ELLESMERE GAMES

Press, Volume C, Issue 29537, 12 June 1961, Page 16

ELLESMERE GAMES

College A Beats Leeston

College A beat Leeston in ;the main match at Leeston Park on Saturday. College 19. Tries to J. Strang (2). C. MPvhell <2'.i W. J. Thompson. Hagen two conversions. Leeaten 3. Skinner a try. Before one of the biggest crowds ever to attend a foot-1 ball matt* at Leeston Park the long-awaited game be-' tween College A and Leeston was played on a muddy field In a game much closer than the score indicated, the ability of the College loose) forwards to link up with, their backs was the main factor in the win. J. Strang’s co-ordanation was outstanding. Although winning 75 per cent of ball from serums and line-outs, mainly owing to the efforts of J. Sheehan and D. Cochrane, the Leeston back-line was not able to

penetrate the shallow College defence. A. Coleman was the best College back on the field and was always dangerous when he had possession. C. Mit-i chell was test and tricky,' beating two or three men before being caught. Although well beaten in set play, College forwardexcelled in the loose with' Witterson, Strang and Kane having a hand in four of College’s five tries. W. J Thompson also played well but marked Cochrane ineffectively in the line-outs. | R. Taiaroa and G. Skinner) were the best of the Leeston backs but because of close, marking seldom received any room in which to move. Early Game In the early game South-! bridge surprisingly beat Irwell 6-3 in an uninteresting) game. Southbridge points) coming from a penalty goal! by B. Allen and a field goal! by L. Carr. For Irwell, R. Doak kicked a penalty. The Southbridge team was) rejuvenated by the appear-1 ance of A. W. C. McPherson) who replaced B. Allen.) Although retired for many! seasons, he has still some attacking ability left. For Irwell, R. Doak and D. McMillan played well but failed to get much support from their fellow players. College B easily beat the weak Durssandel team by 23 points to 6. Lower grade results are.— Junior grade open: Lincoln College 5, Burnham 3; Prebbleton 18, New Zealand Regi-) ment B 3; New Zealand Regiment A 30, Peninsula 0; Leeston a bye. Junior, under 20: Irwell 9,i Lincoln College A 6; Lincoln College B 15. Dunsandel 3: Lincoln a bye. Third grade: Peninsula 20, Lincoln 3; Southbridge 11. Waihora-Prebbleton 9; Leeston a bye. Fourth grade: Leeston 20. Prebbleton 0: Waihora 13. Southbridge 12; Lincoln a bye | Fifth grade: Irwell 3 Waihora 0: Lincoln 20, Dun-) sandel 0; Leeston 22. Prebble-! ton 0: Southbridge a bye. Bantam grade: Irwell 9, Waihora 0; Lincoln 11. Dunsandel 0. I