MAORI FOOTBALLERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 284, 1 November 1926, Page 8

MAORI FOOTBALLERS.

DEFEATED BY HARLEQUINS. LONDON, Oct. 30. At Twickenham, in dull weather, over 15,000 people saw a tremendously hard and fast game on a perfect turf, the Harlequins defeating the Maoris by 11 points to 5. The Maoris, who were obliged to bring in Kingi, Lockwood, and Crawford, for Mete, Beil and Manning, tackled finely and found their pace most valuable in defence, but the Harlequin forwards, with Price and Chick as wingers, got among the visiting backs so quickly after breaking up that the Maoris did not develop many handling movements. Thus Falswasser and Phillips had few chances. A great feature of the game was the magnificent kicking by the Harlequins’ full-back, Hubbard, who repeatedly found the touch-line, his superb efforts driving back the Maori forwards. The visiting forwards scrummaged hard, but were beaten at heeling. They were also handicapped in the second half by losing Potaka, who was injured. The Harlequins had all the best of the first half, in which Laird scored a clever try, after kicking to the right and following up, but Hubbard failed to convert. Just before half-time Hubbard scored a fine penalty-goal. Wakefield scare! a great individual try from mid-way in the second half, after a/fine run. Hubbard converted. Soon after Kingi broke away, and Falwasser took a pass and scored a try; Pelham converting. It was a very fine match.—A. and N.Z. cable.