McKechnie’s boot tells

Press, 17 July 1978, Page 24

McKechnie’s boot tells

PA Timaru Two first-half goals by Brian- McKechnie were sufficient to give Southland a vital 6-0 win over South Canterbun’ in a national rugby championship match in Timaru on Saturday. McKechnie landed an excellent 42m penalty and then dropped a neat goal from 25m with his left foot. The rest of the match was very even, with the two packs squaring possession and neither back-line functioning properly. The last lOmin produced some thrilling plav, with Southland endeavouring to make the game safe and South Canterbury seeking at least a draw, but both teams gave away penalties at crucial moments.

Scoring was dominated by two players when Nelson Bavs met a Wellington fifteen at Trafalgar Park yesterday, Barry Simpson reported. Wellington won, 30-18.

For Wellington, the fast, clever left-wing, Brian Fraser, scored five tries to contribute 20 of Wellington’s points, and for Nelson Bays,

Jim Speedy, the first fiveeighths, with three penalties a dropped goal and a conversion scored almost all of his team’s points. John Cameron completed the scoring with a try. The Wellington full-back, M. T. Tucker, converted three tries, and R. P. Dolden, scored the other try. The Wellington backs were too fast and clever for the home side. Wellington lost control for a short time in the second half when the score got as close as 18-15, and Nelson came close to scoring on four occasions. And at Whangarei, the All Black centre, Bruce Robertson, showed his class when he scored three tries in leading Counties to a convincing 26-7 victory over North Auckland in a national championship match at Otara Park Stadium. Counties led, 12-4, at halftime.

The wing, Robert Kururangi, and lock forward, Mac McCallion, also scored tries for Counties. Mark Todlin kicked three conversions.

Joe Morgan scored North Auckland’s try and Tuck Waaka added a penalty goal.