Maoris Beat N.S.W. 14-11 In Dull Match

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28619, 23 June 1958, Page 9

Maoris Beat N.S.W. 14-11 In Dull Match

(N.Z Press Association—Copyright)

SYDNEY, June 22. The New Zealand Maoris led all i the way in their victory over a strong New South Wales team at the Sydney Cricket Ground yesterday.

The Maoris won by 14 points to 11 points, after leading 11-3 at [half-time, but luck was on their side in the dying moments of the game. New South Wales was not allowed a try, and two comparatively easy kicks at goal were missed.

It was the Maoris’ most important win of the tour, but it was certainly not their best performance.

Once again, only the alert opportunism of the Maoris in capitalising on their opponent’s mistakes enabled them to win. The Maoris’ two tries both came from loose balls after New lost possession, uj Maoris, on the other hand, had little to offer in attack in what was a dull all-round display.

hi fact, the entire match was a lack-lustre, uninspiring affair, and it hardly deserved more than the crowd of 12,400 present. The attendance was far below the New South Wales Rugby Union’s expectations, and the Maoris’ tour now seems certain t° end in . a large deficit. The union’s action in giving all television stations permission to televise the game free of charge may have contributed to the poor crowd. Whatever it was. the huge ground was four-fifths empty, and the atmosphere on the sunny day was more in keeping with a picnic cricket match.

Both sides had promised to play open football, and both sides failed to honour their promises. New -South Wales was guilty of much kicking, especially by the five-eighths. A. Summons, who rarely risked his backline in attack. The Maoris also kicked fai too much for the touchline. The worst feature of the game was the hopeless scramble of lineouts. and in this phase the Maoris must take a great deal of blame. They lack a line-out man of any real ability, and their tactics of knocking forward, short, fast throw-ins which usually finish with the ball going out again, and infiltration into the opponent’s side contributed to the untidy play. The game really did not come to life until in the closing stages, when the lifeless New South Wales team was spurred into action.

The former Wallaby. A. Morton. provided the spark when he made a neat run on the left wing, stepped inside when cornered, rar. through tackles, and dived over the Maori line. When Roberts converted this try. New South Wales was within three points of the Maoris’ total. Morton made another great run and passed to Lenehan, who crossed but was recalled for a

forward pass. The Maoris then conceded two penalties, both of which Roberts missed badly. | The Maoris, who had looked! well in command in the first half,! fell away halfway through the! second spell and were sorely! pressed to save the game. J The Maori forwards the New South Wales pack. M.l Bevan, scored a second half try' after a piece of quick thinking. A Pryor was a tireless worker and Poopu and Piaka were also prominent. The Maori backs had a quiet day, with P. Walsh occasionally providing a spark. Nj. Walters was outstanding at full-back. He was unfiurried under pressure and he drop-kicked a field goal from the half-way line.

The Maoris’ limitations in attack and the inability of their forwards to win a big share of the ball were again demonstrated. For the Maoris H. Phillips and Bevan scored tries. Walters kicked a field goal and a penalty goal and converted a try. New South: Wales’s points came from a try by Morton and penalty goals by Roberts and B. Galea.