AUCKLAND BEATS WEAKENED WELLINGTON SIDE

Chronicle (Levin), 13 September 1948, Page 7

AUCKLAND BEATS WEAKENED WELLINGTON SIDE

WELUNGTON, Sept. 12. An inspired pack of M ellington forwards and a doggcd dcfence by a weakened attacking backline, were the principal reasons for the home team holding Auckland to a comparatively respectable result in Rugby at Athletic Park on Satprday. The half-time score of 10 — 3 in Auckland 's favour remained unaltered at the linal whistle. Auckland owe their win priuiarily to a goc/d supply of the ball from the scrums and lineouts and greater initia tive in the backs. The undoubted star of the day was Fred Allen who dictated the trend of play to a remarkable degree and when the eentre, Gilmour, went off iujure'l, he shouldered the added responsibility with rare judgment. The voung lirst Rve-eighth, N. H. Black, handled Dovell's erratic service with uneannv consistency. He snatched some passes from abov'e his head but picked most of them from near his aukles. His cover defence was one of the features of the match. Others who impressed were Scott, McLean, Thornton, McHugh, Simpson, Taylor and Christian for Auckland and Phillips, Mullin, Thoinas, Bevan, Lloyd, O 'Donnell and Wills for Wellington. Delamore's absence througli influen/.a detracted cousiderablv from Wellington 's attack. Scorers for Auckland were Allen and Gilmour. Scott converted both tnes. Phillips kicked a penalty for Wellington.