INTERPROVINCIAL RUGBY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18455, 19 July 1923, Page 11

INTERPROVINCIAL RUGBY.

MAORIS BEAT SOUTHLAND.

MARGIN OF THREE POINTS

[BY TELEGRAJ-H. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.! INVERCARGILL, Wednesday.

Six thousand attended the contest, Maoris v. Southland. The weather was fine and the ground was yielding, but not holding. A steady easterly blew across the ground. Southland kicked off against the sun, and with a great forward rush broke through the Maori defence. R. Oughton kicked, and Brown following, fielded and went over. Agnew's kick missed. After 13 minutes' play, Barclay went off injured in the leg, Roberts' replacing him. The Southland forwards were superior in. tight rashes. Brown fielded a kick from a rush, scoring after a> 10-yards' dash. Agnew converted. Another forward rush forced the Maoris. Then the Maori backs got going in a series of movements, McGregor being taken at the corner. Soon after Mills was grassed a yard short under the posts. McGregor again narrowly . missed, being tackled out at the corner by Richardson, who was hurt. - •, ■ The second spell opened with the Southland forwards attacking, but when the Maori backs got the ball they made up ground with a fine passing rush. Bell and Mills were brilliant in defence, and Southland was forced. The Maoris carried most of the scrums, but in loose play the home team had the upper ( nd. One assault bowled over the Maori defence. R. Ooghton kicked too hard, Bell forcing. For some time the Southland forwards kept up the pressure. Then a penalty relieved, and the Maori backs broke away, McGregor going out near the corner. Richardson put in a fine lone-handed dribble for 20 yards, but Tuki saved well. Play worked back to the centre, and then Mills beat the opposition badly, passing to Bell, who pierced the defence with a clever run, and scored. Jacobs missed the kick. From a penalty shortly after, Tuki's kick missed by inches. After some forward battles the Maoris worked back with three penalties, Tuki " putting the last one over. Then the Maoris woke up properly, and began handling, both forwards and backs. Walker and Matene were prominent. Walker got possession and passed to Matene, who scored easily under the posts. Matene converted. The Maori backs looked dangerous again with passing rushes, and were attacking at the close. . .

The Maori passing was far too good for Southland, who owed most to the fine display by the forwards. Mills and Bell were the best backs, , shining throughout.' The final scores were; — ". Maoris ...'..' . .. .. 11 Southland . . . . . ! 8 MANAWATU V. BANNEVIRKE. [hr TELEGRAPH.-— ASSOCIATION.] DANNEVIRKE, Wednesday. A representative 'match was played between Manawatu and Dannevirke this afternoon, before. a large attendance, and resulted in a win for the' visitors by 9 to 3. The first spell ended without score. Tries for the winners were obtained by Cowie (2) and O'Keefe. • Karaitiana scored a try for Dannevirke. TARANAKT V ; MARLBOROUGH. [by TELEGRAPH PRESS association ] STKA.TFORD. Wednesday. Taranaki met Marlborough this afternoon, winning by 17 to 6. The weather was good and the ground dry. In the first spell, a free kick to Taranaki was converted by Brown, who also scored a try from .passing rush, the kick failing; Brown kicked a penalty goal in the second spell. Wilson scored a try for the visitors. The kick failed. Taranaki attacked, and Hart scored, the-kick failing. Taranaki scored a further fry, and Brown converted within a few minutes of time. Gunn kicked a goal from a mark. The visiting forwards held their opponents" well, shining in the line out and holding their own in the scrums. The Taranaki backs outclassed their opponents.

CANTERBURY r. S. CANTERBURY. [BT TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION. .' CHRISTCHURCH. Wednesday.

• At Lancaster Park to-day. South Canterbury defeaed Canterbury by 11 points to 3, after a hard_ gace." The visitors showed superiority in every department, forward work being, good, while the backs proved safe under adverse weather and ground conditions. In the'; first spell, South Canterbury led by 3 points to nil, a try scored by,-Ritchie after fast forward work. Canterbury equalised after the commencement of the second spell, McCabe scoring in a passing rush by clever footwork. South Canterbury forwards outplayed Canterbury, and Ritchie and Mathieson scored tries, one of which was converted by Scott. ' The Canterbury backs were very weak on the defence, with few exceptions, and the display was altogether disappointing.