WALLIS SHIELD FINAL

Southland Times, Issue 23309, 20 September 1937, Page 8

WALLIS SHIELD FINAL

EASTERN DISTRICT COMPETITION PIONEER BEATS ALBION After drawing last week in the final of the Eastern Southland senior grade competition for the Wallis Shield, the two Gore teams, Pioneer and Albion played off again on the Gore show grounds on Saturday. On this occasion fortunes favoured the Pioneer team which won by 11 points (two field goals and one penalty goal) to 3 (one unconverted try). Crawford was in great kicking form for Pioneer and scored seven of its points. He was unlucky not to add another three points when the ball struck the cross-bar n a bounced back into play after he had made a splendid kick from half-way. Mathieson kicked the other field goal for Pioneer and also played a great game in the forwards. Albion was unfortunate in losing the services of Dunnet, who has displayed great form as a goal-kicker this season, and who would have most probably kicked at least two of the several penalties missed by his side. He had to leave the field before half-time because of a knee injury. Hoffman scored the only try of the game for Albion after making a brilliant run of 50 yards. The teams were:—

PIONEER (red and white):—Tutty; Roy, Sizemore, Crawford; Newman, McKenzie; Taylor; forwards: Scott, Robins, Cooper, Veitch, Mathieson, McKinlay, Ford, Ritchie. ALBION (colours).—Dunnet; Milne, Easton, Hoffman; Wyeth, Wallis; Ussher; forwards: Henderson, Cuttriss, McDonald, Stark, Southern, Naylor, Keown, Murdock. Albion was penalized and Crawford kicked a good goaf from 40 yards out. Pioneer 3, Albion 0. Pioneer kept up the attack and the ball came out to Crawford, who kicked a splendid field goal from outside the twenty-five. Pioneer 7, Albion 0. Dunnet, who sustained an injury to his knee earlier in the game left the field and was replaced by Faithful. Just before half-time Albion was awarded a penalty almost in front of Pioneer’s posts. Hoffman missed a sitter.

PENALTY JUST MISSED After the interval Albion attacked and a movement by its backs took play to Pioneer’s line. After a scramble Veitch secured and found touch back at half-way. Pioneer was awarded a penalty just inside half-way and Crawford just missed with a drop-kick, the ball striking the cross-bar and bouncing back into play. The Albion forwards secured and rucked back to midfield. Pioneer came back however, and the ball was sent out to Mathieson, who surprised the spectators by kicking a field goal. Pioneer 11, Albion 0. Hoffman opened Albion’s score with a splendid try near the posts after a run of 50 yards. Easton began the movement, sending on to Wallis, who short-punted over Roy’s head. Hoffman backing up, dashed through and secured the ball, swerved past Tutty and dashed for the line to score. He failed to convert. Pioneer 11, Albion 3. Full-time sounded with the scores unaltered. Mr R. A. Marshall was the referee.

BIBLE CLASS MATCH WIN FOR METHODIST TEAM A Rugby football match between teams from the Methodist and Presbyterian Bible classes in Invercargill was played at the Biggar street grounds on Saturday afternoon. The Methodist team won a hard, fast and open game by 14 points to 11. At half-time the Methodist team led by eight points to five. Tries were scored for the winning team by S. Sharp and Clarence Shirley. Cliff Shirley converted both and also kicked a field goal. N. McEwan and McLean scored for the Presbyterian team and one of the tries was converted by Hamilton, who also kicked a penalty goal. Mr J. R. Bell was referee.