UNION MAORIS

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 3, 4 July 1922, Page 11

UNION MAORIS

FOOTBALL TESTS; IN AUSTRALIA

<»»0K OUB OWN COBItISFOKBINTO

SYDNEY, 28th June.

.. Viewed' from every aspect, the opening ljjatch. of the Union Maoris against the representative, New South Wales fifteen at the Agricultural Ground on Saturday w.as a. memorable one. From the kick-off to the. final "no side," it was a great; keen struggle between two splendidly matched, teams; But the., concluding quarter, of an hour overshadowed the rest of the gam.c, which, because of its sheer intensity and the sporting con: duot of the play, made for^ perpetual thrills. In thjt last sensational spell the fpTtpnej of the m^tch continually varied. Wlie.n the teams ohanged over at half-time the scores.W^re. 9 all—a very fair reflex of the nature of the opening spell. Tha second half was replete with thrills. Within, ten minutes Raymond was over for his third try, a brilliant effort which was crowned with a great kick b..y Taylor. Then. Pin. took a good mark in 'a handy- -position, and reduced the gap in the scores; Both teams were now-, playiftg. at their top. The visiting forwards were ipajjnificent in the loosej and Bell, who. was never off the ball^ came through. He did not carry suffi:' cient pace to gain the line, but Botak^ was at liandi and scrambled over for a try, which Jacob, converted. Tajcing full advantage of. the weak spot on the home si(Je|s left wing, the Maoris carfle again, and Gemmell forged his way across. With defeat staring- them in the face, the Blues responded desperately, and. rushed the game to Black territory. Here FoJi secured from a good centre, and fought his way across. Walker missed th^ easiest of goals, but made amends, almost immediately by. a splendid try from thq base. of. the s.cru.m on the visitors' line, Taylor goaled,, and the homo team led. by '22 to 2Q: With: but a few minute^ left, in the fading light, the players put every ounce; into the -game. The excite: ment reached fever heat, when the Maori forwards c.W.et with a mighty, rushj Again.they, concentrated, on the weak link in the defence, and Mayne, who could do nothing right, and failed entirely to reproduce his normal olub form, lep them, through with a bad fumble. The Maoris swept on, and a great' Vpsh culr minated in Broughton. faUiiJg on the balf for Jacob to convert with a. fine kick, '.'No side" spnnd.ed immediately-, leaving t.he. visitors victqriojis,; by three, points, They ware cheeredr again and again, and not one1 of" the big 'gathering tators begrudged them their win, albeit t(ia luck was ci : trifle' op. theijr sifte. It is, difficult to., particularise the visitors—tb.ey- . all playes, . splendidly. The. two who were always conspicuous, hpweycr, were Be}] in the, forwards, and Bhillips on the right wing. The team has already become most popular with the, followers of. ' the "parent" gajne in Sydney, and, what. is. more, has vindicated the. great football reputation of their race. The outstanding play.erp in th'p local te.aui were, the speedy, Raymond, Walker, who. showed^ wonderful fortitude, in continuing to; play . after receiving, a nasty gash, in the head early in the match, J. M. Taylor, who bidg fair to become, as. great a footballer up ho is a cricketer, and the forwards -"ox, M'Eay, and Loud.on. The Maoris suffered rather heavily \n the matter of casualties,, but none, o.f, the, pliers was seriously, injured, .

On Monday, i the New South Wales team turned the' tables. Their backs had': developed much of the combination that was lacking from then: first exhibition, and this, together with tho fact that thq visitors, appeared to lack any set' scheme,: of attack, was. the match.-winninß factor. The Blues gave an immeasurably better display of teaifi work than on Saturday, and in the. matter of combination carried altogether, too. many guns for their opponent^. The feature of the visitors' play was their splendid, tackling. They have reduced' this phase, of the, gaijie to p, very fine, art, and the "dummy settlers'' hawk their, wares in vain when, opposed to then.. The. scores., New So.uth Wales .28, Maoris. 1,3, adequately reflpct the relatjye' Jneriljs of the tea^s on the day's play.

, Upwards of 25,000 people attended the two matches. The Union game appears to be facing the highway tp prosperity again. It. was unfortunate that'injuries to the visitors precluded their fielding a. team for the mateji aga.inst. the ' Metropolis at. Manly op Saturday, as the fixture would certainly h^ve attracted a big- attendance.. The ■Maoris commence their country tour at jWalcha next Saturday; and will return to Sydney tq take part in'the fifiaj Test with the New South Wales, te^m o(i the following Saturday.