MAORI FOOTBALLERS

Taranaki Daily News, 7 January 1927, Page 10

MAORI FOOTBALLERS

CLOSE GAME AT LEICESTER AN EXCITING SECOND SPELL. MAORIS WIN BN TWO POINTS. (From Our Own Correspondent With tho Team.) Leicester, Nov. 26. The match between the Maoris and Leicester started off very poorly, but during the second spell developed into the most exciting game of the tour. The weather was gloriously fine, and about 15,000 people turned out to sec the contest. Leicester started off very strongly, and their backs were handling very accurately, tho Maoris being forced to defend most of the spell. The New Zealanders’ play was very poor, there being no dash or determination in their work, but in the second spell they revealed their best form. Their passing was good, while the forwards played ■with great dash, and with a litle more luck they would have run up a bigger ecore. The last quarter proved very exciting. The Maoris were five points down in the first spell, and soon drew within two points of (heir opponents. Then to the surprise of the Maoris, “Doctor" Wilson potted a neat goal, being promptly “mobbed” by his companions in their delight. A minute later, however, Leicester regained their lead with a couvrted try, but the Maoris came back and managed to obtain another three points by means of a try, and the scores were level, the result depending on the goal kick. The Maoris had been kicking very poorly all the afternoon, Potaka, Phillips, and Pelham all missing shote. Love was therefore entrusted with the kick, and/ justified the confidence placed in him by kicking a brilliant goal, and giving his side a yvell-earned victory. Potaka played as full-back again today, but was Clearly not at home in the position. He gets out of position through not anticipating the direction of the play, and also is inclined to kick wildly when pressed. His tackling, however, is sound. Phillips played well on attack, and ran with determination, but was uncertain several times on defence. Pelham played a steady game at centre, but again lost a try by passing in-field when Falwasser on the outside had a clear run in. Falwasser played in patches, but his runing was not so blind to-day. The best back was Kingi, who played a fine game right through. He made many openings on attack, and has proved a tricky player. It is also refreshing to w>tch his low tackling. Wi Neera did all that was asked of him, While Love has also improved behind the scrum, getting his passes away more smartly. Bell played as an additional five-eighth most of the game, and combined very well with Kingi, the pair getting through some very neat work in the latter part of the game. The forwards commenced rather poorly, but improved as the game proceeded. The packs were evenly matched in the scrums, and line-outs though the teams failed to obtain cleanly from the lineouts. As with other in Britain, the forwards were good at dribbling, but the short-passing of the Maoris was a powerful factor in the second spell. The outstanding player in the Leicester team was H. D. Greenlees, outside half, who throughout played a great game on attack and defence' Time and again when things looked bad for Leicester this player came to light with a. good save, or a kick to touch, while he was also the mainspring of the passing rushes. The referee, Mr. G. Hale, of Bristol, gave many doubtful decisions, and stopped the play far too much. He was inclined also to get in the way of the players a lot.

MAORIS DEFEATED IN WALES. HONOUR GOES TO LLANELLY. STRONG DEFENCE ON BOTH SIDES. The Maoris have been defeated in Wales. After defeating Swansea and Cardiff and drawing with Newport the Maoris were keen to keep their Welsh record intact, but such was not to be the cane. The game was played at Stradey Park, Llanelly, before about 15,000 spectators, on a ground which had been well soaked with rain. The afternoon escaped the rain, but a fresh breeze sprang up, and made it rather cold. Llanelly people had been looking forward to the game, and when the Maoris arrived at 1.30 o’clock the town was full of excitement, while the Llanelly colours--scarlet—were to be seen on all sides. Tho New Zealanders were met at the station by the Mayor, and accorded a civic reception there, whereupon they proceeded immediately to the ground, into which crowds were already pouring. Before the match the Llanelly Military Band played selections, while a party from the Y.M.C.A. gymnasium gave a display of gymnastics. The game was full of interest, though there were few thrills, it being rather a dinplay of desperate and dogged defence. Llanelly played against the breeze in the finst half, but, in spite of this handicap, managed to obtain a three point lead. The Maoris bad slightly the better of the play in this spell, though they did not use the wind to the best advantage. With the breeze, which had freshened, against them in the second spell the Maoris put up a grim fight. They were on the defensive for most of the period, but towards tue end. they got into Llanelly ground, and a brilliant run by Falwasser showed that the Maoris were by no means a beaten side. Llanelly's victory was to a great extent due to the fact that they used the wind better to keep them in their opponents’ territory, and even when the Maoris crossed the half way line, the Scarlets worked play back by persistent line kicking. It must not be thought, however, that the Welsh side “played safe” by using the touch line in the second spell, for both teams played “sporting” Rugby from start to finish.

The Maoris made some re-arrange-ment of their team for this match. Beli had returned to the active list after his sjiort spell in hospital, and captained the side. Barclay and Potaka were still not available, so Pelham was brought up to centre, McDonald being used as full-back. In the second spell the side

was again re-arranged, Pelham going to full-back, while Falwasser came into centre, with McDonald on the wing, McDonald started off well, but soon developed uncertainty in fielding, and general weakness in defence. This boy shows up at times in fine dashes through the opposition, but lacks confidence and experience. Phillips played his usual solid game, but missed two possible chances of scoring in the first spell by getting ahead of his centre, and so missing the pass, Falwasser made a great run near the end of the game, but was finely tackled. He had few chances otherwise. Bell played for the first time since the match against Yorkshire. He played a very, fine game, using his pace well, but made one blunder which resulted in Llanelly’s only score. The ball had crossed the line, and Bell endeavoured to clear by means of a speculator, but missed the ball, with the result that Llanelly touched down. Wi Neera worked hard in smothering tho opposition, while Love did not hesitate to go down to the rushes. This player also covers his full-back well. The forwards all played a hard game, and time and again drove Llanelly back from the line. Their heeling was also much better, the Maoris getting quite as much of the ball as their opponents did. Mr. T. H. Vile, of Newport, made an excellent referee. He gave his decisions clearly, and applied the advantage rule very well.

Llanelly people worship the 1924 All Blacks, but still think they should have beaten them in the memorable game in 1924. They know all there is to know about Rugby football, their comments being very intelligent. As many New Zealanders know, the enthusiasm fn Llanelly is essentially parochial, but they were undoubtably pleased with the play of the Maoris. Some remarks heard during the game might not be amiss. “Look! he picks up the ball like Nepia.” “Great game two years ago.” “Ach’s lovely game.”