MATAURA BEATS ALBION

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

MATAURA BEATS ALBION

MATCH PLAYED AT FAST PACE

In the Eastern Southland Rugby competition Mataura beat Albion at Mataura by 14 points to five. Although the game was played at a fast pace, there was a lack of polish, as was only to be expected. Towards the close of the game, however, Mataura showed more combination and succeeded in compiling 14 points to Albion’s five. The teams were: —

Mataura.—Heaps, Johnston, Currie, Clark, Leitch, Hannah, Adam, R. Clark, Coster, Sharp, Sayers, Gaudion, McGowan, Folster, Gibson. Albion. —-Wallis, Langham, Latham, McDougall, Wyeth, Gentle, Petrie, McCann, Herron, G. Herron, McElhinney, Stephens, Lynch, McKinnel. Albion was compelled to force down twice in the opening stages due to solid dribbling work on the part of the Mataura forwards, who forced play to the 25 line several times. A series of line-outs culminated in a break-away by Sayers, who led his team from midfield to the Albion line, where there was another force-down. Soon after the visitors gained the upper hand and swept back to the half-way line. A scrum took place on the Mataura 25 line, and the Albion forwards settled down to hard work to carry on to the line, B. Herron diving over from a ruck. McKinnel goaled. Albion 5, Mataura nil. There was no further score up to half-time. In the second spell Mataura quickly opened up an offensive and pressed hard on the Albion 25 line.- A penalty relieved the situation. Mataura’s first score followed soon after. McCaughan paved the way for the backs to handle freely, and Leitch went over for a splendid try in the corner. McGowan failed with the kick. Albion 5, Mataura 3. The Mataura backs were combining reasonably well at this stage, with Currie shaping brightly at centre. The Albion defence was well tested. Making use of the wind and the side-line, Heaps at every chance found touch near the corner flag, and from a line-out the backs swept across field, Leitch scoring. The kick again failed. Mataura 6, Albion 5. B. Herron and his forwards worked hard to retrieve the' position, and

eventually broke through to Mataura territory. Mataura was penalized, but McKinnel was not successful with his shot at goal. Play was again brought to Albion’s 25, and Clark succeeded in scoring. Currie missed the kick at goal. Mataura 9, Albion 5. The concluding stages provided a few thrills for the crowd, with the game sweeping from one end to the ground to the other. Mataura scored again and Currie converted. The final scores were:— Mataura 14, Albion 5. Mr G. Mattingly was referee. JUNIOR GRADE Jn a junior grade match on the Gore show grounds, Mataura beat Albion by 24 points to nil. The Mataura team showed excellent combination and was much the better team on the day. THIRD GRADE Wyndham beat Pioneer in a third grade game on the Gore show ground by 10 points to nil. FOURTH GRADE A good performance was given by the Albion fourth grade team when it beat Mataura on the Gore shovz ground by 11 points to nil. WESTERN DISTRICT COMPETITION OPENING MATCH DRAWN AT RIVERTON Despite a very high wind and rain | the opening match of the Western District Rugby competition at Riverton on Saturday was keenly fought. The Riverton senior team met Nightcaps, the game ending in a draw. The teams were:— RIVERTON (green and white).— Stalker, Saunders, E. Hibbs, Carmichael, H. Hibbs, MacDonald, R. Ward, Watkinson, Fraser, Bulman, L. Ward, Eccleton, Thompson, Hamlin, De Clifford. NIGHTCAPS (maroon).—Currie, McKinnemey, Booth, Cumane, Bokser, T. Fordyce, Thomson, Brazier, W. Fordyce, Klemick, Esplin, Jones, Deans, Cappie, Greer. Nightcaps won the toss and elected to play with the wind. Early in the game De Clifford was unable to clear and from mixed play in the Riverton 25 Bokser crossed the line for Nightcaps. The kick failed. Nightcaps 3, Riverton 0.

The play was for the most part in the Riverton team’s territory, but Thompson made a fine solo run and almost scored. From the line-out a penalty gave Ward the opportunity to equalize the score. His kick was successful. Riverton 3, Nightcaps 3. The play again returned to the Riverton end, mainly because of the wind, and the home team was obliged to force from a ruck in Riverton’s 25 Booth was successful in crossing wide out. The kick failed. Half-time sounded with the scores:—

Nightcaps 6, Riverton 3

The change of ends saw the play for the most part in the Nightcaps 25, but the greasy condition made handling most uncertain. The game at this stage became willing. Both sides were making strong efforts, but good defence work and particularly good forward play kept the game restricted. Near the end of the game Stalker (Riverton) collected the ball and cut across to go over the line. The kick failed. The game ended with the scores:— Riverton 6, Nightcaps 6 Mr C. Beer was the referee.