SPARKLING PLAY

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 82, 3 October 1929, Page 17

SPARKLING PLAY

PAKEHAS AND -MAORIS

FINAL GAME OF SEASON

SOME EAPID SCOEING

This ■ season's Rugby football finished, fl'ith a flourish yesterday afternoon, when a sparkling exhibition of the game was given by the two New Zealand representative teams at Athletic Park. One team ■was confined to Maoris, and the other consisted rof players selected from those who took partin the North-South match last Saturday. The game, played as one of the preliminaries to the selection of next year's teams to meet the British invasion, was well up to expectations as a spectacle, though with much of the sparkle there was not the polished play expected of teams of international status. Nevertheless, there .were occasions when movements, made in: dividually. and collectively, had the hallmark of class, and with all the other efforts which contributed to if game iv which' quick action was always the order, the eleven thousand spectators received excellent measure of entertaining football, inere^was. a general impression that the Aew Zealand team would prove too strong tor the Maoris, although the latter, always a strong drawing card by reason of their spectacular methods, were expected to contribute largely to the -brightness of the game. Having the luck of the toss the Maoris played with /the wind, "and set a pace .which eventually turned out to be too hot to last so far v as they were concerned. However, thej^ kept going great guns m the first cpell, showing dash, determination, and triekiness, which made them quite the better side until the change °ver- Apart from their attacking work the Maoris carried out much effective spoiling, and the opposing set of backs . was given few liberties. A decided change came over the game in the second spell, the New Zealand side, which had received a stirring up and sound advice from the captam (p. G. Porter) during the inter! . val .carrying all before them. At one period ot the spell points were put on at a rapid .... rate,-forwards and backs running all over the opposition. The Maoris engaged in a final flutter, but by that time the issue . was well beyond doubt: The teams were:— „ .' New Zeaknd.-Full-back,' L."X. Heazlewood (Wellington);, three-quarters, D J Ohver .(Otago) F W. Lucas (Auckland)', ;T'i- y, Wellington); five-eighths, A. E Cooke (Wairarapa), H. Lilburne (Canterbury^, half-back, ,T. Mill (Wairarapa)-•King-forward, C. G. Porter (Wellington) japtam; forwards, A. I. Cottrell (Canterbury), A. RnlaysOn (Auckland), R. T Stewart (South Canterbury), A. G M'Phail (Poverty Bay), W. E. Hazlett' (Southland), H. F. M'Ldan (Tarauaki), , C. Campbell'(Hawkes Bay}. Maoris.—Full-back, G. Nepia (East Coast), captain; three-quarters, W. Jones (Kirig Country), E. Pelham (Wellington), W.-H. M'Kay (Poverty Bay)'; five-eighths, C. . Hohaia (Taranaki), T. Robinson (Taranaki); half-back, W. Parata (Mana•whenua); wing-forward, T. Parata (Manawhenua); forwards, J. Leach (East Coast),. J. Gemmell (Hawkes Bay), D. Tatana (Manawbenua1), M. Kahu (Auckland),.!. Raroa (East Coast), S. Gemmell (Hawkes Bay), J. T. Robinson (Canterbury).; '■ ■•■ '. ." '. M'Phail took the place of Steerc as lock in the New Zealand team, and M'Kay arid Raroa-replaced McDonald and Rika in the LYlaeri team. The New Zealand team had the heavier pack, in spite of the fact that one o£ the Maori forwards, Kahu, was nearly 1714 stone in weight. The average ■weights of the forwards were: Pakehas, list -I'/Slb; Maoris, 13st 111b. The game was played under the old rules, which provide for kicking into touch irom any part of the field. The full-backs, Nepia and Hca/.icwood, used the line to advantage when-playing with the .'wind, iimf Porter and others also made ground at times by kicks to touch between- the twenty-fives. ■ The general tendency, however, was to keep the ball in play. Another fine goal-kicking performance was registered by Heazlewood, who converted sis tries and potted a goal. In his last six representative games, Heazlewood lias scored 63 points, kicking seven penalty goals, converting seventeen tries, and potting two goals. Since the match was recognised as a trial, the members of the New Zealand team were not permitted to wear the 6ilver fern leaf. PLAY IN DETAIL. The Maoris won the toss and elected to play with the sun and wind-behind them. Porter set the ball rolling, but his kickoff went into touch on the full, and a scrum was ordered, from which T. Robinson and T. .Parata put in v bit of good work, which took play to the pakehas' twenty-five. Another serum followed, in which the Maoris used their weight, but Campbell came out of the pack with the ball and passed to Porter, who found touch, at half-way. There was more keen Jjlay at half-way, where Oliver tried to get through. After this, Mill picked up and sent out a poor pass to Lilburne; who beat three men before sending out. a lob pass which, checked the movement. A free kick to the Maoris enabled Nepia to __ piit the ball out in the All Blacks' twentyfive. The Maoris took charge from the line-out, and Toby Robinson snowed determination iri forcing his way through before passing to Kahu, who passed in turn to Leach, who scored a good try in the co.rner, amid great enthusiasm, after five . minutes' play. Nepia failed to convert. ; Maoris .-. ..... 3 All Blacks ......:... 0 In a. scrum in midfield the pakehas were ■penalised, an,d Nepia took the kick,, but there"was a recall for a scrum on account ot"a- man being in front. Mill anl lalbuiiie tried to get away, but were given no show. The Maoris were forcing matters again when they were penalised, and Cooke put the ball out well down.' A wide pass by Mill in midfield, in an attempt to get the New Zealand backs away, was taken, by Cooke, and from him the ball . went to Lucas, to Elvy, who had three men on top of him. From a scrum, how- ■ ever, the Maoris were penalised, and Cooke put the ball out at the Maori twenty-five. From a following scrum the Whites heeled, but Mill sent out a poor pass to . Lilburne, who was quickly surrounded by the defenders, and lobbed another pass. MAORIS PRESSING HARD. Pelham made a 'fine interception and broke clear, but the movement he started failed to carry the Maoris far. A Maori ruEh was well saved by Cooke, but the Natives came agaiu and took play to the All Blacks' twenty-five, where Porter and M'Lean broke through, only to be pulled up by M'Kay, who put iv a jinky run before opening up play, but a pass to -■Raroa was missed. Snappy play by W. Parata_ and T. Robinson had the Blacks in;a tight corner, Heazlewood eventually fnding temporary relief. The Maoris came a'sain; and from one wing S. Gemmell picked up .and threw the ball infield to T. Robinson and Pelham. The latter, tvrhen checked, passed back to Robinson, who potted a neat goal. Maoris ; 7 All Blacks i 0 So far the Maoris were showing plenty of dash, and had decidedly the better of matters. Just after the last score Nepia came to light with one of his fine linekicks, but fleazlewood moved play to neutral ground with a kick to touch. Following that. Porter, M'Lean, Campbell, and Stewart went through in a passing bout, which led-'to'the All Blacks being in the Maoris' where Stewart threw out a wide pass to Cooke. The Maoris, however, allowed no-liberties to the opposing backs, and the Wairarapa man was weE bottled up by two men. ' LINE-KICKING DUEL. Jones .sent the Maoris away on a move which gained some ground, but which ended with a scrum, in which the All Blacks were penalised. Nepia failed to gain much ground from the kick, Heazlewood sending the attackers back with a good kick *o touch. Off-side play by the Maoris gave fcooke a ehanee to find the line, but the

