PIRATES (21) v WANGANUI (18).

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12240, 14 June 1909, Page 8

PIRATES (21) v WANGANUI (18).

AN EXCITING GAME :

That football fo lowers this have been rewa d.d with somj fine football go^s without saying. All the games havo been, close and exciting, the margins on all occasions being very email ones. The last few minutes have' seen practical certainties upset, and games 'tvon and lost 'almost before the spectators had realised, what had happened. Such a garner however as football enthusiasts wer© treated to on Saturday last has only been equalled on a few occasions, and not for a long: time on tho_ local 'ground has such a fast and exciting frame been seen. True, in the first spell it appeared as though Pirates were out of the hunt altogether, but their marvellous and surprising recovery ; ill tho second spell completely dolighted the spectators, and at the tame time mystified their opponents, who • seemed to fall to pieces altogether as soon-as Pirates' made their run. However, in st)'+>:> of Pirates' great effort, it was undoubtedly a Fad piec? of generalship on Southcombe's part to keep the came o'peri", as therein lay the solo foundation for Pirates' win. As the Pirates drew up tr their opponents' scoro-, the spectators became "wildly excited, and th°" cheering and barrackins; wore-plainly audible almost at Castlecliff- .'. ;:

Wanganui kicked off with a slight, wind, '■ if. anything behind them, but there was no' sun' *at all', to hamper the opposing side. From the kick-off, Dow failed to take, Lambert kicking out in Pirates' 25. 'From the. throw'in. Mitchell obtained onssession mid kicked to Souih-fonVhn.-who took a. good, mark.'but the Trick fell short. Phillip^ failed to take cleanly, but McFetrish fie'ded nrd kinked tr> .Atkinson', who marked, Mclntvro drawing; first blood' within a few mrnute^ of the start by kickine a pretty gonl. W^norniuii 3 v Pirat©s nil. MitfheH kicked off. , Lambert re- ■ turned J-o Mitchell, who mulled the take, and Atkinson, following up,., .■..■ booted on to Cpe, who: ajso railed to field, the Wanganui fiye-e-'ghth kicking. ' over the- line where Smith rather luckily .saved his siHe by forcing.",Up- to this point, Pirates h|id not martagedto- get over the halfway. A free t-> Pirates , ■ gave Mitchell the chance,of placing his .-..-:!.ikde in a more .advantageous position, but his kick gained very litt'e ground. . : Brown theu b'oke away on the lino out, 'i and passed to Tiiru, who, sent on to A^tkinsoh, but the last named . failed- to '■•f ,sake, and Pirat3s rushed'through the * ' Campion, Bros. .. Pjatchy play then fol-, .lowed, but a free to Pii-ates, taken by Abbott, gained little advantage. Erom the throw out Campion secured and .kicked.ta-MitohelL who took well, fended R. Campion off and pa^ed to Cpe,:to ,Uorb v v,^Th6'last named missed'a rather ,/vbadx t>«fe,-"buTt ma naged to recover and kicke*l-dowri field. A Wilnganui forward rush, Lambert and Cummirigs in the * van, transferred play into Pirate's 25. Here Bonthcombo had a' shot from a free, but the ball dropped short, Mitchell returning to C. Campion., who was forced through fast followed tip by Dus-tin-and Gill to .carry out near half way. Another Wanganui rush removed the scene of play to Pirates' 25, and Campion,, picking up in the loese, dodged past .Abbott,' but was tackled by Smith, Abbott fielding and kicking to Bignell, who colly turned and dropped a splendid left foot goal- from near the halfway flag, amidst great applause. Wanganui 7; Pirates nil. : - : A Pirate rush from the kick-off w.as stopped -by Atkinson, who kicked out. Mitchell received the ball from,Dow on the line out, and shook the Campions .'. offj but Coe failed to' take his pass, JSoutbcombe picking up-and kicking, to Abbott, who was thrown out:with--the '• ball. ' Another Pirata passing rush from x Dow to Mitchell, who made a; good run, to Cqe;. toCorby who, when tack- ;" ledj passed ortt to Cpe, who'"dropped, J: Ross speculating? cut.. Smart; filay. by .., Dust!n saw the.- latter carry 3 the ball out, through Ross'misjudging the ball. A smart run by Abbott saw Mclntyre fail to tackle nim, the former kicking out. Again Pirates tried a.'ftassftig nisli • imtiwted^f;:powy^Mc^eitkh, Mit-. j ,chell, Coe. but thisplayer' dropped, Ics- ' ing a -■ good 6hanc"e. " Irvirfo booted through; and Corby.;; following up fast, got possession- of: tho ball;; but his pass ■-. .^vaa fopvai-di '"• From '.":,': the■ ", resultant ; .^rumsr;;Wan'^ft'Ui;lhp^ke^'.'Janid'iAfkihson cut-in, bu*vwds!hfe!d;:up;;by Dustin, a free befnfr'awarded." ''Shortly ' afterwards.Coe- had ashot, kicking a neat goal. Wanganui 7, Pirates 3. From the . kick-off • Pirate_si" rushed down -.JraJdi 'R s - Campion missing. tho -, ball. Bignell fielded, but was tackled by Dustin before he~douldkicM. Aitken broke away from the line,but, eluded Abbot's tackle and kicked oub.. A dribbling .rush headed' by.. Mitchell was luckily stopjosd by Southconihe, who speculated to Smith, 'iviTb misjudged the ball, but managedtokick out. Pirates' again came back with a forward rush,, and had invaded Wanga"nui y5.25, when Campion picked up^ raced lip the field, ' and kicktJd oyer Smith's head;. Mcln- . tyre, followingvup fast, seized the ball and scored neivir tho po=ts. This run of Campion's was a fine effort. The scorer then converged. Wanganui 12, Pii-ates ■ ■■3« s. .',..■-. .'.....

