ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1208, 17 August 1911, Page 7

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

RUQ BY FOOTBALL. THE FATHER OF A BEATING, MAORI MATCH. ONLY WELLINfiTON IN IT. It was a grey day at the Park yesterday when the Wellington representative team met and defeated the Maori touring team". There were only about 1500 people ■ present, and the fact that the attendance was so small did not add to tho excitement. The Wellington fifteen was, 'of •course, not the city's strongest, and Evenson, who was selected as full-back, did not play. His place was filled by M'Leod, who,, judging by the last, two matches of the Wellington representatives, was much •inferior in tho position than Evcnson. Tho Mapri team is mot at full strength yet, and yesterday's fifteen was not a3 good as the one which played hero a year ago. Piki, who played a rcmark'ably fine game, behind tho scrum last •season, was temporarily out of action, ■ and his place was taken by Ratima, an 'old St. Patrick's College boy, who did very well.- Cunningham, Sollars, and ,'Hail did not join the team in time to 'take part in the match. . The. meeting was one which held interests' quite apart from tho ordinary /Rugby attractions. Everyone knows what great things the pick of tho finest dark•skinned race in tho world are capable ot, what fine physique they havo, and what (pages thoy have provided for the history lof 'the country's national game. Tho n'wis and half-castes who played ■ yea(tcrday were as a striking reminder of what the Native race once was. Ihe weight and the strength of their ECTum were enormous. Some of the forwards appeared to weigh at least IGst., and these "Dreadnoughts" were as active a» -kitosi and the backs included .Kttme fine material. lnere waTdash and fire and W«. ™** a ' 'did it. all result in? In the father of a. 'heating! That point*, to the want of a •good coach. The Maoris played without a. system by which they Muld scow off reasonable chances, and without such a I system they will go down before all the iwell-educated teams. .If the game was 'decided on the proportion of attack and defence done by the respective teams, tho Maoris would have had a victory, but points, and points only, count. Iticrelore, the tourists' need is a system.ot obtaining, points. Yesterday's display was Bmply one of wasted energy. Constitution of the Teams, •The Maoris, who donned red and black 'played tho following selection:—Fu 1-back Poananga; three-quarters, Rylands, A. t Grace, Rawhiri; five-eighths, Kaipara and IM. Winiata; half, RatiinO; wing-forward, Ufakahuri; pack, Cochrane, Dawson, W. Winiata, Takarangi (capt.), •Jloana, ■Grace, and French. .. Wellington's representatives, (in black) iwere:—Full-back, H. M'Leod; three-quar-iters, G. Cook, F. Mitchinson, and J. Daly; five-eighths, C. Ramsden and J. Ryan; fhalf, J. Tilyard; wing-forward, W. Sothleran; pack, ' C. Hills, H. Elliott, E. tPerry, D. Sullivan, Macfarlanc, A; WilWon, "and W., Bell. . Opened With Sensation. The match opened with , sensation. 'Shortly after 'the kick-off. a. scrum was formed at about Wellington's line. The Maoris got the ball from the scrum; and out went the leather through hand after •hand, till, just when it was in transition 'from the centre to the wing-three-quar-iter, Cook dashed in,, and, gathering the ■oval, was in an instant making full speed i-ahead for the goal-line. In the 'excitling race of between i eighty and .ninety i yards, Cook was chased by 'Kaipara."-.!ram whom ho gained stride by stride, foot by foot, and finally: shook: off a beaten pursuer. Then- Poananga chimed in, but /the St.. James .three-quarter, never, falter-. led a. moment, ; and. finally scored a. brillliant try near the corner. Macf aTlane did fnot convert. Wellington, 3; Maoris, 0. ; The weight 'of the Maori forwards i placed them • dangerously On the attack ! for some time, and weak tackling and 'disgraceful 1 shirking 'by some of tho. Weillingtonians assisted in keeping the city iteam in an awkward corner. Some of the I'light Wellington backs were afraid of the Maori heavy division. Kaipara burst •through with a cork-screw run, bnt did !'not quite get over. The towards came (again, and Dawson hurled his big form ■•through the Wellington. defence, but still \no try. . Then another great surprise! The Maoris were attacking when, suddenly, Wellington reversed the position, [and Daly sprinted in almost unopposed. LMacfarlane -converted. Wellington, -8; 'Maoris,. 0. ' On resuming, the Maoris set up anYother attack, and in gaining position they were much aided by the splendid line"'kicking of T. M. Grace. While .play was • well down in the Wellington twenty-five, ! tho ball was whipped out to the Maori fbacks, and Grace flashed across the line. Eftwiri converted. Wellington, 8; Maoris, ■&■ ■■

