Yacck has some club rugby stories in 1965

Some club rugby in June 1965 showed some interesting results.  Old Boys outplayed Pirates to win 27-9 and must have learnt some hard lessons from their game against Marist last weekend.  Star took time to warm up against Marist and eventually beat them 15-8 and Collegiate beat Bluff 23-14.

Old Boys were a totally different team from last week where they lost to Marist.  They played so well that they looked like the team that would take out the championships with big forwards and fast playing backs.  Some of the best rugby seen in a long time was this game and the spectators were loving every minute of it.  The first half was more rugged up front and it seemed like it was going to be the team that could maintain the intensity was the one that was going to win. 
The forwards height and weight advantage was just too much for the Pirates pack and it struggled in the last 10 minutes. It was a fine display of forward play aptly led by Ken Borland
The Old Boy's back relished in the good ball they were receiving and had learnt a lot last week about aimless kicking so changed tactics and ensure that the ball moved crisply from the inside men which gave them an overlap time and time again.  The inside trio of Wilson at halfback whose passing was quick and accurate, along with Thompson and Patterson ensured that Thompson wasted no time with getting the ball going and Patterson looked the complete second five eight.
G. Nicholson on the wing was in the game all day and Dennis showed great speed in scoring his try. 
Pirates realising they were up against it in the second half and had nothing to lose let their backs be enterprising and two great moves gave resulted in tries. One of these tries was engineered by the half back, Williamson who feed the full back Bone to score.
Old Boys scored to tries with one to Crozier and converted by Borland and the second one scored by Patterson in the first half and two penalty goals to Pirate's, Gary Pankhurst.
The second half saw four tries to Old Boys, Nicholson (2) and Dunlop and Seeto one each and one each converted by Nobbs and Crozier and Borland kicked a penalty goal.
For Pirates, Bone scored a try.  If Old Boys kickers had been on target their score would have hit the 40 mark.  Mr J.D. Gillespie was not scared to blow the whistle in a fast action game.


MARIST played another bustling game up front and was prepared to meet Star in an open game, but the Marist forwards found their opposite tough and rugged and their backs meet a hard defence which they could not penetrate.
The game was even in the first half and with a score of 11-3 to Star.  Jefferson's kicking was accurate which meant he got his team plenty of advantage with his long rangy kicks.  With some smart passing Savage had scored after just four minutes.  Star kept their heads up and in the second half Savage scored two more tries with the first one coming after an interception in which he ran 60 yards.  His third try showed his silky footwork where he went round two defenders.  A. Blackler showed elusiveness and in one of his big runs passed to L. Bell who scored. None of these tries were converted.  J
Just on full time Derek Bulman at centre got an interception and ran 30 yards to score a fine individual try.


COLLEGIATE beat BLUFF in a game which looked promising but turned out to be scrappy 23-14.
Collegiate forwards won 80% of the ball and the great ball was sent through the backline but seemed to be wasted once they got to the wingers.  Good running by J.L. Smith and P. Fairweather, carved through the weak Bluff backline and it was up to the Bluff forward to ensure they made the tackle.  Nothing much eventuated from set play with the scrummaging from both sides being below par.  Because of the fast marking of Collegiate, Bluff did not have a chance and Collegiates first points came when Bates scored a try after a good break from Smith, and after 26 minutes, Murphy kicked a drop goal 40 yards from the sideline.