FOOTBALL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 7564, 7 May 1919, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

MAORIS' WIN.

GREAT TACKLERS AND VERY

SPEEDY

No Rugby football was possible in the London district on Saturday, all the fixtures being scratched, says the "Daily Mail." Wale 3 was more fortunate, but it was found impossible to play the match at Blaina against Abertillery.

Considerable interest attached to the visit of the Maoris, who had not been seen on the "All Whites"

ground at Swansea for 30 years. During that wonderful tour the visitors were only once defeated in the Principality, and that was when the late Harry Bovain dropped a goal against them, which was the margin of the •Maoris' defeat.

The new Maoris, who won by 10 'points to 3, are a very strong, fast, and powerful side with abilities much above the ordinary. Their first score by Barclay was very . cleverlyobtained after some delightful handling, and once they secured the lead they pressed home their advantage to the full. Swansea were very unfortunate in losing the services of Flynn, their smart outside half, during the' first quarter.

The chief feature of the play was the great tackling of the Maoris, who brought their men down in very businesslike style. Gardener scored the visitors' second try and Jacobs twice cbnverted. Fowler kicked Swansea's goal from a mark.

The pick of the Maori team vrere Hiroto, Baiflay, Gardener, and Jacobs, while Swansea were best served by Fowler at inside half, Haydn Evans, T. Morgan, and T. Parker. Swansea included some me;; who had not played for neaPly four years, and the result therefore was very creditable, seeing that the Maoris had their strongest available Bide. WATCH THE "ALL BLACKS." At Leicester the ground was on the hard side, but a good game resulted from the meeting of those old rivals Leicester and Gloucester. The pJay reached a very high standard at times, the visitors holding their own j surprisingly well and having bad luck in just tailing to score on two occasions. Leicester had to go all out for their victory, in which, as in three cases in Welsh matches, dropped goals figured. H. L. Day, the old Bedford Modern boy, again figured prominently for Leicester, and. Major H. E. B. Wilkins, the old Catford Bridge captain, now stationed at Grantham, refereed the game admirably. Lieut. L. A. Pantlin had got together a very powerful side at Torquay, drawn from both Services, but the All Blacks won a scrambling game, which was mainly confined to tte forwards, by 3 tries to nil. In the Services' side Hudson, of Gloucester and England, three-quarter back, took the place of Jenkins at left, centre, and the visitors had out their best side, which included R. Bilkey, one of the fastest forwards playing, and a dangerous try-getter. As they get more and more into touch with each other the All Blacks, it is evident, are developing into a great side, and one which will go far in the comirfg tournament. Storey and Bilkey scored tries in the first half, but the place-kicks failed, as did one on crossing over by Bellis.