MAORI FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 130, 4 June 1930, Page 15

MAORI FOOTBALL.

INTER-ISLAND MATCH. WIN FOR SOUTHERNERS. i (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday. The South Island Maoris beat the North Island Maoris by 19 points to 3 in the match for the Prince of Wales Cup at Lancaster Park this afternoon.' The game was intended as a trial match for the selection of the New Zealand Maori side to play the British team on July 9.

The game was won by the supremacy of the Southern forwards, who played strenuously throughout. Both sets of backs showed enterprise in throwing the ball about, but too many passes >went amiss.

The South Island's first try was scored by Tom Robinson, who gained possession from the line-out. North Island retaliated with a brilliant passing bout, which'ended in Watson going over near the corner. Manihera scored the next try for South at the end of a good forward rush.

After half-time the pace slowed noticeably, but the game was still interesting. Philips kicked a penalty goal from a difficult angle after spectacular passing. McDonald scored wide out, and Philips kicked another fine goal. A few minutes later Toby Robinson scored for South behind the posts, and Philips converted.

WAIRARAPA V. HAWSE'S BAY.

NAPIER, {Tuesday.

Wairarapa defeated Hawke's Bay in a Rugby match to-day by 18 points to 16. The last few minutes of the game were most exciting. At half-time Hawke's Bay were leading by 8 points to 3, and ten minutes before the end were still ahead by 16 points to 8. Then Mill scored and converted, raising the visitors' total to 13. Just before time Mill scored again and Fuller converted, winning the match. Wairarapa's strength was mainly in their forwards.

TARANAKI V. WANGANUI.

NEW PLYMOUTH, Tuesday.

In a Rugby match to-day Taranaki defeated Wanganui by 53 points to 5. Taranaki's machine-like back scoring movements would have been monotonous had they not been varied occasionally by forward rushes that ended in scores. For many years this annual match has been closely contested. Changes in the Taranaki backs to-day made a remarkable difference.

MORRINSVILLE V. ( ROTORUA,

(By Telegraph. —Own Correspondent.)

ROTORUA, Tuesday.

In a Rugby match at Arawa Park today Morrinsville defeated Rotorua by 8 points to 3: Rotorua kicked off and attacked' vigorously. Even play followed, and from a scrum Rotorua hooked, and Steele, the Rotorua half, passed out "to McLeod, who passed to Morrison. The latter . scored, but the kick failed. Rotorua 3, Morrinsville 0. Morrinsville pressed Rotorua, but bad handling" ~bj their backs, spoilt their chances? Rotorua was hooking .well and giving Morrinsville a strenuous time. °The visitors were awarded a free kick and scored.' The score was 3 all at half-time. In the second spell Rotorua kept Morrinsville busy defending. Off-side play by Rotorua gave Morrinsville relief, the ball going out half-way. The game now became a battle between the forwards, and in the last minute of the game the Morrinsville backs got the baU from the ruck. A good passing rush ended in their scoring close to- the* posts. The try was converted. •

NAVAL RESERVES BEAT NAVY

A. Rugby football match played between the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserves and Iht firavv at the Devonport Domain yesterday resulted in a win for the Naval Reserves by 12 points to 8. x

TAKAPUNA GRAMMAR MATCH.

rrv,o nnnnal Rugbv match between present of the Takapuna Grammar SShool was played on the Devonport Sounds yesterday, when the former won by 10 points to j.