MAORI PIONEER TEAM.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14943, 23 June 1919, Page 7

MAORI PIONEER TEAM.

VISITORS 'VICTORIOUS AT GISBORNE. PIONEERS (24) v POVERTY BAY (12). Fully 3000 people assembled at the Childers Road Reserve on Saturday afternoon to witness the football match between the ''Maori Pioneer Battalion and a team representing Poverty Bay. The game was playetf under the new rules' and proved to ■ the :. spectators that from their point of view it was responsible for a decided improvement m the game and kept the' play more continuous, although perhaps more trying on the playei % 3/ . In 'me first spell the play was very even, and the iby both teams ;waa splendid. There was an entire absence of brutal play, and tho enthusiasm of the crowd know no boiinds on occasions of brilliant play by members -of either team and this was characteristic of the ■ game from start to finish. The . Pioneer team was .unquestionably tho faster, and right --throughout' : were endeavoring to open the' play, but' the home, team realised the position and played splendidly, although m the second half it was 'evident that the' superior form of the visitors would tell m the end. The visiting team wore black uniforms, ■ and the home team red jerseys. A Hei'»id reporter was informed by one of thet members of the team "w-iio. acted r> i emergency on : Saturday that he considered the match was the fastest lie had seen during, the tdur of the Pioneer learn, niiid the tackling of' the- Poverty Bay .men, m his opinion, exceeded that of all' other teanis : played, against by the -Pioneers, with the exception of Auckland. • 'JThe teams were as follows :— : Maori Pioneer team : Lieut. Amohanga. Lieut. -Apanui, Lieut. Barclay, Lieut. Wilkinsoif, Sgt. Barclay; Sgt. Mo-pu, Sijt. Riki, Lieut. Jacobs; Sgt. Carroll, Lieut. Auhana, Captain Hall (Capt.), Lieut. Gardiner, Lieut. Qrmond, Cpl. Te Urupa, Cpl. 'Pirihi. Poverty Bay: P. Te Hau, Smiler, A. Murray, 'Piki Smith', Miller, F. Hundleby, S. Leckie, Tuld ; Pere, J. Mellor, F. Scott, J. ■ Ellei*y, •' P. Humphreys, Puki, C. Devery » J. Heeney. Mr. J, Bruce Brown was. referee, and gave satisfaction with 'the whistle.. It was considered at times that he was inclined to be slow with his decisions, but ifc must be remembered that tho .game was a strenuous one to control, as play wae : sft fast; "k&krrH-i* ■ •-"»<* *■■■;;*■< ; 'A "curtain-raiser" match was played between St. Patrick's and Waerenga-a--hika, of which Mr. F. H. Bedford was referee, and m, which the St. Pat's team won by 19 points to nil. ; . THE MATCH. ■ Just about 3 p.m. a shower of rain was experienced, ,and conditions overhead were -.anything but . promising. Fortunately, however, the sun. shone out subsequently. There was a westerly wind blowing which, however, had no appreciable effect on the game. Poverty Bay won the toss, and Pioneers kicked off, play following m Poverty Bay territory. . The Pioneers apsume'd the' offensive, but Deyery (P. 8.) relieved by a kick. From the line out Puki caught and found the line m Pioneers' territory. Led by Jacobs, Pioneers immediately returned play by a good forward rusli, and again Devery relieved by a line kick. From the lineout Scott' (P:B.) patsed to Hunidleby, than to Puki. who kicked the ball close to Pioneers* goal, but Amohariga (Pioneers) took the ball splendidly and kicked ; then Heeney secured ancl narrowly missed scoring but for a knockon.. From a scrum Barclay (Pioneers) relieved by a line kick. Poverty Bay continued to press, and fast play followed, m the course of which the oval travelled up and down the field m quick succession, and went out of play by a kick by Auhana (Pioneers). Pioneers then carried play to Poverty Bay area, j and for a time looked dangerous, nntil.j Pjri Smith (red)' relieved. After a short period of give-and-take < play, Te Hau (rod) secured, brought his men on side, and passed to Smiler. who carried on and kicked. J. BUery (reds) frustrated Jacobs attempt to mark, and the' . bnll went out of play close to the goal defended by Pioneers. Gardiner (Pioneers) took the ball from the line, and after a splendid run RJki kicked the bnl] forward. From the dcrum about halfway, Gardiner found the line just on the goal line. Te Hau (P. 8.) saved by a line kick. . From the line-out Pirihi (Pioneers) kicked a short high ball, wlvch Don Miller (P. 8.) marked. Give-and-take play followed for a minute or two, -when Barclay (Pioneers) broke away, and carried the ball to the 25-line, w;he'n Turiki Pere collared him and scrimmage "mesh" play followed. A svards scrum was given, and Mellor (P.B>.) secured and passed ( to Heeney, who m turn passed to Leckie, and play was returned to midfield. From a kick by a. Pioneer forward Don Miller "mulled," a scrum resulted near the line and a penalty was awarded Pioneers, ahd Jacobs, with a splendid kick, placed the ball between tho posts at a, difficult angle. Pioneers ... 