PIONEER WINS AT GORE

Southland Times, Issue 24112, 29 April 1940, Page 5

PIONEER WINS AT GORE

EASTERN SOUTHLAND RUGBY MATCHES DEFEAT FOR BALFOUR IN LOW-SCORING GAME Th® first Rugby football matches of the season were played in Eastern Southland on Saturday in good conditions. At Gore the grounds were in good order and there was some good open play. In the senior grade wins were secured by Pioneer and Mataura. In an open, but low-scoring game on the Gore show grounds Pioneer beat Balfour by three points to nil. The home side had a territorial advantage throughout the game, but it was only able to break through Balfour’s defence on one occasion during the match. Both sides endeavoured to throw the hall about freely, but because of poor handling many movements broke down. Balfour was not at full strength, Hickey and Richards not being available, and this upset the combination of the side’s back line to a certain extent. The standard of football was fairly good for so early in the season and both sides, on their showing, should develop into strong combinations. Muir, Crawford and Rogers showed up well in the Pioneer back line, while J. Ward, Robins and Mathieson played well in the forwards. The latter replaced Telfer in the second half. For Balfour W. Stewart and W. Gillespie were prominent in the backs, while Pringle and Herron played well in the forwards. The teams were:— PIONEER (red and white): D. Rogers, F. Ward, D. Tutty, A. B. Crawford, R. McKenzie, N. Newman, F. Muir, J. Ward (captain), T. Robins, L. TurnBull, G. McMullen, D. Ritchie, McLean, H. Telfer, F. McArthur. BALFOUR (maroon): W. Gillespie, Orr, Lamb, Shallard, McLean, W. Stewart, A. Stewart, T. Mulqueen, L. Mulqueen, D. Gillespie, R. Herron, Pringle, Little, R. Gillespie, McGregor. Pioneer kicked off with the wind behind it and it was evident from the outset that both ‘sides were going to make the game an open one. The ball came out to the Pioneer backs and they swept to Balfour’s line. The Balfour defence held and when a Pioneer back movement broke down the visitors were able to clear to midfield. Pioneer was getting the ball in the returns, but the backs were not handling well, and this hindered the side’s progress. Balfour worked its way to Pioneer’s territory, i but the home side immediately cleared back to midfield. R. McKenzie made a good break for Pioneer and punted high infield. He caught W. Gillespie, the Balfour full-back, on he wrong foot, and Crawford and Rogers, who followed through quickly, had a chance to score. The bounce did not favour them, however, and Orr was able to clear to touch. From a scrum Muir sent to McKenzie, who cut through neatly and almost scored, being pulled down by W. Stewart as he reached the line. The play brightened up for a period, the Pioneer team, backs and forwards, throwing the ball about freely. Crawford made a strong run down the line, being pushed into touch. From the line-out Newman sent a long pass to Crawford, who cut out a man to score fairly wide out. He failed to convert. The score at half-time was: Pioneer 3, Balfour 0.

CONSISTENT ATTACKS Balfour secured the ball from the first four scrums after the interval, but its backs were not making use of the advantage. Balfour was penalized and Newman found touch deep in Balfour’s 25 with a long kick. Pioneer kept attacking and Balfour was forced to defend strongly. The visitors made several breakaways, but Rogers, who was playing a great game at fullback for Pioneer, brought them back with splendid kicks to touch. A penalty against Pioneer relieved Balfour, but it was not long before Pioneer was again on the attack. The home side was finding it difficult to get any further than Balfour’s 25, however, the defence of the visitors being particularly sound. Rogers came up and took part in a passing movement and he missed with a “pot” at goal from a fairly handy position. Rogers and Newman changed places and soon after the Pioneer backs were seen in the best passing movement of the match. F. Ward was the last to receive on the far wing and he made a determined bid to score. He was pushed into touch at the corner post, however, and from the line-out Balfour cleared. Balfour was penalized soon after and Rogers just missed with a drop-kick at goal, the ball going outside the posts. Mathieson headed a forward rush by Pioneer soon after, but the Balfour defence held and play returned to the 25 line. The game ended with the scores: Pioneer 3, Balfour 0 Mr J. Stickle was the referee.