RUGBY FOOTBALL

Southland Times, Issue 21429, 25 June 1931, Page 4

RUGBY FOOTBALL

- EASTERN SOUTHLAND GAMES.

ALBION DEFEAT COMBINED. Conditions in Eastern Southland yesterday were anything but favourable for the ■playing of football. All grounds'were in a water-logged condition and were rapidly churned into quagmires by the heavy forwards. Despite this handicap, however, there were some startling back movements, especially at Gore, where Albion defeated Combined by six points to three after a very willing go. A draw would have been a better indication of play and had the game lasted a further five minutes Combined could not have lost. In the dying stages when Albion ’were tiring, the visiting backs handled the greasy ball with a snap and precision seldom seen even when conditions are favourable. The Combined forwards were too good for the home side and rolled them back in grand style. The Albion pack worked hard, but only on rare occasions did they show up to advantage. The teams were:

Combined: Marshall, McLennan,’ Dempster, Lindsay; Milne, Jones; Holden; Johnston, McCallum, Waters, McKenzie, Bain; Sterling, Dunlop; Cushnie. Albion: Wallis, Loder, Crosbie, Corcoran; Grant, Wallis; Ussher; Agnew, Herron; Morrison, Hoffman, McKerchar; Ritchie, Tither, A. Hoffman.

The Combined forwards utilized shock tactics from the start and frequently battered their way through to Albion’s-twenty-five. Their efforts lacked finish and the rock-like defence prevented them from penetrating. The Albion backs certainly afterwards indulged in several enterprising back movements, but the elusiveness of the ball lost to them several likely chances. Just before half-time with play milling round in mid-field, a scrum was ordered and Cushnie infringed while placing the ball. in. Despite the fact that this happened very close to half-way line and the ball was as heavy as lead, Herron opened Albion’s account by kicking a magnificent goal. Albion 3, Combined 0.

Albion forced matters after the interval and penned Combined up in their 25. Play gradually worked to midfield and Holden dribbled through to the Albion line where a series of scrums ensued. Crosbie marked and found welcome relief. The Albion side rucked back into Combined territory and from a melee near the line Corcoran crossed at the corner. Herron failed to convert. Albion 6, Combined 0. After the kick off Loder and Agnew were instrumental in taking play back to their opponents’ 25 with a fine'dribbling rush. Ussher sent his backs away, but a promising movement broke down when CSrcoran failed to take his pass. When play resumed after a stoppage when Jones was injured, Lindsay went through on his own to take play into Albion 25. Combined looked like scoring, but the backs could not hold the greasy ball and Agnew cleared to midfield. Loder and Agnew enhanced this gain in a passing bout. Agnew infringed and Dempster lined well upfield. The Combined forwards swept into Albion’s 25 where Holden snapped the leather out to Jones (who had resumed) to Milne, to Dempster, to Lindsay who streaked for the line to score a good try. Dempster missed with a good kick. Albion 6, Combined 3.

Once more Holden sent his men away. Lindsay lined at the corner and the Gore team were hard put to keep their line intact. When a try was imminent Holden infringed and play centred. Dempster sent to Jones to McLennan who made a determined run up the line, but was caught and thrown into touch by Crosbie. The game ended shortly after with the scores: — Albion 6 Combined 3 Mr D. Little held the whistle. MATAURA (10) v. PIONEER (3). Mataura met Pioneer on the Mataura Recreation Grounds yesterday afternoon, a hard tussle, which was for the most part confined to the forwards, ending in victory for the local fifteen by 10 points to 3. Mataura secured their margin of points jsoon after the commencement, Heaps accepting a cross kick from McConnell and dashing across near the corner. Calder converted. Mataura 5, Pioneer O. Soon after a solid forward attack again penetrated the Pioneer’s twenty-five where a scramble on the line ensued. Irwin gained possession and battled across, leaving Calder to add the major points. From this stage the heavy grounds and greasy ball made handling almost impossible and the forwards were left to do most of the work. Pioneer secured three points after the commencement of the second spell as the result of bustling tactics which repeatedly brought play in close proximity to the Mataura line. Churstain finally dashed through the opposition and opened Pioneer’s score, Pickering failing to convert. The game ended: Mataura 10 Pioneer 3 Mr R. Marshall was the referee. SECOND GRADE. Playing on a water-logged ground Albion defeated Pioneer by 12 points to 6. Mr R. Taylor refereed. Mataura and Pukerau played a drawn game at Pukerau, the scores being three-all. THIRD GRADE. High School defeated Seaward Downs by 9 points to nil. FOURTH GRADE. Pioneer (12) v. Wyndham (Q)j,