J. B. SMITH STARS IN MAORIS' 21 – 8 WIN

Northern Advocate, 18 July 1949, Page 2

J. B. SMITH STARS IN MAORIS' 21 - 8 WIN

THANKS to the genius of J. B. Smith, the Northland Maori Rugby representatives scored five tries, to one by the pakehas, to register a convincing 21— 8 win in the first annual match for the Pat Brydon memorial trophy at Kaikohe on Saturday. Looking fit and showing much of the dash and brilliance that won him renown with the famous Kiwis, Smith was the scintillating star of the match, which, as a spectacle, was disappointing.

He scored one try and was responsible for three of the others credited to his side.

Brother All Black Peter also glittered like a polished gem. He showed brilliant attacking qualities, and all-round form of a quality to please every Northlander. For the second consecutive season, however, Northland is to be denied his outstanding ability. Towards the end of the game, he re-dislocated the collar-bone which last season deprived him of the trip to Fiji with the New Zealand Maori team. The match was virtually a triumph for' the Maori inside backs, and particularly for halfback Phil Cherrington, first five-eighth Joe Murray and, above all, the two Smiths. These four were in a class of their own and were. the only combination to turn on really constructive play. Second-string Maori half, Paki, also had his five-eighths working fluently but his service was not as impressive as that of Cherrington. GRAND DUEL As expected, the first-spell duel between wingers Nau Cherrington and Langdon was a highlight. They simply cancelled each other out. Every time the big Maori, who incidentally was the heaviest man on the field, received the ball, Langdon tackled hard and floored him. On the odd occasions that Langdon gained possession, Cherrington made no bones about cramping his style. The big crowd thoroughly enjoyed the dueL Cherrington had more chances than any other winger to show his powers on attack. None of the others was given a reasonable chance to exploit the ability which had earned him his run in the match.

Peter Smith gave an indication of what was to come, however, when he burst through brilliantly, drew the fullback and ■ directed the boll into brother John’s hands for the centre to score by the posts. Vic Pearson goaled. Then John Smith carved the defence up and several Maoris handled before Connelly dived over. Pearson made it 10—3. Dunn grazed the post with a penalty shot. Mcßae dribbled the ball half the length of the field and Jerkovich pounced on it under the bar. Dunn trimmed it and it was 10—8 at the interval. Dunn missed a simple penalty. John Smith took the ball 60 yards at toe and was robbed of a try by an awkward bounce. Murray quickly sustained the attack and Paki went over at the corner. Sterling crashed through a handy line-out for the Maoris’ next try. A glorious run by John Smith produced the last. Phil Cherrington scored by the post and Pearson kicked his third goal. Mr W. P. Sutherland refereed.

Cherrington and Langdon were the most impressive of the six who played. Broughton apd K. Pearson appealed most of the others.

E. Dunn, who played at fullback for the pakehas in the first spell and at second five-eighth in ,the second, was, without a doubt, the best fullback of the four tried. DUNN BEST FULLBACK His powerful and accurate kicking, safe hands and brilliant pace made a great impression with the crowd and he was obviously a favourite while in this position. Although lacking the polish and brilliance of Dunn. Vic Pearson was quite the best of the others. Two factors contributed to the scrappy nature of the'game.

First was the vigorous spoiling tactics of the forwards, who played with little cohesion, and second was the frequent switching of players. Loose forwards gave halfbacks a harrowing day. The Maori breakaways in particular nipped many back movements in the bud.

From a Northland point of view the forward play was disappointing. The all-important art of gaining possession and delivering the ball to the halfback was sadly neglected. This applied in line-out play and rucks. There was a distinct trial flavour about the efforts of most packmen. The most vigorous of the Maoris were Sterling, Simons, Connelly and Te Haara. The four middle-row men, McHugh, Fraser, Jerkovich and McRae, Stanaway (front row) and Sinclair (back row) were the most impressive of the pakehas.

PERRIN UNFORTUNATE Perrin, the new Bay of Islands first five-eighths, suffered more than any other player through the game being played as a trial. He made his first appearance at the opening of the second spell and, on several occasions, impressed with his thrust ahd determination. After 15 minutes, however, he was replaced by Nelson, who at- that stage, was the only player in the 45 who had not had a run.

Perrin was not called on again. The brevity of his appearance caused much disappointment. Another disappointment was the failure of Beazley’s ankle; injured in a club match a week previously, to stand up to the strain. He was on the field for only 10 minutes.

Dunn drew first bipod for the Pakehas with a 40-yard penalty goal five minutes after the start. ■ /

Surprise Selections In Northland Reps

The Northland representative Rugby team to play Auckland at Whangarei next Monday is: Fullback, V. Pearson (Bay of Islands); threequarters, N. Cherrington (Bay), J. B. Smith (Bay), R. Langdon (Whangarei); five-engths, J, Murray (Mangonui), first, B. Beazley (Whangarei); halfback, T. Richardson (Whangarei); 'front row, P. Grove (Whangarei), J. Te Haara (Northern Wairoa), I. Stanaway (Northern Wairoa); second row, T. McHugh (Bay), I. Fraser (Whangarei), C. Sterling (Bay), S. Simons (Northern Wairoa); back row, C. Mcßae (Rodney). Reserves.—Backs, R. Dunn (Whangarei), K. Pearson (Bay); forwards: J. Isaacs (Northern Wairoa), .S. Urlich (Mangonui). The team will assemble in 'Whangarei next Sunday. THREE NEWCOMERS Three players, V. Pearson, Stanaway and McHugh, are making their first appearance for Northland. Of the 19 players chosen, six come from Bay of Islands, six from Whangarei, four from Northern Wairoa, two from Mangonui* and one from Rodney. There are surprises in Mr E. Griffin’s XV. , Chief of these are the omission of Dunm (fullback) and Cherrington (halfback), who played outstanding football in the Maori-Pakeha game at Kaikohe on Saturday.