TOOWOOMBA TROUNCED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18761, 18 July 1935, Page 5

TOOWOOMBA TROUNCED

MAORIS’ EASY VICTORY STILL FAIL IN SCRUMS HARRISON IMPRESSES (Elec. Tel. Copyright—Uniteil Press Assn.) BRISBANE, July 17. The Maori footballers defeated Toowoomba by 35 t 0.13. There were 3000 spectators and the gate takings amounted to £l7O. Job Stone, who captain Toowoomba against the Maoris in 1888, kicked off. The Maoris early attacked and Hcmi kicked a penalty goal, Toowoomba equalled when McDonald gathered a loose ball and beat Phillips. Whitcley put the Maoris ahead when he beat three defenders to score a great, try, and Hemi goaled. After Ilemi had been disallowed a penalty-goal because the forwards were in front, he finished off the movement started by Harrison and Reedy and converted his own try. The Maoris were now playing.spectacular football. Ten men handled for Phillips to score. The half-time score was: Maoris, 1(5; Toowoomba, 3. A feature of the match was the grand display of half-back play by Harrison. lie was in every attack, did well on defence, and generally delighted critics. Like those of most country centres the Toowoomba players are difficult- to beat-' on their home ground. They played above themselves to-day, so the Maoris’ margin of 22 points represents a. good display. The bustling tactics of • the local players worried the Maoris generally, but Ihev attacked through the forwards to get on top.

Toowoomba made a better showing in the second spell, but the Maoris, particularly in the closing stages, played fine football. One of the -best trios wa,s scored by McDonald, who finished off a brilliant movement. The final score was: Maoris, 35; Toowoomba, 13. - -

COMMENT ON THE PLAY If Harrison’s display surprised, so did Ngaia’s. Hc-mi -was off form except with the boot, which has notched him nearly 50 points to date. A. ... . Another Maori find was Broderick, who was playing his first game. He is sure to be picked to play against Queensland on Saturday. -The Maoris are still worried over possession. They were beaten to-day m the scrums and line-outs. The five-eighths position is also still a problem,’ as Reedy failed to play as well as was expected. Commenting on the Toowoomba match, the Sydney Morning Herald’s correspondent says that though Hemi .was the highest scorer, he was by no means the real hero of the side as at Warwick and Brisbane. There was a suggestion of 1 airiness about his movements. Nepia’s two field goals for the Maoris and xVleibusch’s two glorious tries for Toowoomba were the outstanding efforts in a match which bristled with lively and spectacular passages. With the influenza rapidly being exterminated, the Maoris played with an added zest that made all the difference.

Stuart Perkins, the Daily Telegraph’s writer, says that the margin of victory was wide enough, but it was the manner of the Maori team’s achievement that left a more lasting impression. Once again, the scores did not reveal truly, the merit of the tourist’s performance. They paid dearly for an eagerness that discounted many fine movements. Perhaps the most pleasing feature of the Maori’s display was the second half power of the forwards, who dominated the play during the greater part of that period. The loss of the ball from an even share of the scrums and liue-o-uts was counteracted by swift breaking and massed rucking.