MAORIS' FIRST WIN

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 28, 2 August 1926, Page 4

MAORIS' FIRST WIN

VICTORIA EASILY DEFEATED

TEN TRIES, NONE CONVERTED,

(United Press Association.—Copyright.) MELBOURNE, lst August.

The weather was showery on Saturday afternoon, when the Maoris met and defeated Victoria by 30 points to nil.

The Maori team was as follow:—Potaka, Phillips, Barclay, Ealwasser, Love, Bucra, Shortland, Bell, Olsen, Stewart, Matene, Rika, Wilson, Gcmmell, and Haupapa.

The attendance numbered five' thousand. Victoria won the toss and the Maoris attacked, but were penalised for a forward pass. Phillips scored a, try which Matone failed to convert. Victoria attacked, the ball going into touch. The Maoris advanced from a breakaway, Phillips again scoring a try which Matene was unsuccessful iv converting. A penalty against Victoria was followed by off-side play from n forward movement. There were repeated attacks by the Maoris, but the home side seldom took play into the opposing territory. Matene and Wilson were instrumental in initiating several forward movements. A Victoria pass was intercepted b„ Ealwasser, who sent Phillips awijy to register a try without further addition. Ealwasser was ■ again prominent a little later, and in a great run secured.au unconverted try. After a spell in midtield Bar-clay-Scored the last try of the spell. The Maori defence was seldom troubled in the first half. The half-time scores were:— Maoris 18,.Victoria nil.

On resumption, Victoria assumed the offensive, and Potaka was forced to retire through being injured, Bell assisting Victoria m defence, the,homo ■ side being still iv attacl* but unable to pierce the defence. A sharp attack by the visitors gave Phillips a chance to score a try. Stewart was prominent in midfield play, and then Victoria made a great effort to open their account-through. the agency of Wackett and Smith. Ealwasser then gained possession, and passing to Matent tho latter obtained a try. The Maoris showed fine systematic passing and.attacked strongly, but several attempts to increase the were nullified by the Victorian solid defence. Rae, the home side full-back, retired injured. Each side was now one man short. Lane made excellent progress" 'or Victoria, but ran the ball into tou-ii.. Lockwood, who later replaced Potik;u scored a try, Love's resultant kick aj>i grazing the post. The visitors advanced again, but Ewan saved the situation v.-ii'fe a timely kick. The final score was.— Maoris 30, Victoria nil.

.The. best players for the Maoris were Potaka, Phillips, Shortland, Fahyasser, Wilson, Stewart, and Dove; For Victoria, .Abbot, M'Causland, Smith, Lane, and Ewan.

The account of the'match.is by no means complete, as only eight scores are recorded, while according to the total there were apparently ten scores.