MAORIS’ RAGGED PLAY

Grey River Argus, 1 August 1935, Page 6

MAORIS’ RAGGED PLAY

BATHURST MATCH Good Scoring at Finish 42 POINTS TO 8 (Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn.) (Received Julv 31 at 10.35 p.m.) BATHURST, July 31. Playing ragged football for the first hour of their match, against the Central Western Districts here to-day, the Maoris were, at one time, two points down. Not until the second half did they show any of the bright football which they had previously displayed on the tour. They won however, by 42 points to 8. The teams were:— Maoris: Nepia, McDonald, Hemi, Phillips, Chase, Kotua, Mellish, Mitchell. Whin, Kershaw, Whiteley, P. Smith, Cooper, Rogers, Harrison. Central Western Districts: Piper, Thompson, I. McKibbin, S. Templeman, Glasson, Emms, F. Templeman, Gordon, Purnell, Callaghan, W. McKibbin, Michel, Penman, Morrissey, MaeCallum. Strong defence and at times brilliant attack on the part of the Central Western Districts in the first haff appealed the biggest crowd that lias been seen on the Bathurst football ground and the homo team’s handling on the soggy ground, for a time, was better than that of the Maoris, who lacked combination and understanding.

The half-time score was 11 to 8 in favour of the Maoris. Without the brilliant defence of Nepia, the Western Districts would have scored several times. A quarter of an hour after half time, the Maoris got into their stride and showed more devil. Their forwards and hacks combined in rushes, and some dazzling back play was seen. The Western Districts’ defence then began to fade, only three or four men coming up to the standard of the Maoris, who scored six tries in the second half against three in the first half. Despite their superiority in the latter r>art of the second spell, the Maoris continued to lose the set scrums, although they won seventy per cent, of the line-outs. The play was up and down the field, with dour rucking. The Western District backs were overshadowing the Maoris in handling until Chase potted a neat field goal. Then the Maoris opened up the game, and the resistance crumpled before overwhelming forward rushes and back movements, in which Nepia figured prominently. He came from ful’-back many times to give the wingers an overlap against the solid tackling of the opposition.

Many New Zealanders in the West were disappointed by the dsplay of the Maoris until the last half hour, when they scored most ot‘ their tries. The Western failed to score in the second half. The kicking of the Maoris again was weak, only the easy goals being kicked. Nepia was the brilliant man on the field, he lining the full-hack position as well as coining up into the backs, and giving added strength to the attack. He consistently found the line with fifty and sixty yard kicks. Harrison led the forwards splendidly. He wa s almost equalled by Purnell, one of the- Western representatives, while Stan Templeman and lan McKibbin gave Chase and Hemi stern opposition. During the second half.. Cooper went off with a cut under the eye. He was not replaced. The scorers for the New Zealanders were: Phillips, Rogers, Mellish, MeDonaM. Chase. Cooper, and Smith (one each); Kotua (two trios). Nepia kicked three goals and a penalty, and Hemi one. Chase potted a goal. Tries f° r Western District were scored by Penman and S. Templeman. Ono try was converted by S. Templeman.

Maori Team Tired

TOO MUCH TRAVELLING. (Received July 31. at 7.15 p.m.) BATHURST, July 31. A former New Zealander, Mr G. B. Pownall, the "Bathurst Times’s” rugby critic, says; "Despite the continued brilliance of Ihe Maoris on the field, the whole team is tired ou't with the incessant trave ling, totalling thousands of miles, in a short' period, and although, they make no protest, their health and fitness have been detrimentally affected. The managers emphasised that the team is the happiest' and best behaved one they ever travelled with, but it is obvious, from their listlessness when in private, a-ud their unusually quiet behaviour, that they arc feeling the effects of their strenuous itinerary. "From the point of view of Australian rugby, particularly in t'he country districts, the tour is p, most gratifying and beucfieiaJ one.”

MAORIS’ N.Z, FIXTURES. WELLINGTON. July 31. It was decided at) to-night’s meeting of the Management Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union that the Maori team now in Australia should play t*wo matches on their return, one at Auckland on Saturday,. August 17th, and the other at Wellington on August 21st.

Buller Reps. Beaten BY SOUTH CANTERBURY. BY 33 POINTS TO 12. TIMARU, Tnly 31 Playing bright, open footbril. South Canterbury to-day defeated th'- touring Buller team by 33 points to 12. The weather was perfect and the attendance numbered 2.000. The match was the first between the two provinces, and also 'the first of the visitors’ tear. The home side was always going better than the visitors and owed their win to the superiority of their backs whose handling was almost faultless. Gaffaney was th,? star of 'the line, showing a welcome return to form, v/hich won him inclusion in the Al’ Black trials. He made many fine openings which generally led to tries. Morrison also gave a fine display, showing marked determination. ’ The home forwards shone in the loose from where most of the chances for the backs came The visiting backs lacked confidence , and the .Hue made few dangerous

movemets. The chief weakness was handling. Fairley varied his play well, but Holder failed to live up to his reputation gained in the trials. The home side scored a converted try in the first few minutes and at the interval led 19—3. For a period the visitors assumed the upper hand but South Canterbury 90011 swt'tled down to sound football. Tries were scored for the winners by Morrison (three), Cartwright, Lee, Martyn, Gaffaney, Caird and O’Sullivan. Martyn converted two and Strang one. For the visitors. Fairley and J. Hill scored, and Holder converted one and M. Hill dropped kicked a field goal.

WAIRARAFA V. POVERTY BAY. MASTERTON, July 31. Superior speed and enterprise enabled the Wairarapa rugby representatives to defeat the touring Poverty Bay team by 12 points to 3. The game was fast and fairly bright, Wairarapa led 6—3 at the interval. Falls and Buick scored tries, Henderson scored for t'he Bay. Wairarapa had mucn better of the game in the second spel'. in which Nunn and Buick scored unconverted tries.

ASHBURTON REPS. BEATEN. rper Press Association;. NELSON. July 31. The touring Aehburton rugby representative team, were defeated by Goldn Bay Motueka to-day, by eight points to seven. BUSH BEAT HOROWHENUA. PAHIATUA, July 31. The Bush rugby representatives retained the Bebbington Shield, defeating Horowhcnua by 12 points to ni’. The ground was very heavy. Tlorwhenua played with the wind first having a slight advantage territorially. There was no score at the interval. Bush dominated the second syell their backs finishing off onslaughts by the forwards. Ern Lett. half, playins a great.' game, scored two solo tries, R Mills and Spring converting one each.

CANTERBURY REPRESENTATIVES. CHRISTCHURCH. July 31. The Canterbury rugby representative to am to tour the N° rth l ? ' a nd has been selected as follows: Full-back: J. Behrns. Three-quarters: R. Brown, J. Polson N. Dunsho-i-Five-eighths: K. S. Mortlock, G Parsons (Captain). Half-back; J. McAuliffe. Forwards: Front row: O. Hatt'ersley. R. Bourkc, R. Thompson. Middle row: H. Deavoll. W. Sweeney, G. J. Howell. G. W. Thomson. Buck row: J. G. Rankin. Emergency backs: C. H. MeSharl, J. Gaskin. . . Emergency forwards): H. MiHikin R. Innes.