JOHNSOIWILLE V. WELLINGTON

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 85, 12 April 1937, Page 15

JOHNSOIWILLE V. WELLINGTON

.At the Johnsonville ground Wellington and Johnsonville had an interesting practice match. Johnsonvilla fielded practically the same side as last season, the only new players being .in the forwards. Wellington, however, included several new arrivals, as well as a number of promoted players. Harvey (a son of the old All Black, Peter Harvey) and Roxall were from Christchurch, and Edie from South Otago. A Maori forward, Whitehall, from Gis^ j borne, played for Johnsonville in the I second spell. As to the game itself, play commenced at a very fast pace, but slackened considerably before the end. The Wellington inside backs handled very well in the first spell, but had very few opportunities in the second spell until the final few minutes. The Johnsonville forwards, with A. Kenny in fine condition,' were a. strong attacking force throughout, and the loose dribbling rushes, were very effective: Apart from J. • Burns, ;at half, the back line did not perform very well however, the tackling espe-cially-being weak. Bracken secured most of the ball from the set scrums, but-otherwise the Wellington forwards were not up to standard, Taylor beina an outstanding exception. Kane, ;at first five-eiglitb in the first spell, and later at full-back, was always good, and Dixon and Ulrich were also ,in form. M. Kelly, at full-back for Johnsonville, played a good game, showing plenty of pace. Crawford made' a promising debut in the Johnsonville Pain%he first spell Ulrich scored a try for' Wellington ,and Kelly scored one for .Johnsonville, and in the second spell Hallewellscored a try, which !J..; Burns converted, to give Johnsonville the lead Compton scored for Wellington just before the final whistle, 1 making the final score'B-6.' The teamswere; —Johnsonville: Mick Kenny, Merv. Kenny, Welsh, Kelly, G. Burns.! Hallewell, J. Burns, Bowler,'' CrawfoM, A. Kenny, Jane, Grant, Shalders Lee, Hall. During the game Carvell, Whitehall, and Trenchard replaced Hall, Shalders, and Kelly. Wellington: Compton. Edie, Harvey, Ulrich. Dixon. Kane,, Richardson. Taylor, Weir, Roxall, Cross, McTageort, Dimes, Bracken. Cragg. At half-time Balfour replaced Weir. The referee was Mr. E. G. Mildenhall.