ball fell short, and Nepia replied with a line left-footer, which sent play back to where the free kick was given. The .New Zealand backs opened up, but Lilbufne sent out a poor pass,, which Cooke failed to take, and Hobaia kicked through. Heazlewood picked up, and after a good run passed to Elvy, who was stopped suddenly by a high tackled The Maoris, who were still showing plenty of pace and dash, .worked their way into the New Zealatfd twenty-five,, where they were held up in the tight. From a serum the Maori forwards bustled through, and no sooner were they checked than T. Robinson snapped up the leather and cut through between Mill and Oliver, to score a brilliant'try near the corner. Nepia missed the kick. Maoris .. 10 All Blacks 0 There was some bright play by both sides in midiield, and the Maoris then set up an attack, which was turned, after which attempts by both sets of backs to get moving were frustrated. Porter led a loose rush, which was well checked by Nepia, and the New Zealand backs made several attempts to break through in the loose, but eventually the Maoris forced. With.play back at midfield,■ W. Parata, who was playing well behind ■the scrum, neatly worked the blind side. His pass, however, went astray, and Porter and Campbell were conspicuous in retaliating, Pelham saving a dangerous situation. The New Zealand backs were under way again when another interception was made.- The result of this was that the All Blacks were again hard-pressed, and in tight play the Maoris were given a free kick, from which Nepia was unsuccessful in an attempt to drop-kick a goal, the ball striking the erpss-bar outside the posts. Cooke returned play to half-way, but the Maoris were still the more aggressive side, and Leach and Raroa figured prominently in a strong rush to the pakeha twenty-five. BLACKS' DEFENCE TESTED. " No sooner hadCpoke cleared from the danger that threatened than Pelham, M'Kay, and T. Robinson showed up in a sparkling bout that had the New. Zealand team in difficulties again. There was then some keen tussling between the forwards, with the All Blacks finding it hard to prevent the Maoris breaking through. The pressure was maintained, and Heazlewood was forced to carry the. ball over the goalline. ' The All Blacks gained a brief respite, but the Maoris were persistent aggressors, S. Gemmell, .Tatana, and. T. 'Parata'-lushing play back to near the opposing posts, where an infringement in a ! scruni gave the defenders uelief. With; play back at half-way, the Maoris were'j given a free kick,- with which Nepiii failed ; to: find the' posts from near the half-way j .line.'-'The Maoris were soon well in the picture again. W. Parata sent T. Robinson and M'Kay away in a good bout, which "was checked in the nick of time. As the All Blacks were driving the attackers back they were penalised. !\epia called Jones up to take the kick, and from well out he landed a splendid "goal. - - ■ •Maoris ::: ..".:/..:"............. ' 13 ■';■ -All:.Blacks\. ..:);.-;..:...-...... 0 - - . At. half-way; the New Zealand backs 'were fed by Mill, -.the ball .going''smartly along the chain until Blvy failed to take his pass; The Maoris took advantage of the mistake, but were sent back by Porter,' Heazlewood, and Hazlett. There was no- slackening, up by the Natives, who kicked through and by fast following-up carried play to the opposing twenty-live, where Heazlewood was forced into touch. After this M'Lean showed up in a breakaway with Oliver in support. When that move had been checked Kahu, Tatana, and Leach rushed play through to New Zealand territory again. In this, as in other movements, forward passes were allowed to go by the referee, but finally they were pulledi up by one of these infringements. The\ pressure against New Zealand was again eased by a free-kick. With play back in mid-field Lilburne and Elvy did a bit of good work on the blind Side, but efforts oil the open side were quickly smothered by the Maoris. T. Parata broke away in one good rush, which opened up good prospects, but Leach knocked on. During-keen play in in idfield New Zealand were given a free-kick, but did not-find touch, with the result that