DECISIVE PIRATES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 145, 22 June 1931, Page 4

DECISIVE PIRATES

MARIST VIM EVAPORATES Marist failed to rise to impressive prominence for the same reasons as Old Boys. Their tackling was ft. tile against a team of backs that exploited every position by quick passing. On the day Pirates were a dangerous side and their play more in keeping with that expected from then-, at the beginning of the season. Vim was looked for in the Marist van. but it failed to materialise except in pasmodie dashes. The team, as a whole, seemed capable of doing nothing right. The margin revealed in the scores about correctly sums up the merits of the game and of the teams. Pirates knew to much for their opponents and profited from every lapse. There was a good deal of fumbling by both sides and many moves were robbed of a flare of brilliancy by haphaszard passing. Had th I ‘fence mustered up on these occasions the

game would have had a different trend. Pirates’ victory was deserved. Nobody could rule otherwise, as it would have been nothing short of marvellous, to sec a side win that could neither handle nor tackle, and were faced by a strong-running opposition. Duncan, got the ball away cleanly, but his pass was mis-directed. Wakeling made up for the lapse by gathering in a rolling ball and punting for his right wing. Potbury caught the greens out of position, his speed enabling him to score over Matson’s tackle. Smart goaled.—Pirates 5, Marist 0. Another rearguard action initiated by Duncan gave Potbury his second try within a few minutes. Smart’s kick failed.—Pirates 8, Marist 0. Poor attempts at tackling let Williams beat half the team. Ho kicked, calling on Harrison to clear. The green custodian’s kick was fielded by Potbury, and a centering kick had the blacks in trouble. The green forwards struggling to come clear gave • possession to V.’akeling, to Potbury, the winger being tackled close to the line, and the leather bounced infield. From an ensuing scramble Tonks scored. Smart’s kick failed.—Pirates 11, ! Marist 0. A Marist Burst The greens raised their hopes high when, Smith, Kruse and Narbey followed the ball through the black ’ backs. Kruse missed a try by an inch as he fell for the ball in-goal. It I elude his fingers ami found the dead - area. L’irates asserted themselves i when Duncan badly beat the inside * defence, reaching the full-back before being tackled. The greens could not 1 extricate themselves from their de- > fensive position I f ire Williams was i sent over after a neat passing bout. 1 Lowe could not goal.—Pirates 14, i Marist 0. - i There was a re arrangement of the i i green backs at this stage, Narbey going up to first five-eighths, and Har- . rison to second. .Matson went to full- . | back and Cullinane to the left wing. 1 | This had the effect, of holding the 1 I black backs, and twice in quick suc- ’. I cession, the greens were within a foot n ' or two of their objective. Half-time t I arrived, however, ami the .scores re- ;- ' mained unaltered. 1 | When play was resumed Harrison ;. and’ Narbey changed places. The s j green footwork asserted ; if immel diately after half-time, the blacks besing penned to defence. Narbey had

two attempts to goal, but they both failed. Harrison was unable to gain points either when he was given the chance from a penalty. Naris s’ poor tackling let them down again, Williams beating several before letting out to Wakeling and Smart. A center ing kick played into Cotterill’s hands and he scored a well organised try. Plank’s kick missed its objective. - Pirates 17, -Mari st 0. Pirates’ next try rune as the result of Duncan beating several would-be tacklers before Jetting the ball infield. Wakeling attempte< a field goal and nobody was more surprised han he when, after the attempt had failed, Pot bury ? s pace, landed a try. Plank added the points, and the game ended shortly after without further outstanding incident, the final scores being: Pirates 22 -Mari st 0 Mr G. Thrush was referee. The teams were:— Pirates (black): Lowe, Potbury, Smart, Williams, Wakeling (second), Plank (first), Duncan, Brown, Heald, Tonks, Francis, Cotterill, Agnew, Ennis and Friend. Marist (green): Harrison, Matson, Phillips, Nelson, Cullinance (first), .Xarbey (second), Pidwell, Fennell, Kruse, Fratis, Smith, Phillips, Maitland, Hartley. Reynolds.