Australians Impressed By Type Of Play

Chronicle (Levin), 23 May 1949, Page 7

Australians Impressed By Type Of Play

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuter

CoDvriffht)

Eeceived Sunday, 7 p.m. MELBOURNE, May 22. The Maori All JBlacks defeated Australian Southern States by 35 points to eight. The erowd numbered 10,000, the seeond iargest in the history of the Union code in Victoria. Midway in the second half Couch dislocated his left shouider and exchanged plaees with the winger Cherrington. After the game the shouider was reslipped into position. Couch had a similar aecident to his right shouider in New Zealand last year. He hopes to be fit to piay against- New Soutli Wales at'.Sydney on May 28. The physique of the Maori' forwards astonished the Southerners. They outweighed the Australians by almost two stone a man. Despite the weight disadvantage the Southern hooker, N. Precklington, was little inferior whilst the ex-English policeman held Blake and Eeid in the line-outs. The superiority of the Maori forwards established rucking and froni this the half set the backs moving for orthodox tries. Kenny uiade an extra man on many occasions. Couch penetrated his weak tackling opposite, W. Moreland. Beasley made a successful wing debut, scoring three copybook tTies. Cherrington thrilled with his speed, frequently palining off K. Palmer. The ground was holding and the Maoris- revelled- in the conditions featuring sure-footedness and neatness of handling, butthe task was the easiest as their opponents were not notable for skill "'though game' tackletk On' octasiohs the Maoris interceptjj'd wiid' passes and converted defence -into attack With the forwards backing up. The tackling of the Maoris was uhsatis factory though no doubt they would do better under more testing' eonditions. ■ The Maoris play Canberra on Wednesday. For the Maoris Beasley scored three tries, Couch two, Cherrington two, Taylor and Smith oue each. Kenny kicked four goals. The Sunday papers give prominence to the Maori Eugbv Union team's win in the flrst match at Melbourne. In the Sun, E. W. Kann comments: "Barry Beasley, selected for the tour as five-eighth, made good as a winger. He scored three of the Maoris' nine tries and missed a fourth when he knocked on in jumping for the ball over the goal line after following a kick through by the centre, Taylor. The tourists f ul'filled' Tom Freneh 's declaration that the Maoris^ were out tb plj'ay: open football.-vSeveral players handled in eveTv try getting-mov-ement and at times tries cattie after- a chaim of passes 'among the batiks. In the flrst half the Maoris, r with their siirfeit of the ball, were not impressive-.but their second half burst caused a revision of 'opinion. They raced over the Sodden area in hue style and handled with great sureness until they were tired in the closing stages -w^H^they—tostttsco tries through mishandling. Cherrington was promixlent and when mbved- t'o flve-eigh'th, showed trickiness of foot that* enabled him to beat the ;def erffleis. ' ' Tn the Sunday Tel&graph, Phil Trqssidder says: "On a- ground made heavy, by ov.enjight rain; the MaoTis played a 6pectacular type of , f pptfjall , fhat will make t-hem crowd pleasers in-r.Sydney and Brisbane. ...Most of , the -Maori -f o.r.jvards are lacking ' -in condition- but should reach form for the flrst Test. Considering the eonditions, it was notable that all the visitors' tries were scored by the backs."