RUGBY LEAGUE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 2, 3 July 1939, Page 17

RUGBY LEAGUE

ONE-POINT MARGIN

SOUTH AUCKLAND BEAT

WELLINGTON

ISefore a large crowd of spectators South Auckland beat Wellington by ll points to if) it( ft iiughy League representative game, at •VeUvtoxvu t'aik. on Saturday afternoon. It was the first . iuteijjiovihcia! match id be played locally tHiJi season atnl f/rov'ided a trial match f'6i- the selection ot (lie New Zealand team.

II was* for tlie most purl. Hard, skirmishing football null both packs of forwards fighting for sti|Jl'emaoy. Actually tiiere was very little between the packs though South Auckland had (he advantage over their opponents lii the mat* (ef of hooking from the sc?iiras. The visiting backs played vigorous football and the! Wellington back line*'felt the loss of Cooper, Who early left the field \Vith" injuries. He had proved hlhwdlf the spear point of the attack-and Wae oil the ball throughout the'time he Vvas on the field.-

South' Auckland played bustling football atid their failgy forwards kept Wellington on the alert.

Wellington' were striving desperately to score but the Sdutli Auckland defence was* hard to piotde and some exciting incidents took plaue, fof obstruction early in the match Wellington were awarded a penalty in front 6i the posts and Btaaaway kicked a goal. Wellington 2* Soutli Auckland 0, "" . Heavy fain fulling made foothold diiScuit and South Auckland seemed to adapt themselves mote readily to cMditietiß than Welling* ton, TlWy gained the lead after T. Shaw, who waft playing a fine gatne At fUil-bftck, liiade an opeiiißg fOf Taliftd to score. Seftdie scored mi* mediately afterwaifds\ These successes spurred Sdtith Alieklattd to further" efforts and some fine passing movements were Seen. T. Shaw again Made it possible fflr itaiiioi' to score, Weliiiigtefi gairied a sliglit ascendancy just before half-time and ifae backs and forwards conlbined well, allowing Emails' to score. The half-time score was South Auckland il, WeilifigWli 5. J. Oftotes tiailie fcfh in the Second half iti place of MUsttihih. lie did net spare himself atid His efforts earlied frequent applause, Vbt some time Wellifigto'h Were haramefiftg away at the {South Auckland defence but they douid fiot titm. C66tes fcidked a penalty for an inffiiigeriient in fhe sci'um and fluff .scored, bringing Wellington within a point of South Auckland's fotali However, though they tried hard they WeTe kept at bay in eiie of tlie irioSt e*citiilg finishes; seen oii Kewtown Park for s&iiie time. The game ended: S&iith Auckland il, Wellington • 10* The referee Was Mr, W, Simpson.