ALL BLACKS BEAT MAORIS

Taranaki Daily News, 3 October 1929, Page 13

ALL BLACKS BEAT MAORIS

AMAZING RUGBY EXHIBITION TABLES TURNED IN SECOND SPELL TARANAKI PLAYERS PROMINENT. By Telegraph—Press Association Wellington, Last Night. Thrills in plenty were provided in the trial match between the New Zealand Rugby fifteen and a team representing the Maoris. It was an extraordinary game. Playing in typical Maori fashion the Natives completely dominated the first spell, during which they put on 13 points to nil. After some straight talk by the selectors at the interval the All Blacks came on in the second session and shaped something like a New Zealand side. Infusing great thrust into their play the New Zealand forwards called the tune and gave, the backs a chance to show their paces. New Zealand put on 37 points in this spell to the Maoris’ five and won a spectacular and thrilling game by a margin of 19 points. An ideal spring day favoured the fixture. There were no alterations in the New Zealand team but Mackay (Poverty Bay) replaced McDonald (Marlborough) at wing threequarter in the Maori team and Raroa (East Coast) took the place of Rika (Auckland) in the forwards. The Maoris opened with a light northerly' breeze and the sun behind them. Playing with great dash the Maori forwards broke through the New Zealand pack, Grant the Aucklander and Kahu doing great work. The Maoris pressed home the attack, Leech scoring in the corner in less than a minute from the kick-off. Nepia’s attempt at goal lacked direction. From play at the 'New Zealand quarter Kahu hurled out a pass of 20 yards to his backs and some exciting work was seen in front of the New Zealand goal. Pelham cleverly passed behind his back to Hohaia, who potted a smart goal, placing the Maoris seven points in the lead. From a scrum in front of the New Zealand goal Tui Robinson secured possession and badly fooled the New Zealand backs by leading them to believe that he was going to pass to Mackay. He did not pass but simply ran on and scored a pretty try. Nepia failed to goal. The Maoris delighted the crowd with the brilliance of their play. Thus far they were head and shoulders superior to New Zealand in every department of the game. W. Parata, Tui Robinson and Hohaia were seen in some brilliant passing and Nepia aroused applause when he knocked down the cross-bar with a mighty drop-kick from a penalty between the centre and quarter mark. The ball hit the bar outside the upright. From play at the quarter mark gn All Black was penalised and Jones landed a beautiful goal. The score at jialf time was:— - Maoris 13 New Zealand ............ 0 The New. Zealand team was going better and the backs commenced to shape in something like All Black form. A pretty movement started by and carried on by Cooke ended in Livy s opening New Zealand’s account with a pretty try in the corner. Heazlewood goaled. Ensuing play was highly exciting. The New Zealand forwards worked play to Maori territory and from a scnim 'Mill dodged clean through the Maori backs to "score a* dazzling try between the posts. Heazlewood had no difficulty in goaling. Play had not been long restarted when Heazlewood came into the picture with •brilliant line kicking. The New Zealand full-back reached the climax when he potted a magnificent goal from near half-way. The All Blacks were now into their stride. Mill made a brilliant opening which enabled Hazlett to race over between the posts for Heazlewood to kick his third goal. From the ruck near the Maori line Stewart picked up the ball and bumped oil' Mackay to score in the corner. Heazlewood goaled with a magnificent kick from the side-line It was all New Zealand now. A beautiful burst of passing in which half a dozen All Blacks figured ended in McLean’s scoring in a handy position. This time Heazlewood failed. The All Blacks came at the line again, Campbell making a great dash. He could have scored himself but sent the ball infield, where Cooke raced over the line. Heazlewood goaled. The Maoris were now completely demoralised. Play bad not been long in progress when Ollivcr made a great run down the line. He was collared by Mackay, but the ball went over the line and Olhver followed to pick up the ball and race behind the posts. Heazlewood goaled. The Maoris gave a brilliant flash ot their first-spell form. Magnificent passing took the ball half the length of the field for Pelham to round off a dazzling movement under the posts. Nepia easily goaled. The remaining five minutes were crowded with incident. The Maoris were ’keen for another score but the reckless manner in which they were throwing the ball about gave the All Blacks several opportunities to come strongly at the line. The Natives, however, by desperate defence managed to keep the line intact. New Zealand 37 Maoris • • • •