Flay then hung about half way for a time, Pirates "having apparently all the sting taken, out of them. From the line out Lambert broke away, and d ibbling through the opposing' backs scored a good try, Mclntyre. miased. the uprights. Wanganui 15, Pirates 3. Goe kicked:off, but fate seemed.to be against Pirates, as a man was in front, and almost within a few moments Wanganui were hard at it on Pirates' line. Mclntyre, made a particularly had try to get over, but was held. up on the line-."by Abbott, who kicked downfield. Mitchell further relieved the, tension by leading a dribbling rush, which was stopped by Bignell, who kicked out. Strong vigorous play at half way was then the order for a time, neither side gaining much ground and neither complaining. Yet Pirates by their dogged persistency made it only tco evident that they were determined to reduce the margin. However, their cup of bitterness was not yet full, for a rush by Lambert to Pirates' 25, helped by off-side ulay by a Pirate forward, saw Southcombe land a good goal. The first spell ended with Wanganui again pressing, the score being Wanganui 18, Pirates 3. Having to play downhill in the second spell it looked as though Wanganui would have no d:fficulty in adding a few more points to their already largo score. On tha ether hand many expected that Pirates wouM also add to their solitary. 3 points. Such a complete reversal of form, such a startling game, such a. complete upset of n practically settled result never entered-■Eho minds of their most sanguine supporters. Such a gam? as this only goes to prove that Rugby is as fast and open as any of its kindred games, and sEculd go a long way towards eliminating the probability of the Northern Union starting hero. From the very kick-off the fates seemed to bo having a game too with tKe players, and appeared to have thought that Wanganui had had too much good fortune. Campion failed to take the'kick off, and Irvine followed up well, but missed the ball, Mclntyro returning down field. ..Then was wtncs?ed a fine passing imsh by Pirates, the ball passing through several hands, but was spoilt through Mitchell throwing on. A free was awarded to Pirates from tho resultant scrum, but Lambert charged down the Black's"kick. MitchoU fielded' and kicked to Bignell, who returned

