RUGBY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 27 September 1926, Page 9

RUGBY.

MAORIS AT LYONS. THEIR, STAYING POWER, TELLS, BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION-COPYRIGHT. Received 2.10 p.m. to-day. PARIS, Sept, 26. The Maoris were hard put to maintain their unbeaten record. Until half-way through the second half the ‘Frenchmen held their own, but towards the end the Maoris’ staying power told. The Maoris showed -themselves superior .in individual fitness, pace and dexterity, but a captious critic might remark they tend somewhat to -sacrifice science, andl back combination to a forceful game, gaining ground at all costs. The Maoris, in the first half, notwithstanding continuous) pressure, ’crossed their opponents’ line only once, Barclay .scoring a t>ry which was not converted, Frequently the Frenchmen were within an ace of scoring, but did not -succeed in doing so. In the first half of the second spell the game was even, but faster aud more furious. ‘Piquitral snatching the -ball from a lineout near the goal line, adroit-ly circled his adversaries and equalised the score Svith ai brilliant try. Both sides redoubled their efforts. _ Twice Bare-lay secured, found an opening and feinted and -scored by sheer speed. Lyons, ’towards the end, -began to flag perceptibly. Matene and Crawford added tries to- the Maoris’ total, Pbta-ka converting. Crawford, Barclay land Bell especially di.stinquisbed themselves. Barclay was solely responsible for his three tries, while 'Bell, was almost superhumanly active in combined movements.