Maoris Polish Off Australian Tour

Northern Advocate, 12 August 1935, Page 6

Maoris Polish Off Australian Tour

NEW SOUTH WALES BEATEN

A Decisive Victory

SUPERIOR TACTICS WIN THE DAY

AN OUTSTANDING RECORD

{United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph. — Copyright .] (Received 10 a.m.) SYDNEY, August 11. Before a crowd) of 20,903, including the Governor of New South Wales, Sir Alexander Hore-Ruthven, the Premier, Mr. B. S. Stevens, and the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Mr. G. W. Forbes, the Maoris decisively won the third match against New South Wales, and the • concluding feature of their tour, by 14 points to 5. The win makes the record for the tour of eight wins and two losses. The team secured! 245 points and had 132 registered against it. The match was a demonstration of the convincing superiority of a versatile forward line against a team intent upon' open, passing tactics, with no variation from perpetual hooking and heeling do backs. The Maoris led by three points to nil at half-time. The score was no indication of' their overwhelming territorial advantage. Repeatedly tries were lost either by impetus or overrunning, or by faulty handling at critical moments. The game was always hard and fast. The quick breaking of the Maori forwards upset the combination of the home backs. Moments of Anxiety. The Maoris also excelled in dribbling, but, again, their main weakness was round-the-neck tackling. This accounted for frequent moments of anxiety in the closing stages, when Hodgson, Cerutti and Towers were prominent in desperate individual rushes, any one of which might have spelled disaster, notwithstanding the Maoris’ lead. The style of football played throughout the series with New South Wales showed that the Maoris were definitely better, and they were popular because of their spectacular methods. Nevertheless, it is doubtful if the Maoris are as good a side as the record indicates. The reason - for victory was undoubtedly New South Wales’ desire to adhere to Towers’ tactics for open passing. This is not meant to decry the Maoris’ mastery, but is rather a reflection on New South Wales abandoning the lessons learnt in • South Africa. N.S.W. Tactics. Throughout the match the only hope New South Wales seemed to have of crossing the line was punting deep over Nepia, in the hope that Hodgson and Cerutti, by following up, would score. They would have been opportune tries, whereas the Maoris always excelled in close backing up. C. Smith’s try followed a spectacular run- 6t 50 yards by Nepia along the touchline. It 1 was equalled as a spectacle by McDonald, who ranged into beautiful position following Rogers and Broderick, as Mellish made the opening. .C. Smith made a wonderful difference in the penetrative powers of the inside backs. He played at second five-eighths. Nepia' was always cool, but Phillips was erratic. H. Harrison and Mellish had a great understanding. The best forwards, all round were Kawe, P. Smith and Rogers, with G. Harrison and Broderick, superb inside row players, always disturbing the home combination in making openings. Nepia’s Brilliant Rum The Maori team was: Nepia, McDonald, Hemi, Phillips, C. Smith, H. Harrison, Mellish, Broderick, Rogers, G. Harrison, Kawe, P. Smith, Cooper, . Whiu and K. Reedy. Nepia wpn the toss and took advantage of a slight breeze. The Maoris . attacked with the utmost fervour and raided the home twenty-five. They repeatedly lost chances with poor handling at the critical moment. Once Cooper crossed but the referee ruled G. Harrison’s pass off-side. Twice the Maoris were penalised with off-side within five yards from the line. Nepia; .missed two attempts at field goals. New South Wales was penalised! from - a five yards scrum and Nepia goaled. -Kershaw replaced K. Reedy, who *retired with an injured knee. At half-Jtime the score was: Maoris 3, New South' Wales 0. Bumping and fending his way at top speed, Nepia, following a ruck in the Maori twenty-five, made 50 yards of ground along the touch-line, outpacing White.. 1 From the ruck following Storey’s tackle, the ball went across to C. Smith, who scored. Nepia converted. - Later Nepia kicked a penalty goal and McDonald scored a try. The final score was: Maoris 14, New South Wales 5. “Not A Hitch.” Mr. King! Tahiwi, manager of the Maori team, said he was satisfied not merely at the grand result, but also at the popularity of the team. He said there was not a hitch • throughout the tour. He could not speak too highly of the efficiency and sincerity of the Australian officials. The singing of “Auld Lang Syne” at the end of the game, when the players circled on the field, and the crowd joined in, proved that the tour had been a definite success as a Rugby mission. Mr. W. J. Wallace said that the team had steadlfy improved, in spite of the early adversity of influenza. He was gratified at the team’s success. In Queensland and New South Wales the grounds were hard, whereas the Victorian grounds were eminently suitable. Had the New South Wales matches been played on a grassy ground, similar to that at Melbourne, “there would have been only one team in it." “The Better Side.” The “Sunday Sun” says; “The Maoris convincingly won the rubber by physical and tactical dominance, which completely crushed; the home side. They were the better side in *■ every phase of the game. Their attack was sharper and smoother, and their defence was as cruel as a straightjacket. It is difficult to understand 1 how such men as H. Harrison. Charlie Smith, Nepia, Rogers, G. Harrison, P. Smith and Cooper failed to get into the All Black touring side. Certainly, if there were eight forwards as good as that Maori champion, G. Harrison, the All Blacks would go through Britain undefeated.”

May Have To Stay. Commenting on the Maoris’ defeat of New South Wales by 14 to 5 in the deciding test, the “Sydney Morning Herald,” says the Maoris won in convincing fashion. The margin between the scores should have been larger, as the Maoris missed several golden chances. Time after time the defence was beaten but the Maoris could not apply correct finish to their movements, Nepia, H. Harrison and C. Smith were outstanding in the Maori back division. The home team was disappointing. The “Daily Telegraph” states: “If the display of the New South Wales team reflects this State’s talent and ability, years of Rugby famine are ahead. Shaken into disarray by the battering ram tactics of the touring forwards in the first quarter of an hour, the home team never regained a semblance of balance, and with a shade more luck their way, the Alaoris might easily, have doubled the winning margin. The “Telegraph” also says that there is a possibility of the Maoris’ stay being extended, owing to the shipping strike causing some bother, not only in the Maori ranks but to the New South Wales officials. Should the Maoris have to stay on in Sydney, it will take a slice out of the New South Wales Union’s profits of the tour. It costs about £4O a day to keep the team, and, if the players are held up, they will continue to be the responsibility of the New South Wales Rugby Union. Nepia, who suffered injury to his ribs in Saturday’s match, will probably be X-rayed today. Financial Success. The “Daily Telegraph” says the New South Wales Rugby Union officials are smiling now. The Maori team’s tour nearly fell through, because “some folk considered it would be unprofitable.” Here is the answer: Saturday’s crowd assured the N.S.W. Union of a profit of approximately £BOO. Queensland benefited by £SOO, and Victoria by £2oo—a total of £ISOO for the tour.