MAORIS ON TOUR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18533, 15 July 1922, Page 6

MAORIS ON TOUR

The following are details of the Maoris’ second game against New South Wales:—For the Maoris Peina, his face thickly plastered to cover his scars of the previous game, though possibly the smallest player in the team, was the strength of jthe side. He was

surprisingly fleet of foot, passed accurately, and was enterprising and clear headed. His try was the reward of a most meritorious run along the wing, beating the deadly tackling of j both Stanley and Taylor by a fraction. I Phillip’s try, converted by Jacobs, was the reward of persistently following up a remote chance. Akuira. was always prominent for tho All Blacks, both in attack and defence. Matai. the Maori full-back, played a good game. On the few occasions he dropped the ball he saved by throwing himself on it. A Maori onslaught was just saved by a clever mark by Fox. A. good threequarter passing rush by the Blues was stopped by Jacobs downing Louden. Jaeobs ran almost the width of the field, but gained scarcely a yard before passing to Peina. From a dribbling rush in centre-field. Elliott (N.S.W.) secured, and, after a good run, passed to Smith, who was stopped on the line. A few minutes later Taylor got away with a good run to the left wing, but Stanley fumbled a difficult pass. Another good passing rush was spoiled for the Blues by Taylor knocking on. From a couple of rucks, the All Blacks initiated a rush, and, on reaching the New South Wales’ 25, centred only to be stopped by Nothling marking accurately. Bell was playing a good game for the All Blacks, picking up very cleverly from the rucks. The Blues dribbled into the Maori 25, Humphries initiated a useful run, and passed to Taylor, who crossed and converted from a difficult angle. The Blues took up the offensive from the kick, and immediately looked like scoring in the right corner, but Peina stopped Shute. An attempt ata penalty goal by Louden failed. The game opened out, and the kicking back and forth gave Nothling an opportunity to show his reliability. His attempt at a penalty goal from half-way just missed. From a Blue dribbling rush, Davis put in a pseful run, but Holdsworth took a pass off-side. From some desultory play in the centre. Phillips saw an opening, and followed it all the way, scoring under the post. Jacobs converted. From the kick the Blues took up the attack, and Raymond put up a splendid run along the left wing, beating Jacobs, but being stopped by Matui. A few minutes later Stanley had an unsuccessful shot at goal, and Shute put in a sprint to touch down, but the ball was dead before he reached it. Continuing the onslaught. Nothling potted for goal, but missed. Humphries was more successful a few minutes later, nothching a penalty goal. From the. kick Humphries dribbled across the Maori line, and the umpire gave Davis what seemed a doubtful touch. Louden failed to convert. Resuming the second half, Jacobs, the Maori captain, was missing, an injury to the knee keeping him off. His place*was taken by Bell, from the forwards, who was relieved by Tait. Hardly had the half started, when Akuira initiated a splendid run. passing to the fleet-footed Peina. at whose legs Stanley dived a fraction too late. Taylor made i g.,o<i tackle, but P&na was over. Akuira kicked the goal from a difficult angle.

For the first time in the day, the crowd was brought to rts feet with excitement, as the Blues made assault after assault, the All Blacks saving and counter-attacking.' Shute, at the Blue back, saved, put in his run prettily, arid booted, for Cooney to follow on and score. Nothling missed the kick. Another Blue assault- was just saved by Peina, whose nippy play was very fine. Akuira, who was awarded a free kick as a result of Humphries interfering, failed in his attempt at goal. His subsequent attempt from 60 yards fell a long way short. From an excellent kick-out near the touch-line by Nothling, the Blues pressed. Elliott, who was knocked out in the line-out, was replaced by Ferguson. Shute secured from a three-quarter rush, and. after

a brilliant run, crossed over. Louden again failed at the kick. It was found, on resuming, thajb Potaka had a shoulder injury. He wfts replaced by Pine. On the rally, M‘Kay crossed over from a rus’h on the boot. New South Wales, 23; Maoris, 10. The final scores—New South Wales 28, Maoris 13 —were a fair criterion of the jelative merits of the day's play.