PIRATE DEFEAT AIR FORCE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 4 August 1941, Page 7

PIRATE DEFEAT AIR FORCE

GAME AT THE PARK In a senior c ompetition game played j at the Park Pirate defeated Air Force by 13 points to 3. Early in the first spell there were in dications that the game would be bright and open but the standard of play deteriorated as the game progressed. Neither set of backs was impressive, players trying to do too much o.> their' Pirate: Francois: Palmer. Sinclair, j O’Connor: Kearns. H. Hall: G, Robinson: Schwass; G. Hall, Hildyard. Chal-| lies. P. Ban ham: Nock. Thompson.! Springer. Air Force: Ramsay; Flynn. Barker. ■ Marshall: Watson. Hewitt: Tocker; | Jamieson: Pritchard. Gavin, Thomas. Lee; Austin. Keeling. Farrar. The game opened brightly, Kearns sending the Pirate backs away. A dropped pass spoilt the movement. Challies missed with a penalty kick. Barker beat several Pirate men to secure a clear field in front but Austin was tackled when he received the pass. All the Air Force backs handled but could make no ground. Ragged play followed, marked by poor handling and unnecessary kicking. From under the posts, G. Robinson sent his backs away. Kearns finding the line at tlie halfway mark. Ramsay was injured and left the field. He was replaced by Gunn. Pirate were awarded a penalty in a handy position and G. Robinson kicked the goal. Pirate 3. Air Force 0. Hall made a bright run, cutting right through the Air Force defence to the full back. However he left his pass too late and Kearns was tackled. Just on half time Air Force attacked strongly but could not reach their objective. Speery replaced Flynn who was injured. Play deteriorated in the second spell. Pirate attacked for a period and G. Hall finally scrambled across for a try. Challies converted. Pirate 8, Air Force 0. Farrar dribbled clownfield into Pirate territory. From a loose scrum on the line Jamieson scored. The try was not converted. Air Force 3. Pirate 8. G. Robinson broke around a scrum and kicked. The bounce beat Speery and Robinson, following up, secured possession and scored. Francois converted. Pirate 13, Air Force 3. An Air Force back movement broke down and Banham kicked the ball upfield. Kearns was there and went across but he was recalled and Air Force were given a penalty kick. Air Force tried to open up the play in an endeavour to pull the game out of the lire but the Pirate defence held. Time was called with Air Force attacking strongly on the Pirate line. Mr N. S. Tankersley was the referee.