McCallum’s boot leads Central Pirates to victory

Central Pirates reverted to its established come from behind strategy, thanks largely to skipper and fullback Mark McCallum’s trusty boot at Wilsons Crossing on Saturday.

McCallum’s four successful penalty goals from four attempts, the last and most vital five minutes from fulltime, effectively shut out a gritty challenge from rapidly improving visitors Star who ironically merged with Central Pirates for a sole season last year.

Star’s breakaway from that union seemed set to be partially vindicated when it led for most of the game, including 10-3 at halftime, but McCallum’s accuracy finally touched off any premature Star celebrations.

Central Pirates officials and committeemen, including Phil Collinson and coach Tony Perriam, said the game was a dogged, tight and particularly even encounter that could have gone either way.

Star coach Mike Mitchell commented similarly, saying he was happy with his young and improving team on its showing against a certain candidate for the top-five competition, which begins after Queen’s Birthday Weekend.

Perriam said substitute lock for the day Jamie Cronin was all over the paddock for the winners.

Perriam downplayed his team missing several handy players, saying ‘‘we have to put up with it and just get on with it.’’

Star’s purposeful tight forwards engineered the game’s only try soon after kickoff and defended their own line grimly when their rivals launched several menacing assaults in the second quarter.

Visitors Waiau Star extended their unbeaten record to eight by downing Balfour-Lumsden 18-0.

Waiau Star team manager Aaron Challis praised the competitive opposition, which was ‘‘well drilled on defence’’.

‘‘Balfour-Lumsden presented us with one of our hardest games of the season . . . We were expecting it.’’

Promising wing Danny Verdon and ‘‘man mountain’’ second fiveeighth Ash Debique were rewarded with tries.

Captain Jim Dennison and Matt Lowe were impressive flankers. Waiau Star will host Wrights Bush, another formidable unit, at Tuatapere on Saturday.

Waiau Star would derive benefit from the searching Balfour Lumsden assignment, Challis said.

Wrights Bush coach Brendon Hamilton was satisfied with the team’s 27-12 win over hosts Woodlands.

‘‘A very tough game . . . We got on top a little in the second half after we found our structure.

Use of bench players worked well but greasy conditions hampered the backs.

No 8 Hamish

Anderson who scored two tries off the back and centre Logan Nicholson who also bagged a late brace for a bonus point, contributed well.

Nicholson added two conversions and a penalty for a haul of 17 points.

Happy Otautau coach Peter Morris got it right when he observed that ‘‘we keep ticking away nicely,’’ after his team posted it season’s fourth success against Bluff after two years out in the cold.

Otautau’s meritorious comeback has been popular and widely applauded.

Otautau

deserved

their

21-5 (three tries to one) win over Bluff, always worthy rivals and hosts. The visitors prospered from their improved structure, ball retention and input of fine lock Chris Racz.

Pirates Old Boys coach Daniel Rolton hoped his team’s runaway 50-0 (eight tries) win over depleted Gore visitors Albion Excelsior would be a season’s turning point.

Their first win of the season was also their first competition playing experience at their Surrey Park home base this year.

Rolton complimented Albion Excelsior for fronting initially with only 13, then 14 and finally 15 players and no bench.