Southbridge takes lead

Press, 30 April 1984, Page 21

Southbridge takes lead

Southbridge remained the only unbeaten team in the senior A grade of the Ellesmere sub-Union’s rugby competition when it overpowered the hitherto unbeaten Lincoln, 12-9, in a key third-round match on Saturday. Southbridge was dominant for most of the first half, although Lincoln looked dangerous in the last 10 minutes. Lincoln had only itself to blame for being down, 6-12, at half-time. Injudicious kicking and slow passing by the inside backs' were costly errors. In the first half, Southbridge had a clear advantage in mauls, but the lighter Lincoln forwards lost nothing in rucks. Southbridge scored its try when the ball was still dry early in the first spell — driving rain later swept across the Southbridge .Domain — and it started deep inside the team’s own territory.

The blind-side wing, Geoff Bain, and the full-back, Colin Stevenson, instigated the move which led to the right wing, Jimmy O’Neill, scoring close to the posts. A revitalised Lincoln pack avoided mauls and gained the ascendancy in rucks in the second half. However, the backs failed to complement the effort of their forwards.

Southbridge’s performance in the second spell was blunted by the loss of three players through injury, especially Wayne Love, who had been one of the better Southbridge forwards in all facets of play. For Southbridge, Alan Palmer, in the loose, and Bill Moore, for his line-out work, Mike Jones and Love had strong games among the forwards. The half-back and first five-eighths combination of Gavin Marshall and Neville Carter, respectively, limited their errors and had the better of their

opposites. Tony Norton, Dave Moffat and Eddie Kerr were to the fore in the tight for Lincoln and John Mounce shone in the loose. The pick of the backs were the full-back, Greg Newman, and the wing, Gary Payne. Scorers: Southbridge 12 (O’Neill try, N. Carter conversion, two penalty goals), Lincoln 9 (G. Jordan two penalty goals; G. Jones penalty goal). Other senior A results: Kirwee 6, Burnham 4; Leeston 19, Peninsula 6; Sheffield 13, Darfield 3. Lower-grade scores.—

Senior B: Prebbleton 19, United 3; Diamond Harbour 12, West Melton 7; Dunsandel 17, Burnham 0; Lincoln 9, Irwell 6. Senior reserve: Peninsula 11, Leeston 7; Sheffield 17, Kirwee 3; Selwyn beat Waihora by default; Prebbleton 33, Southbridge 3; Burnham 36, Darfield 3.

Under 21: Burnham 30, Southbridge 3; Lincoln 20, Darfield 4; Dunsandel 4, Waihora

Under 18: Darfield 19, Springston 4; West Melton 8, Combined 4; Waihora 14, Leeston Combined 8. Under 16: Darfield 46, Springston 4; Waihora 35, Prebbleton 0; Leeston 10, West Melton 0.

Under 14: Sheffield 20, Dunsandel 10; Lincoln 38, Springston 0; Darfield 40, Prebbleton 16; Southbridge 12, Selwyn 6; Waihora 26, Leeston White 12; Burnham 30, West Melton 0. Under 12, East: Leeston Red 18, Prebbleton 12; Lincoln 16, Leeston White 0; Peninsula 16, Southbridge 0. West: Dunsandel 10, Darfield 10; Selwyn 26, Burnham 10; Springston 28, West Melton 8.

Under 10, East: Leeston 20, Irwell 12; Southbridge 20, Lincoln Red 12; Waihora 38, Lincoln Black 6; Peninsula 18, Prebbleton Blue 10; Prebbleton White beat. Bumham by default. West: West Melton 34, Springston 9; Darfield 26, Dunsandel 14.