Yacck looks at 1966 club rugby games, Star, Collegiate, Pirates, Blues Marist and Bluff.

Rugby upsets in the second round of the Southland Rugby competition in 1966.  Collegiate had the better of Star but P. Fairweather at first five eight kicked the ball away too much and lost a lot of opportunities by not getting it out the back line.
It was disappointing for the forwards as they worked hard to get the ball and then it was wasted.

Star did not play well either and it was a poor performance for senior rugby.  Although Star is at the top of the ladder it will not stay there long if it continues playing like this.  Star sadly missed J. T. Beazley and D. Molloy at full back had to play out of his skin to save the team time and time again.   Star was penalised approx. 5 times in a row and Collegiate unfortunately did not capitalise on these easy points with G. Murphy missing a couple of easy kicks at goal, which was not like him.
When Collegiate did chose to run the ball they ran it well, which was surprising why they did not keep this tactic going.
Late in the second half Star's forwards went up a gear and won some great ball, but once it left the forward pack the backs poor kicking and handling of the ball lost any opportunities.
Winger, N. Jordan for Collegiate looked enterprising at times and it is a shame that the ball did not reach him more as when it did he showed good pace in beating the defence.
S. Eade and C. McColl for Collegiate were the better team in winning lineout ball and C. McIntosh scrummaged well. Collegiate's forwards were far too strong for Star and the game which was terrible to watch ended up being a 0-0 draw.
The Marist V Bluff game was a different affair with both teams willing to run the ball and create an open game which was good for spectators.  In the first half the Bluff forwards were on top of their opponent but Marist must have got a strum up at half time as in the second half they tightened up and won a lot more ball which they moved quickly out to their backs which were on fire with N. Dallas at half back linking up well and set up most of the points.
His clever switching of off loading the ball from one side to the other caught the Bluff defence by surprise which meant with extending the Bluff players his backs had only a couple of defenders to beat on a couple of occasions.
R. Jefferson the Marist first five eight showed great acceleration and his precise kicking through had the Bluff defence struggling.
The Bluff forwards, C. Mathieson, R. Walker and J. Martin all linked well with half back E. Brown.  Their loose play was effective in the way that their many breaks had the Marist forwards frustrated at constantly having to chase. But the Marist forwards never gave up and especially V. Nally and W. Harding in the loose and J. Hogan in the lineouts.
Marist - J. Cullen (1 try 1 con 2pg 1dg) R Jefferson (1 try) V Nally (1 try) R McLean (1 try)
Bluff - G Dagg (1 pg) J Martin (1 try)
The Rugby Park crowd enjoyed the main game when Pirates and Blues played a great running game.  Pirates eventually were the victors winning 20-15. Robin Welsh played a big part in his teams win.  Pirates forwards were the lighter of the two packs but in giving some weight away made up for it in mobility.  For the first 60 minutes of the game both teams were on an even par but the Blues forwards kept at Pirates and looked like they were getting the upper hand.  Pirates did not lie down and with their persistent effort Gary Pankhurst supported by D. Smith kept threatening Blues and they were rewarded when first five eight G. Bone beat the defence and toed the ball ahead for P Hoskin who scored and D. Smith converted. 
Blues replied approx. 30 minutes later and with their forwards winning a scrum, first five eight D. Nichol crashed over the line and the try was converted by H. Townshend which made the score even at half time.
Pirates had more ball in the second half and the grubber kick that Bone was punting all day paid of when Robin Welsh playing at second five eight found the gap and scooped up the ball in one hand and scored, D. Smith converted.
The game was tit for tat and Trevor Keelty was not going to let Pirate's try go un-noticed followed up a kick and left the Pirate's defence flat footed, the ball ran loose by the try line and C. Busby could not make the tackle in time, Keelty scored and Townshend converted making the scored 10-10.
Against the run of play, Welsh ran 50 yards and was stopped by K. Stenton, 10 yards short of the line where he off loaded to N. McEwan who showed great pace for a forward and scored with D. Smith converting.
Ball handling skills were a feature of the game which made it into a open game with great passing and catching.  D.K. Munro another speedy forward for Pirates made a great break and passed to D. Smith who scored under the posts and converted.
Right on full time Keelty ran clear and Townsend converted.