G'day WillieO,

The lines:
No straighter mate to his mates than he
Ever said, "Old Len's a match!

are Lawson transcribing of a typical Australian clipped phrase - correctly:
No straighter mate to his mates than he ever said, "Len's a match! ("Lend us a match!)
.

The occasion was that of one of Lawson's fellow poets sailing to England to win fame and fortune ... and his name was not 'Len"!

Regard(les)s,

Bob Bolton