Teenage wing stars in Gallaher Shield

Ponsonby wing David Smith (left) on the attack. Smith has the x-factor, says All Black great Bryan Williams. Picture / Glenn Jeffrey

Ponsonby 42 Waitemata 12

David Smith is an All Black waiting to happen.

The 19-year-old Ponsonby winger was sensational in the Ponies' comprehensive win over Waitemata in Saturday's Gallaher Shield final.

Smith scored two of Ponsonby's five tries and set up a third when he exploded through a tackle in the 35th minute to put halfback Chad Tuoro in for a try behind the posts.

Already a member of Pat Lam's Auckland squad, Smith was released for the shield final as Lam went for his two All Black wingers, Doug Howlett and Joe Rokocoko, for Saturday's match against Taranaki.

One who knows what qualities are required to make an All Black winger is Ponsonby club captain and rugby director, Bryan Williams.

The best winger in the world during his peak in the early 1970s, Williams was responsible for bringing Smith to Auckland from Samoa three years ago.

"David has that x-factor which can win games for any team," Williams said. "He can make things happen out of nothing.

"He has explosive speed, a great side-step, a powerful fend and can break tackles as he showed on Saturday. And there's nothing wrong with his defence. He is tough and aggressive.

"As well, he has a great attitude. He is modest, yet trains the house down. Sometimes he will work out three or four times a day."

An All Black in the making?

"No question - he has it all."

In his first year of premier one rugby last season, Smith was Auckland's top try-scorer with 16.

This season he has scored 18, including four against Otahuhu in the first-round championship, to again lead all try-scorers in the premier one competition. And this despite missing several games with a hamstring injury and Auckland commitments.

Ponsonby's other huge contributor this season has been first five-eighth Brett Williams, a nephew of Bee Gee.

Williams scored Ponsonby's first try on Saturday then added four conversions and three penalties for 22 of his side's points, bringing his tally for the season to 262 - again the best in the Auckland premier one competition.

Despite the heroics of Smith and Williams, Ponsonby's win was a total team effort.

Waitemata more than held their own for much of the first half, scoring the game's first two tries to lead 12-3 after 21 minutes.

But Ponsonby broke the game open with tries in the 32nd and 35th minutes - the first by Williams and the second by Tuoro, a former Waitemata halfback.

Halftime came with Ponsonby ahead 17-12.

Then, with the wind behind them in the second half, the Ponies galloped away with three further tries to Smith (two) and second five-eighth Benson Stanley.

Under the expert coaching of Grant Keenan, Ponsonby have won the Gallaher Shield for the last three years. And on Saturday's evidence the run looks likely to continue for some time.