Marlborough shut out

Press, 14 August 1980, Page 30

Marlborough shut out

PA’ Blenheim The New Zealand Maoris overcame some dedicated tackling to defeat Marlborough, 16-3, in a representative rugby match at Blenheim yesterday. Taking first use of a strong nor’wester, the Maoris moved the ball at every opportunity, but errors in tight defence restricted their progress. With three minutes of the first spell to go they had only a well-judged aiigled penalty by the full-back, Rob McCarthy, to show for their efforts.

But quick service from a maul near the line produced

a try for the left wing, Shane Gibbons, and the conversion by McCarthy, plus a touchline penalty right on half-time, carried the Maoris to a 12-0 lead. The home team seemed to have little in reserve after its upwind struggle in the first spell, and was virtually shut out in the line-outs, ruck and mauls. Marlborough’s own Maori rep, Jim Love, won most of the lineout ball, and the Maoris captain, the flanker, Paul Quinn, showed speed in the loose. The Maoris opted for a running attack into the wind during the second spell, but the backs made too many

mistakes and even the Prince of Wales Cup match star, Tu Wyllie, was well contained at first five-eighth. A Marfell penalty from touch on the 22-metre line was the only scoring achieved by Marlborough and just before full-time the Maoris increased their lead when their ‘second’ fiveeighth, Lehi Hohaia, received the ball after a line-out and chopped back through the forwards to score wide out. N.Z. Maoris: Shane Gibbons, Lehi Hohaia tries, Rob McCarthy two penalties and a conversion.

Marlborough: Steve Marfell a penalty.