Central Pirates concede Waiau Star just too good

Central Pirates coach Tony Perriam paid unbeaten hosts Waiau Star the ultimate compliment after it unexpectedly mauled his men 39-5 on a sodden Tuatapere Domain on Saturday.

The two division three leaders were predicted to contest an even spectacle but there was only one team in contention in the seven tries to one drubbing that Waiau Star inflicted on the hapless visitors.

Perriam sportingly conceded: ‘‘Waiau Star played well and delivered us a lesson in rugby . . . We hardly got 20 per cent of the ball. They starved us of possession with their well drilled forwards.’’

Without wanting to make excuses, Perriam said his team was down to only 16 players all up because of injuries, work commitments and others on holiday.

‘‘I told my team it was a roundrobin game and not the final,’’ he said. He also commended both teams for the ‘‘fine spirit’’ the game was played in despite testing conditions after heavy rain that impacted significantly on games over most of the province.

Waiau Star captain Jimmy Dennison described the playing surface as ‘‘shockingly wet’’ but saluted his forwards for their tight tactics that presented a feast of good ball for the backs who capitalised. Dennison added: ‘‘Peter Copland was a valuable No 8. The forwards protected the ball well and used rolling mauls effectively. Our reserves also stepped up and delivered.’’

Successful Balfour-Lumsden captain Bevan Roy was ‘‘rapt’’ by the way his men adapted to the heavy conditions in a 20-5 (four tries to one) defeat of hosts Wrights Bush whose task was made difficult after an early red card offence.

Balfour-Lumsden posted its fifth win from seven games in consolidating claims for a top-five competition slot after Queen’s Birthday Weekend.

Rival coach Brendan Hamilton said Balfour Lumsden responded better to the conditions with rumb- ling tight forward play to secure field position.

‘‘They also have an effective blend of old hands with smart young ones coming through.’’

Open flanker Chris Ponga and industrious No 8 Nick Sutherland were identified by Bevan Roy as two of Balfour-Lumsden’s best.

Star coach Mike Mitchell was ‘‘particularly pleased’’ with his team’s third successive win and its fourth of the season in a 13-3 triumph over Bluff on a ‘‘really heavy’’ Waverley Park field.

‘‘We could have performed better but we are sustaining our winning roll. Although we battled a little early against a competitive Bluff side, our recent decisive wins are encouraging,’’ he enthused.

‘‘Our defence was right up to scratch and we led throughout after Bluff dominated possession. Will Cameron was a very physical flanker and our player of the day.’’

Hosts Otautau gained an 8-5 success against Pirates Old Boys in a demanding slog after heavy rain on Holt Park.

Successful coach Peter Morris described the contest as ‘‘a scrappy affair with both teams guilty of spilling too much ball and taking wrong options. Both teams should have scored more than one try each.’’

Morris added: ‘‘It was a funny game to watch but the greasy conditions didn’t help after rain.’’

Otautau’s man of the match was winger Darnel Bachelor, only 17 and usually a pivot, he adapted well to a change of position.

Woodlands earned its first deserved success of the season with its 25-20 win over Albion Excelsior at Gore.

Albion Excelsior club captain Doug Broome said the first half produced the best rugby but the contest ‘‘turned to custard with a deterioration in spirit and standard in the second half because there were 31 referees on the field.’’

Woodlands coach Daryll Cameron said he was ‘‘relieved and pleased with his team finally getting the monkey off their backs.’’

All had been anxiously waiting the first win. The team was starting to believe in itself, young and keen with a lot of potential, he predicted.