Ellesmere close in Town tussle

Press, 4 July 1985, Page 40

Ellesmere close in Town tussle

Ellesmere emerged with a good share of the honours even though it was beaten, 21-19, by Town in their rugby match at Leeston yesterday. In recent years, the Ellesmere senior representative team has been on the receiving end of some big hidings from Town, but it never considered the game a lost cause yesterday, and actually held the lead 12 minutes from the finish. Considering most counts went heavily against it in the first half, including the penalty distribution, Ellesmere could have felt very satisfied at holding Town to 12-3 at half-time. When possession came its way more readily in the second spell, Ellesmere camped in Town’s territory for a long time and it assumed the lead after 20 minutes. A hint of desperation became evident in the usually calm and collected Town XV, but renewed forward vigour kept play in Ellesmere’s half for much of the last 15 minutes, and nine

points in the space of three minutes proved enough for Town to keep ahead, despite conceding a penalty try two minutes before full-time. Ellesmere’s sterling performance was marked by the constant bustling of the forwards, ably led by the captain, Greg Hills, and supported by the big locks, Lindsay Munro and Chris Stuart, and the uncompromising tackling of the backs. The Town backline, normally noted for its sharp, incisive running, was stifled by firm tackling, and the Ellesmere backs tested the full-back, Michael Reeves, with high kicks. Reeves proved . a worthy goalkicker, but he was hesitant in his position. Gordon Smith and Peter McLaren, whose hard running straightened many Town attacks, served the Town pack well, and Steve Baker busied himself in play from half-back. Deane McKinnel was a sound link at first five-eighths, but the three-quarters could not find any real freedom out wide. The solidly-built Paul Winter impressed at halfback for Ellesmere, while Lee Golding was a tidy player outside him, and Arthur Marsh proved a strong pivot in the backline at second five-eighths. For Town, Steve Baker and Brent Harvey scored tries, Michael Reeves kicking two conversions and three penalty goals. Ellesmere’s points came from a try by John Cook, a penalty try, with Paul Winter kicking one conversion and two penalty goals and Lee Golding kicking a dropped goal. Ellesmere Colts outplayed Town Under 21, 21-9, in the curtain-raiser.