Marist, led by McCaw won crucial game against Bluff in 1955

The game did not reach the expectations as it was rather dour on a boggy pitch, but it did not matter as the Marist green and blacks scored an epic win over the port side.  Bill McCaw's team surprised a large crowd at Rugby Park and it was the tight defence that gave them the win.  The whole team worked together and it was a defense that would have even done an representative side proud.  

Three members of the victorious Marist pack who put in a great days work is Left, W.A. MCCaw (Captain) R. Wills (First five eight) and H. O'Neill (front row forward)

They met every challenge laid by Bluff, by rushing up and tackling heavy to ensure the Bluff boys knew they were there to play rugby.  They wore Bluff down and in the end they were the team with fuel in the tank to take the inititative away from Bluff.
But in saying this Bluff did not lay down, and tried everything to try and get through the strong defence, hence them not being able to cross Marist's line.  Bluff were beaten in just about every scrum which stopped them getting the ball out to their backline and developing any sort of play.  McCaw was magnificient in this area and he and his men constantly harrassed the Bluff backs 
which forced them into errors which meant the Bluff speedy flanks did not get the opportunity to score.
Marist did well to starve them off ball and due to this they had little come-back and definitely did not look like the usual Bluff team.  
HOW THE GAME WENT:
Tactics was the key to the game, with the Marist forwards tying up the heavier forward pack in some torrid scrummaging and rucking which stopped Bluff breaking away from on non-stop forays which have given them the reputation they have deserved this season.  
The Marist team settled down to a 'bottling' process and drove almost every attack across field and made sure with copybook tackling.  Bluff did not change their game plan and persisted with the same pattern but it failed.  Bluff backs were beaten for speed, but continued to throw the ball through the chain, and with so much ball they should have done better.
The tenseness in the players gave the spectators a great watch.  In the first half Marist had the sun and wind advantage and held Marist by 5 points but most in the crowd were thinking this was not enough.  Bluff were not done and in the second half threw everything at Marist even getting to the line a couple of times, but brillant tackles by Bill McCaw and J. Hawke stopped them.
The fire of the Bluff attack was extinguished and and except for individual attacks by A. Budd and R. Bowen and Marist were rarely in trouble.  
After 14 minutes, B. O'Connell topped off some hard rucking on Bluff's line with a try converted by B. Reilly.
R. Rouse missed a penalty goal and B. Reilly missed two chances at penalties, Marist was penalised seven times and Bluff four times.  
In the second half, B. Harvey missed an easy goaling opportunity while R. Rouse kicked a goal.  
Against the odd's Marist forwards were exceptional and led by McCaw who was inspiring.  R.Wills, J. Hawke and B. Reilly werre strong on attack and their tackling was impressive.  R. Waddell, hooker for Bluff did all he could and did not give an inch, with some smart heeling .
MARIST - B. Reilly, R. Flynn., D. McDermott., R. Bewley., R. Wills., J. Hawke., K. Creedy., W. McCaw., F. Ward., B. Winders., M. O'Neill., B. O'Connell., H. O'Neill., W. Duggan., L. Ward.
BLUFF - B. Harvey., D. Forrester., B. Stapley., R. Gilson., R. Phillips., R. Rouse., M. Finnerty.,E. Jamieson., I. Todd., R. Bowen., A. Budd., K. Fyall., E. Robinson., R. Waddell., C. Cross.
The results from this whole weekend bought new life to the championship with Marist joining Bluff at the top of the table and are only 1 point ahead of Collegiate, which is the only team to have beaten Marist this competition, and with Invercargill three behind them it makes it interesting as there are four teams that could actually win the Galbraith Shield.