Gallant Maoris fail

Press, 1 September 1986, Page 21

Gallant Maoris fail

Canterbury B had too much finesse for a gallant Canterbury Maoris XV in their rugby match at Rugby Park on Saturday.. Canterbury B won, 34-10, after leading, 190, at half-time. Canterbury B was well' served up front by a shrewd and skilful set of ball-winners and ball-players, including Phil Cropper, Adrian Kennedy, Chris Stuart and Gavin Hill, the latter also showing prowess as a goal-kicker. In the backs, Canterbury B had the two top try-scorers in the Town club competition, Adrian Boyd, on the left wing, and Hugh Murchison, at centre, and there was added pace out wide in the form of the right wing, Roger Kilpatrick and the full-back, Richard MacDonald. Enjoying a fine service from Craig Williamson, James Leggat and Mark

McHardy made a zestful pairing in the five eighths. The puggy surface was presumably wearing on the legs, and there were one or two in the Canterbury B team who looked short of a gallop, a state of affairs that became more obvious in the final quarter. Although outclassed, the Maoris never stopped trying and Bruce Amai embellished a solid game in the tight when he scored a try in the twenty-fifth minute of the second half. Brent Whakataka had a similar reward five minutes from the end after a strong run by the full-back, Lee Seymour.

Included in the Maoris pack were two useful line-out exponents in John Robbins, who played the first half only, and Hud Rickit. Na Katae battled away tenaciously throughout the match

and Lamen Hohaia showed up to good effect in the last quarter. The Maoris’ most effective attacking back was Seymour, while the perky Ralph Robertson, a semi-retired half-back, remained in touch with his forwards to the finish, and opened up the Canterbury B defence on a couple of occasions in the first half.

For Canterbury B, Kilpatrick (two), Kennedy, Murchison and Cropper scored tries, Hill kicking four conversions and two penalty goals. For Canterbury Maoris, Amai and Whakataka scored tries and Seymour kicked a conversion. In the curtain-raiser, Canterbury Colts beat Canterbury Maoris B, 77-3, with the Colts’ first five-eighths, Paul Treves, contributing 29 points from two tries, nine conversions and a penalty goal.