Welsh and Burns give Pirates upset win over Star in 1978...

Star's winning streak came to end with Pirates causing the upset in 1978 winning 12 -11.  Star had totally dominated the second division in round one of the combined competition winning all its seven games.  It came up against a determined Pirate's team who with experience and youth played a game which was thoroughly enjoyed by the spectators.

Star missed Lin Booth (centre) who could pentrate any back line in the competition.  They did not have the punch through as usual.
Outstanding games from veteran Robin Welsh and young full back Kevin Burns, gave their team the upset win over Star.
Star dominated the first 20 minutes and looked like they thought it was just a matter of turning up, but Pirates had a different story and started contesting everything.
Pirates hammered the Star defence and it was 34 minutes before they got a breakthrough and scored.  Brian McKechnie, Trevor Anderson and Graeme Anderson tackled everything that came their way but Pirates kept the pressure up and something had to give, and it did by the way of Trevor Tomlins (half back) feeding the ball from the short side to  Robin Welsh who went through four defenders to score out wide.  Kevin Burns kicked an excellent conversion from the side line to give Pirates the lead 6-4.
Five minutes into the second half, Bob Barber, scored again in exactly the same way as the first try by way of a pushover by the Star forward pack.
Pirates were not at all intimidated and after hammering the Star line for some time, Burns kicked through a kick to Brian Eade (wing) who caught the ball perfectly and fell over the line to score.
Burns kicked another great kick from the sideline which gave Pirate's its 12 points.
Bob Barber won most of the line out ball and was into everything especially at the back on the scrum.  His two tries were not his only attempts from the back but except for the two tries Pirates wrapped him up well to stop him scoring more.
Welsh was beautiful to watch and his try was probably one of the best individual one seen for a long time.
Burns had some problem under the high ball but once he got his confidence it did not affect the all round skill of his game, and it will be interesting to watch for this player in future seasons.
Reid Boynton and Wayne Boynton are strong runners and Star had to commit more than one player to stop them.
Once Pirate's jumpers in the lineout figured it out, John Pankhurst and Don Sutherland won more ball as the game progressed.  It was the play of the Pirate's loose, Sam Anderson and Gary Barnett that stopped any Star backs gaining momentum.
In the tight Star's Doug Murcott was his usual strong self, and loosie Alan Larsen stood out also for Star.
McKechnie was not up to his usual standard and was outfoxed by Welsh, he also had a bad day with his boot which could have been a different outcome if he was on song.

Reference:  The Southland Times May 1978

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