Nepia, who was more successful, was able to gain ground. Tli^e Maori fullback made a further advance with a freekick soon aßerwards when the opposition were pulled up. The Maori forwards were still playing a hustling game, but their eiTorts were turned by some back play, following which Cottroll kicked to midfield, where Nepia fielded well and sent the ball out with a good line kick. The bell then rang for .the interval, which came after a spell in which the Maoris had outplayed their opponents in decisive fashion, . their, superiority having been such that they were by no means flattered by the half-time score, which was: Maoris :.,....... 13 All Blacks :. /..... 0 THE SECOND HALF. Just jiftor the kick-off Hazlett, Stewart, and M.\Gean went away on a passing bout for New Zealand which took piny to the opposing twenty-five. This rush was turned, but from his own side of half-way Heazlewood made a line kick to touch in the Maori .twenty-five. Here the New Zealand backs were well served by Mill. Lilburne, however, elected to cut in, and was quickly downed. The ''Maori* forced their way clear, and from a scrum in New Zealand territory W. Parata tried to get Jones over, but the winger could not penetrate the defence Loose play in the AH Black twenty-livi! followed until Heazlewood sent the Maoris back with a hefty kick to-, touch at half-way. The Maori backs came away from the line-out, but Cooke intercepted.' The cheek was only temporary, however, and Pelham and Jones were associated in another bright move. Snappy passing by the Maori forwards had the opposition guessing and let the ball out to the backs, but mishandling frustrated their efforts. From a penalty Nepia found touch on the New Zealand side of half-way. ■ THE FORTUNES CHANGE. The All Black backs then took'a turn and the ball went through the backs to Lucas, who ran into position outside Oliver after giving his pass to the winger, took the. reverse pass, and then sent the ball infield again, but Oliver elected to go on his own when Lucas was in support, arid a clever piece of play was pulled up. Immediately, however, Lucas snapped up in the loose and passed to' M'Lean, who was pulled down near the line. After a hot time defending, the Maoris managed to clear, but Heazlewood sent them back with a fine kick to touch. NEW'ZEALAND BACKS SPARKLE. ■'. After^ this the New Zealand backs commenced to throw the ball about in fine style, showing the best form of the day in a series of bouts. Oliver was , well tackled at the end of one movement, on the right wing, and then on the other wing Elvy failed to gather in his pass. From a scrum near the touch-line the Maoris were penalised, and Heazlewood just failed to goal. The ball was again set. in motion and fell into Elvy's arms. He" was, ambitious in attempting to pot a' goal from near mid-field, his effort falling short. Lucas and Oliver were prominent in another movement by the New Zealand team, but Kahu made a solid break when this was checked. A well-judged pass by Mill,, however, set the All Black backs moving again, and the ball travelled out to Elvy, who went over at the corner as he was collared by Nepia. Heazlewood converted with a fine kick. Maoris .. ]3 All Blacks . g A long kick by Porter from mid-field placed New Zealand in a good position, and from a line-out M'Phail gave the backs possession. This time, however, a pass was missed by Lucas, the Maoris kiekmg, through and J. Gemmell and Jones doing good work in carrying play to the pakehas' side of half-way. ALL BLACKS' LINE THREATENED. The Maoris also showed up in several back movements, and lively play saw the New Zealand line threatened. The All Black back-line had several chances to get going, but the Maori tackling was s?V d: J- free-kick to New Zealand,enabled Heazlewood to send the Natives back. Further iree-kicka were given the New Zealanders, from one of which Heazlewood sent the ball dead and from another he endeavoured to goal from halftfay. without success. The Maoris got possession from a^ scrum near-their line, but were smothered by Porter. Mill got the ball and cut through nicely, slipped past Nepia, and went on io s«6»g a fine ec-lo

