BALCLUTHA DISTRICT NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21362, 16 June 1931, Page 11

BALCLUTHA DISTRICT NEWS

(From Ou« Own Correspondent.) BALCLUTHA, June 14. RUGBY FOOTBALL. A great amount of interest centred in the senior flag fixture between Clutha and Toko A on the Balclutha Show Ground yesterday. The match was played in fine, windless weather, and there was a very fair gathering of spectators. The Reds (Clutha) opened up well, and Henderson was prominent in a smart passing attack.- The Reds kept it up, and after a clever piece of passing between Sewell and Muir, Hurring crossed the line to score a try. His attempt to convert failed. From the kick out the Reds kept up their brisk attack, and at this stage were having all the Better of the loose work, although in the scrums the Yellows had the advantage from superior weight, and from a pass by Muir, Henderson made a good run, to be collared on the line by Treacy. The Yellows cleared, an 4 then from a determined rush of Red forwards MTntosh scored, but Gold's kick failed, to find the posts. Clutha 6, Toko nil. A. Stewart (Toko) showed up with a clever run that took him well into Red territory, where he transferred to Hansen, who was pushed out at the corner flag. The Yellows continued the pressure, and Muir and Bowcott relieved. by good line-kicking. The spell ended with the Yellows attacking vigorously. Dee and Williams (Toko) attacked strongly in the second spell, and M'Foeters saved just in time. Then Blythe got the ball from a scrum, and made a good run, passing to MTntosh, who was downed by Pringle within a few yards of the line, and the Yellows forced. The Yellows' backs then took a hand, and for a time dominated the play. Dee, Murray, and Stewart were putting in excellent work, were within an ace of scoring on several occasions, and would have succeeded but for the determined tackling of M'Feeters and Gold. The last-named was playing a specially good defensive game, but the Yellows would not be denied, and Murray scored a try, from which Woodhead had no difficulty in kicking a goal. Clutha 6, Toko 5. The Yellows were now having much the better of the game, and excitement ran high amongst the spectators. Hansen, who was playing a very strenuous forward game, forced his way across from a scrum on the line and scored, but Murray’s kick at goal missed its objective. Toko 8, Clutha 6. The Yellows, when play was resumed, seemed to have lost their dash, ahd the last 15 minutes of play saw the Reds attacking fiercely in the semi-darkness. Moffat had a shot at goal from a penalty kick, but missed, and then just on the call of time the Reds were awarded a penalty kick for throwing into touch, and Hurring kicked a lucky goal, thus winning the match for his side, _ the final score being, Clutha 9, Toko 8. Minor accidents were fairly numerous, and the injured players were attended to promptly by Mr C. J. Wood, the local representative of the St. John Ambulance Association. Mr G. C. Lennox' was the referee. Crescent and Clutha Juniors provided the curtain-raiser to the Senior match, and the game ended in a victory for the former by 23 points to 6. Mr Whelan controlled the game. The High School match did not eventuate owing to the Toko Juniors being unable to get transport to Moneymore. Clinton Seniors defeated Crescent by 15 points to 3. Next Saturday’s matches and referees will be:—Toko B v. Star, at Stirling (Mr A. Wightman); Clinton v. Toko A, at Milton (Mr Whelan); Clutha v. Crescent, at Kaitangata (Mr Whelan); Toko v. Crescent Juniors, at Kaitangata, at 1.30 (Mr Scott); High School v. Clutha Juniors, at Balclutha (Mr M'Namara).