MAORIS LOSE TEST

Chronicle (Levin), 27 June 1949, Page 7

MAORIS LOSE TEST

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Australia Shows Tourists How To Play

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Received Sunday, 7 p.m. SYDNEY, June 26. Tn the third and linal Rugby Union test.of the Maori tour, a vast'ly improved Australian team defeated the Maoris 18 — 3 at the Sydney ■. ' Cricket G-round. Australia 's points came from f our tries, three" of which were eonverted by Piper. For the, Maoris, Kenny kicked a penalty. Tn conditionst whieh favoured forward play .but * yet gave the baeks a chance to work, Australia demonstrated that they had learued mauy things from the Maori forwards. Tliey unleashed a powerful, determined paek which at times swarmed all over the Maori defence, eatching Raureti iu possession at the base of the scrum aud eharging down the inside backs. These were the tactics which largely accounted for the Maoris' hitherto undefeated record in Australia, but in addition Australia had a fast and hard worlcing baclc line ably led by Allan and well served by Burke and Emery. The Maoris had more than their share of attacking but the Australian defence was rocklike with a great deal more than the usual amount of solid tackling. The Maoris fought back with all they had but on the day it was not enough. Australia: Fullback, B. Piper; tlireequarters (four), J. Fogarty, J. Bromley, T. Allan, J. Solomon; live-eighths, A*. Emery; half, C. Burke; forwards, C. Windon, A. Buehan, D. Brockhoff, N. Shchadie, P. Hardc'astle, J. Baxter, N. Oottreil, £. Tweedale. ) Maoris: Fullback, Kenny; thre.e quarters, Cherrington, Taylor, Deiamere; live-eighths, Beazley, Couch; half, Raureti; forwards, Blake, Stirling, Marriner, Reid, R. Ilohaia, Heperi, Matthews, W'est. The game was plaved in perfect weather but the ground was marred uy a huge pateh of black mud extending round the test wickets and fully forty yards across. Thirty thousand people saw the match despite the eomplete cancellation of special trams and buses. A few minutes after the commenconient of the match,' Delemere came close to scoring but Fogarty caught

him from behind, Then Brockhoff, ' followiug through frbrn a' scrum on the Australian " twenty-live, tackled Raureti early. ,The resuEing penalty was easy work for Kenny. Maoris 3 — 0. Almost at onee Australia came back with a -brilliant movement which the Maoris eould not hold. From a scrum only a few yards from the Australian line, the Australian baeks got moving in a movement whieh led to Windon gathering and diving over the' line. Piper eonverted. Australia 5 — 3. Midway in the iirst- . half play . ehanged ends. rapicjfy. First the Maoris erossed the Australian line and then Windon, erashing across with two Maoris hanging on to him, v as thrown into toueh in goal. Then Couch, Beazley and Taylor went in a beautiful passing movement which was taken over by the forwards Stirling and Marriner but Solomon intercepted and prevented what seemed a eertain scoie. The Maoris were unlucky again when Cherrington got away but his pass infield was forward. Allan ran Australia into an , attacldng position. . Brockhoff whipped round a «ot scrum and toed the ball from Raureti 's hands with Windon and Cottrell in elose support. The 'Australian forwards swept down on Kehny, who took the ball but fumbled. Brockhoff fielded the rolling ball and went over in a handy position. Piper eonverted. Australia 10 — 3. The first twenty minutes of the seeond half brought no change of fortunrto the Maoris. Several times the crowd roared at what onlookers took to be lighting in the scrums but thj refereeMr. L. C. Tomalin, saw nothing untoward from his "ringside" position. From a set scrum near the Australian line, Burke eut through into the mud and passed to Brockhoff. He5 was tackled by Kenny but passed to" Windon who passed two Maoris and sent on to Allan. Allan was well taken but Blomley received and erossed in the eorner. Piper 's kick failed. Australia 13—3. Five minutes Jater came Australia 's f ourth try. From a scrum on the Maori twenty-live, the ball went to Blomley who reversed to Emery. Brockhoff came through at speed to take the ball and erash over. Piper eonverted. Australia 18 — 3. The Maoris kept up the pressure and could have scored at any stage of tht last flfteen minutes.