with a fine line kid? to half way. A passing Black rush from Dow to Dustin, to Corby, to Cog, saw this aggravating player give a repetition of his one failing—knocking/ en. -Mitchell then b?gan to assail the Campions' fortress, giving them an opportunity of displaying their tackling capabilities^ and he seemed to find it simple to eludo their deadly tJtckks. From one of tli3 breaks thro 11 gh the Wahganui defence, Mitehell passad to McFetrish, the latter to (Joe, who scored, but failed to convert*. Wangamii 18, Pirates 6. ' Abbott shortly afterwards fielded in h;s own 25. ran t:> half-way, arid centred. Lambert failed to take the ball, and Dustin coming down quickly grassed Bigncll well, was on his feet in a moment with the bail and scored a try. Coo converted, Wanganui 18, Pirates ii. ■■.-.. ; ~. i.. Could Pirates.;win no\y? To thensupporters ifr'seemed possible, but Wanganui's friends doubted if tho Pirates could maintain the great pace- which had been set. It teemed for a time that Pirates had really made their last effort and were done. Campion missed a rush by Gill, but Turu fielded and saved. Then'Aikcn received the ball on tho line-out, eluded Dow, ran to Smith, but although supported by McIntyre, failed to pass the ball and a certain try was lost. Abbptt, who was playing a good game, dashed upfield with the ball, pas.cd to Ccc, to Corbyj who appeared to 'scare, but a scrum was ordered instead. Dow received the'ball from the scrum and sent, it to Abbott who raced round Bignell and scored. ,Coe; converted. "VVanganui 18, Pirates 16

A Pirate rush was .stopped, by Atkiirson, play being transferred by his kick $o halfway. Again {he; untiring Pirates came, wjth.apassing rush. Victory on one or two occasions seemed to come their way, yet they seemed to be unable to score again. Then Wanganui attacked as a bit'of a change. A test of pace between Abbott and Mclntyre for the ball was then witnessed, the latter raving by speculating hard over his own Une. A Wanganni rush took play to Pirates' line, and Mclutyre had a shot at goal in a good portion,, but missed, Corby marking. Gfcod runs by and Abbott: took Vp!ay to•: Waiiganui's 25, 'and Dow getting the ball behind the scrum went right through and scored. Coe- converted and nowiPirates led. Pirntes 21ViWarigaiiui 18. ' "'"' PoWn field again, Wanganni went', detei'mmed to score... First Canipion and Squttiepmbe niade. good attempts, get^ iiiisc hearth© Tine, but the Pirates were .tackling hard And fighting stubbornly to, li4ep, their, lead; From now (spectators were 'kent iii_a roar and excitement ran, hiprh till the end. "It seemed that Wanganui could not hol^ bitb scoreVbiit try as they would.'all their efforts ended Tust on the line, Then Kra moment or two Pirates woujd clear the-'r lines, btit Wanganui .by good hard fighting' for ;inch; pushed tHe nßlacks' back. Tight, play; ovtm play; loose play, combined play; -all met by 'tne despieirate defence of Pirates, who realised . that the game was nr,t yet won. However, Wanganui's determined attacks^ were futile, and the bell rang for time, leading Pirates winners by a narrow margin after one of the keenest and- faste&t games t>layed here for some considerable time. As both teams came off the field they were greeted with cheers in app eciation of the great fight each had put up. ; ..• Mi. T. Bell referetd £o the apparent satisfaction of both sides. >

, r The game did nob commence, until 3.3-5 o'clock, consequently it was absolutsiy impossible during a. great part of ;the-second spell to distinguish the different players.

Attention has been drawn previously through our co-Uinins to the lateness of starting Senica^ Cup matches. We understand that both Senior teams were ready at 3.15 o'clock, but had to wait until a junior match finished, with the .result that only .40, minute spells were played, and that the game finished in darkness. This' should^^ xpot be; the case and ;s fraught .wi|h dahger to/the players,, is .unfair to them and: the referee, and inconveiiiehft,#> say. the least of it; for the spe'ctatbi'S;" There should be better management and we trust that the Rugby Union will remedy! the matter by enforcing punctuality in starting and by inflicting the .penalty ona team nbij on the ground to time. "' t