MAORI TEAM IN FRANCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 12 October 1926, Page 9

MAORI TEAM IN FRANCE.

, Defeated by Parisians. WELL-FOUGHT BATTLE . By Cable —Press Association —Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association (Received October 11, 5.5 p.m.) PARTS, October 10. Tho Maoris played against a Paris XV. at Colombo* Stadium. The weather was warm and overcast. Rain fell lato in the second half. Tho attendance was 25,000. The Teams. The teams lined out as under: Maoris. Phillips, Barclay, Potaka, Falwasser, Kingi, "Wini era, Shorthand, 8011, Olsen, Stewart, Rika, Haupapa, Ta.tana, S. Gemmed, Wilson. Matcne replaced Haupapa, at halflime. Parisian Team. Cliilo, Houdet, Gerald, Loustcau, Besson, Dumanoir, Buder, Durand. Loury, Ballont, Couture, Borgougnoux, Hutin, Lauga, and Gonnet. The Play.

From tho kick-off. King! fielded a punt, and set tho backs going. The bail was passed out to Piotaka. who limited. Rika and Stewart participated in a dribbling rush. Dumanoir saving when the attack looked dangerous. After twenty minutes’ fast even play, Lousteau picked up, and passed to Bes-son, who afitetr \a great run, passed infield to Laffont, who scored a try. Chib failed to--convert. Barclay twice made an effort to break away, but was too w>bß marked. Potaka punted strongly, but tho bounce beat Barclay, who followed up. Kingi, however, picked up, bnt spoiled his opening with a forward .pass. Thu Maoris wore prominent in a. dribbling rush. Then Paris suddenly; set up a counter-attack, Besson running forty yards, and. outpacing Potaka and Phillips, to score a try, which Chilo converted. .The Maoris fiercely attacked, and assisted by a Tree kick, carried tho hall into the Parisian twenty-five, but tho forwards kicked over tho line, anid Chilo touched down. The Maoris continued to attack, and Potaka made a, good attempt to score from a penalty—kicking from a difficult angle. Winccra gathered tho hall in the loose, and triorl to pot a goal, instead of passing to the waiting backs. From the drop out, Kingi, Potaka and Barclay participated in a swift passing bout, tho ball going out at tho corner. The rcfouco ruled that Barclay was obstructed: amd awarded a try, which Potaka failed to convert. This was Barclay’s twelfth try in six games. At half time the score was: Paris ... 8 Maoris J)

Second Spell. Three minutes after resumption, Phillips unsuccessfully tried to drop a goal. Chilo returned the ball to half way, enabling tho Parisian tlireoquarters to open an attack, firom which Besson, running fifty yards, .and evading Barclay, Potaka, and Phillips, scored a brilliant try,, which was nor, converted. Tho Paris team continued to hold the upper hand, weak taeZriing letting the backs in on several, occasions. Falwasser made a great run of fifty yards, which promised to be successful, but Child brilliantly tackled him. Then Potaka secured from a scrum in tho Paris twenty-five, and scored a pretty try, which was not converted. Tho Maoris made a desperate effort to equalise. A free kick enabled Ida tone to bring the Maoris’ score to nine points, after goaling at. a difficult angle. Excitement was at tho highest pitch. Tho Frcnclunon played for safety, and defeated the Maoris’ vigorous attacks, and the game ended • Pnris 11 Maoris q

Comment on the Play, Tho visitors’ weak tackling was the chief factor of their defeat. Stowart, Rika, GemmcU, and Tatana were the best of the forwards. Bell and Shorthand worked hard, but both have played hotter games. , Ciiilo thoroughly mastered tho New Zealand kick into touch rule. He consistently tired out the Maoris, and rested his own tlmcequartors. Besson uas brilliant and the speediest wingthreequnrter. The Paris team scored three tries (one converted). Hie Maoris scored one try, one penalty try, and one penally goal.

Tho following are the results of the * the Maoris

DISAPPOINTING FORM. MAORIS’ DISPLAY CRITICISED. b j Cable —Press Association—Copyright. Sydney "Sun" Service, (Received October 11, 8.20 p.m.) LONDON, October 11. Tho Paris correspondent of the “Daily Mail” says the Maoris wore disappointing, and are apparently stale as tho result of playing two matches weekly. Probably they will bo defeated frequently in Britain. Their chief weakness., is tho backs’ inability to combine. Too frequently they kicked and followed up, instead of finding the touch lino. They are also slow compared with the Parisians. Their forwards, however, were markedly superior to tho Frenchmen, especially in the loose, and if these bad been ns enterprising, a different story would have been told.

Tho “Daily News” says the Maoris’ first match in England will he against Somersetshire, where they will meet

plenty of beef and pudding, for which their souls yearn.

POPULAR IN PARIS. FAVOURABLE PRESS COMMENT. By Cablr—Press Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Assertion. T, r . PARIS October 10. . Iho Maoris captured tho capital’s imagination. The people are impressed by their magnificent physique and musical talents. Much space in the newspapers is given to AViniera’s and Denis’s piano playing,_ Grace’s singing, and general chorus singing. Iho team laid a wreath on the tomb ot the Unknown Warrior. Unsuitable Food. Hie Evening News” Paris correspondent states that the Maoris aro expediting their departure for Loncion, arriving to-night or to-morrow morning. They declare that French feeding caused havoc with the team, which steadily lost weight during tho Continental stay. Matene lost 201 b, and several others at least a stone through tho unaccustomed food they had been getting in France. The correspondent snys that Matene is anxious to get to England to got some good steaks and solid plain food. M. Rutherford, a member of tho French Union, says the Union has done its best to ensure that the Maoris received their accustomed food, but it had been difficult, as hotel chefs are unused to it.

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