MAORIS ON TOUR

Evening Post, Issue 20, 23 July 1935, Page 3

MAORIS ON TOUR

CAYALIEES OF RUGBY"

FOOTBALL GOOD WILL

(From "The Post's" Representative.) SYDNEY, July 18.

"Carefree Cavaliers of Rugby" is the title that has been bestowed upon the 1935 Maoris, as a result of the early matches of their tour of Australia. Although beaten in their first important match, they had to fight the handicap of influenza as well as the opposing team; yet they received as much praise from the acknowledged experts of Rugby as if they had had a smashing win.

"The indelible impression made by previous Maori teams has 'been renewed by the 1935 team," wrote a contributor to the Sydney "Daily Telegraph" after that match. "It was the most brilliant exhibition Brisbane has seen since the Rugby Union game was revived in that city. These Maoris were beaten by the very splendour of their effort, but they achieved success far greater than any in the record books. Their mission in Australia is one of football good will, and in their first important match they assured the success of their tour by the very charm and appeal of their play. More than 10,000 people paid £551 to look on—the biggest gate in Brisbane since 1929, except for the All Black Test last year. The Queensland team experienced one of those days when things cannot go wrong." "The big gathering was rewarded by one of the fastest and most spectacular and thrilling expositions of the code that have ever been witnessed," wrote the Brisbane correspondent of the "Sydney Morning Herald." "The Maoris, led by' the famous All Black George Nepia, came with the reputation of being a combination of fast, clever, and daring exponents of Rugby, and they certainly . lived up to it. Although beaten by 39 points to 22, the figures do not represent the true indication of the game, for except for two short periods in, the second half, when the Maori combination became disorganised,, and Queensland scored heavily, the visitors were superior to their conquerors. Queensland's score included twelve points in the second half from field goals. Such a wealth of field goals in one half is remarkable." INFLUENZA GERM. It was unfortunate lor the Maoris that they should have arrived in Sydney in the midst of the most severe influenza epidemic that the city has experienced for several years. They undoubtedly caught the germ during the few days they spent here before going to Brisbane, and the wretched disease ran through their ranks like fire through a dry forest. They accepted it as they accepted their defeat—with a smile, which, Australians have learned, is typical of their fine spirit both on and off the field. Two members of the team who played in the match against Queensland, R. Harrison and Charlie Smith (who scored two tries) were rushed straight from the ground to a private hospital. They, could hardly stand when they returned to the dressingroom at the conclusion of the game. After attention by a doctor, they went straight to hospital. A third player who took part in the game, W. Cooper, was taken to hospital a few hours later, making the total in hospital six. There' were then nine in all unfit for play, leaving only 16 from whom a team could have been chosen. ' Although one or two others have since been affected, the earlier victims have improved, and it is likely that the team will be almost at its full strength soon. It is not only influenza that is causing the Maoris unhappy moments. Broderick had two teeth removed late on Saturday, and'his face had not recovered its normal shape by the middle of the week. Nepia, too, was contemplating a visit to the dentist. He experienced toothache for' the first time in his life—and he did not like it. Five-eighth J. Kotua is out of action. The septic leg, with which he suffered on the voyage over and in Sydney, following an injury in his last match in New Zealand, has not responded to treatment as rapidly as it was hoped. That is unfortunate, for some members 'of the team declare that Kotua would probably have proved the Maoris'' star back.