1 Wellington then: improved the quality *>f their play. They played closer and I harder on to their opponents, and displayed less -fear of the visitors' physique. A breakaway by the Wellington forwards 'was beautifully stopped by Ratima, but ,'AVeMing.ton exhibited a determination-to ;hold the upper hand. Ryan cleverly I worked a way through the Maori van- \ guard, and attempted to open out. but Shis pass* was smothered. Then Cook got >the ball, and set out for one of his des'perate attacks. He was thrown, but .bounced on! to his feet, and set off again, [but was subsequently secured and firmly held before any damage could be done. 'Tho Maoris attacked again, and down the iline went Rylands -in- full flight. M. 'Winiata followed up, and took a pass, but ikioked instead- of running, and the kick ; was too hard. The half-timo boll was rung. A Bad Spell for the Maoris. The Wellington forwards' set the pace ;at. the opening of the second spoil, but I a fine attack was spoiled through beautiful work by Dawson. A good gallop by 1 Grace raised the Maoris' hopes, and when Rylands also took a hand the chances looked brighter Still, but both, were grassicd. A hard kick'over the Maoris' lino i saw Daly, another AVellingtonian, and Kaipara race, struggling to touch down, and the oval w.ent touch in goal. When tho Maoris ware following up the kickout, Tilyard shirked collaring, and one of his confreres did little better, with tho result that tho visitors went on and established themselves in a good "position. Takarangi showed out in the van ..of a forward attack, and, attaching himself; to the leather, took play right to tho Wellington line. French shot over ■ under the posts, but a scrum was ordered. For offside play |by ono of the Wellington players at the side of the scrum tho Maoris were given }a free-kick in front of the posts. Rawiri's attempt at goal, however, failed, and the opportunity of equalising the scores was, for the moment, gone.

With play in tho Maori territory Wellington had two shots at goal from marks taken for the purpose, Mitchinson failed with both attempts. Wellington maintained an attack, and Mitchinson, going alone in a delightful feinting run. beat the wholo of tho visiting backs, and then handed) the ball to Hills, who scored. The try was not converted. Wellington, 11; Maori?, 5. Play was soon again down in a corner of the Maoris' territory. A chance—really only half a chance—presented itself anil like a flash Cook had snapped up the leather and crowed tho lino. A score, however, was not allowed. Mitchinson was mainly responsible for the next try. The ball foil into his hands and, seeing an opening, he lucked for Daly to chase it, and Daly did his part, evcntnally passing to Sullivmi, who scored. Mitchinson converted. Wollington, 10; Maori, 5. The Maoris now became almost desperate. Takarangi headed another forward rush, and thou Grace was sera streaking for tho lino. His field seemed to bo fairly clear, but the ever-present "Ilanji" Wilson hopped on to his back and bowled him over. Kawiri got a mark in a fair position, and W. Winiata had a phot at tho posts, but without success. Wellington attacked again, and Perry brokf. away and passed to Sotheran who ran jr.. Mitchinson converted with a great kick.' Wellington, 21; Maoris, 5. Shorty- afterwards Tilyard scored behind

the post's, and Mitchinson put. the ball over the bar. So the game ended: Wellington 26 Maoris 5

The Curtain-Raiser. The match between the Wellington junior representatives and the Wednesday representatives was played as a curtainraiser to tho principal panic In the lirsl. spell the scores were even. Warner scored a try for the juniors, and Symon tor tlio Wcd'nesdav teani. In the second spell tlio better style of play of ihe juniors told its tale. Russell. 'Fisher, and H. Eyan scored early in the spell. Whitley converted Ryan's trv. Kivell converted a "free" for the Wednesday fifteen. The game, therefore, resulted: Juniors, 11; Wednesday, 6. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. "Inquirer" (Carterton).— You are correct. The match Maoris v. Wairarapa was drawn, 3 points each, and was not a, win for the Maoris, as stated.