Maoris win well

Press, 10 May 1979, Page 4

Maoris win well

f Late sport

NZPA Lismore The New Zealand Maori rugby team came to life in the second half and beat New South Wales Country, 22-3. in a floodlit match played at Lismore last evening. The Maoris led. 6-3. at halftime, and scored three secondhalf tries in an entertaining display which gave them further encouragement for the success of their Australian and Pacific Islands tour.

The match was played in calm, chilly conditions, and a heavy dew lying on the soft surface made the baU slippery and extremely difficult to handle. The state of the ball contributed to a scrappy first half in which the Maoris enjoyed a substantial territorial advantage, but were unable to breach the stout-hearted country defence. In the second half, however, they kept the ball up front, and with the first -five-eighths, Tu Wyllie. standing deeper and finding more room to move, the standard of the rugby improved.

A man of the match award went to David Rorsythe. the Country half-back, and the best

and fairest players were name! as Warwick Watkins, for Couij try and the prop, Billy Bush for the Maoris. Scores were: New Zealand Maoris 22 (Fred Woodman (2| Frank Shelford tries; Andy Bakei 2 penalties. 2 conversions), N.S.W. Country (David McKln ley a penalty).