Maori match to North

Press, 22 June 1978, Page 24

Maori match to North

PA Gisborne Against the odds, Northern Maoris thrashed Southern Maoris, 29-8, to retain the Prince of Wales Cup at Rugby Park in Gisborne [yesterday. Practically all of the match’s excitement came from the Northern side, although the try of the match was scored by a Southerner, Shane Gibbons (Canterbury). The three men who won the game for Northern Zone were the loose trio of Mike Burgoyne, Mia Melsom and iMac McCallion. They were [quick to any breakdown in •play and not far behind them was the hooker, Lester I Fox. The Southern front row of Bill Bush, Felix O’Carroll |and Bill Rowlands got off to a good start but faded a bit as the game progressed, although Bush grafted hard. Shane Gibbons was clearly the best of the Southern backs and his try came when he finished off a counter-attack with an incredible body swerve, with

I about a metre to work in, and went over for the try. Scorers: For Northern Maoris, M. McCallion, F. Woodman, J. Whiu, E. Stokes. Tries, Whiu two conversions and three penalties. For Southern Maoris, L. Holmes and S. Gibbons tries, j After the match the folI lowing players were selected ito represent New Zealand I Maoris against Poverty BayEast Coast on Saturday.— I H. K. Whiu (Auckland), S. {Gibbons (Canterbury), E. ! Stokes (Bay of Plenty), F. Woodman (North Auckland), W. Osborne (Wanganui), H. Wiki (Auckland), P. Blake (Manawatu), M. McCallion (Captain), T. Waaka (North Auckland), H. Rickett (Waikato), J. Love (Marlborough), M. Melson (Waikato), L. Toki (Auckland), L. Fox (Thames Valley), W. Bush (Canterbury). Reserves-Backs: .1. Murray (North Auckland), D. Matene (North Auckland). Forwards: M. West (Nelson Bays), F. O’Carroll (Taranaki), T. Carter (Hawke’s Bay).