RUGBY FOOTBALL

Southland Times, Issue 21095, 29 May 1930, Page 4

RUGBY FOOTBALL

EASTERN SOUTHLAND GAMES.

PIONEER DEFEAT ALBION,

Yesterday followers of the Rugby code were treated to an interesting match when the two local teams met on the Gore showgrounds. After a hard fought struggle in which some brilliant passing rushes were evident, Pioneer ran out victors by 19 points to 9. The ground) was not so wet as was expected after the rainy spell, but the ball was slightly on the greasy side, making handling difficult. The forward play was of a high standard, but both sides were over anxious and kicked too hard in the loose. The teams lined out as follows: Albion (Colours^—Valentine, Ritchie, Corcoran, Townsend, Wallis, W. Tither, Ussher, Kirby, Kennedy, J. Tither, Taylor, Robertson, Herron, Knowles, Hoffman. Pioneer (Reds) —-Martin, Bell, Fitzgerald, Matheson/ Sewell, O’Shea, Woods, Davidson, Cunningham, Mair, Forbes, Churstain, Archer, Thomson, Matheson. Albion opened up play and Kirby led through, but Thomson, Davidson and Archer dribbled back to Valentine who cleared. Albion infringed and O’Shea’s attempt at goal screwed across the field. Wallis secured from a ruck and kicked up io Matheson. Corcoran secured and figured in a short passing bout with Tither and Townsend. Pioneer forwards carried play back in Coloured territory, but Valentine was safe. O’Shea picked up smartly from a ruck, and sent his backs away, but offside play spoilt the movement. Pioneer backs flashed into action again, but O’Shea dropped a pass and Tither broke through. Martin cleared. Woods gathered the ball from a scrum and sent to Fitzgerald, who raced through to the line before Valentine stopped him. Pioneer continued the pressure and Albion sought relief in a force down. From an interchange of kicks by Bell and Wallis, Fitzgerald snapped up, and gained a lot of ground before passing to Sewell, who put in a strong run, but was grassed on the line. The Pioneer backs attacked again, but Townsend beat Fitzgerald to force down. Usser kicked through, and followed up, but Martin was safe. O’Shea and Sewell were conspicuous in a passing rush, but Herron broke it up. Woods gathered the ball in the loose and shot it out to O’Shea to Sewell, who punted, for Fitzgerald, who was following up fast, to take the ball on the run and race round by the posts to" draw first blood for the Reds. Matheson added the major points.—Pioneer 5, Albion 0.

Martin fielded the kick-off and transferred play to Albion twenty-five. Woods snapped up from a ruck and sent the balk to O’Shea, who found the line. Corcoran flashed down the wing, but was pushed into touch by Martin. From the throw-in Ussher shot the ball out to Tither, to Townsend, who tore over to score. Herron’s kick failed.—Pioneer 5, Albion 3. Wallis secured, but was smothered before he could get the ball away. Ussher and Ritchie then indulged in shock tactics which carried play well into Red territory. An infringement by Pioneer gave Townsend a chance at goal which fell short. Ussher secured from a ruck and gained ground with a grubber. Ritchie gathered in, but was collared by Bell. A mark by Townsend was the start of an exchange of kicks from which Fitzgerald picked up and raced away with Matheson in attendance. Lob passing spoilt a likely run. The Red hookers heeled out to Woods, who gave to O’Shea to Sewell, who cut through, but was blocked on the line. Cunningham picked up and went over, but was brought back and a scrum ordered., Townsend picked up and battled through to the Red twenty-five, Where he was forced out. Fitzgerald fielded cleanly and found the fine with a great kick. Play hung in midfield until Woods sent hrs backs away. Immediately the tables were turned by Ussher, who intercepted a pass, to send to Tither, to Townsend to Corcoran, who put in a strong run down the line before being forced out. Play swung back again and half-time sounded after an exchange of kicks which finished in neutral territory. On the resumption of play Herron broke right through with Ritchie in the offing, but Martin found relief for Pioneer with a force-down. The ball came out to Ussher, to Wallis, who essayed a fruitless pot at goal. Pioneer forwards led back and from a free to Pioneer, Matheson tried a dropkick which went wide. Martin secured the return and attempted a field goal which fell under the cross-bar. Woods sent to Sewell to Fitzgerald who was well floored by Townsend. Martin essayed another pot and a forward pass by Tither made things dangerous for Albion. Davidson snapped up ■ from a ruck and jinked his way through to the Albion line. The ball came out to Bell from some tight scrummaging work and he dived across at the corner. Martin’s kick went wide. Pioneer 8, Albion 3. Cunningham secured from a lino-out and carried through, but play swung downfield again. Fitzgerald scooped up the ball and tore across the field to pass to Sewell, who finished off a good movement by scoring well out. Martin failed to convert. Pioneer 11, Albion 3.

Tither picked up in the loose, and passed back to Ussher who dummied, and passed to Tither, to Wallis, who trekked away to score at the corner. Herron’s kick was fruitless. Pioneer 11, Albion 6. Knowles broke through, but Bell carried right back into Albion twenty-five, where Ussher cleared from a line-out. Bell in-pass-ed to Woods, to Sewell, to Matheson, who tried a pot, which went wide. From an ensuing scrum the ball came out to Woods, who passed to O’Shea to Fitzgerald, who cut-in and beat all the opposition to score under the posts. Matheson’s kick hit an upright. Pioneer 14, Albion 6. Albion came back determinedly, Kennedy dribbling through to Martin, who cleared. Tight play in Red twenty-five resulted in Wallis kicking too hard, and Martin forcing. No sooner had Pioneer worked down field again than Ussher and Corcoran flashed down the whole length of the field. ■ 'Martin, howeven, was safe. Ussher sent the ball out with a zip to Tither, to Townsend, to Ritchie who fumbled. In a line-out Ussher raced round and secured the throw-in, to pass to Ritchie, who hurled himself through three opposing backs to score a brilliant try. Townsend’s kick went wide. Pioneer 14, Albion 9. Albion returned to the attack and were pressing hard when a free to Pioneer gave Davidson a chance to clear. The Pioneer forwards carried on and Albion forced down. Fitzgerald kicked up and raced through to catch Tither in possession. Davidson sold Townsend a dummy and put in a strong run before passing to Matheson, who careered round behind the posts to score. He also converted. Pioneer 19, Albion 9. Mr W. Leitch, who refereed, sounded time shortly afterwards. Edendale defaulted to Mataura. SECOND GRADE.' Playing at the Gore Showgrounds Pukerau defeated Pioneer by 14 points to 9. Mr A. Wallis was referee. In a match at Wyndham the home-team defeated Seaward Downs by 14 points to 0. Mr R. Marshall controlled the game. Waimumu seconds journeyed to Mataura and played the Mataura seconds at the Recreation Grounds. Although there had been a good deal of rain the ground was not in'bad condition. The game was evenly contested and at the end of the first spell the score was 3-nil in favour of Mat aura, V. Henry scoring. The second spell was also evenly contested and Waimumu were unlucky in not making the game a draw or perhaps a win, as Cowie at one stage beat several opponents and had a clear run, but fell within a yard or two of the line near the goal posts. The game finished— Mataura 3, Waimumu 0. Mr F. Wallis jun., Gore, refereed. THIRD GRADE. Pioneer defeated Albion by 19 points to nil. Mr J. Baldwin held the whistle. High School defeated Mataura by 9 points to 7. Mr D. Little controlled the game.