John Flaus plays a game well beyond his years in his Southland Boys High School win over Timaru 1972....

Southland Boys High playing their interschool sports with Timaru Boys High in 1972 saw the Southland first XV play a game well ahead of their maturity.
The day was wet and miserable which called for good old fashioned rugby and that is what they delivered.

Mark Bell, first five eight for Southland Boys High School on the run against Timaru in 1972

Southland Boys won 31-0 due to a complete team effort, but if you had to single out any one player it was John Flaus, No 8 leading the forward pack by propelling through tackles, setting up text book rucks and constantly being the link between the forwards and the backs.
Chris Morland, half back and captain ran strongly with ball in hand and replacement winger, Russell Forbes showed his pace by scoring two good tries.
John Ballam at full-back scored the first 13 points for Southland, he scored two tries, converted one of them and kicked a penalty goal.
John Fraser won the majority of the lineouts and the hooker Ian Singleton won a feast of tightheads. Adding to the 8 he got in that game, took his total tally in three interschools to 22.
Although outplayed, Timaru were brave in their defence and the likes of K. Gallagher, the smallest man in the team gave it his all.  Although losing 8 tightheads, Timaru's hooker, R. Thompson played hard and did everything right around the field.
Behind the Timaru pack was A. Young at half back who struggled with the boggy ground but he had all the potential of being a very good player.
M. Jackson at full back withstood a lot of pressure and more often than not got his team out of serious trouble.
D. Garland, Timaru's fast winger, did not feature due to the conditions.
Southland finished the game in splendid style with John Flaus again bursting through defences and was supported by Morland, who off  loaded to Peter Skelt who ran 70 metres to score.
Southland:  John Ballam (2) (2Con) (2PG), Russell Forbes (2), Peter Skelt (1) Flaus (1)

Reference:   S.B.H.S.Trounces Timaru.  The Southland Times July 1972

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