NEW ZEALAND WINS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17177, 29 October 1926, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND WINS

FOOTBALLERS AT HOME

MAORIS" HARD EIGHT

ONE OF THEIR BEST GAMES (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Aesn.l lAuatratian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, October 27. The 5000 spectators at the Rugby match.. Maoris against Yorkshire, witnessed a hard and fast game, which was thoroughly interesting throughout. The weather was calm but cold and the ground was in good order. T}m teams were: —

Maoris: Pelham, Palwasscr, Potaka, Phillips, Mote. Bell. Kingi, Barclay, Stewart. Manning, Rika, Baupapa, Tatana, Manihcra, Wilson. Yorkshire: liarnell. Rycroft, Roberts (captain), Moore, Adams, Fletcher, .Thompson. Whitfield, Eastwood, Winkloy. Blacker, Chalcroft, Wrighton, Proctor, Wilkinson.

The Maoris played one of the best games of the tour, working-together much better both ' in the. back and the forward divisions. A feature was the pace of the Maoris as a team and the brilliant dribbling of the Yorkshire vanguard. The spectators' continuous cry to the home team was "Feet! Feet!" •and the Yorkshiremen responded, giving a fine display of this branch of the code, which 'is seldom seen in New Zealand.

PELHAM AS FULL-BACK

Pelham continues to improve' at full-back, and to-day fielded the ball and tackled men faultlessly. He also showed good judgment in kicking and setting the three-quarters going. Barclay showed a complete return to form and others who may be mentioned are Potaka, Phillips, Bell, Kingi. Stewart, Tatnnn, and Rika, though all played 'well. Among the Yorkshiremen, Roberts and Fletcher were good behind the scrum, while Whitfield and Proctor showed up among the forwards. •Yorkshire opened strongly and within three minutes Roberts cut in well and allowed Proctor to scoro a simple try, which Eastwood converted.

'The Maoris at this stago wero scratchy, while the local men proved dangerous in several passing Tushes, Pelham saving brilliantly four times, tackling thrice, and then taking tho ball off the forwards' feet and finding touch. Phillips gained possession from a cross-kick, but was brought down after a good forty-five yards run. Rycroft was off tho field for five minutes owing to an injury. After this the Maoris bucked up and took play to the county line, but the forwards overran the ball. A tamo period followed until Bell spoiled a good chance by knocking on close to tho line. After thirty-five minutes the Maori forwards hooked the ball, Kingi passing to Mete, who punted to Potaka. The latter snapped the leather up and drawing the full-back, passed to Falwasser, who scored. Potaka'** kick failed.

Pelham showed up in some enterprising play. Then Phillips dribbled and kicking hard past Harncll, raced Thompson for the ball, and touched down. Potaka again was unsuccessful

with the kick. The half-time scores were: Maoris 6" points, Yorkshire 5.

EXCITING SECOND HALF.

On resuming the Maori forwards' bustling play placed them in attack, Phillips almost getting over after Potaka and Meto had handled the ball. A free kick enabled Phillips to add three points from the touch line. A brilliant Yorkshire dribble saw the, ball go dead. Thou the ball was knocked on into Fletcher's hands, the lattcr.making a good run and punting. Eastwood passed to Adams, who potted a good goal amidst immense enthusiasm. The scores were now 0 points all, but the Maoris were not to bo denied. After a period of loose fast play Bell snapped up the ball and passed to Stewart, who just as ho was tackled threw :i long pass to Barclay close to the line, the captain crossing. Phillips, however, was unable to add the goal. The Maoris maintained tho pressure and 'Potaka tried to force his way over the line. The forwards got across after a loose rush, but a. five yards' serum was ordered. Yorkshire hooked the ball, but Barclay intercepted Fletcher's pass and scored his second try. Potaka kicking an easy goal just before time was called, the game ending Maoris 17 points, Yorkshire 9 points.

LEAGUE VICTORY I ■ TEAM COMBINES BETTER | DESERVED THEIR WIN ' j i I (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.! LONDON, October 28. 1 The New Zealand League football team defeated Leeds by 13 points to . H. . , I The visitors' team comprised: Grogofv, Brown, Dufty, Davidson, San-j .dors, Cole, Hull, Thomas, Parkcs, Her- J ring, Mason, Gardiner and Avery. \ The New Zealanders, after a spell of defensive plav, took an early lead by means of pretty back play, Davidson scoring a try from loose play, but | Dufty failed' with the kick. Follow-; ing on this success Brown and Dufty | combined well and tested Leeds' do-' fence. Bailey equalised by scoring an unconverted try after a pretty passing bout. ' Both sols of forwards indulged in hard work for the next quarter of an hour, Thomas, Parkcs and Herring being prominent in scrummages. Fine passing between Dufty, Gardiner and Davidson ended in the last-named crossing the line for Dufty lo kick a goal, giving the New Zealanders five points lead at half time. | On resuming, Leeds immediately reduced tho margin, Watkins scoring a try' from a loose rush, but Thompson fa'iled with the kick. Spurred by this success, Leeds pressed hard, but Gregory and Brown defended stoutly. Crisp passing among the home (backs resulted in Bacon getting a clever try, which Thompson converted from a difficult angle.

The Colonials answered the challenge with a spectacular passing rush from which Herring scored a try and Dufty added a goal. Tho All Blacks combined better than in any previous encounter, ami deserved their twopoints win. Gregory was the safest of full-backs, while' Cole and Hall played a grand half-back game. Parker, Herring and Thomas were hardworking forwards.