CENTRAL DISTRICT COMPETITION

Southland Times, Issue 23498, 3 May 1938, Page 11

CENTRAL DISTRICT COMPETITION

DRUMMOND BEATS WINTON After rain early in the morning and on the previous night the weather cleared up in time for the football matches in the Central District on Saturday, although a cold west wind was blowing throughout the afternoon. For several years Winton has won the Hamilton Shield and each season the result of the competition has usually been a forgone conclusion, but Saturday’s matches signify that this season’s competition should develop into a very interesting one. Drummond is now the leader in the competition and caused a surprise on Saturday by defeating Winton. The first games of the junior competition began on Saturday and if the scores can be taken as an indication of the strength of the respective teams, it also promises to be more interesting than that of former years. In the junior matches Winton did well to be beaten by only six points by Wrights Bush (last season’s winner), while the newly-formed Turi team commenced the seasdn with a win to its credit. The results of matches, with referees, were:—

SENIOR Drummond 6, Winton 0 (W. Bews). Dipton 9, Central Star 8 (R- Reid). JUNIOR Wrights Bush 6, Winton 0 (W. Soper). Turi 15, Drummond 0 (A. Murphy). Central Star 6, Limehills 5 (W. Boyle). DRUMMOND v. WINTON In the match between Drummond and Winton at Drummond the game was a very uninteresting one and was confined mostly to the forwards. Drummond deserved its win and although the forwards did not get much ball from the set scrums they outclassed their opponents in the loose. The Drummond backs had few opportunities, but played well. The Winton backs were again disappointing and showed no improvement on the previous Saturday’s play. They received plenty of ball and handled quite well, but lacked penetration and on nearly every occasion their movements resulted in a loss of ground. In the first half of the game Drummond had a slight advantage and at half-time led by three to nil. In the second half the game was more even and although at one stage Winton pressed strongly on Drummond’s line for about 15 minutes the home team’s defence proved too strong, the game ending: Drummond 6, Winton 0. The teams were:—

DRUMMOND (blue and black).—A. McKenzie, F. Robertson, B. McCrostie, F. McKenzie, D. Chilton, E. Johnstone, T. Payne; T. Johnstone, W. Brown, C. Robertson, D. McDonald, B. White, H. Southern, A. Chilton, D. Stewart. WINTON (red).—L. Pearce, R. Gibb, H. Bates, M. Thdrnbury, L. Lindsay, A. Marshall, J. Mell wrick; E. Ritchie, M. McDowell, K. Davis, N. Egerton, I. McDougall, J. Sands, S. Jenkins, F. Kitto. Shortly after the start Winton was awarded a penalty and although Thornbury’s kick at goal missed it placed Winton in an attacking position. The Winton backs got into action and the ball went to the winger, Gibb, who was unlucky by falling a few yards short of the line. Give and take play centred at halfway for some time when Johnstone, the Drummond second fiveeighth, secured, and after evading several tacklers was eventually collared by Ritchie. This placed Drummond on attack, but Lindsay relieved the situation for Winton by a good kick into touch at the 25. Winton gradually worked .into Drummond territory, but the Drummond forwards headed by Southern broke loose and carried play to Winton’s line. From an infringement by a Winton forward in this position A. McKenzie’s kick at goal from wide out missed, Winton forcing. On resuming Payne was seen in good work for Drummond, enabling the team to be again on Winton’s’ line. Shortly after from a line-out on Winton’s line T. Johnstone secured and fell over. A. McKenzie missed with the kick. Drummond 3, Winton 0. D. Chilton gained about 25 yards for Drummond and Drummond again attacked and looked like going over, but a penalty on Winton’s line saved the situation for Windon. Thornbury kicked upfield and Ritchie and McDougall followed up fast and dribbled out at half-way. the halftime ending: Drummond 3. Winton 0. From a line-out at halfway Winton threw a long line, Thornbury securing and passing to Bates, who transferred