3 Poverty Bay 0 From the kick-off Murray (P. 8.) car* ried play td Pioneer territory. After a scrum which followed, Hundleby carried piny fully 20 yards, "and passed to Murray, who passed to Piki Smith, and then td' Don Miller, who scored m a good position. Although an easy position Murray's kick failed. Pioneers 3 Poverty Bay 3 From the kick-off Murray (P. 8.) returned tho ball, which Barclay (Pioneers) took and made a brilliant run, but was collared by Piki Smith. Smiler (P. 8.), got' the ball and took it to midfield, where it was returned by a rush of the Pioneer forwards, who were very fast. Te Hau " (P. 8.) saved, by putting the ball out of play. From the line-out Captain Hall (Pioneers), by a pretty I piece of play, created an oponing, which Mapu took advantage o£, and • was collared l>v Heenoy before he could pass. Some smart rebounding play followed, when Urupa kicked the ball out. From the 5-yards «crum Devery secured' and made the best run of the day for the Poverty Bay team, carrying play almost to' the other end of t}io field, where lie was taken by the. Pioneer full-back. Jacobs (Pioneer) .then took possession ol

the ball, which igot to the toes of the forward ranks of the visiting team, and Poverty Bay "\vero put on the defensive. Humphreys (P. 8.) centred the ball. Puki kicked the ball to midfield, and Pirihi caught it, and m a pretty piece of combination, play carried the ball to the goal line, where Murray secured, and a passing rush with Smith, Smiler, Pere, Scott, Mellor, and finally to Hundleby and" Smiler, resulted m the latter scoring m the corner. The attempt to convert failed. • . Poverty Bay 6 Pioneers 3 Prom the quarter-way kick Pioneer forwards carried play to their adversaries' 25-y'ards line, when Poverty Bay started a passing rush. Devery passed to Hundleby, who tried to pass to Smiler, but the ball was cleverly intercepted by Barclay (Pioneers), who passed forward, and a scrum was given on the line. Scott saved- by a line kick, and half-time was sounded with play m dangerous proximity to goal, defended by Poverty Bay. On the resumption of play Poverty Bay assumed a strong offensive, led by Miller and Murray^ but a kick by Lt. Amohanga (Pioneers) returned play to' midfield. Barclay (Pioneers) from the line-out passed to Mapu, who handed it. to Carroll ; the latter missed and Te Hail (P. 8.) saved by a. kick. Mapu aga:n> secured, passed to Barclay, then : to Wilkinson, who scored on the cor-, ner. The 'kick was a good one, but failed. Poverty Bay ... '6 Pioneers ... 6 Interesting play of a, give-and-take nature followed, and Poverty Bay took I up a formidable dribbling rush, but the ball rose and was marked .by Captain .Hall (Pioneei's). A second attack was frustrated by Sgt. Barclay. The Pioneer forwards then made the ,game open, and it was soon evident that it was to the disadvantage of the home team. From a line-out and scrimmage play, Auhana secured the ball, and after a brilliant run scored m a comfortable position, and the kick was, successful. Pioneers ... 11 Poverty Bay 6 From this time on, play, was for the greater, part m Poverty Bay ground, the open play being too strenuous for the home team. From a scrum about midfield, I)on Miller opened a rush, and was supported by Hundleby, Murray and iLeckie ; the latter missed his pass, and Gardiner (Pioneers) opened the play, which T,e Hau relieved by a line kick. A swift onslaught by the Pioneer torwards resulted m a timely force by the home team. A penalty kick for an infringement on the part of a Poverty Bay player; gave Pioneers the opportunity of an attempt to add to their' score from a difficult angle, but it > was unsuccessful. Poverty Bay opened up an aggressive, but Barclay intercepted, and the ball was soon m, "the hands of the forwards of the ' Pioneer team, when I). Miller intercepted and found the line: Play came over to the tows side of the field. f.nd the ball went out closs to tho aroa'l line defended by the Pioneers. From a line-out Devery performed the "edge trick,-", and .slipped'" over : ihe lint' m the extreme- corner. Tho kick by Ellery failed. i Pioneers „.. ... ... ... 