some of the tries came from really dashing efforts, and great runs by Sherratt and Posselt were among the more notable happenings to arouse the enthusiasm of the large crowd, as the game was lively all the way. The occasion was one for patriotic purposes, with the injured players' rund aiso benefiting. Circumstances made it difficult for the soldier team to take the field as a unit working with complete understanding, and in this respect Wellington started with an advantage, though having to face the wind. One notable absentee from the Trentham team was C. K. Saxton, and his absence was disappointing for all. He was out owing to an attack of measles. The Army team differed a good deal from that which met Wellington earlier in the season, but it included fine players nevertheless. Its main handicap was lack of combination. though in the course of play this was overcome to some extent.
A Sterling Forward. On the Army side there was a player who, as in the previous match with Wellington, covered himself with glory. That player was J. Finlay. keen, versatile, fast and energetic back-row forward, with a gre'at sense of anticipation. Gillespie (Wellington) and Sherratt (Army) had a most interesting duel as opposites on the wing, and both succeeded in making breakaways that greatly excited the crowd. Those two by Skerratt which p.roduced tries were highlights of the match, just as was one impressive long run by Posselt, who made the most of this opportunity to show his possibilities in big football. McAneney, who was Posselt* opposite, also showed ability, though without the same chances that went to the other wings.
Most of the players came well into the picture, and on the general run of play there was the evidence that the Wellington side had just that extra touch of understanding which made all the difference. It vas during a period of the second spell that the Wellington backs operated to such purpose that they looked like overwhelming the soldiers. However, the Army contingent rallied, and finished on well, without being able to reach the mark which the Wellington side, by a thoroughly good performance, had attained.
Ron Bush In the Picture. Sherratt's two tries and Posselt's second one were undoubtedly the features of the matchGillespie f ried to push Sherratt out when the winger scored his first try, but instead he pushed him forward, and Sherratt thereupon ran away from Gillespie and Dance. Almost the same thing happened to Posselt, except that Bush tried to bump the Eastbourne man into touch. Posselt retained his feet and scored a grand try. In the last try of the match Bush came up on the blind side to make the overlap, and when he passed to Sherratt the winger, once he had beaten Dance, had a clear run to the goal line. But he had to step very quickly, for Todd showed unsuspected pace in keeping with Sherratt all the way, and he just missed stopping him with a diving tackle. Other points were scored for Wellington by Kenny. Posselt, Veitch, Gillespie and Reynolds tries, with O'Halloran converting two tries for Army. Sanders potted a go: 1. Bush converted one of Sherratt's tries, and Barton kicked a penalty. Mistaken Identity! In the absence of the annual inter-island match the game at Wellington next Saturday between the services' fifteens promises to be one of the highlights of a successful season, considering war limitations. Some players at present in training in the North Island are included in the South Island team in the following selections made by Mr. E. McKenzie, New Zealand Rugby Union selector, from nominations forwarded by air force stations and army camps:— North Island.—Full-back, P. J. Donnelly; threequarters, A. A. McAneney, D. G. Barton, J. H. Sherratt; flve-eighths, E. Sargisson, C. A. Gibson; half-back, C. E. King; back row, T. R. C. Overton; middle row, R. Spencer, P. H. Fraser-Smith, A. W. Bowman. S. N. Guiniven; front row, D. G. Lawson, L.>F. Warren, S. M. Elliffe. Reserves: Back, W. A. Cairncross; forward, I. A. Martin. South Island.—Full-back, M. T. O'Connor; threequarters, L. W. Schubert, W. J. Pulton, R. Natusch; live-eighths, L. J. Jackson, T. Wagstaffe; half-back, C. K. Saxton; back-row, J. Finlay; middle row, G. Mills, L. J. Chalmers, M. B. Fearn. T. C. Metcalfe; front row, N. J. McPhail, P. McDonald, P. K. Rhind. Reserves; Back, J. J. McAuliffe; forward, G. R. Gable. Ther# has been fairly general confusion over the identity of the Northern custodian, and at least one Canterbury metropolitan daily has made him M. P. Donnelly, to whom last year's award of the Redpath Cup, was made as New Zealand's champion batsman. He played magnificently against West Coast (at Greymouth) and Wellington (at Christchurch), and appeared in both New Zealand Universities' games at Eden Park on June 1 and 3. But it is not Martin who has been selected! Monday's "Taranaki Daily News" states:— "P. J. Donnelly, of the No. 2 elementary flying training school, Bell Block, has been selected as full-back for the North Island Services Rugby team to play South Island at Athletic Park, Wellington, on Saturday. "Donnelly, who was a Junior representative for King Country before he was posted to the ground staff at New Plymouth, played full-back for Air Horce in the Taranaki- senior Rugby competition this season, with the exception of one occasion when he was centre three-quarter in the taatch against Tukapa. He is recognised as a sound defensive player- with a flair for initiating attacking movements when the opportunity arises."
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Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 229, 26 September 1940, Page 21
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982SPECTACULAR TRIES IN ARMY VERSUS WELLINGTON GAME. Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 229, 26 September 1940, Page 21
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