Riverton on top of table in 1978 Central Western competition.

Riverton must be the favourite for the Central-Western competition after their win on Saturday.  After beating two of the top teams in the competition, Central Pirates and Wrights Bush they are again looking at being the best team.

Riverton is ahead on the table by 2 points but has a game in hand.  Drummond and Limehills are second equal, a point against Central Pirates that also has a game in hand.
Riverton was expected to have trouble against Central Pirates last week, with their big mobile forwards, but  it did not happen and a Central Pirates player said "They bought it on and we could not match them".
The tight five for Riverton really won the game for them in Norman Cleaver, David Laurie, and Bede McKenzie.  They dominated the lineouts and then drove in together to win the second phase.
Gavan Burns showed his skills by scoring one try and then setting Alan Ronald's try by running strongly through three missed tackles.
Norman Cleaver also kicked well with two conversions and two penalty goals bringing his tally to 28 points for the season.
Riverton did not get it all their way and the score probably did not reflect the game as Central Pirates performed a double scissor movement with Phair and Forrester Norman (centre) creating a great try.
OTAUTAU - had its hopes up after two previous wins and prospects looked good against Drummond.  Unfortunately for Otautau, Drummond had their best game so far this season and came out firing and ended up winning 33-6.  Drummond backs run around their opposites and ran in seven tries.
Otautau were their own worst enemies and lacked the courage to run the ball so any possession they got the backs kicked it away.  The forwards although beaten up front worked well as a unit.  
Guy Turner at full back and John Lindsay at first five eight had exceptional games for Drummond.  Turner played a well executed attacking game and was awarded a try. Lindsay is being hailed as a possibility for Southland honours and his game was all class this week.
Solo performances are rare to find these days so players like David Ward for Winton and Murray Johns for Limehills and last week Ward scored all his teams points for the fourth time this season.  With the competition in only week six this is an exceptional performance by this talented loose forward.
Ward was in fine form against Waiau Star and he constantly stopped the backs getting any sort of momentum going.
Johns total of 25 points for Limehills is nearly half of their total points. 
The Limehills forwards found the Ohai-Nightcaps forwards led by Peter Sinclair and David Greer hard to contain.
Although Ohai-Nightcaps had the advantage in the lineouts, Limehill's Dave Saunders and his younger brother Steven Saunders a  rapidly improving flanker were outstanding in their scrummaging which helped to even out the forward play.
Dave Saunders nearly scored twice but was held up over the line once and was only 1M away the second time.

Reference:  The Southland Times May 1978