RUGBY LEAGUE

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 269, 9 August 1943, Page 3

RUGBY LEAGUE

Wellington Alaoris Beat Strong Team Giving a great display of stylish football, the Wellington Maori representatives, whose team, with the exception of three men, consisted of Aotcn Club players, very soundly beat City Rovers, one of the leading Auckland teams, iu the first Rugby League representative fixture of the season at Newtown Park on Saturday. I.he large crowd present must have been well satisfied with the polished exhibition given- by the local side. By beating their strong opponeuts by 31 points to 13, they demonstrated the strength which the League code has attained in the capital city ana indicated that West Coast, holders of the New Zealand League premiership trophy tor the last eight years, will have Io take no ebuoces when they meet A 5 fir the Basin Reserve later this luoulb. Led by two powerful fur ward 8 id BatCDl*. captain of the Manakau team iu the north, and Ilawea .Mataira, both of whom played outstanding games, the heavier Hovers pack, all at least last, men, tound they were up against a formidable side, and their hard play toward the end of the game could not stave off a convincing defeat They were both outplayed and out generallcd by the speedy Wellington backs who gave a dashing exhibition, while the forwards stood up to everything the visitors could produce in the way of shock tactics. Repeated attempts by Hovers to open up were smothered by a stout defence, even though they were getting the ball from the scrums. Wellington excelled tn snappy short-passing. M. Solomon, play!ng in the five-eighths line, was in brilliant form, scoring three spectacular tries while Greenland's goal-kicking was most accurate. Grotte. the Hovers centre, and a former Australian representative, „ot tew first try came when Solomon snapped up from the ruck, pivoted round, and in a 30 yards’ dash for the corner badly beat the opposition. The Licit failed Silva had a chance of scoring for Rovers off a nice cross-kick, but f “’ Je A gather in the ball cleanly. Hapl then grabbed the ball out of an opposition player’s arms and transferred to Solomon, who funded off several tacklers to (^nl « n d other nice trv in the corner. Greenland converted. Morgan nearly cut clean through the visiting backs and Keren failed to collect a difficult pass right ™ line. Hutchinson Kot possession for Rovers and dived over. Donovan convertin,. Mataira was grounded through for the visitors, but the, M ll • changed suddenly when Morgan plcned up a dropped pass and outpaced the r ‘ in a run of 75 yards to score by the P Greenland converted, and Wellington led into action smartly after the interval. Wellington had Rovers rattled Barton worked his way through and dispatched Solomon in a ‘' a , zzl . iu 'r h “ < J ) v I !iH 1 ant Shaking off several tacklers the brilliant Wellington back again eork-screned bis way through and shot over for l" a th , r(1 try. Greenland converted. . cll < !“^ ) u h L talned the initiative and Rei forced n s wav over. Greenland again converting. Hawea Mataira was continually bulioekliw his way through for Rovers, and nUHu-, ton lost a verv useful man when Uapl retired with an injured shoulder after an encounter with him. Standing up to .he at tacks resolutely We lington set out on a pretty bout of passing " h ah A“ llu ' na „ in Rangiwbetu crossing ini the coru.r. Solomon's kick narrowly missed. Wep-1 then danced bis way through and the ba went to Barton, who scored GreeDhinn converted for the fourth time. Rovers tried to rally toward the close and IJutCliS broke away .to linmb on to Kaka; kahu, to Watene. who semred. D ™° van converted. Rovers came again and HUtcn luso,: was nearly over, but ost in the corner. However, Silva was im-r*. to turn the opportunity to aceomit. nn 1 scored. Hutchinson s kck failed. Wellington Maoris won. 01-lo

; Hughes. Silva. James. Grotte, Legge. Hutch nson Ellis, Duft.v. Kokakahn. Matone. Mor,nn. M Wen!ng?on r Maoris: K c' ,B -''- Al Kan^.1 l i' Boston', ifapi. ‘Mataira. G Army n heat Combined. 13-11. in a curtainraiser. . — 1