FOOTBALL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19733, 30 December 1926, Page 3

FOOTBALL

MAORIS BEAT CARDIFF NARROW VICTORY IN HABDFOUGHT GAME. LONDON. Dec. 28. The Maoris defeated Cardiff by five points to three. Some 25,000 people witnessed the Maoris score a magnificent victory after a tremendous struggle. The Cardiff pack’s characteristic fierce rushes severely tried the Maoris’ defence, and on several occasions a score was only averted in the nick of time. Auld was once pulled down within a yard of the line. It was a ding-dong game throughout the first half. The first score was secured thre minutes before the interval, Lee throwing out a clever pass and enabling Williams to gain a magnificent try, which Wade did not convert. The Maoris altered their tactics in the second half, adopting short passing, which immediately made them more dangerous. Falwasser was prominent in several dashing runs. Barclay missed one chance by overrunning the ball when in a good position. Play continued most vigorously, and Cardiff had the greatest difficulty in keeping the Maoris out.. Half an hour before the end Kingi secured a clever try, following a scrum near the Cardiff line, and Potaka converted. There was no further score.