Vincent Rugby Competition Strong In 1984...

Upset wins to Clyde-Earnscleugh and Upper Clutha on Saturday were features of the final first-round games in the Vincent-Manioto senior rugby competition.
Playing at Wanaka on a slippery surface affected by rain before and during the game, Upper Clutha knocked Gimmerburn-Pateroa from its leading position on the points table with a second half penalty goal kicked by Tony Hunter, the only points in what was a predominantly forward struggle.
Although GP dominated the first 30 minutes of the game, tenacious defence by the home team denied the opposition points, and led by captain Dave Grieve and Kerry Chittock, Upper Clutha applied pressure up front through some fine rucking.
Half-back Peter Neil and first five-eight Hunter kept the ball close to the forwards and with astute kicking.
GP missed the services of Tony O'Neil behind the scrum while up front Mark Harris and Paul O'Neil
were committed forwards.
Matakanui-Valley took a clear two point lead in the competition with a runaway win over Strath-Taieri at Middlemarch scoring 10 tries on the way to 54-7 victory.
The makeshift backline proved far too pacey and enterprising for the ST team and though the home forwards, through work of locks Gavin McNair and Steve Stewart, did well in the early stages, the defensive play of the acks offered little resistance to the rampant MV team.
Dave Sinclair and Lloyd Davies each scored three tries with Denis Flannery, who called the shots expertly from the base of the scrum, being rewarded with two tries.
Forcing Wakatipu into costly errors through its bustling play, CE once again showed it scant disregard for reputations with a 16-9 surprise win.
Allowed to skirt the fringes almost at will, the loose trio of Philip Lucas, Leon Van Boxtel and Peter Laing for CE caused havoc amongst the Wakatipu inside backs and upset the normal patterned play of the team.

Albion 23, Waikaka 10 in 1984..

Albion took advantage of the wind to run up a 19 point lead against Waikaka in the first half and went on to win 23-10 at Gore.
Albion took the lead when Waikaka failed to touch down after a penalty goal attempt had missed and Albion centre Gary Brook was quick to press the ball.
Jimmy Cormack scored two tries, the first after bursting up the sideline for 40 metres and the second, after half-back Les Roberts ran the blindside.
A dropped goal by Kevin Gentle gave Albion its 19 points at half-time.
Early in the second half Roberts ran the short side from loose play in the middle of the paddock and broke straight through the Waikaka defence to score.
After that Waikaka came back and prop Bill Hunt scored after his backs had created a good overlap, Further good back play saw Brian Dickison go over for another try midway through the half but that was the end of the scoring.
ALBION: Gary Brook, Jimmy Cormack (2) les Roberts tries, Kevin Gentle (1) DG, Fraser Neil (2) Con.
WAIKAKA: Bill Hunt, Brian Dickison tries, Dickison (1) Con.
REFEREE: Mr M. Sheehan.