Jim Cormack scores 4 tries for Albion against Country Pirates in 1986......

Rugby was starting to show cracks in 1986 with some big scores being had.  The previous week Central Pirates had knocked up a big score against Drummond 86-9 and then the next week saw 
Albion whip Country Pirates 72-3.  

With urbanisation starting to rear its head it is the country teams that are going to feel it the most.  This was the start of club rugby having reached a peak and then slowly declining.  Not only were families smaller than yesteryear but a lot of young people were either choosing to leave the country for the cities or they were just choosing to not play rugby.
Albion scored 14 unanswered tries.  Craig Pullar, (centre), Richard Pullar (half-back), Russell Morton (lock), Dave Mitchell (prop) all had good games and for Country Pirates; Tony Hunter (first five eight) and Rod Coulter (lock) tried their best to get something going.
Albion: Jim Cormack (4), Craig Pullar (2), Richard Pullar, Russell Morton, B. Morton, J. Whyte, F. Neil, J. Pay, M. Cuttle and D. Ngarimu (1).  J. Pay (8 conversions).
Country Pirates: Tony Hunter (1PG)

Reference:  The Southland Times June 1986 "Albion thrashes Country Pirates"

Article courtesy of The Southland Times 1986.