MAORIS BEAT N.S.W.

Grey River Argus, 12 August 1935, Page 6

MAORIS BEAT N.S.W.

FORWARDS TOO GOOD Nepia to the Fore SUCCESS OF TOUR. (Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn.) (Received. July 11. 6.30 p.m.) SYDNEY;. August 11. Before* an ecstatic crowd of 20,993. including Governor Ilore Ruthven. Premier Stevens ami Premier Forbes, the Maori s decisively won their third match against New South Wales, the concluding fixture of the tour, by 14 points 4Jo 5. bringing the record for the tour to eight wins and two losses, with 245 points for and 132 points against. Th© Maori team was: Nepia; McDonald. Ilemi,. Phillips; C. Smith. H. Harrison; Mellish; Broderick, Rogers, G. Harrison, Kawe, P. Smith, Cooper, Whin. K. Reedy. Tn the New South Wales team. O’Gorman and Larnach-Jone s replaced Brown and Turn bull.

Nepia won thp toss, and took ad vantage of a s’igh't breeze. The game was a demonstiiation of the convincing superiority of versatile forwards against a team intent' upon the open passing tartics t . iwith no variation from perpetual hooking and heeling to the backs. The Maoris led 3 tn 0 at half-itime. The score gave no reflcc lion ,4 the Maoris’ overwhelming territorial advantage. Repeatedly as surod trios were lost either by impo tnous overrunning or faulty handling a< critical moments. The game was always hard and fast, but loose; both sides vying to get the ball out info the open. Quick breaking by the Maori for wards upset the combination of the home backs. The Maoris also excelled in dribbling, hut again their main weakness was round-the-neck tackling. This aceount'ed for frequent moments of anxiety in the closing stages, when Hodgson, Cerutti and Towers were prominent in desperate individual rushes, any one of which might have spelled disaster, notwithstanding the Maoris , lead.

At the style of football played throughout the New South Wa l eu ser les, the Maoris were definitely better They wore popular, because of then spoctacula.T methods. Nevertheless.. it is douubt'ful if fhev are as good a sub as the figures indicate The reason for the Maoris’ vic.torv was. undoubtedly, the New SoutT Wales desire to iadhere to Towers tactics of open passing. This is no! meant to decry Um, Maori mastery but is rather a reflection- on New Souti Wales for the abandonment of lesson? learnt in South Africa. Throufrhou't the match, the only hop* Now South Wales seemed t» . hnv< was to catch Nepia napping, in tin hone of Hodgson and Cerutti foPowint up, when thev wnubl have securer opportune tries: whereas the Maori! always moved forward, excelling it close hacking up. C. Smith ’? fry followed a spectacu lar run six tv yards along the touchline bv Nepia. This was eaualled as a spectacle, bv McDonald. wh< rane-ed into a beautiful position, fo’ lowing Rogers and Broderick a* Mei lish made an opening. C. Smith, playing nt five-eighth made a wonderful difference to the penetrative powers of the hacks. Nepia was always cool. • lips was erratic. H. Uarnson and and Mellish showed a grand under-

standing. , The best Maori forwards a l retina were Knwe. P. Smith nnil Rogers, wp'li G. Hnrrison and Brodenek ennerh sidemen, who were always disturhinc the home combination and makiefl openings. . _ , Prom ‘the start, the Maoris attacked with the irtmost fervour, land rmded the. home ’wenty-five. repeatedly bn> thev lost chances thronch poor hand ling nt critical moments. Once Cooper crossed the line, hu't the refereo ru ed G. Harrison’s pass offside. Twice t. Maoris were penalised for offside, fir vnrds from the line. Nema missed two attempts at field goals. New South W:ilcs -were penalised for inn o in tiie. sernm five va.rds out, andjyP” kicked a goal. Towards th; end ot the firs* ha’f K Reedv minred hi.knee, and was replaced bv Kershaw. Tn the second spell, following a rnek nt the Maori twentv-five. Nepn bumping and fending his wav at top speed, gained fiftv wards along the touchline, outpacing White. ,n ”’ p ruck following Storev’s tackle, the ball went across to C. Smith, " r scored. Nepia converted. T.ater Nepia kicked « penalty gon.. and McDonald scored a try.

SYDNEY TRIBUTE TO MAORIS SYDNEY. August 11. Commenting on yesterdav’s match the “Sunday Sun” saysi The Maoris convincingly won the rubber by * physical and tactical dominance, vhich completely crushed the home side. The? were the better side in every pliase of game Their attack was sharper and smoother, and their defence was very sound. Tt is difficult to understand how such men as IT. Harrison, Charlie Smith. Nepia, Rogers, G. Harrison, P. Smith and Cooper failed Set.’n f b All Blacks’ touring side. Certainly, it there are eight forwards as good as that Maori champion, G. Harrison, the All Blacks will go through Britain undefeated.