THE NATIVE TEAM.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7383, 8 August 1889, Page 6

THE NATIVE TEAM.

(jIROM OTTR COBRBSPOtTDENT.] INVERCARGILL, August 7. The match Maoris v Southland came off" on the Union Grounds this afternoon when the former won by 5 points to one. There was splendid weather for the match, and over 20U0 people paid for admission. The visitors played one man short. The Southland Union debarred four of the Maoris from playiag, owing to their having taken money for a match in Brisbane. This leaves them with only 14 men, but they talk of getting Hirst, a local man, to play for them after this. Warbrick won the toss and kicked off. Play was very soon , in the home team's twenty-five, and Wai. Warbrick made a splendid run and scored right under the post. J. Warbrick took the kick and placed a goal. Invercargill kicked off at half way and the Maoris put in some passing which completely baffled the local men, and Taiaroa scored. The kick at gaol was a failure. A few minutes afterwards the same player scored again, the kick going wide of the posts; the local men pulled themselves together and took the pjay into the Maoris 25, and A. Galbraith scored. The kick at goal was unsuccessful. Lee, one oft the Maori three-quarters, was hurt just before call of half time. His knee, an old sore, got twisted under him, and it is unlikely that he will be of much service to his team again. The second spell started with the local captain kicking off. Play was centred in the visitors' 25 nearly the whole of the sp 11, a rush now and again taking the ball away from their lines. The Maoris showed some splendid passing: throughout the game, in fact this was the only department of the game in which they were superior to their opponents. Elliott and Wra. Warbrick are the pick of the Maori backs. Messrs Wesney and Arthur Warbrick acted as umpires for Invercargill and the Natives respectively, and Mr Hempton was the referee. There were no disputes throughout the game, and but for the accident to Harry Lee everything passed off satisfactorily.