Ellesmere beats Hurunui

Press, 5 August 1985, Page 26

Ellesmere beats Hurunui

In very cold southerly conditions with snow close, the Ellesmere representative senior rugby team had its first win after several losses when it beat Hurunui at Hawarden, 15-4, on Saturday. Ellesmere was able to handle the greasy conditions better than Hurunui and with solid forward driving play was camped in Hurunui’s half for most of the first spell. Ellesmere was successful with one penalty by L. Golding at full-back early in the half. Hurunui’s defence was stretched to the limit but with brief excursions into Ellesmere territory it had some relief. Ellesmere was up 3-nil at half-time, which looked rather meagre when it had to face the wind at the turn. Hurunui had been unsuccessful with two penalty kicks. Ellesmere started strongly in the second half and held Hurunui on the back foot for some time. From a maul n<ar the Hurunui line W. Nordstrow, at half-back, broke through to score near the posts for Golding to convert. Too many of Hurunui’s

clearing kicks were badly directed and often ended up to Ellesmere’s advantage. There were times, however, when things did go with a swing. When good mauled ball came Hurunui’s way inside Ellesmere’s half the back-line swung into action. The ball was spun out to the wing and back into K. Rowe at second fiveeighths, who scored Hurunui’s only points. At this stage it looked like the table had begun to turn, but Ellesmere again applied pressure and Nordstrow scored another try in a similar movement to the first. Golding converted. With about 10 minutes to go Hurunui was not able to make any impression. The “player of the day” for Hurunui was R. Reed, hooker, and for Ellesmere, Nordstrow. Other matches resulted: Senior B, Ellesmere 10, Hurunui 3; colts, Ellesmere 22, Hurunui 10; under 18, Ellesmere 24, Hurunui 3; under 16, Ellesmere 6, Hurunui 6; under 14, Hurunui 20, Ellesmere 13; under 12, Ellesmere 12, Hurunui 0; under 10, Ellesmere 34, Hurunui 0; under 10, Ellesmere 40, Hurunui 0.