Ellesmere beats Canty Maori team

Press, 27 June 1983, Page 3

Ellesmere beats Canty Maori team

Ellesmere had to counter spirited opposition from the Canterbury Maoris before it prevailed, 22-13, in their rugby match at Burnham yesterday. The Maoris had the benefit of a strong northwesterly wind in the first half, but was a point in arrears at half-time. Ellesmere played well into the wind, the forwards controlling the driving mauls, and the backs putting the possession to good effect. The result was two good tries. However, the Maoris gave a delightful free-running display for the first 20min of the second half and held a deserved 13-11 lead starting the last quarter. The Maoris scrum was especially impressive. The uncompromising front-row

of Bill Bush, Merv Aoke and Ru Koha, assisted by a hearty push from their fellow’ forwards, saved the Maoris three times in as many minutes by pushing Ellesmere off the ball on its own put-in and only metres from the Maoris line. Ellesmere stuck to its task and showed better cohesion towards the end, the good combination resulting in both wings scoring tries and putting the issue beyond doubt. Ellesmere had two industrious flankers in Greg Kohonui and Brian Narby, and Stu Munro provided a steady supply of ball by outjumping his marker in the line-outs. Stu Boon put aggression into the backline movements at second five-eighths, and the wings, Noel Heffernan and Ross Saunders, played with calm assurance. Lamen Hohaia led a determined, if a little un-co-ordinated, forward effort by the Maoris. For Ellesmere, tries were scored by Heffernan (2), Neville Carter and Saunders. Boon kicked two penalty goals. Menehira and Goodhue scored tries for the Maoris and Colin Williamson added a conversion and a penalty goal.