MAORIS’ SECOND DEFEAT

Taranaki Daily News, 13 December 1926, Page 7

MAORIS’ SECOND DEFEAT

OUTPLAYED BY HARLEQUINS. (From Our Correspondent with the team). London, Nov. 10, The Maoris sustained, the second defeat of their tour at Twickenham, at the hands of the’Harlequins Football Club, by 11 points to 5. The Harlequins were distinctly the better team on the day’a play, and they showed better combination than the New Zealanders. The Maoris, while showing little concerted action, showed up individually, the game throughout being of a very open nature, and providing many thrills and plenty of excitement. It was clear from the start that both teams intended. to open up the play, the Harlequins especially opening up from everything. The ground at Twickenham was in perfect condition, and looked more like a bowling green than a football field. The attendance was about 11,000. The Maoris were unable to field their bestteam owing to injuries and illness, Bell and Mete, who were selected for the match, standing down for Kingi and Lockwood. The Maoris also had the ill-luck to loose their soundest player early in the second spell, having to play one short for the remainder of the game. Potaka was replaced at centre by VV. Barclay, S. Gemmel going to wing-for-ward. Pelham played fairly well, but did not have quite as much confidence as in the previous few. games. His lack of power in punting was noticeable in contrast with that of Hubbard. Falwasser had few chances in attack, but again played a good all-round game. Phillipa also had to-rely on his own initiative, and played a good defensive game. Potaka played his usual. solid game at centre until his retirement, and Kingi, showed up best In his tackling. He is really the only player in the team who tackles low, the other plavers going high, with the result that a wrestling match developes. Shortland made a reappearance at half, and although he did many good things, ha was hardly his old self. Barclay, in spite of the fact that he has not recovered althogether from his injuries at Newport and Yorkshire, played a fine game, and his pace in following up was at time something to wonder at. Of the forwards, Tatana, Haupapa, and Crawford might be sorted out. In this match the Maoris adopted the three, three, one scrum formation, and were somewhat more successful in gaining possession of the ball. After Potaka s injury, six Maori forwards had to hold the Harlequins eight, and they did really well in the circumstances. The thorn in the side of the Maoris was the Harlequins full-back, Hubbard, whose touch finding was at times simply uncanny. Time and again his long punts found touch well up field, and several times the ball bounced, dead on the side line. The Maoris have not yet got out of the habit of punting upfield, and these tactics play into the hands of the opposition under the English rules, and Hubbard’s fine exhibition was partly accounted for by this fact. HamiltonWicks and Gibbs both showed that they aro dangerous men, but the Harlequin captain", Davies, hung on too long several times, when he might have made good use of his wing men. Wicks’s centring kicks were very accurate. Both Worton and Laird played well behind the scrum, and opened up the game at every opportunity, Of the forwards, Wakefield was very powerful, and played a great game. His try was an excellent example of determination, and the pace he clapped on was tremendous. Others who were noticeable were Fouraker, Brodie and Chick, the latter especially for his brilliant dribbing work. The referee (Mr. FI. Mailleit) kept a close control of the game, and used the advantage rule very well. He, however, allowed the players to hold the ball in the melees, and two runs by Wakefield started with his emerging from the scrums with the ball in his arms, and one of these ended in his try. J. Gemmel and Shortland have now joined up with the team, but injuries remain a serious factor. Bell has had to undergo a slight operation to his jaw, while Grace is still under treatment for the injury received in practice. Barclay is also still suffering from injuries, and at present having a short rest.