VICTORY FOR THE MAORIS

Taranaki Daily News, 24 September 1928, Page 4

VICTORY FOR THE MAORIS

NEW SOUTH WALES BEATEN NINE POINTS SCORED TO EIGHT. STRENUOUS STRUGGLE IN THE MUD By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Sept. 22. Rain overnight and just prior to the match made the ground very slippery for the New South Wales v. Maoris game, which was won by the New Zealanders by 9 points to 8. New South Wales kicked off, play being ragged until with a free-kick Nepia found the line well in the New South Wales’ twenty-five. A penalty to New South Wales saw scrambling play at halfway. Malcolm broke away and when tackled passed to Rosenblum, who score!. The kick missed. New South Wales 3 Maoris 0 Burge replaced Bull in the New South Wales team as the result of an injury. Croft made a startling run and the backs stormed down to the goal-line irresistably. The Maoris were awarded a timely free-kick, play ensuing on the New South Wales’ twenty-five line. Shortland flew round the scrum but kicked the ball dead. Again the Maoris came at the line, but the New South Wales defence was sound. The Maoris forcing the pace, reached within five yards from the line, where New South Wales were awarded a free-kick, the visitora clearing to the twenty-five. Shortland, playing brilliantly, worked the blind, but his pass was knocked on. The New South Wales’ forwards dribbled past half-way. Falwasser’s numerous runs were ending with great New South Wales tackling. Nepia narrowly missed with a penalty shot -t goal well out, and the next minute, with another penalty, he put the ball out ten yards out from the New South Wales’ line, New South Wales clearing to sweep three-quarters of the field with a passing rush. The Maori* retaliated. Westfield, picked the ball off Gemmell’s toes. The Maoris were keeping right on the ball, giving New South Wales no rest, but Westfield was always safe. Nepia marked inside the twenty-five, saving a dangerous rush, but later ran into trouble, the Maoris being fortunate to get a free-kick and reaching to the New South Wales’ twenty-five, where Nepia kicked a great penalty. New South Wales 3 Maoris 3 Bardsley replaced O'Connell, who was injured. Shortland, maintaining his brilliant play, took the ball well and gained much ground. Malcolm saved and Towers made a 30 yards’ run through the ruck to the Maori’s twenty-fice. Nepia gained 40 yards with a brilliant line kick, but New South Wales came back with a forward rush. A Maori forward rush was stopped by obstruction and Nepia again goaled from the same place as before. Maoris 6 New South Wales 3 New South Wales attacked again and were sent back by Nepia’s 40-yard line kick, from which a Maori attack surged about the New South Wales’ line until New South Wales rushed to inside the Maori twenty-five. Paewai was injured and retired at half-time.

On resuming the Maoris attacked, Westfield for the time being less sure in taking the ball. The New South Wales’ forwards kicked to the Maori twenty-five tine, but New South Wales were lacking co-ordination and could not hold the ground gained. The Maoris surged about the New South Wales’ line but the visitors cleared to half-way. Keeping the play right New South Wales took play to the Maori twenty-five, where they put a penalty just under the goal. The ball was as slippery as an eel, and both sides were making the mistake of trying to pick it up instead of keeping it at their toes. A long kick put New South Wales on the attack and the Maoris saved oy daring passing on their goal-line. With a hot forward rush the Maoris swarmed down the field. A scrum was ordered on the New South Wales’ goal-line. The New South Wales defence held. Awarded a free-kick, Nepia again goaled.

Maoris 9 New South Wales 3 New South Wales rushed play immediately to the Maori goal-line, and after scrums and line-outs the Maoris forced when Malcolm kicked a penalty too hard. Immediately the Maoris were down on the New South Wales’ line, and from a scrum Malcolm cleared to half-way with two kicks and play see-sawed in the slush about there for a while. Rata retired hurt and, amidst applause, New South Wales allowed Parata to replace him. Nepia went behind the twenty-five yards’ line to kick for the line and missed, New South Wales reaching to within ten yards from the Maori line and the Naoris forced. It was now raining hark. The Maoris attacked, Westfield saving by picking up brilliantly and kicking out in Maori territory. Kicking and passing New South Wales attacked right on the goal-line, the Maoris booting clear to the New South Wales’ twenty-five, where Westfield marked and kicked to half-way. The Maoris took play under the New South Wales’ goal by fine passing, but the New South Wales carried on a great dribbling rush the length of the field. White scored and Croft goaled with a wonderful kick from the side-line. Maoris 9 New South Wales 8 With a few minutes to go New South Wales had the better of exciting play. CANTERBURY DEFEATED WELLINGTON MUCH SUPERIOR. THE GAME BELOW STANDARD. Christchurch, Sept. 22. Wellington beat Canterbury to-day by 14 points to seven. Yesterday the ground was almost in summer condition, and it was hoped the teams would meet : under conditions making for fast Rugby. Heavy rain fell early in the morning, hewever, and continued almost until the hour of starting. The ground was still in passably good order and the match might have been a great deal better exhibition of Rugby than it proved to be. Actually it was far below the standard of inter-provincial Rugby. Wellington were much the better side and fully deserved their win. Having had the advantage of the wind they led by 11 to nil. In the second half Canterbury showed improved form, but never looked like winning, the Wellington defence being sound. The superiority of Wellington was most marked in the backs, especially on

attack. The Wellington rearguard threw the ball about freely and siezed every opportunity to open up the play. Wellington were also superior in the forwards in the first spell, beating the home side in the loose. The Canterbury backs combined very poorly.

