1975 sees Eastern beat Southern with Rex Duncan stand out player.

Eastern beat Southern in a Sports Trust game in 1975.  Although the score was 18-7 and Eastern scored three tries, the game was very mediocre with play being inconsistent, although it was muddy and the ball was greasy it did not give an excuse for the backs being unorganised.

Southern was the most impressive playing a together as a team and running the ball whenever they were allowed.
Steve Cuthbert, the first five eight for Eastern, left the field with an injury and Graeme McKinnell the replacement kicked a great up and under and it his team came away with the ball.  It was Rex McDougall that took one of these balls and with the momentum he carried himself over the line to score the first try.  McKinnell repeated the exact kick, but this time to the left hand corner and Neville Broderick, raced ahead and fell on the ball before it went over the dead ball line.
Unfortunately for Southern, they could not make up the points and although their heavier forward pack was better at the set pieces they could keep up the pace of the lighter Eastern pack.  
Shane O'Donnell, the Southern winger make a couple of good breaks down the side line and one of these dashes paid off when he dotted down.  
The player of the day was the Southern halfback, Rex Duncan, whose defence saved Eastern scoring a lot more points.
A rare mistake by Duncan who miskicked the ball to fall short of the Southern posts and it fell into the hands of P. Ross who surprised even himself and all he had to do was dive over and score the third try.
Kevin Stevenson at first five eight played an itelligent game with good kicking.  Keiren Fahy and Shane O'Donnell also played well. In the forwards for Southern, Stuart Dermody stood out at loosie and Rex Kingdom covered well to clean up any messes.
McKinnell was probably the only player to stand out for Eastern and this was confirmed when he moved to first five as it changed the way Eastern played.
Ivan Gutsell playing hooker for Eastern played a great solid game and took a couple of tight heads through his quick and effective scrumming.  
Reference The Southland Times July 3 1975 page 13