RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 105, 3 April 1926, Page 9

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

WANGANUI PIRATES v KIA TOA. HOME TEAM SUCCESSFUL. The Kia Toa Rugby Club entered upon its winter season activities this morning when its senior fifteen played a friendly match with Wanganui Pirates at Terrace End Park. Owing to tho delayed arrival of the visitors, the game was somewhat late in starting and, in view of tho earliness of the season, the length of the spells were restricted to 30 minutes. The teams which filed out were:— Pirates: G-ibson, Stubbing, Doull, Smith, Howes, Lloyd, Duncan, Head, Person, Enriis, Sutherland, lnnes Kumera, Healey and Corkin. Kia Toa:- W. Smith Gordon, Hancock, Bryce, Eyre, Wasley, Findlay, Parsons, Boldt, Piper, Jackson, Heatley, T. Doherty, M. Doherty and T. Smith. The visitors won the toss of the coin, but elected to face the strong wind which swept down tho playing area, and Kia Toa set the ball in motion. Pirates attempted to open up immediately on obtaining possession, but the attack was checked and the blue forwards swept down to the visitors line, a force down culminating a dangerous movement. Play worked between the half and twenty fivo lines for a period, a shot at goal, by Eyre within striking distance passing unrewarded. The blacks launched a rearguard passing bout, but Parsons was instrumental in setting the home fifteen again on tho offensive, and the brilliant newcomer handing on the oval at the opportune moment, enabling M. Doherty to open Kia Toa’s account with a try close to the posts. Eyre added the major points. Kai Toa 5; Pirates nil.

On the ball coming again into play, a high kick by Hancock caught Stubbing awkwardly placed, but Gibson came to the rescue and lined out. He was, however, called upon immediately following and from a set scrum he prevented a score by submitting to a force. Three times in close succession the Kia Toa backs came into action, but their passing lacked direction and the forwards •wore proving the dangerous agency. It was from a centering kick by Bryce that the blues second score was forthcoming, T. Doherty securing possession and getting over. Eyre failed Kia Toa B—o. Before the spell the blue scrummagers, ably led by Parsons, were in the ascendency almost throughout and the rover was himself instrumental in swelling the total by a further three points before the spell closed, but taking the kick himself he failed to add the major points. Half time found the scores: Kia Toa 11 Pirates 0.

On resumption tho visitors rushed to the attack and for a period Kia Toa were hard pressed for back and forward tho Pirates were threatening danger. Tho home line was, however, kept intact, al though they had to submit to several force downs in closo succession. The attackers wero gradually forced back and a short dash by Heatley following a mark by Gordon enabled the blues to assume the aggressive. An infringement by a visitor at midfield gave Smith a chance to turn to account, but his shot lacked strength and Doull burst away and side stepping several opponents: sent the leather weir down into blue territory, Kumera carrying the leather right down to the home line before being halted. Parsons and Jackson were instrumental in bringing relief to the hard pressed blues, and, the last named securing, the burly scrummager went over alongside the posts. He failed with tho kick. Kia Toa 14—0. In the closing moments Pirates worked to the attack and Duncan securing went right to the line, and in a resulting melee opened the visitors’ account. Howes failed with the kick and the Referee, Mr Seward, sounded time with the scores reading Kia Toa 1.4, Pirates 3.