FIJIANS’ OPENING MATCH

Evening Star, Issue 23353, 24 August 1939, Page 18

FIJIANS’ OPENING MATCH

MAORI TEAM BEATEN [Tien United Truss Association.] ROTORUA, August 2:!, Playing the first match of its New Zealand tour against a Maori team here to-day before a large attendance, the Fijian team won by 11 points to 0. Conditions were cold, and heavy rain fell during the greater part of both spells. These conditions were obviously not to the liking of the visitors. but in spite of this they gave many indications that when they become more acclimatised they will develop into a formidable combination, both back and forward. They played the 2-3-2 scrum formation, with a loose forward, and succeeded in harrying tho Maori inside backs so successfully that few, if any. of their rearguard movements came to anything. The Maori team, on the whole, did not make a very effective showing, although their forwards worked hard. The inside hacks however, even when full allowance is made for the tactics ol the Fijians, did nut work with any cohesion. The

Fijian rearguard played very deep, but appeared to have ample speed to employ this formation successfully. The wing three-quarter, Ngatelevu, who scored the Fijians’ first try, appeared to be a particularly dangerous scoring man, and the half-back,’ Koroma, also played a very useful game, handling quickly from the base of the scrum and showing determined defence. Korovulavula, the Fijian full-back, appeared uncertain in the first half, and took a number of risks, but his play improved considerably in the second spell. The forwards were a very even lot, nicking well, packing energetically, and following up very fast. The Fijians’ first try came just before half-time, when they swung play suddenly from one end of the field to the other, and Ngatelevu went over in the corner. Cakobau missed with the kick. The second try came shortly after the interval, and revealed the possibilities of the Fijians’ backs. Koroma swung the ball out smartly from a scrummage, and it travelled right along the back line to Voreque, who raced over to score behind the posts. Cakobau had no difficulty with the kick. The visitors added the final points from a penalty'kick put over by Cakobau from the twenty-five.