FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 3 October 1929, Page 2

FOOTBALL

EXCITING RUGBY. 'MAORIS DEFEATED. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) * WELLINGTON, October.2. Thrills in plenty were provided' in the trial match between the New Zea- \ land fifteen and the team representing the .Maoris to-day. it was an extraordinary game. ' ' ’ Playing in typical Maori fashion, the natives completely ; dominated in the Jr ’ first spell, during'which theyput -op ■ 18 points to nil; ’ .! ,' . - ■'* After some straiglit talk by-, the selec•,k tors 1 at the interval, the All Blacks came on in the' second ’Session, and shaped something like a New Zealand side. infusing a .great'.-thrust into their play,, the New Zealand forwards called thetune-’and gaye;the backs a chance to show their paces! New Zealand put on'37 points in this spell, to / the Maoris’' five, and won a- spectacular and thrilling •• 'game by a margin of 19 points. An ideal spring day ■. favoured the fixture. There were no alterations in the IjLZ. team, but Mackay (Poverty Bay) replaced McDonJild (Marlborough) at wing three-quarter in the Maori team, and Raroa (Eqst Coast) took the place of 'Rika (Auckland) in the forwards. ■ Playing with great . dash, the Maori forwards broke through the New Zealand pack, the giant Aucklander, Kahu, doing great'work. The Maoris pressed home their attack, Leech scoring in the corner in less than a minute from ’ ; i the kick off. Nepia’s attempt at goal ' ' / lacked direction. From play at the New Zealand quarter mark, Kahu hurled out a pass of . twenty yArds to his backs, and some exciting work was seen in front of the New Zealand goal. Pelham cleverly ‘ u ‘ passed behind his back to Hohaia, who potted a smart goal, pdaeing the Maoris seven points in front.

' The Maori strategy was then seen from a scrum in ifront of 'the New Zealand goal, Tiwi Robinson secured possession and badly fooled . the New Zealand backs by’ leading; them to believe that he was going to ’papß to Mackay. He did hqt pass, bnt simply" ran on and scored a preHyi firy. failed to goal.' '■' .< .' : The Maoris delighted ‘the- ofowd with; the brilliance of their p]ay. Thus far they w’ere and shoulders superior to New Zealand in every', department of the game. W. Parata, Tiwi Robinson, and-Hohaia"were seen ii} some brilliant parsing; and Nepia aroused applause when lie, knocked down the cross bar'with a mighty drop kick from a penalty between the centre and the quarter mark, the ball hit'the bar outside the upright. • . From play at the quarter mark, an All Black was' penalised, and Jones lande<f a brililant goal. The score at half-time was:

MAORIS'" V. 1 . ' .. J . : ... 13 - NEW ZEALAND ... ... 0 The New Zealand team was 'going better on resuming, hnd the commenced to Blmpe m something like All • !I; Black form. A pretty movement 1 stnrt- - ... ed by Mill and carried bn by Cooke, >:? ended in lilvy opening the New Zeai land account with a pretty try in the corner. Hazlewood goaled. , " The New Zealand forwards worked play to Maori territory, and from a . scrum, Mill dodged clean through the • Maori backs to score a dazzling try between the posts. Hazlewood had no difficulty in goaling. ■ i v Play had not been long restarted. . ;-i when Hazlewood came into the picture ;-.ti with some brilliant line kicking. The vj.j, New Zealand 'full-back reached a climax ... .when he potted a magnificent goal from. \ ' near half-way. The All Blacks had * now got into their stride. Mill made a opening, which enabled Haz-, to race over between the posts for: Hazlewood to kick his third goal. From a ruck near the Maori .-line, Stewart picked up the ball, and bumped off Mackay to score in the corner. Hazlewood goaled with a Magnificent kick from the sideline.

It was all New Zealand now 1 A beautiful burst of passing, in which half {j, dozen All Blacks figures, ended in McLean scoring in a handy position. This time Haz'lewood failed. , The All Blacks came at the line , 'again, Campbell making a great dash. He could have scored himself 1 , but sent the leather infield, where Cooke snapped up. the ball and raced over the line. Haalewood goaled. The’Maoris were now completely demoralised. Play had not been long in * progress when Olliver made a great run down the line. . He was collared by Mackay, but the ball went over the line, and Olliver followed up to pick up the leather and race behind the posts. Hazlewood goaled. . The Maoris then gave a brilliant flash of their first spell form. Magnificent passing took the .leather half the length of the field, for Pelham to round off a dazzling movement under the posts. Nepia easily goaled. The remaining five minutes were crowded with incident. The Maoris were keen for another score, the reckless manner in which they were throwing the ball about gave the All Blacks several opportunities to come strongly at the line. The natives, however, by a desperate defence, managed to |ceep, their line intact, and the game ended: NEW ZEALAND ... ... 37 MAORIS ... ... 18