MAORIS’ WIN

Hokitika Guardian, 11 July 1935, Page 5

MAORIS’ WIN

IMPRESSIVE PLAY HEMPS BRILLIANT EXHIBITION. (Australian Press Association.) BRISBANE, July 11. The Maori football team opened their tour successfully a.t the town of Warwick where they met the local representatives. The ground conditions were wet and adverse. Maori team—Full-back, Nepia; threequarters, .McDonald, Smith and Hemi; five-eighths, Harrison and Chase; halfback, .Modish; forwards, Rogers, Mataira. Cooper, Kawe, Harrison, Kershaw, Whin and Reedv.

Warwick team--Full-back, L. Woodcock; three-quarters, G. Evans, R. Creed, N. ..ard, .1. Pur tell; fiveeighth, A. AleAlurtrie; half-back, M. Creed; forwards, T. Cleary, S. Keates, V. Carroll, E. Stemin, H. Evans, M. Kelly, J. Dierv, and K. Suter. Alterations in the Warwick team were J. Purtell vice Foie, T. Cleary vice Purtell in the forwards. The Maoris gained a lead of 14 points in the first spell, when they scored 17 as against 3 registered by the home team. In the second half the visitors added 15 points to their score, whilst Warwick increased their tally by 7 points. The final score was Maoris 32, Warwick 10. (Received this day at 10.30 a.m.) BRISANE, July 10. To say the Maoris opened their Australian tour successfully against Warwick would he putting it mildly. It was their first match together, but it is plain they are going to be a lot better team than Australia first imagined. The natives won with 22 points to spare, but with a little luck that margin could have been doubled. On at least nine occasxms srimant. ■nlav opened the way for tries, only to break down with the line at their mercy.

These smhll hut vital mistakes could only be expected while the side was unsettled .

Most critics are anticipating a wonderful success for the tour, hut the iwriten would ibe more in accord with this view if the natives had ibeen more successful in winning the ball fvom the scrums. Warwick pack was nut a natch on the Maoris, but kept the ball away from Nepia’s men rather alarmingly in the second swellIt was in this spell, too, that the condition of the tourists appeared to jn’ve out, and had not Hemi come to the rescue with, his brilliance, Warwick may have been troublesome towards the end.

Hemi's Great Kicking. It was Hemi’s match, the polished centre scoring it points—two tries, four goals, and one penalty goal. In fact; lie made most of the Maoris' tries. It looks as though Chase, Hemi, and Smith are going to prove the star attacking trio. Nepia’s Old Time Brilliance. Nepia played care-free football, and displayed his old-time brilliance, beating the the whole of the Warwick team for a try. The forwards impressed as a solid set, with Cooper the best on the day. Warwick are renowned for their hard forwards, but at times the visitors fairly mastered them, except i.u possession of the scrums, which look like being the rock on which the team may fall.

Good Hooker Necessary. They have pace, the characteristic Maori brilliance, and rugged enough dofon'ce. but, unless they can produce someone better than to-day’s hooker, they may tour Australia sighing for a centre forward. rnlin sighing for a centre forward. When interviewed Mr Wallace said he was pleased with the showing of his charge®, though he was via inly worried over their condition petering out in the second spell He was apparently not worried greatly over the hooker question, and nmst have something up his sleeve.

The Game Described, Til no s ky greeted Nepia and his men as they filed out on to Slade Park, the weather having dared nicely for the game which attracted an attendance of 1200 which was good, considering the state of the roads in the outlying districts. Tt was well for the visitors that rain had fallen, for the ground usually is very hard, being poorly grassed .

A brilliant cut through by Hemi really brought the Maoris’ first points for a try would have resulted had he not been illegally tackled. From the resultant- penalty, Hemi landed a goal. It was Hemi who made the next try, too. Fielding the ball off their toes', he float the oncoming opposition and found touch at the other end of the field. From here Cooper forced his way over from the ruck following a lineout, thus scoring the first try of the tour. Hemi goaled, Warwick lessened the gap when Ward landed a penalty goal. Hemi again made the Maoris’ next trv which lie presented to Smith on the wing. Then Nepia showed he had lost little

of his old, skill and daring, iby racing up and beating almost the whole team and diving over spectacularly at the corner, ,

At half time the Maoris led' 17-3. i I

Warwick made" the game look closer than it really was when Ward landed a field goal., j

The Maoris here had an ordinary spell. He beat most of liis opponents peared doubtful. - , . tipier however, bringing the ball from his own quarter to palm off. several would-be tackier $ and score at the corner.. Hemi goaled into a strong suth-easU breeze. Another penalty goal by Ward brought Warwick within ten points, but then Hemi had another brilliant spell. He beat most of his apponents with a short punt, which he mleverlv regathcred, and then evaded the rest of ‘the defence. Hemi converted his. own try. ■ . . 1 ■- • Chase, Hemi, and McDonald took part in a brilliant movement, but the Warwick defence held. Hemi, finishedoff the game with a brilliant individual try under the posts, which.he convert-' ed. . ' % \ The final score was Maoris 32, \\arwiek 10.

THE VISITORS ENTERTAINED •BRISBANE, July 10. The Maoris saw some Queensland rural life this morning when they inspected the famous Canning Downs station, where the owner, Mr J. a. o. Barnes, proved a wonderful host/ ' The Maoris were, particularly impres-sed-with the beautiful blood stuck, and the several square miles of country the property embraces. To-night the team, attended a bal in their honour, and proved a s * success. Reedy* has improved and 1* definitely leaving the hospital to-moi* row morning, and will travel to Busbane with the team.

high praise for visitors, deadly combination nucleus SYDNEY, July 11. Commenting on the'. Maoris ® ls *’ era me, the “Herald’s” Warwick correspondent says:- The visitors i°o*r ball was daring and skilful, but mai cd at time by overkeenness. This point is exempted in the fact that at least nine tries which were close to fruition, were missed by badly-timed transfers or employment of too great speed which carried the supporting players ahead of the man with ihe ball. Tl lo hero of the match was the man with the “corkscrew run,” Hem’, who registered seventeen points and, played , v big part i.n all the tries scored. No couplet is likely to cause more worry to the Australian teams than that of Hemi in partnership with qitber Smith or MacDonald. Nepia*s enterprise has not been dulled. His try, when he hurdled the las: two defenders, was spectacular in the extreme.

The “Telegraph’s” wrHJer, Stuafrt Perkins, says the Maoris revealed promise of triumphs to come..lf they did not at all times reveal perfect understanding and cohesion, they are already the nucleus of a menacing combination.