FREYBERG CUP

Grey River Argus, 25 February 1943, Page 3

FREYBERG CUP

WON BY MAORI BATTALION. • NEAR TRIPOLI, Feb. 14. A magnificent try scored by Taite, of Taihape, in the last ten minutes of their match against Divisional Signals to-day, won for the Maori Bati talion the Freyberg Cup, a trophy .presented annually to the winners of 'the Division’s Rugby Championship. (The final score was: Maoris 8; Signals 6. I Solid rucking by evenly-matched I forward packs dominated the early | stages. At_ half-time the only points i scored were a penalty goal kicked by Dawson, of Auckland, the Signals ! full-back, a former New Zealand League representative. Playing with a gusty wind behind them in the second half, the Maoris fought hard to keep the play in the Signals’ territory. They evened the score when Aratema, of Rotorua, and Wordley, of North Auckland, broke through to score near the posts. Jackson, the East Coast forward, and captain of the Maori team, converted. The Signallers took the lead again when Dawson kicked another penalty, making the score: Signals 6; Maoris 5. The game then developed into "a struggle for every yard of ground. Signals fought hard against persistent thrusts towards their line, but the Maori backs broke through for Taite to dive over the line on the corner. Jackson’s kick failed. The game, played on the first sunny afternoon in almost a week of wet 'weather, was watched by General Freyberg and senior officers of the Division and the Eighth Army.