Wellington won the toss and played with the wind. The Wellington backs got moving after the first exchange and in a great run covered 50 yards before Broderick was collared by Dorreen. Very soon Leys set them going again, but solid tackling stopped another good rush. Canterbury infringed and Heazlewood failed with a long shot at goal. A rush started by Page let the ball out to Chesley, and then infield along the line of backs, but the effort was smothered and Broderick made another good run to be stopped again by Dorreen. At this stage the match promised well. Play was bright and the scene changed rapidly. Page sent the backs away again from the scrum. The handling was faulty and Porter intercepted and broke through to Canterbury territory. A penalty gave Heazlewood a long shot and he landed a beautiful goal. Wellington 3 Canterbury 0

The Canterbury forwards gained some ground in a brisk passing rush, but offside play spoiled the effort. A moment later Cottrell gave a pass which let Dorreen, Oliver and Hay gain much ground with a good passing run. Leys started a back movement for Wellington with a smart run. The ball went along the line of backs and Foley cut out a man before sending on to Pickering and Mackay. The winger passed infield and Pickering accepted to run unopposed behind the posts for a good try. Heazlewood goaled. Wellington 8 Canterbury 0 Page provided a thrill by cutting through the opposition. Innes passed to Oliver, who fumbled with a try in sight. Wellington cleared without difficulty and a penalty near half-way gave Heazlewood a chance. He goaled with a very strong and perfectly straight kick. Wellington 11 Canterbury 0 Canterbury lost several good chances before the spell ended, but for the most part were on the defeusive. Once Pickering marked in front of the posts, but the drop-kick at goal went wide. The second spell opened with the Canterbury backs attacking. Dorreen had two drops at goal in quick succession, the second being very near the posts. Failure of the Canterbury backs to combine even reasonably well allowed Pickering to intercept and his pace gave him an easy try. Heazlewood failed to convert. . Wellington 14 Canterbury 0 Page tried his backs again, but bad passing made the efforts hopeless and Wellington cleared. Then Innes ran ami passed to Oliver, who went fast down the touchline. He inpassed to Innes, and the latter fell over in a tackle for a good try. Chesley’s kick missed. Wellington 14 Canterbury 3 Again and again efforts by the Canterbury backs were spoiled by bad handling and forward rushes by breaches of the rules. Once a good rush was stopped when Toby Robinson passed off the ground. The Wellington movements, on the contrary, always looked dangerous, and several tested the Canterbury defence severely. It was when another Canterbury attack broke down that Page snapped up the ball and potted a neat field goal. Wellington 14 Canterbury 7 Canterbury attacked again. Page dummied his way through and passed to Fookes and to Toby Robinson, but a penalty for offside stopped the movement. Canterbury still attacked. Page, Fookes and Oliver combined in a passing rush but Oliver elected to hang on when Hart was in a good position outside him. Oliver was thrown out and time sounded without further score.

OTAGO HAS SURPRISING WIN SOUTHLAND TEAM OVERWHELMED MARGIN OF TWENTY-NINE POINTS. Dunedin, Sept. 22. Otago created a surprise by overwhelming Southland by 32 points to three at Carisbrook to-day. The game was not a spectacular one, and the Southland backs in particular played poorly. Otago played with the sun and a fairly heavy breeze. Just after the kick-off McClymont (Otago) made a great run, beating three men, and then passed to Davis. From the latter’s pass Dunne went over at the corner and Bradanovitch kicked a great goal. Almost immediately afterwards Betting threw out to Bradanoviteh, who swerved his way right through the Southland backs and scored one of the finest solo tries seen on Carisbrook this season. He took the kick himself and made the scores: Otago 10, Southland 0.

Coekroft led a good Southland rush, but threw the ball forward and a scrum was formed right on the line. From it the Otago forwards cleared. Dunne picked up in the loose *and ran right down to Porter and gave More a clear run in at the corner. Bradanoviteh missed the kick.

Davis dribbled through the Southland backs from half-way and Marslin came up to score at the posts. Bradanovitch converted.

Another sensational try for Otago eame immediately afterwards when Haughton threw out wide to Donnelly on the wing and the latter scored near the posts. Bradanoviteh converted. Johnson made two nice runs for Southland, but was not supported. Murray kicked over Otago’s line, but in a race for the ball Nicholson arrived first. Johnson sent Diack away on a good run until Bradanovitch took him at the twenty-five. Davis was offside near the Otago goal, but Diack missed an easy kick. A lot of offside play was being overlooked. The half-time score was: Otago 23 Southland 0 The sun had disappeared, but the breeze was fresher when the teams lined out for the second spell. Matheson ran deep into Southland territory following the kick-off, but was well taken by Bell. Play came right back to the other end, and Diack threw in quickly from touch to Murray, who sent the ball back to Diack, who was awarded a try although he appeared to be lying partly in the touch-in-goal area. Diack missed the kick, making the scores: Otago 23, Southland 3. Southland were penalised right alongside the posts, but Bradanovitch missed an easy kick. The play was faster

now and the Otago backs made two good passing rushes, in one of which McClymont was thrown out at the corner. Southland were penalised for a scrum infringement and Bradanoviteh kicked a goal. Murray sent Diack away on the left wing, but he was pushed out at the awenty-five when a try seemed a possibility. Dunne picked up at the Southland twenty-five and passed to J. Donnelly, who fumbled the ball, but it went over the line and he fell on it. Bradanovitch missed the kick.

A period of poor play followed, but eventually Johnson raised enthusiasm by making a fine run along the right wing. Bell was off his game and in a few of the passing rushes by the Southland backs was the ball going past him. Stewart broke away from a scrum and after the ball had been handled by four Otago players J. Donnelly scored at the corner. Nicholson missed the kick. Time was sounded immediately afterwards with the scores: Otago 32 Southland 3