MAORI RUGBY TEAM

Evening Star, Issue 19406, 15 November 1926, Page 14

MAORI RUGBY TEAM

ANOTHER THREE POINTS DEFEAT MATCH AGAINST LLANELLY Press Association—Bj Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, November 13. Fifteen thousand spectators witnessed the match between Llanelly and the Maoris. Llanelly was in great form. Threatening weather, with a high wind, spoilt back play. Though the Maoris had the wind with them in the first half, Llanelly did nearly all the pressing. Parker scored a try for the Welshmen after twenty minutes’ play, but it was unconverted) Falwasser alone among the Maoris utilised the wind. The play of the others was disappointing. When the Maoris attacked tho Llanelly backs tackled splendidly, especially John, Jenkins, and Hay. The half-time whistle, with the scoring unaltered, was greeted with groat cheering. Assisted by the wind in tho second half, Llanelly penned the Maoris on their line, Finch, Tom Evans, and Ivor Jones being held up when crossing. The Maoris wore disappointing mainly because combination was lacking. Only tho great covering defence held Llanelly at bay. John was in fine form, and twice nearly dropped a goal. Time and again Llanelly beat the Maoris’ defence. The Maoris placed Pelham at full-back instead of M'Donald at one stage, but they failed to stave off defeat, though they passed brilliantly in the last few minutes, and almost pulled the game out of the fire, Llanelly’s full-back tackling Phillips on the line and so saving the game for the home side.

Llanelly’s best players were John, Evans, Jenkins, Jones, and Griffiths. For tho Maoris Phillips, Falwasser, Love, and Matene were most prominent. The Maori team consisted of M‘Donald, Falwasser, Pelham, Phillips, Bell, Mete, Hanpapa, Love, Olsen, Dennis, Wilson, Rika, Gemmell, Matene, and Manihera.

RESULTS TO DATE. Points

Summary.—Played 17, won 11, lost 5, drawn 1, points for 231, points against 104.

Against. Eesult. For. Against. Burgundy .. Won 27 3 Alpes . Won 34 G Azinon . Woi 29 8 Lyonnaise .. . Won 26 9 Languedoc .. . Won 8 5 Basques . Won 11 8 Central France Won 16 3 Paris Lost 9 11 Somerset . Won 21 8 Newport . Drawn 0 0 Swansea . Won 11 6 Yorkshire .. . Won 17 9 Harlequins .. Lost 5 11 Devonshire .. Lost ■ 0 20 Cardiff . Won 18 10 Gloucester . Lost 0 3 . Llanelly . Lost 0 3