try under the posts. Heazlewood converted. Maoris 13 All Blacks 10 From a line-out at half-way New Zealand obtained possession, and the ball went out to Cooke, who kicked to touch inside the Maori twenty-five. From here the ball was kicked to Heazlewood, who coolly measured the distance and then sent over a splendid field goal from wide out near half-way. This gave the All Blacks the lead for the first time. All Blacks ~ 14 Maoris - ' 13 ! For the next quarter of an hour the Blacks were right.on top and scored almost at will. The next score came after Lucas had knocked on in the course of a back movement. The centre kicked through and retrieved himself by snapping up the leather to pass to /Hazlett, who raced over near the posts. Heazlewood converted. All- Blacks 10 Maoris 13 RAPID SCORING. An effort by Elvy and M'Lean clown the side-line carried play well into Maori territory, where Lucas showed up iv a jinky run. Securing from a scrum, Mill dummied his way through the opposing backs and passed to Stewart, who bumped off an opponent and went over. Heazlewood raised the flags with a great kick from the touch-line. All Blacks 24 Maoris 13 Finlayson, Campbell, and M'Lean handled in turn to shatter the defence again, the last-named side-stepping the last line of defence and dashing over unopposed. The ball rolled as Heazlewood was about to kick and his effort went wide. All Blacks I 27 Maoris 13 In subsequent play Campbell made a strong dash, down the line, and could probably have gone over had he elected to go through on-his own. A little later the. ball was kicked through in the loose and the Maoris were slow in getting to it, thereby allowing the speedy Cooke to race through, snap it up, aud score near the posts. Heazlewood converted. All Blacks ..32 Maoris .-.- •. 13 The Maoris .were having an unenviable ! time, and appeared to be badly rattled, j Hazlett was nearly, through during for-, 'ward play, and then Oliver dribbled down J the line"; passed several opponents, regained possession, and went on to* score near the .corner. Heazlewood kicked another beauty. All Blacks ' 37 Maoris', ...:;.:.... 13 MAORIS'/FINISHING BURST. Although the pakehas continued to more than .hold, their own for a while longer, the last few minutes were all in favour of the Maoris, who took a new lease of life in the dying stages. Eventually they succeeded iv increasing their score by a try which capped one of the tit-bits of the day. Jones started the attack, and Pelham, M'Kay, and Raroa carried on, Pelham finishing off a spectacular movement in which he had played a useful part by scoring under the posts for Nepia to convert. . ah Blacks : !.;... 37 Maoris 18 With the Maoris again taking a big part in matters, play now livened considerably, and'there were some willing exchanges. The spectators, who had commenced to drift towards the gates as the Maoris faded out of the picture, renewed their interest in the game. With less than five minutes to go, Cottrell broke clear, but when he tried to outpace Nepia ■ie was overhauled and thrown 'into touch. The Maoris replied by staging an attack which was almost a replica of the move which brought them their last try, but this time success did not attend their efforts. Nepia moved up into the. fivoeJßhtlis position for a spell, but soon rfcverlnd <o his usual place. Fiuajly the All Blacks secured from a liiie-oul Vib-half-May, rind when the ball reached Lucas he kicked through, but a race between him and Nepia ended with the Maori kicking the ball into touch-in-goal, the final bell sounding immediately. A game which sparkled with spectacular incidents finished with the score: All Blacks 37 Maoris is Mr. A. Herd (Otago) refereed.