MAORIS HIGH SCORE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 241, 25 July 1935, Page 3

MAORIS HIGH SCORE

FAR WEST TEAM DEFEATED. STILL WEAKNESS IN HOOKING. (United Press Association—Copyright). ‘ SYDNEY, July 24. Without taking their opponents cheaply, the Maoris adopted an unorthodox style against the Far West team at Dubbo to-day, and threw the ball about in dangerously reckless fashion to win by 38 points to 3. The game began at hurricane speed, and although the Maoris were losing the majority of the set scrums the perfect handling and uncanny anticipation of all of them, particularly Ngaia, Mellisli, Harrison, and Nepia„ enabled them to whip the bail across the field and back in dazzling movements. The game was played on a grassless ground. The weather was fine and sunny, with a slight wind. Although the score mounted steadily, the Far West provided stern resistance, and were dangerous duiing many periods in the first half. Territorially the game was even in the first half. In spite of the thrust of their backs, the only points scored by the Far West came from a penalty goal m the first half. After half-time the Maoris adopted even more exciting tactics. The ball went from hand to hand whether the Maoris were on their own goal-line or within an inch of scoring. The crowd, having its first taste of international football, showed its appreciation and admiration more by gasps of amazement than by its vociferous cheers. A disappointing feature of the plaj T was the inability of the Maoris to hook from the set scrums, but their tactics were 1 so unorthodox and unlike those of most New Zealand teams, yet so pleasing, that they generally made capital from their own failings. The line kicking was of a high order, the international rules being played, but goal kicking was poor. Herni converted only two of nine tries scored for the Maoris. The scorers were:—J. Reedy, Hamson, Nepia, Mellisli, Ngaia, Broderick, Phillips, one each; Cooper two tries. E. Lay kicked a goal for the Far West.

During play Bright and Keane were injured, and went off. Ngaia injured a knee, and although he played on he will need a rest. He played brilliantly.