First league game in Southland for 60 years

The first rugby league match for the 1975 season saw Appleby Leopards win an invitational game over an Otago team 19-11.
This game was significant as it was the first league game in Southland for more than 60 years. 

Otago hooker, Barry Hughes with the ball and Appleby Taylor Smith chasing.

Appleby Leopards had only had their inaugural meeting last months so have done very well to be up and running for this game.
Junior All Black Jim Cropley and former premier footballer B. Robertson from Auckland were part of the Otago team.
The games were played at woodend and the first game went to Dunedin 6-8 and the second game was won by the Invercargill team who came from behind in a tough and fast game 19-11.
Tony Taurimu, President of the Appleby Leopards club said that the Dunedin team were very impressed with the play and are pleased to see that they will be competitive.  Selectors for the Otago team were also watching and reiterated what Dunedin had said.  They said there are definitely great prospects coming out of Southland.  

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