FOOTBALL

Otago Witness, Issue 3803, 1 February 1927, Page 54

FOOTBALL

RUGBY

MAORI TEAM AT WINNIPEG. VANCOUVER. January 23. The Maori Rugby team arrived at Winnipeg to-day. It was accorded a civic welcome during its brief stay. ARRIVAL AT VANCOUVER. VANCOUVER, January 27. The Maoris to-day had an enthusiastic welcome. They will engage in the first of three games on Saturday. MATCH AT VANCOUVER. VANCOUVER. January 29. Making their first appearance in Canada, the Maori Rugby Fifteen gave a most finished display of the English code, seer ing 33 points to 9 against Vancouver. The tourists were vastly superior in ail departments, with the possible exception of tackling. The Maoris were slow in starting, and only scored 14 points to 3 in the first half, but in the second spell the visitors ran riot, scoring three fries in five minutes. The pace was very fast, abounding in kicking and runs by the three-quarters. Robinson was the star New Zealander, and was almost unbeatable whenever he got a reasonable chance. He scored three tries. Phillips and Falwasser were well marked by the Vancouver back division, each securing a single try. The players on both sides tackled hard, but there was only one slight accident when Pinkham, a most effective unit in the home machine, was kicked on the chin and carried off the field. Altogether the Maoris impressed the crowd with their fast running and clever passing. They showed wonderful ability in handling. uj fo ™ ards Packed well and tackled hard. The ground was pea-feet for Rugby. Tries were obtained bv Robinson (3), P?lham Phillips, Shortland, Falwasser. Rika, 1 otaka, and Matene. Potaka converted two of the tries, and Matene kicked a penalty goal. For Vancouver Crone kicked a penalty goal and Boyd and> Harmer scored tries which were not converted.

LEAGUE

THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM. STATEMENT BY CAPTAIN. LONDON, January 24. H. Avery (captain of the New Zealand Rugby League team), in a farewell statement in the Athletic News, exonerates Mr Mair from blame for the regrettable troubles of the team. He says “Had the players supported ilr Mair, and also had Mr Mair been given freedom to control the whole team, his management would have been very successful. I unhesitatingly say that Mr Mair did not exceed his legitimate managerial functions. On the contrary, in the face of unprecedented difficulties he did his utmost to uphold his position. Though I am on delicate ground T believe that the council was remiss in not adequately supporting Mr Ponder and Mr Mair in their efforts to be managers in realitg. I consider that their attitude towards the actions of the suspended players fully warranted the suspensions.”

ASSOCIATION.

MANAGER OF CANADIAN TEAM. VANCOUVER, January 23. Aiderman James Adams, of Victoria (8.C.), who managed the Canadian Association football team on tour of Australia has been appointed manager of the Canadian team to tour New Zealand. VISIT OF OVERSEAS TEAM PROBABLE. AUCKLAND, January 27. Mr G. W. Bagrie, of Auckland, who is an Association football enthusiast, and has just returned from a trip Home, is hopeful that in the near future a team representing English and Scottish Football Association may be sent out to the Dominion. It is too early yet to indicate whether the tour will take place during next winter or the succeeding season, but the ground work has been done and Auckland enthusiasts will eventually see in action a team which represents the cede at its best at Home. During the course of his tour Mr Bagrie met Mr F. J. Wall, secretary of the English Football Association, and Mr J. K. M'Dowall, secretary of the Scottish Football Association, and both of them expressed their desire to help in sending out a team io New Zealand. Mr Bagrie was much impressed by the public appreciation which first-class football commands at Home. There were 75.000 spectators, he said, for the Scottish Cup final between Glasgow Rangers and Celtic (the leading Edinburgh team), and he was also pi esent at an ordinary First League match in England between the Arsena] and Liverpool which drew a gate of 35,000. The prices ranged from Is to 7s 6d for a League match at Home, and it was seldom that the standing accommodation was not filled and the seating of the stands taxed to the utmost.

FOURTH ROUND OF CUP MATCHES. ~ LONDON, January 29. The matches in the fourth round of the Association Cup resulted as follows: Southampton beat Birmingham by 4 goals to 1; Liverpool beat. Southport 3—l; Leeds and Bolton drew, no score; West Ham and Brentford dretv 1 all; Wednesday and South Shields drew, 1 all: Millwall beat Derby 2—o; Port Vale and'Arsenal drew, 2 all; Reading beat Portsmouth 3 —l • Burnley beat Fulham 4—o; Newcastle beat Corinthians 3 —l; Swansea beat Barnsley 3—l; Hull and Everton drew, 1 all; Chelsea beat Accrington 7—2; Cardiff beat Darlington 2—o; Wolverhampton- beat Notts Forest 2—4 J; Middlesborough beat Preston 3 —o.