RUGBY FOOTBALL

Southland Times, Issue 21431, 27 June 1931, Page 9

RUGBY FOOTBALL

EASTERN SOUTHLAND NOTES.

(By

“Critic.”)

Wednesday’s results in. tho senior competition have given Mataura a definite lead in shield points, as may be seen below. The junior grade is in a fairly satisfactory position. The positions of the teams are as follows :—

Although the positional platings in the senior competition would indicate that M.v taura are well in front, such is not the case as Albion and Combined have played fewer matches by one than Pioneer and the team from the City of the Falls. If, when the curtain is drawn on Eastern Southland football this season, the positions of the teams warrant it, Albion and Combined will contest the game set down to be played at the first season between the defunct Edendale Club and Albion If the recent trend of play is any criterion, the writer predicts a very close finish for the coveted trophy with the three leading teams pretty well on a level footing. The deciding factor, of course, in the ultimate winning of the shield is the Combined team which, if it could consistently unleash such combination as it displayed in the match against Albion, might very well place the southern club on arbitrating terms with the leading team.

Owing to the intermittent heavy rainfall from the week-end until Tuesday night, all grounds in Eastern Southland were in a more or less water-logged condition. Surface water rendered conditions miserable for players at Gore. At Mataura the position was somewhat improved by the efforts of enthusiastic followers whose miniature drainage scheme and bucketing operations were responsible for a marked improvement.

After the first few minutes the ball rapidly became greasy and sodden. Before this happened at Mataura, however, the home side indulged in some bright passing movements which were largely responsible for their victory over Pioneer by 10 points to 3. Heaps and Irwin crossed well out and Calder converted both with good kicks early in the game. By dogged defence they maintained this lead until Churstain scored for Pioneer late in the second spell. Mataura’s win was hard-earned as the bustling tactics of the Pioneer forwards kept their opponents fully extended until time was called.

C. McConnell was a handy pivot behind the Mataura scrum and received plenty of ball from Smyth and Richmond, who heeled the ball cleanly in the majority of scrums. Irwin worked hard both in the tight and the loose and was the best forward on the ground. He led the black van in most of their sorties into Pioneer territory. McLeod and Aitken worked hard. Amos at wing-forward played a useful game and outshone Thornton, whose exhibition was not in line with previous performances. Heaps, H. McConnell and J. Calder were a penetrating trio when the opportunity came their way. Webb’s defence was very sound. The Pioneer backs did not get many chances to swing into action, probably be cause the ball was not coming away from the scrums. Tutty was not at home behind the pack. In the first spell Fitzgerald, who occupied the outside five-eighth’s position, did not impress. He made a better showing in his customary position after Pickering replaced him. Spence and Telfer played their usual bustling loose game and were the pick of the red packmen. Churstain and Archer gave solid displays in the tight. Albion were lucky to win at Gore. The manner in which the visiting forwards and backs handled the greasy ball provided the bright incidents of the game*. Holden sent his backs away on several occasions with the leather and only dogged defence kept them at bay. Jones, Lindsay and McLennan were impressive and showed that they have more than a passing knowledge of the game.

“Superb” is the only word that adequately describes the games played by the southern forwards. Practically without exception they were well up to representative standard and will have to be given consideration when the next rep. team is picked. They were all over their opponents, of whom Agnew, Ritchie and McKercher were the most prominent, in all stages. On the day’s play Cushnie established himself as a first class rover and should fill the position when the next side is selected.

'The Albion backs lacked their customary sting. All handled well under the circumstances and were unlucky in not finalizing some of their more enterprising movements. Grant and Ussher played their usual sound games.

Senior Grade. D. Tl. W. L. Matsura 5 2 0 10 Pioneer 1 3 4 0 6 Albion 3 3 0 6 Combined 2 - 4 0 4 Second Grade. W. L. D. Tl. Mataura 6 0 1 13 Pukerau 4 1 9 10 Waimumu 4 2 1 9 Albion o 5 0 4 Pioneer * o 4 0 4 Combined ' 0 6 0 0