RUGBY IN MUD AND SLUSH

Southland Times, Issue 25691, 28 June 1943, Page 2

RUGBY IN MUD AND SLUSH

PIRATES-STAR BEATS MARIST-BLUFF Interesting if not good Rugby was provided by the Pirates-Star and Marist-Bluff teams in the only senior Rugby football fixture played in Invercargill on Saturday afternoon. The heavy rain which fell on Saturday reduced the surface at Rugby Park to a sodden state, and before much play on it the ground was churned into a quagmire. Rarely has a game been played under such wretched conditions. In the second half of the game freezing conditions added to the discomfiture of the players, almost all of whom slithered about the field in mud-soaked uniforms trying to handle and kick the leaden ball. They could have gained little enjoyment from their exertions. The 100 or so spectators “sat it out." In spite of the atrociously bad playing conditions, scoring proved more than a possibility, and at the end of a ' muddy struggle 27 points had been scored, 24 by Pirates-Star, which won and kept its good lead at the head of the senior championship, and three by Marist-Bluff, which opened well, but faded under the weight and dash of the opposition, plus mud and slush, in the second half. Perhaps the greatest attraction of the afternoon, and. one which probably prompted the Southland Rugby Football Union to carry on with its fixtures for the day, was D. Trevathan, the former Otago and All Black five-eighth, who made his first appearance in club football in Southland. Trevathan played at second five-eighths for Pirates-Star. His baptism of playing on Rugby Park at its worst was an auspicious one—he sized up 'the conditions and played surprisingly well for a first appearance—and his contribution to his side’s total was praiseworthy. With a heavy ball and on a surface with no "grip” in it, he kicked three good goals. Trevathan's play was a happy augury for the inter-provincial games to be played in the next few weeks. His generalship was noteworthy and welcome. Marist opened the scoring, but its effort ended there. Pirates soon equalized the scores and later took the lead. At half-time Pirates led by eight goals to three. In the second half Pirates added 16 points and the game ended: Pirates-Star 24, Marist-Bluff 3. The scorers were: Pirates-Star, tries by Muir (two), Smeaton. Murray and Renshaw, conversions by Trevathan (two) and Campbell. and a penalty goal by Trevathan; Marist-Bluff, a try by West. Mr J. Aitken was referee. The teams were:— PIRATES-STAR: Campbell; McKenzie, Butts, Wilson; Trevathan, Bennett; Dawson; Thompson. Renshaw. Smeaton, Fisher, Patchett, Muir, Bennett, Murray. MARIST-BLUFF: Rutherford; Thompson, Cushen, Todd; Perfect, Grace; Milne; Boyle, Mcßae, Coakley, Cremen, Fordyce, West, Cournane, Newali. JUNIOR GRADE RESULTS.— OId Boys 11 Seaward Downs 3; Borstal 14 Mataura 4: High School 14 Wyndham nil; Collegiate 9 Invercargill 3. FOURTH GRADE.— Technical 3 High School nil; Invercargill 3 Collegiate nil; Marist 5 Bluff nil. FIFTH GRADE.— High School 12, Pirates 3.