RUGBY FOOTBALL

Southland Times, Issue 20013, 29 October 1926, Page 7

RUGBY FOOTBALL

MAORI TEAM YORKSHIRE DEFEATED VISITORS PLAY BEST GAME OF TOUR (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) London, October 27. The Maoris beat Yorkshire by 17 to 9. The 5,000 spectators witnessed a hard fast game, thoroughly interesting throughout. The weather was calm but cold and the ground was in good order. The teams were: Maoris —Pelham; Falwasser, Potaka, Phillips; Mete, Bell : Kingi; Barclay, Stewart, Manning, Rika, Haupapa, Tatana, Manahera, Wilson. Yorkshire: G. Harnell; E. Rycroft, F. Roberts (captain), H. Moore, F. Adams; H. Fletcher; H. Thompson; J. E. Whitefield, J. Eastwood, E. Blacker, E. Winkley, W. Chaicroft, E. Wrightson, W. Proctor, H. Wilkinson. The Maoris played one of the best games of the tour, the team working together much better, both back and forward divisions. The 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.” The Yorkshiremen responded giving a fine display of this branch of the code which is seldom seen. The New Zealander, Pelham, continues to improve at full-back and to-day fielded the ball and tackled his man faultlessly. He also showed good judgment in kicking and setting his three-quarters going. Barclay showed a complete return to form and others who may be mentioned are Potaka, Phillips. Bell, Kingi, Stewart, Tatana and Rika, though all played well. Among the Yorkshiremen. Roberts and Fletcher were rood behind the scrum while Whitefield and Procter showed up among the forwards. Yorkshire opened strongly and within three minutes Roberts cut in well and allowed Procter to score a simple try which East wood converted. The Maoris at this time were scratchy while the local men proved dangerous in several passing rushes, Pelham saving brilliantly four times, tackling thrice, then taking the Ivall off the forwards fast and finding touch. Phillips gained poeession from a cross-kick but was brought down after a good 45 yards run. ; Rycroft was off the field five minutes I owing to an injury. After this the Maoris bncked up and took play to the county I line but the forwards over-ran the ball. A I tame period followed until Bell spoiled a good chance by knocking on close, to the ! line. After 35 minutes the Maori forwards j hooked the ball, Kingi passing to Mete who ! punted. Potaka snapped the leather up and, drawing the full-back, passed to Falwasser, who scored. Potaka’s kick failed. ; Pelham showed up in some enterprising : play. Then Phillips dribbled and, kicking hard past Harnell, raced Thompson for the ball and touched down. Potaka was again unsuccessful with the kick. The half-time score was: Maoris . . 6 Yorkshire 5 On resuming, the Maori forwards’ bust- . ling play placed them in the attack, Phillips almost getting over after Potaka and I Mete had handled the bait A free kick | enabled Phillips to add three points from ; the touch-line. A brilliant Yorkshire drib- I ble saw the ball go dead. Then Bell i knocked on into Fletcher’s hands, the I latter making a good run and punting, i Eastwood passed to Adams who potted a I good goal amidst immense enthusiasm. The scores were now nine all, but the I Maoris were not to be denied and after ’ a period of loose fast play, Bell snapped up the ball and passed to Stewart who, just as he was tackled, threw a long pass to Barclay close to the line, the captain crossing. Phillips, however, was unable to goaL The Maoris maintained the pressure and Potaka tried to force his way over the line. The forwards got across after a loose rush but a five-yards scrum 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 Yorkshire 9 —A. and NX THE LEAGUE GAME NEW ZEALAND DEFEATS LEEDS. BLACKS GIVE GOOD DISPLAY. (Rec. 7.35 p.m.) London, October 27. The New Zealand League football team defeated Leeds by 13 to 11. The visitors’ team comprised Gregory; Brown, Dufty, Davidson; Sanders, Cole; Hail: Thomas, Parkes, Herring, Mason, Gardiner, Avery. The New Zealanders, after a spell of defensive play, early took the lead by means of pretty back play, Davidson scoring a try from loose play, btrt Dufty failed with the kick. Following on this success, Brown and Dufty combined well and tested the Leeds defence. Bailey equalised by scoring an unconverted try after a pretty passing bout. Both sets of forwards indulged in hard work for the next quarter of an hour, Thomas, Parkes and Herring being prominent in the scrummages. Fine passing between Dufty. Gardiner and Davidson ended in the last-named crossing the line for I Dufty to goal, giving the New Zealanders a I five points lead at half-time. On resuming Leeds immediately reduced i the margin, Watkins scoring a try from a ! Loose rush, but Thompson failed with the ! kick Spurred by this success Leeds pressed hard, but Gregory and Brown de- ' fended stoutly. Crisp passing among the 1 home backs resulted in Bacon getting a I clever try, which Thompson converted from 1 a difficult angle. The Colonials answered the challenge with a spectacular passing rush from which Herring scored a try and : Dufty added a goat The Blacks combined better than in any i previous encounter and deserved their two i points win. Gregory was the safes! of fullbacks, while Cole and Hall played a grand half-back game. Parker, Herring and Thomas were hard-workmg forwards.—A & N.Z.