11 Poverty Bay ... 9 Shortly . after the kick Poverty Bay again attacked m close play, but' Pirihi secured, end, assisted by, Jacobs and Sgt. Barclay, carried play fully 100 yds. along the line. Don Miller (P. 8.) took the ball forward, but Hundleby missed a j good chance. Auhana (Pioneer) took possession of the ball, and an open rush by the Pioneer forwards was frustrated by Devery. 'Poverty Bay continued to keep to line play, which the visitors endeavored to avoid. After somo fast play of a give-and-take nature, the back ranks of the home team were called upon for strenuous piny, and a dangerous rush was frustrated by Hundleby and Smiler. A fine stretch of p!:iy followed m midfield, the ball being m play consistently for almost five minutes, when Urupu (Pioneers) pot away, and the ball w;is passed to Gardiner, thence to Auhana. but, Smiler (l\B > j4nter i cppted. and. fouiid the line. "After p?ay m which CarroTl.' Orraond. and Wilkinson were chiefly concerned, a- scrum was given five yards from the Pioneers' objective, and Gardiner scored m the ■ -'corner, and converted it. •■■■,■,'■ Pioneers ... ... ...... 21 ' . Poverty Bay ... ...... 9 In the play that followed Poverty Bay were on. the defensive, and Barclay bvottiers (Pioneers) took some holding, by the homo team's backs, but Scott (P. 8.) secured and . opened a ; passing ' rush, which was put to the feet of the forwards, and Amohanga (Pioneers) kicked to relieve, andj Te Hau followed , up, gave the ball to Murray, who passed it fo HnnrUeb-w thence f n Heeney, Piki Smith, Leckie, and Miller,' who again scored. The kick failed. ' , ; Pioneers ...s ... ... ... 21 Poverty Bay ... j.. ... . v .12;" The final spell of play was entirely m favor ot the visitors, who i'ust on Vill of time augmented their total by a further/try by Auliu:ii;i \»liiv.ii w tl . ; ■ vn,:-.-i^. verted, and makit^g Pioneers the winners by 24 points to 12, after a really interesting match. , Cnpt. J.. Vercoe. D.C.M. and D.5.0., and.Capt. Hajl, m conversation with a reporter after the match, said the members of the team were gratified to the Qißborno public for the hospitality extended them and the team would leave this district with a. high opinion of the sporting qualities of the home team. :"Rtfebfc throughout the game," said GajpT He.ll. "the tackling on both sides waa splendid, and there was not tho slightest indication of anything other than a perfect harmony of feel- . ENTERTAINED AT DINNER. • After the match the visitors were ontertained at dinner by the Poverty Bay Rugby Union 5n the British Empire Hotel, when a pleasant evening was snent. the usual toasts being honored. The Mayor (Mr. G. Wildish) was proBent, and m a happy speech congratulated the teams on the exposition given, which he described as a "clinker." He thought the match was one of the finest seen, m Clisborne for some years from a spectacular viewpoint; Captain Vercoe, In reply, thanked tho Mayor for his congratulatory remarks, and said that right throughout the tour the membeVs of the team had been received with open arms, but the treatment and attention accorded them by the Mayor of Gisborne was unexcelled. (Applause.) Probably this was accounted for by the fact that he himself. was an enthusiastic follower of the sport*. Three cheers Avere given for Hie Mayor by the teams congregated. Capt. Hall,/ who had charge of the team, also spoke m glowing terms of the kindness of the Gisborne public and tho splendid contest put up by the Gisborne lads, many of whom wero returned soldierß also. The team dispersed on Saturday night, 'four leaving by the boat last ni#ht for South, and six others leaving for Wairoa this morning. The remainder proceed to the Coast to be present at the unveiling ceremony to Coast natives who made tho supreme" Sacrifice for King rjid country, ' ,