OUR TOURING FOOTBALLERS

Stratford Evening Post, Volume LVIV, Issue 45, 22 November 1926, Page 5

OUR TOURING FOOTBALLERS

WIN FOR THE MAORIS. BLACKHEATH BEATEN BY ■ 9 TO 5. ■ LONDON, November 20. The Maoris' touring team defeated Blackheath by nine points to five. The Prince of Wales was present and shook hands with the teams. The Hon. J, G. Coates also attended. Haupapa, although not playing, changed inte football clothes and led the war dance. Rain all night had soddened the turf, resulting in a very greasy ball and making handling most difficult. The teams were:— Maoris.—Potaka,, Falwasser, Pelham, Phillips, Kingi, Wineera, ,Love, Bell, Olsen, Dennis, Rika, Wilson Tatana, Manihera, Robinson. Blackheath.—King, Turner, Sir Thomas Devitt, Kendal, Bishop, Wynne, Young, Kemp, Chichester, Bonavcntura, Ryder, Pratton, Gwynne, Haslctt, Brashier and Bedham. The Maoris started shakily, Blackheath pressing for the first quarter of an hour and once crossing the line, but the referee ordered a line-out. Subsequently Rika broke away and Tatana curried on a good run, but his pass was intercepted. The Maoris' again forced play and although they made several breakaways, in one of which Falwasser got in a sixty yards run before being thrown into touch, with several colileagues waiting to take his pass. Phillips started a Maori offensive from a scrum,; and continued attacking until kick relieved the pressure on Blackheath's defence. Love spoiled a chance to score by hanging on to the ball. Young broke through the Maoris in a vigorous stylo and passed to Pratt, who scored a try' which Kemp converted. Half-time found the scores : BLACKHEATH > 5 MAORIS 0 Immediately 1 pfay was resumed for the second spell the Maoris attacked, Robinson, Bell and Falwasser combining in an excellent dribble till Phillips picked up and beat several opposing players, only to be tackled when within a few inches of the line. Manihera secured the ball from the scrum, put down his head and forced his way across, Potaka filed with the .kick.

The Maoris continued to press, but their passes went too often at random! Falwasser got over the linebut the referee ruled that the pass from Pelham had been forward, Kingi dashod round the scrum and sent the ball in to Dennis, who scored, but Potaka was unable to add a goal. Tho Maoris' victory was duo to their great forward play. Bell, 'Kingi, Pelham and Love were also excellent. Tho final scores were: Maoris ..■ 0 Blackheath 5

BATTLEY BEAT LEAGUERS BY NARROW MARGIN, LONDON, November 20. Battley beat the New Zealand League team by 19 points to 17. The New Zealand team was: Dufty, Brown, Davidson, Desmond, Gardiner, Kirwin, Webb, Henry, Carroll, Singe, Peterson, Mason and Avery. The conditions atrocious owing to heavy rain and a wet ground. Nevertheless, the first half provided most attractive play with free scoring and a ding dong struggle. Gardiner early sent the ball in to Henry who scored, Dufty goaling. Smith replied was an unconverted try ior Battley. Davidson made a good run and passed to Biown who scored for Dufty to add a goal. Almost immediately Reese scored and Scott converted, after which Battley went ahead with a try by Wales. Then Dufty kicked a penalty goal but Davidge put his side ahead again by crossing the All Black's lino, only to see Gardiner score another try which was not converted . The half-time scorer, were; New Zealand 15, Battley 14. Dufty kicked a penalty goal, but after this the tourists were largely on tho defensive. Eventually Gallakher got a try which Scott goalcd, adding what proves to be the winning points. The New Zealanders rallied fruitlessly their forwards failing to get the ball from the scrums with the results that their Iwcks lacked chances. Dufty played a magnificent game, while Webb, Davidson and Brown were always dangerous when in possession.