Family Photos sent in by John Beaton, Charlie Beaton's grandson.  Not only was Charlie a great family man, along with his rugby, he was a excellent wrestler and went on to play soccer after the Pirates Rugby Club were banned from playing in the Invercargill competition.  

It is 1908 and Pirates were facing invercargill (Blues) at Rugby Park, Invercargill.  The park as we know it today had two fields running North/South.  
The try originated from Gerry Burgess, the Pirates half-back passing it to Charlie Beaton, who made a determined run to score under the posts, giving his team a 5-0 win.
Charlie had played for the Bluff second grade team, the previous year, but went to the big smoke of Invercargill with fellow friends to play senior rugby.

One of the most anticipated rugby matches in Southland was in 1925 when the Press Shield was played for.  It was the Times V News teams as follows:

The 'Times' Team

A. Keast, J. Archer, R. Keast, Lawry, Calder, Blee (Captain) Hope, Sage, King, McKinnon, Brown, Duthie, Weeds, Webb,Smith, Dickens, Shea, Edie, Dickson

The 'News' Team

Brosnan, Murray, Pope, Fowler, Ferguson, Jenkins, Lemin, Jordan, Rask, Wren, Swan, Brokenshire, Moffett, Lenihan, Foster.

The official program was:

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Central won all their Sports Trust games in 1972 and by beating Eastern 9-3 in Drummond, they were well deserved holders of the Sports Trust Cup.

The game was played in the forwards with Central getting the upperhand by grinding down the well drilled Eastern pack.

Eastern were ahead 3-0 at half time but the score could have been larger if they controlled the ball better.

Central came out a different team after half time, and got a hold on the game by wearing the Eastern backs down.  Led by Rutledge and Cliff Cochran in the loose, the Central forwards drove their opposites back, especially in the scrums.  

Central half-back, John Patterson kept the Eastern backs guessing with his box kick, stretching them and giving his backs the gaps to penetrate. Patterson also robbed his opposite, Bruce Coombes, time after time.

The only try of the game was scored by Patterson, after Central won a tight-head.  

Ross Mangles was elusive at Full Back and not only converted the try, but was cool under pressure, giving Central an overlap time and time again by coming into the back-line.

Keith McKenzie, Central winger, proved a threat, even in the wet conditions.

Alan Stewart for Eastern, was snapping out the passes, but lacked the support needed.

Full back, Graham McKinnell, drove Central back with his left foot.

Kevin Merrilees almost scored in the corner, but was just short.

Jim McKenzie, Arthur Kinaird, Dave Saunders, John Hall and Colin Readman worked hard to keep pressure on the Eastern forwards. John Kincaid, hooker, won at least three tight-heads, which one resulted in the try.

Captain, Ron Halford, led the team well and his cover defence was exemplary.  

Some excellent rugby was seen in 1972 when Southern managed to hold on to their early lead.  Southern won 22-18 in wet conditions at Riverton.
For Southern, Stu Dermody and Kevin Stevenson socred tries while L. Leith kicked four penalty goals and a conversion for Southern.
Western were unlucky not to score in a sweeping 50-yard movement by Munn and Excell.
Stevens was outstanding for Western.  He kicked 3 penalty goals, a conversion and a magnificient drop goal.  Murray Heath scored a try.
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Eastern Southland had won the tournament in 1971 and was looking to win again with mixing youth and experience.  The team is:
 Sandra Abernethy, Lynette Kerr, Pauline Johnston, Margaret Fitzgerald, Judy Kennedy and Susan Murphy.
Coach:  Muriel Archer

Southland is in a different section with eight players travelling with coach, Alan McAuliffe and Manager, Richard Merlow.

The team is:
Jenny Smith (Panthers), Carol Henry (Newfield Jets), Mary McKenzie, Judy Hall, Joy Shirley (Rata), Paula McGrath, Barbara Stott, Josy Kane (Muskettes), 

An interschool match in 1972 saw James Hargest first fifteen play the Southland Boys High School second fifteen.  An outstanding display of handling by the James Hargest XV saw them thrash the Boys High Team 32-0.  
Graham Burrows tried hard for Boys High and led well by example.  He was relentless in keeping James Hargest on the back foot and they were unlucky not to have points on the board at half time.
Hargest's, centre and captain, Russell Johnstone scored the first try against the run of play, 10 minutes before half time. Johnstone the fastest player on the field scored in the corner and Graham Anderson converted. 6-0.
Alan Cowley got the ball moving straight after half time, which resulted in Barry McCulloch scoring. Graham Anderson converted all the tries scored.  The final try saw Cowley feed Peter Howley on the blind which finished it for Boys High.

Charlie Keith was a stalwart of schoolboy rugby at Wrights Bush when the first team was formed in 1963.  Every schoolboy knew Charlie as the person who dished out the refreshments after every game.  Charlie was a dedicated and tireless worker for the club and was to the forefront when they erected their new pavilion and changing rooms.  He was always behind the bar for club functions and everyone knew and loved him.

The following programme was sent to Yacck by the family of Jim Archer.  

There is an interesting article regarding the 1924 All Black's captain, Jock Richardson who led the team in every one of their victorious internationals.  

In the Maori team of 1926 was another Southland, Ray Bell who was deputy captain.

William Stead was vice captain of the 1910 Maori team and Son White was second in command of the New Zealand team which defeated New South Wales at Wellington in 1923.

In 1905, when Gallagher and Stead were away in England it was another Southlander, Gerry Burgess, who deputised for them by leading a second New Zealand team to victory against New South Wales in Dunedin.

There is a photo of the Southland Representative team in 1925 with some of the following profiles:
J. Brodie, P. Ward, A. McCormack, M. F. Nicholls, T. F. Mullen, N. P. McGregor N. Doreen, A. C. C. Robilliard, I. Gray, J. Harris, G. Leahy, J. Jeffries, 

Jim Archer played for Pirates Rugby Club, Southland and was an All Black in 1925.  He played two matches for the All Blacks, but was seriously injured against New South Wales - which ended his rugby career
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​Memorabilia sent to Yacck...