PIRATES, WANGANUI, BEATEN BY KIA TOA

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7197, 21 April 1930, Page 9

PIRATES, WANGANUI, BEATEN BY KIA TOA

Five-Point Margin DOUBLE BLUE FORWARDS TURN THE BALANCE Palmerston North Rugby enthusiasts were given a foretaste of the approaching football season on Saturday when a Kia Toa senior team defeated Pirates (Wanganui) by 17 points to 12 on the oval at the Palmerston North Showgrounds. Handicapped by the hard ground encumbered in places with long grass, both fifteens successfully overcame the new season feeling in the early stages of the game but were showing the effects of the battle towards the end of the final spell. Kia Toa fielded a fairly representative team although several members who will be in the ranks of tho double blues next Saturday wero absent. Their strength lay mainly in the forwards, although the backs gave promise of interesting possibilities. Pirates’ Tearguard showed more finish and was at times responsible for some really bright movements.

The teams lined out:— Pirates (black): Innes, Rhodes, Gowan, Tonks, Agnew, Hall, Hoald, Duncan, Low, Williams, Potbury, MeGonagle, Stuart, Renz, Brown. Kia Toa (double blue): Ncsbit, Pitt, Conrad, Rae, McKenzie, McKay, Argyle, Doherty, Holden, Jamieson, Hilton, Smith, Waslcy, Topee, O’Keefe. After some vigorous forward exchanges in the early stages, tho visitors attacked and the backs handling with confidence Low went across .to complete an attractive movement wide out—Pirates 3, Kia Toa 0. Low failed to add the major points. The double blues retaliated sharply and an abortive attempt to kick a field goal by Wasley was closely followed by Smith who raced tho Wanganui defenders across to score a good try, Ra» converted —Kia Toa 5, Pirates 3. Play came back to midfield and once again the Wanganui backs raced away in a pretty passing bout that saw Hall scramble across and score in the corner. Low missed the kick —Pirates 6, Kia Toa 5.

The double blue forwards swept play back into Wanganui territory where Renz saved a try in the teeth of a stiff rush. Tho relief was shortlived for another frontal attack opened by a break on tho part of Conrad, was completed by Doherty wide out. Rae failed to raise tho kick —Kia Toa 8, Pirates C. It was Wanganui’s turn to score and Potbury made tho contribution when Kia Toa were penalised for an illegal charge against a mark—Pirates 9, Kia Toa 8. A good break by Hilton put Kia Toa in black territory and Conrad and Doherty ably assisted by Rae made g valiant effort to break through at the corner. They were called back for a five yards scrum but a moment later McKay followed , a high kick fast to score beside the posts. Ho converted his own try with a wpll judged kick Kia Toa 13, Pirates. 9. The half time whistle sounded at this stage with Kia Toa holding their four point lead. Both sides rc-opcncd the battle with renewed vigour and although Kia Toa pressed early in the piece, it wms not long before'the nippy Wanganui backs had reversed matters and had the double blues on the defensive.- Snappy short passing put the blacks well inside home territory but Smith cleared up the line and McKenzie Jed a frontal relieving movement to halfway. .A bout of ragged play in midfield saw Potbury break back and supported by Agnew and' Duncan, take the leather within attacking distance. Williams completed a good movement by cutting in and scoring near the posts. He could not add the extra points to his own try —Kia Toa 13, Pirates 12.

From a forward rally in no-man’s land, Conrad threw a long pass out to his backs but McKay elected to kick and despite keen following up on the part of Topee, a promising movementwas repulsed. Kia Toa continued to press and after a strenuous period of scigc Wasley seized an opportunity and sent a beautiful field goal over the bar.—Kia Toa 17, Pirates 12. Both sides were showing the effects of their exertions during the later stages of the game and the match ended without further score. Mr. A. Gordon was referee.