RUGBY FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19952, 20 November 1926, Page 13

RUGBY FOOTBALL

MAORI. TEAM IN ENGLAND.

DRAWN GAME WITH EAST MIDLANDS. (Preii Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, November 18. At Northampton the Maoris drew with East Midlands—6 points all. It was a hard, thrilling struggle which ended with two tries apiece after East Midlands had held the lead for the greater part of the game. The Maoris territorially had more of the play, but the backs,, though faster, finished badly, and their combination repeatedly broke down at critical moments. There was little to choose between the forwards, for if East Midlands were more often better in the scrums, the Maoris were frequently dangerous in the open. Midlands opened brilliantly, and at halftime led by 6 points to 3. Fensome and Birch scored unconverted tries after Lockwood had opened the scoring with a try for the Maoris. In the second spell the Maoris played up desperately for long stretches, and kept their opponents on the defensive. - The letters’ great tackling and the Maoris’' poor finishing prevented any further score until close on time. Falwasser then., crossed, following a good bout of passing. - Had the Maoris midfield play beep;' rounded off when they were near the line, they would have won, but the Midlanders’ gallant defence entitled them to a draw. Phillips made a good full-back, but Pelham was the soundest behind the scrum, although Falwasser ran strongly and was difficult to stop. Olsen, Gemmell, Wilson, and Haupapa acquitted; themselves well amongst the forwards, who, like their opponents, revelled in hard work. The team was Phillips. Falwasser, Pelham, Lockwood, Kingi, Bell, Love, Olsen, Dennis, Gemmell, Tatana, Rika, Nelson, Manihera, and Haupapa.—A. oed N.Z. Cable. LONG LIST OF CASUALTIES, LONDON, November 17. Injuries continue to reduce seriously the Maoris’ strength. Potaka sprained an ankle against the Harlequins, and will' not be available for a fortnight. Barr. clay strained his back and cracked ribs against Newport, and will probably not play against Blackheath on Saturday, and Gemmell has not recovered from . a broken bone in his ankle against Lyonnais. Stewart fractured his nose against. Gloucester, and Bell went to the' hospital a fortnight ago for the removal of an abscess under a tooth, and, although 1 he played against Llanelly, he is still' under the dentist. Rika, Tatana, and Olsen are suffering from “cauliflower" cars owing to scrumming. A match has been arranged at Cardiff against the Welsh ex-service men on ! December 29, a charity match at London against Wakefield’s fifteen on January Glasgow on January 3, and Edinburgh oh; January 5. The team will leave for Canada on January 7, and will play Vancouver at’ Victoria, arriving at Auckland on Feb- - ruary 28. Souvenirs, the idea of which originated' from the Welsh national football anthem, “Sospari Fach Anglice,” or “Little Saucepan,” containing red, which is the, national football colour, have been pro-, sented to the Maoris, Parata and Barclay receiving silver saucepans decorated with • scarlet ribbon, and the others miniature . replicas. The Daily Mail expresses the opinion , that the Maoris have not been coached sufficiently in dribbling, in which they are most ineffective. They rarely taka the ball 2yds, and this results in an endless loss of opportunities.—A. and N.Z, Cable.

.. RESULTS TO DATE. ' The matches so far played have resulted as follows:

no. UNIFORMITY OF RULINGS. > BRITISH CONSERVATISM MODIFIED. LONDON, November 17. ; The Daily News says that the Imperial Rugby meeting on November 18 shows that the home countries are adopting a less uncompromisingly parental attitude towards the dominions. “We are evidently arriving at a real Imperial mood regarding Rugby. New Zealand’s suggestion of an advisory board is an excellent one, and should also include France.” —A. and N.Z. Cable.

Points Against. Result. For Against, Burgundy Won 27 3 Alpes .. Won 34 6 Aziznon Won 29 8 Lyonnaise Won 26 9 Languedoc Woq 8 5 Basques Won 11 8 Central France Won 16 3 Paris .. •. Lost 9 11 Somerset Won 21 8 Newport Drawn 0 0 Swansea Won 11 6 Yorkshire Won 17 9 Harlequins Lost 5 11 Devonshire Lost 0 20 Cardiff .. Won 18 10 Gloucester Lost 0 3 Llanelly East Midlands ... Lost Drawn 0 6 3 6 ’ Summary.—Played 18, won u. lost fi. drawn 2; points for, 257; points against,