Southbridge retains lead with last-minute goal

Press, 27 May 1985, Page 23

Southbridge retains lead with last-minute goal

The Ellesmere rugby subunion championship leader, Southbridge, scored a narrow 18-15 win against Burnham in an error ridden game at Burnham’s Coronation Park on Saturday. In a game dominated by the boot, neither team did itself justice and scoring chances were lost by both sides through the failure of players to link with their supports. Southbridge, through the efforts of Bill Moore at No. 2 and Wayne Love at No. 7, held an advantage in the line-outs. They were, however, helped by the ineffectual throwing to the line-out by the Burnham team. Burnham with its over-all height advantage, should have expected more ball from this source. Playing as individuals instead of as a team, Burnham on many occasions was bustled or driven off the ball by a Southbridge forward pack more dedicated to winning the ball.

The Southbridge backs, although not as guilty as their opponents, failed to make full use of the ball provided. Burnham promised much and did on occasions look dangerous with the ball in hand.

The scoring was a see-saw affair throughout, with Richard Wixon for Burnham and Colin Stevenson for Southbridge being the main scorers. Stevenson won the game for Southbridge on full time with a kick that hit the cross-bar and bounced over. John Cook and Dean Tohinui in the forwards, Wixon and Terry Quirke in the backs were the pick of the Burnham team. Southbridge had solid efforts from Love, Moore and Stuart Benny in the forwards, and Gavin Marshall and Stevenson in the backs. Southbridge 18 (R. Allen try, Stevenson conversion and four penalties), Burnham 15 (Wixon dropped goal and four penalties). Other senior A games resulted.— Darfield 10, Leeston 6; Lincoln 65. Irwell 0; Prebbleton 6, Kirwee 3; Peninsula 22, Sheffield 3. Lower-grade matches resulted.— Senior B.— Dunsandel 12, Lincoln 4; United 10, Burnham B 8; Waihora 16, West Melton 6; Burnham A 24, Diamond Harbour 6. Under 21.— Prebbleton 7, Waihora 4; Burnham 11, Darfield 0; Springston 9, Lincoln 4.

Under 18.— Darfield 35, Tinwald 0; West Melton 7, Technical 6; Waihora 18, Allenton 11; Leeston 41, Prebbleton 9. Under 16.— Lincoln 22, Prebbleton 13; Southbridge 0, Darfield 0; West Melton 17, Dunsandel 10. Under 14.— West Melton 39, Southbridge 4; Prebbleton 35, Leeston 0; Lincoln-Springston beat Dunsandel by default; Darfield 35, Waihora 0. Rep. team The Ellesmere Colts representative rugby team named at the week-end is.— S. Eaton, S. Baxter, J. Miles (Prebbleton); S. Sutherland (West Melton); G. Bain, K. Melhopt, W. Palmer, D. Reese (Southoridge); M. Happer (Dunsandel); G. Simpson, D. Edy, G. Newman, D. Jordan, K. Norton (Lincoln); C. Miller, A. Birch (Waihora); T. Johnston, S. Dods (Sheffield); G. Barber, D. Inwood, A. Van der Wilt (Irwell); M. Craw (Diamond Harbour); D. Johnson, M. Lemon, S. Fea, W. Barton (Leeston); G. Hale (Kirwee). Practice Sunday, June 2,2 p.m., Lincoln rugby grounds. Anyone unavailable contact Bud Barton, Irwell (241) 702. Advt.