RUGBY FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22366, 13 September 1934, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL

MAORI TEAM’S TOUR SOUTH CANTERBURY BEATEN TWENTY-THREE POINTS TO SIXTEEN (Pee United Press Association) TIMAR U. September 12. The New Zealand Maori team opened its tour against South Canterbury to-day, winning by 23 points to 16. The first spell was evenly contested, and towards the close the visiting forwards seemed to lack condition. Their looks belied them, however, as in the second half of the game they gave a great display. Gaining confidence and combination as the game progressed, the Maoris treated the public to a fine exhibition, and after another game should be a hard proposition. The forwards have weight and pace, and the backs are a speedy lot, and lose no chance of opening up the game. The home forwards had a hard battle to hold theif heavier opponents, and, though South Canterbury had easily the better of the scrums, the backs were unable to make use of their opportunities. Play in the first half was mediocre, and gave no indication of the sparkling tootball which .was to come later. At the interval the score was 3, all, but in the second half the visitors put on 20 points and the home side 13. The scoring fluctuated in a manner which delighted the crowd, and it was not till ■ the last ,10 minutes that the Maoris gained the upper hand. In the closing stages they were always dangerous, the backs staging orilliant movements. Smith, the Hawke’s Bay crack wing three-quarter, was well marked by Morrison, and got no chances, but Hohapata, on the opposite wing, gave an outstanding display, scoring three fine tries. Tangitu; M'Donald, and H. Har-. risen also scored, Hemi kicking a penalty goal and converting one try. For the home side .Giddings, Adkins, Seaton, and Strang scored, Gaffaney converting two.

WELLINGTON BEATS SOUTH- ; LAND J EIGHTEEN POINTS TO TWELVE (Feu United Press association) INVERCARGILL. September 12. Ability to. finish off successfully the attacking movements %vas-the ■;chief factor: which gave the r Wellington Rugby team victory over ' Southland, by 18 points to 12 in a fast, open game to-day before a: large crowd.... The weather was fine and the. ground slightly heavy. ;The Wellington''b'abka,were. a more )■effective combination, and were ' well supported by the forwards, _ who held . Southland throughout, winning the majority of the scrums. , The home inside backs failed •badly, overdoing their kicking and attempting. top much sojo work. • Welearly attacks .were; repulsed; by the Southland forwards, who broke through from a line out after 11 minutes’ play for Metcalfe to score wide out. No goal was kicked. . . ; The visitors, retaliated immediately, Langdbn.. cutting through from a scrum, but his pass went astray. , Wellington, was winning the scrums, and : a. . bright bout of passing took play to the Southland line, p-here Sadler snapped up from a scrum and dived across. Lilburne converted. •■ ’ Shortly, afterwards Donnelly and; Hull led a Wellington forward, rush, The latter finishing off with ; a try, close . in, and' Lilburne again converted. . Southland, had a turn on attack and kept '"the-visitors in their own "territory, A Wellington forward -was penalised for offside play, and W&ncy .kicked a good goal. v 1 --v- ■ ’ . ~ Wellingtoncontinued- to win ■ the scrums, and Langdon and Lilburne .were frequently ■ finding gaps in tbs defence. Just before'hall; .time, Langdon mape a brilliant opening; and Sadler* ; : M|pwmg 'up fait, scored,his Second try. .The.hair ; time score was; Wellington 10, feoutn-, land 6. . Southland attacked on resumption, and after 12 minutes’ play Mitchell scored a great try after a short passing rush. Gresswell retired hurt and was replaced by Upchurch. Southland was now securing from the scrums, but the movements broke down continually at the fiveeighths. The game was hard and* even now, with Southland showing an improvement. The Wellington forwards still, had plenty of life, and established .themselves in the Southland twenty-five. Finally, the backs handled for Lilburne to accept an inpass and score behind the posts. Lilburne converted. . The final, bell had gone when Mitchell, made a splendid opening for Henderson, who scored the last try of the game. iNo goal was kicked. The final score was: Wellington .. .. .. 18 points. Southland .. 12 points.

WANGANUI BEATS MARLBOROUGH TWENTY POINTS TO EIGHT. (Pee United Press Association) BLENHEIM, September 12. Wanganui defeated Marlborough by 20 points to 8. The play was of a.poor, standard in the first' spell, but in the second Wanganui , took the lead, and raced to victory with a fast, open display. TARANAKI BEATS WAIKATO iPeb United Press Association.! HAMILTON, September 12In a representative Rugby match to-day Taranaki beat Waikato by 19 points to 11. '■ WAIRARAPA BEATS MANAWATU TWENTY-ONE POINTS TO EIGHT. (Peb United Press Association) MASTERTON, September 12. The Wairarapa Rugby representatives scored a convincing win over Manawatu in a fast game to-day by 21 points to 8. The two packs were fairly evenly matched, lint the Wairarapa rearguard shaded its opponents. The half time score was 8 all. The scorers for Wairarapa were Stringfellow, Howard, Nunn, Booth, and Fitzgerald, the last-named converting three tries. For the visitors, Bade and Crawford scored tries, one being converted by Finlay. PRESENTATION OF GOLD CUP MEMORY OF JACK RURU. (Per United Press Association-) WELLINGTON. September 12. Notification that a gold cup in memory of the late Jack Ruru, the’ well-known : Maori footballer, had been presented for annual competition among the Maori players, was received by the Management Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union to-night. The trophy, which was presented by Mr Rnru’s father, Mr Hcnare Ruru, and his cousin, Mr H. R. H- Balneavis, of Wellington, is to be known as the “Jack Ruru Memorial Cup,” and the donors expressed the wish 'that the cup should be played for iu conjunction _with the annual match for the Prince of Wales Cup between Maori representative teams. OTAGO v. MAORIS The attraction at Carisbrook on Saturday will be the match between Otago and the Maori team, which defeated South Canterbury yesterday and showed brilliant form in the second spell. The Maoris exploit the open passing game, which shows Rugby at its best, and if the ground is firm on Saturday the play should be highly spectacular. As a cur-tain-raiser the Third Grade match between Alhambra and High School is expected to provide an interesting game. The Artillery Band will be in attendance, and official guides will be on sale as usual. The Maori team will arrive this evening, and will stop at the Provincial Hotel.