Mid-week Rugby

Manawatu Times, Volume LIX, Issue 7472, 24 May 1934, Page 8

Mid-week Rugby

VICTORIE3 FOR PIRATES AND STAR The Wednesday Rugby competition was advanced a further stage yesterday under favourable conditions, the afternoon being fine and the ground in good order. Both games were played on the Oval and tho spectators were treated to somo interesting football, the issue in the United-Star gamo being in doubt right , till the final whistle. Star won by four points to three, the field goal being put over in tho concluding stages of tho game. In tho other match Pirates with an advantage in weight ran up 11 points in the first spell and this was retained till tho end despite St. Patrick’s gallant showing after tho interval. Results. Star 4 v. United 3. rirate3 11 v. St. Patrick’s 0. A Close Game. The Star-United match was evenly contested all the way and it was decided by a field goal to a try. United, who had beaten Pirates the previous week, played with tho wind in the first spell and they secured a territorial advantage shortly after the start, and for tho greater portion of the timo kept Star pinned down to their own side of halfway. The United backs appeared to be faster than their opponents but they would not run straight and repeatedly crowded their wings before sending out tho ball. The first score came unexpectedly, an cxchango of kicks being followed by a loose rush by United. The full back, who had been playing a great game, failed to securo tho ball which was booted over the lino with three. United forwards in hot pursuit. The first man dived and missed and so did the second but Field connected to score near the posts. Bell missed an easy kick and tho score was United 3, Star nil at the interval. It was expected that Star would soon wipe off tho deficit with the breeze at their backs but this did not work out in practice, the United pack, working well together, holding their own for the greater part of the spell. Towards tho end the Star forwards began to get the upper hand and several promising rushes were halted on the line. During one of these, when tho Star backs were trying to find a gap in the defence, tho ball was thrown to Anderson who promptly potted the goal which won the game, tho final score being Star 4, United 3. Air. I. Ross was tho referee.

Pirates Too Good For St. Patrick's. Tho toss of tho coin favoured St. Patrick’s in the gamo against Pirates and tho skull and crossboncs artists opened against tho wind. Both sides played good football right from the outset and the ball was thrown about in fine style. Tho Pirates forwards appeared to bo heavior than St. Pat’s but the greens, packing well and putting plenty of vim into their work, were getting the better of tho sot scrums. The Pirates, however, were convincing in tho' loose aid the first try came when Fletcher broke away to the line. K.ilgour secured tho ball and dived over to draw first blood for Pirates. Fletcher goaled. A few moments later tho Pirate forwards were away in another determined sortie and Kilgour, favoured by the bounce, scored wide out. The kick failed. Following this St. Pat’s kept the play even but just before half time, Alclver, the Pirate wing three-quarter, made a bold bid for the line. He was halted a few yards short after a good run, but he came in again to secure and dive over near the corner flag. At the change over, the score was 11 —0 in Pirates favour. St. Pat’s put up a great showing . against the wind in the second half and, if anything, they held a territorial advantage until the final whistle. The pack, ably led by O’Dca, who had gone on after the interval, more than held its own and, on occasions, Pirates were hard put to it to keep their line intact. There was no further score and Pirates won by 11 points to nil. Air. A. Ward was in control.