Ray Todd scores a brillant individual try for Southland Rugby against Wellington 1956....

Ray Todd

It was 1956 and Southland rugby completed their representative season at home with a win against the Wellington touring side.  The game was played in a howling wind and Southland was thankful that Wellington won the toss and gave them the advantage in the first half - as they ran in 17 points to their opponents 3. Ray Todd was the man of the match, showing brillance with an individual try.

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Southland Team:
D.L. Ashby, R. W. Gilson, M. D. Earwaker, Ray Todd, R. Terry, C. Rautahi, J. T. McKenzie, Peter Hayes, G. E. Groves, C. A. Lamb, Ian Todd, R. J. Bowen, Bert Winders, T. Ryan Ack Soper, Alister Tait, C. Rautahi, R. Terry, C. A. Woods, R. Bowen, E. Jamieson.


It was not a game that would be remembered fondly as the conditions were atrocious, it was nearing the end of the season and Southland seemed to have other things on their minds - like the Shield Challenge against Canterbury the following week.

,'Southland with the wind at their backs first saw Gilson join the line from the short side and kick.
Earmaker toed the ball across the line but Palmer (Wellington) got to the ball first . Wellington were first to score when McKenzie fumbled a pass, Wellington won the ruck and Makeham(half back)  went blind - kicked which bounced perfectly into the hands of  the left winger, Smith, and scored.   
Todd's try came about when Ashley caught the ball off Wellington's kick, moved over the 25 and passed to Todd who raced down the sideline - sold Nichols (Wellington full back) a dummy and scored in the corner.  Soper then burst over for a second try, under the posts.  Ashby converted.  Score 14-3. Makeham's kick upfield failed to find touch.  Ashby fielded, and threw a long pass to Gilson who straightened up the attack, then sent Earwaker to score in the corner.   Scored 17-3.
In the second half - McKenzie was penalised - Smith goaled.  Nichols, full back for Wellington entered the backline passed to A. S. Clark who had a clear run  17-9.
 McKenzie then went the short side - kicked which beat Nichols - Todd retrieved - passed onto Rautahi  who crashed over the line and scored.  Score 20-9. In reply Makeham kicked deep into Southland's terriotry, which eluded Ashby and McIntosh.  Makeham dived over and scored.
Sniffing victory, Wellington piled the pressure on in the last 10 minutes - Soper was penalised for shepherding - Clark kicked the goal.  The final scored 20-18.