MAORIS' SEVENTH WIN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 183, 5 August 1935, Page 13

MAORIS' SEVENTH WIN.

VICTORIA BEATEN 23-16. TOO BIG AND TOO FAST. MELBOURNE, August 4. The Maori Rugby team defeated Victoria yesterday by 28 points to 16 after a hard-fought game. The visitors proved too big and fast for the Victorians. There was an attendance of 15,000. The Maoris did not enter into the kicking contest' against Harry Vallcnce, the prominent Victorian player under Australian rules. The Maori team was as follows: — Nepia, C. Smith, J. Reedy, Phillips, Kotua, Chase, IT. Harrison, K. Reedy, Whiu, Cooper. Rodgers, Kawe, P. Smith, G. Harrison, Broderick. Right at the beginning the big Maori forwards crashed through, and Nepia took a pot at goal about halfway, but the ball hit a post. Then came a splendid passing rush by the Maoris, initiated by Smith. Harrison picked up and crossed the line to touch down. Nepia converted. A few minutes later Harrison again crossed the line, NUepia missing the kick. Victoria rallied, and took play into the Maoris' twenty-five, where a penalty kick failed. Still keeping control of the game, Victoria managed to score sevei£l times, and it wats easily seen that the home team had a thorough knowledge of the game. At half-time the score was: Maoris ..••...„............ 15 Victoria 11 In the second half the Victorians were full of confidence, and able to frustrate many Maoris moves. Their forward play was exceptionally good. Although the Maoris won most of the eet scrums the Victorians held them in the rucks. The final score was: Maoris 28 Victoria 16* Scorers of the Maoris' tries were Harrison (2), Smith (2), and . Reedy. Phillips kicked a penalty goal, and Nepia converted three tries and Kotua two. The best games for the Maoris were played by Nepia, Harrison and Smith. The Maoris have only two more matches to play in Australia, and both will be against New South Wales. The first game will be decided to-day, which ie a bank holiday in Sydney, and the tour will conclude with a third match against New South Wales on Saturday next. After the latter match the Maoris will embark for New Zealand. They will play Auckland at Eden Park on Saturday week, and will meet Wellington at Athletic Park on the following Wednesday. Their record in Australia is: — Against Warwick, won, 32—10. Against Queensland, lost, 22—39. Against Toowoomba, won, 35—13. Against Queensland, won, 15—13. Against Far West, won, 38 —3. Against New South Wales, won, 6—5. Against Western Districts, won, 42—8. Against Victoria, won, 28—16. Summary: Played 8, won 7. lost 1 Points, for 218, against 107. CLETTER J9CANDUCIJG. N.Z. TEAM TO PLAY N.S.W. (Received 0.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, this day. The Sydney "Morning Herald'e" Melbourne correspondent, commenting on the Maoris' match against Victoria, eays: "Superior combination and clever handling by the Maori backs gave the visitors a definite advantage ovor Victoria, C Smith was a constant danger to the Victorians. Hie. swift touch-line dashes, which left behind the figures of unsuccessful Victorian tacklers, were always epectacular." Tlie Maori team against New South Wales to-day will be: Nepia, 0. Bmith, Hemi, Phillips, J. Reedy, Kotua, H. Harrison, K. Reedy, Whiu, Cooper, P. Smith, Kawe, G. Harrison, Rogers, Broderick. Fine, cold weather, with a high wind, prevails for the match.