MAORIS ON TOUR

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 15, 18 July 1932, Page 12

MAORIS ON TOUR

SPECTACULAR. GAME

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) ' : GISBOKNE, 16tb July. Before an atteudance of nearly 3000^ the New Zealand Maori team played a drawn game with Poverty Bay, each team scoring 17 points.. The game was spectacular and opejfif but the Maori backs, especially Mere Mere and Downs, were 100 speedy for the local men. The Bay forwards easily held their own m the serums nnd line-outs, but the visitors had a slight advantage in loose play. Solid tackling was a feature the visitors' play and good detence nullifying the excellent opeuinus made by the local team. The game was exciting and strenuous throughout especially in the second half, and the' result was in doubt until the final bell the Maoris equalising with a few minutes to spare. The outstanding Maori forwards were Rika, Jones, Walker, and Wetere, while Watson, Potaka, Downs, and Mere Mere were always troublesome in the back division. For the Bay, Carringtou, Milligan, Cummings, and Dennis were the best forwards, and Kaua, Haisman, Wallace, and AValters the most prominent in the backs. The score was opened by the Maoris about a quarter-of an hour after the start, when Mere Mere scored, but CarTingtot). equalised for Bay with-a penally

kick. Kaua 6cored for Poverty Bay, but the visitors again equalised through the good work of Mere Mere, and the same playei: repeated the performance a few minutes later, half-time coming with the scores 9-6 in favour of the Maoris.

Two minutes after the resumption Bay equalised with a try by Haisman. Then Cummings put Bay ahead with a try. After give-and-take play Hiucmoa scored under the posts for the visitors. Potaka added the major points. Bay made strenuous efforts to overtake the handicap of two points, and eventually Wallace scored behind the posts, Dennis converting. The Bay backs broke away in a promising movement which failed, and Tuhoro broke through for the Maoris and punted. Tibbie picked up, passed to Tuhoro, and then to. Rika, who scored in the corner. Potaka's kick missed, and the bell sounded soon after with the score 17-all.