MAORIS ON TOUR

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 February 1927, Page 4

MAORIS ON TOUR

DEFEAT OF FRANCE.

(By

“Moko-Moko,”

1926 “All Black”).

(Special to "Star.”) We came back to gay Paree for the last match of our Continental tour— France, the return international game, and Boxing Day saw us going out-to Colombes, on which ground France hadj, defeated us in the first game. Everybody was keyed up to concert pitch for the match, as we were going to do our utmost and to have only one defeat of France.

The ground was very hard, indeed being frozen deep, and collaring was bard for everybody, The cold was bitter, but the weather kept line, a slight breeze helping Fiance in the first half r Lhe attendance was 35,000 and the. gate money ran into 350,000 francs — about £3OOO in our money. The ref eree, Mr .1. R. Jackson, of Devon, Eng land, was exceptionally good, pleasing the public and the two sides engaged. After an even struggle for some twenty minutes, France secured the upper hand and after several frustrated attempts to cross our line, their forwards came through a. line-out. Ribere scoring in a fairly handy position. It was impossible to make a hole in the ground for the placing of the ball, so no goal resulted. France 3, Maoris 0.

Just before the close of the first spell, Manihera broke away from a ruck and passed to Bell. Wi Neera came up and took the transfer from the rover and sent to Pelham on the vay. A beautiful dummy by Pelham was “sold,” and he was fairly clear to pass to Barclay, who fended off the wing three-quarter and the full-back and then ran around behind the posts. Matone missed the kick. He should have had skates on. France 3, Maoris 3, and half-time. This was our forty minutes! From the mid-way kick we got within their twenty-five, a dribbling rush Dy our forwards, at last sending a foot pass to Falwasser, who snapped the ball up prettily and got into his stride. Three Frenchmen mqjtle for him. but his swerving on the frozen ground was great, and he finished up by crossing near the corner. Maoris 6, France 3. The Maoris’ passing became more assured ,and several good movements made ground and almost brought tries, but diving was out of the question. At length a series of transfers came—half Love to Bell, to Mete, to Wi Neera, to Pelham, to Barclay—centre kinck and the forwards swooped down on it and dribbled on. When within striking distance the ball was tapped to Rika at the side of the ruck and he picked up and crossed in a trice. Maoris 9, France 3. Then Barclay made a great solo run, beat all the opposition, and was putting the ball down under the French bar when he was recalled by the referee, who said that Barclay had gone out of touch some time before., The French line umpire had not put up his flag. France attacked and came to the Maoris’ fifteen yards from home. Here Bell marked, no whistle going. Bell passed to Mete, who fed Wi Neera. The last-named dashed through the French centres and joined up with Pelham, wbo then sent Barclay on his way to outpace the opposition and to score behind the posts. It was a great change of scene from our twenty-five to their goal posts —and it didn’t'taken long! Matene again slid instead of goaling. The game then concluded with the Maoris 12, France 3 — 4 tries to one.

Comments. The result came as a .big surprise to all the French and to most of the English papers. A French writer in “Journal” declared that the victory was “a smarting defeat” of France. The “Echo,” a Paris paper., thought that the defeat of All-France by a side vhich had been beaten by club teams in England was a veritable “disaster..” A sporting paper published in Paris had it that some of the French backs were hooted several times. We won because we were faster and adapted ourselves to the frozen ground conditions. The way our forwards controlled ’ the ball in dribbling rushes would upset any backs that had not the chance of going down quickly with

a dive, and that would mean hospital treatment. When the French got near our twenty-five (the French call' it “22” as they reckon in metres) we attacked hard at any opening and did not find the line unless jammed. This disconcerted their backs and got them out of defence positions. The pace of our backs near the scrum compelled the French to pass quickly and thenvery speedy wing three-quarters were not'able to shake themselves free and to get on pace. . A French paper summed up well with: “There was always a Black to fill up the gap.” We are sorry to leave France, where

we have been treated with the most exquisite courtesy and consideration. Our hosts, the French Rugby Union, have done everything to make our stay a pleasant one, and when a French side travels to New Zealand, the Maori race of the Dominion will see to it that, great as is the French hospitality, not less great will be that of the Maoris, whose sons have been received and feted in a manner so enthusiastic that the members of the Maori team will remember until the end of their days the wonderful cordiality and whole-heartcdness of the French sporting public. We hope that it is only “Au revoir,” not “Good-bye.”