MAORI RUGBY TEAM

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 7, 8 July 1935, Page 9

MAORI RUGBY TEAM

INTEREST IN SYDNEY

BRIGHT GAMES PROMISED A PRACTICE RUN United Press Association—By Electric Tcleurapb—Copyright. SYDNEY, July 7. The Sydney newspapers feature ihe arrival of the Maori Rugby football team which disembarked from the Wanganclla on Saturday. Speaking, at an official welcome by the Rugby Union, the chairman, Mr. Hill, and the well-known international, Cyril Towers, emphasised that the Maoris had done a great deal towards enhancing New Zealand's great football reputation.' Mr. Tahiwi, replying, said: "Our boys are full of pep. We are going to make the games as bright as you want them." The co-manager, Mr. W. J. Wallace, said: "The boys have promised they will throw the ball about and they will keep their word." The captain, George Nepia, added: "We know you like a spectacular game and we are going to play it." J. C. Reedy won admiration for his leadership of the haka, which always arouses great interest in Australia. Many spectators displayed great interest in a practice run by the Maoris, being particularly • impressed by the speed of the forwards. CASUALTY ALREADY FIVE-EIGHTH'S BAD LEG (Received July 8, 10 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The Maori team already has a man on the casualty list. N. Kotua is suffering from a poisoned leg which developed as a result of an injury received in a recent match. There was some doubt as to whether Kotua would be able to accompany his colleagues to Queensland today, but a doctor advised that he could make the trip. It is expected that it will be some time before he will be able to play. Kotua is one of the team's three five-eighths. QyEENSLAND MATCH STRONG STATE FIFTEEN BRISBANE; July 7. The Maoris' first serious test will be against Queensland on Saturday. Queensland has selected a strong team, containing nine Australian representatives —Bennett, Lewis, McLean, Hayes, Birmingham, Bonis, Hitter, Doneley, and Whyatt. Critics generally agree that if the Maoris make a showing against this side the tour will be a great success. The complete Queensland team is: Full-back, F. Vincent; three-quarters, D. McLean, E. Hayes, N. Ward, J. Kirwan; five-eighth, L. Lewis; halfback, G. Bennett (captain); forwards, V. Birmingham, E. Bonis, J. Ritter, B. Doneley, V. Wilson, K. Suter, F. Whyatt, D. Nicholson. Reserves: H. Stumm, A. Wildman, P. Dixon, E. James. There is general regret that Stumm failed to make the side, as he leaves for Oxford shortly as ' Queensland's Rhodes Scholar. Doneley is a phenomenal goal-kicker, and has scored 100 points this season and 100 for Queensland in three "seasons. The Queensland Union has not decided whether to make the match for July 20 versus an Australian fifteen or versus Queensland. Everything depends on the showing of the visitors this week. The standard.of the Maori teams of the past is the reason for the great public interest, and Nepia's men will be feted in* Queensland. The first game against Warwick on Wednesday will be harder than at first imagined; the Warwick pack contains many big, hard-rucking farmers, who play like supermen on their home ground. Warwick has already beaten a Brisbane team containing seven in-ter-State men this season. '