to Lindsay. The latter put in a good run down the side-line, but was grassed a few yards short of Drummond’s line by D. Chilton. Winton attacked strongly and their backs had several opportunities, but each time the ball went to the wing with loss of ground. Drummond took a turn at attack, but J. Sands saved with a mark, kicking into touch at the 25. Shortly after Drummond was awarded a penalty and Payne kicked out near the corner flag. From the ensuing line-out Drummond’s backs got into action, but poor handling spoilt a good chance. Drummond continued to attack when Lindsay for Winton, accompanied by Thornbury, put in a brilliant run to halfway, but was tackled by A. McKenzie, and his pass to Thornbury, who was in a handy position, went astray. Winton attacked for some time, making desperate efforts to cross. Several scrums and line-outs followed on Drummond’s line and McDougall was unlucky on several occasions in the line-outs. The situation was relieved for Drummond when Winton lost possession of the ball in a passing rush and F. McKenzie, the Drummond centre, kicked into touch at halfway. From a line-out at halfway A. Chilton, for Drummond, secured and going round the blind side caught the opposition out of position and was tackled on Winton’s line by Sands. From a resulting scrum A. Chilton again secured and dived over for a well-deserved try. A. McKenzie’s kick missed. Drummond 6, Winton 0. Gibb, for Winton, showed out in a brilliant run down the side-line from half Way and looked to have a royal chance, but was tackled from behind by Payne. The game ended with Winton attacking, the final score being: Drummond 6, Winton 0. Mr W. Bews was the referee. CENTRAL STAR BEATEN BY DIPTON Playing in the Central District Rugby football competition Dipton defeated Central Star by nine points to eight. For Dipton W. Reid score d a try and D. Shand kicked two penalties. Central Star’s points consisted of two tries, one converted. Mr R. Reid was the referee. AMENDED DRAW FOR TEAMS IN JUNIOR GRADE In the Central District junior competition Dipton has entered a team and the following is the amended draw with home teams first mentioned:— May 7.—Wrights Bush v. Tun, Drummond v. Dipton, Winton v. Central Star, Limehills a bye. May 14.—Dipton v. Winton, Central Star v. Wrights Bush, Limehills v. Drummond, Turi a bye. May 21.—Wrights Bush v. Dipton, Limehills v. Winton, Turi v. Central Star, Drummond a bye. May 28.—Drummond v. Central Star, Wrights Bush v. Limehills, Turi v Dipton, Winton a bye. June 4.—Dipton v. Limehills, Drummond v. Wrights Bush, Winton v. Turi, Central Star a bye. June 11.—Central Star v. Dipton, Limehills v. Turi, Winton v. Drummond, Wrights Bush a bye. MATAURA DEFEATS PIONEER SUB-UNION MATCHES Playing at Mataura, the home team beat Pioneer by 14 points to 11. The match except for a short spell of ragged play x was interesting throughout The visitors threw the ball about in great style, and should be one of the strongest teams in the competition. Outstanding players for Pioneer were McKenzie, Crawford, Tutty, Veitch and Robins. For Mataura, Baird, J. Adam, McGowan, McKay and Renshaw played well. The teams were: MATAURA (maroon).— Heaps, Baird, Currie, Leitch, McCaughan, J. Adam, Wyeth, Clarke, Renshaw, G. Adam, Hunt, McGowan, McKay, Davies, Gaudion.

PIONEER (red and white).—Tutty, Sizemore, Crawford, Newman, McKenzie, B. Taylor, O. Taylor, Cooper, Robins, Ritchie, McKinley, Dutton, Veitch, Ward, Telfer. Mataura kicked off against a strong wind and a penalty enabled the home team to enter Pioneer’s 25. A quick break-away by Pioneer took play to half-way where the visitors were awarded a free kick and Crawford with a beautiful kick made the scores: Pioneer 3, Mataura 0. Shortly after, Mataura was awarded a penalty but McGowan allowed too much for the wind and the ball went wide. From a scrum in Mataura’s 25 the ball was kicked over the line, a force-down resulting. From the kick-off Mataura pressed hard but a good line kick by Tutty relieved _ the pressure. At this stage, the visitors were throwing the ball about in great style. A good passing movement by the Mataura backs saw J. Adam dive over near the posts. McGowan converted. Mataura 5, Pioneer 3. From a ruck Pioneer heeled and carried play to Mataura’s 25 where Heaps found the line just as he was brought down. A good passing movement between McCaughan and J. Adam saw the latter go close to secoring, but he knocked the ball on. Shortly after, from loose play near the Mataura line McKenzie snapped up and dived over. Crawford failed to convert. Pioneer 6, Mataura 5.

High tackling by the home team allowed the visiting team to gain territory and McKenzie scored again. Crawford converted. Pioneer 11, Mataura 5 O. Taylor left the field injured and his place on the wing was taken by Hensley. Shortly after, the Mataura winger Baird dashed down the line and dived over for a try but it was not allowed as the linesman’s flag was up. At half-time the scores were unchanged. In the second half the ball came from a scrum to J. Adam, who passed to Baird, who crossed at the corner. McGowan failed to convert. Pioneer 11, Mataura 8. The home team was punting high and taking advantage of the wind. From a throw-in Currie secured and raced down the line to score at the corner. He failed to convert. Mataura 11, Pioneer 11. With 10 minutes to go Pioneer was penalized and McGowan put the home team in front with a good kick. Mataura 14, Pioneer 11. From then until the final whistle, Pioneer tried hard to even the scores and several times looked like succeeding, but the game ended with the scores unaltered. Mr R. M. Marshall was the referee.

In the junior match Mataura v. High School, the home team had a runaway victory by 25 points to 3. Mr J. Cunningham was referee.