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HARD GAME WON BY PIRATES

CHANCES MISSED BY INVERCARGILL WINNING GOAL KICKED BY H. PEDDIE A goal from a drop-kick deftly kicked by H. Peddie (first five-eighths) gave Pirates a win against Invercargill in one of the hardest and best games of Rugby seen in club football for many seasons. Although handicapped by the loss of one of its players within a few minutes of the start of the second half, Pirates fought doggedly against a superior combination and fully earned its win. Invercargill’s pack more or less monopolized the ball in the second half and its backs were given many chances to break through, but the resolute defence by the Pirates backs stopped them from finishing off some bright and spectacular movements.

F. McEwan, the Pirates forward who was ordered off the field by the referee, played an outstanding game and before Peddie kicked the winning goal had scored all of Pirates’ points, two penalty goals and a try. Good performances in a game which bristled with smart work were given by both full-backs (J. W. Fleming and L.

Beal) and both half-backs (J. Purdue and C. K. Saxton). Beal’s work was particularly impressive. He saved two possible tries by solid tackling.

Of the half-backs J. Purdue’s work stood out because of the liberal supply of ball which came his way. He was the mainspring of the Invercargill backs. Saxton filled the role of a “defensive” half-back for the greater part of the game and showed that he could fit himself to this type of play without difficulty. The teams were:—

PIRATES: L. Beal, W. A. Morrison, E. Calvert, J. McKay, H. Peddie, R. Pickering, C. K. Saxton; H. Fraser, R. Tinnock, A. McEwan, P. Amos, F. McEwan, K. Shirley, A. Knight, T. Metcalfe.

INVERCARGILL: J. W. Fleming, B. L. Tapley, R. G. Mahony, C. McKenzie, A. G. Sutherland, J. Marr, J. Purdue; R. Sutton, J. Lester, O. McKay, L. Clode, W. Richardson, L. George, S. Purdue, C. George. Invercargill, playing with the strong wind and the sun in its favour, set up a vigorous attack and within five minutes was given two opportunities to score with penalty goals. C. McKenzie took both and kicked a good goal at his second attempt. Invercargill 3, Pirates 0. Invercargill shaded Pirates in the set scrums and J. Purdue saw more of the ball than did Saxton. Usually when the latter did get the ball he was bustled by the quick-breaking Invercargill forwards and two or three times failed to get the ball away to his backs. Invercargill was penalized and F. McEwan kicked an excellent goal from the touch-line and against the wind. Invercargill 3, Pirates 3. Both sides were putting plenty of dash into their work and there were many exciting exchanges. Pirates backs saw more of the ball in the following play and twice made breaks through to Invercargill’s 25. Sutherland was penalized on the 25-line and F. McEwan kicked his second goal. Pirates 6, Invercargill 3. Good breaks for Invercargill by J. Purdue and for Pirates by Calvert were the features of the following play, the exchanges of which were more evenly contested. Pirates’ backs and forwards staged a splendid rally and F. McEwan scored after a dashing run to the left corner. His kick, a good one, failed. Pirates 9, Invercargill 3. Fleming, the Invercargill full-back, tried to drop-kick a goal from 45 yards out and missed and then J. Purdue, who was playing a dashing game, sent his backs away in a likely-looking movement. Solid tackling hy Pirates held up the attack but Invercargill’s forwards carried on and Pirates forced down twice within as many minutes. A GOOD MOVEMENT

One of the best passing movements of the half almost ended in success for Invercargill. Fleming came up into the five-eighths line and made the overlap but although the movement was stopped on the left flank J. Purdue regained possession and sent the backs away to the right. C. McKenzie (right wing) smartly cut past Morrison and was stopped only two yards from the line. Marr was in support, but he, too, was held up short of the line. It was a spectacular movement. In the last five minutes of the half Invercargill played all over Pirates and the backs threw the ball about with much abandon. Pirates was hard pressed but thanks to magnificent tackling it was able to keep its line intact. The half-time scores were: Pirates 9, Invercargill 3

The start of the second half was marked by willing exchanges between the forwards, and the referee spoke to forwards of each team. A minute later he ordered off the field F. McEwan for alleged rough play. Pirates played the remainder of the half, practically the whole period, with 14 men.

Invercargill forwards carried all before then in a rush to Pirates’ line and S. Purdue took a pass and dived for the corner but hit the flag as he grounded the ball. Morrison then made a break for Pirates and by clever footwork beat the defence but was unable

to get clear when he gathered in the ball a few yards from the posts. DETERMINED ATTACK A. Sutherland was now playing first five-eighths for Invercargill and was putting plenty of thrust into the attack. Twice he made bold bids for the line and was brought down when within a yard of success. The Pirates pack in spite of the loss of one player was playing solidly and was contesting the scrums and rucks with vigour. After a ruck the referee spoke to an Invercargill forward and spectators called out “put him off!” Another change was made in the Invercargill backs, Sutherland going to the right wing and McKenzie taking up the first five-eighths position. This change brought success within five minutes. J. Purdue who was receiving a big share of the ball from scrums and rucks sent out a long pass to McKenzie, who cut through the defence and ran over under the posts. McKenzie converted. Pirates 9, Invercargill 8. Invercargill kept on top and smart work by J. Purdue enabled the backs to attack on the right wing. Mahony got clear and had Sutherland in support but elected to go alone and was well tackled by Beal. Invercargill lost an excellent opportunity oi scoring from this position. Some torrid scrummaging on Pirates’ line favoured Invercargill, and L. Clode dived on the ball as it went over the line. McKenzie failed to kick a goal. Invercargill 11, Pirates 9.

Pirates regained the lead in the next minute. Peddie’s kick-off went over Invercargill’s dead-ball line and as soon as play had been restarted Saxton sent out a long pass to Peddie who drop-kicked a good goal with his left foot from 40 yards out. The effort was received with wild cheering. Pirates 13, Invercargill 11. Three minutes from the end Amos was penalized for obstructing S. Purdue and McKenzie had a shot at goal but missed. Invercargill made desperate attempts to pull the game out of the fire but in spite of a monopoly of the ball it was unable to break down the Pirates defence. A thrilling game ended with thu scores:— Pirates 13, Invercargill 11 Mr R. W. Murray was referee.

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ST19390515.2.21.3

Bibliographic details

Southland Times, Issue 23817, 15 May 1939, Page 5

Word Count
1,208

HARD GAME WON BY PIRATES Southland Times, Issue 23817, 15 May 1939, Page 5

HARD GAME WON BY PIRATES Southland Times, Issue 23817, 15 May 1939, Page 5

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