THE MAORI TEAM.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 847, 20 June 1910, Page 6

THE MAORI TEAM.

DECISIVE DEFEAT AT SYDNEY. By Teleerar>tt—Press Association—ConyriEM (Eec. June 19, 7.30 p.m.) Sydney, June 19. As a prelude to the Maori match the American University team played its first match in Australia against Sydney University. The visitors displayed a fine knowledge of the game.. In the first spell they led by six to nil, but in the second half the Sydney lads' form stood by them, and they scored rapidly, the Americans failing to score. The game resulted in a win for Sydney University by 17 to G.

Fully 15,000 persons, including the State Governor (Lord Chelmsford), were present when tho Maoris commenced their game' against New South Wales. The following were tho teams.—

Maoris.—Back, Poananga; three-quar-ters, Kawiri, Winiata, and Kaipara; halves, Stead and-Pike; forwards, Takorangi, Hall, Tipene, Cunningham, Tainu, W. Winiata, Small, and Burnett.

New South Wales.—Back, Dwyer; threequarters, Gregory, Adamson, Dunbar, and Prentco; halves, Hodgkin and Wood; forwards, Griffin, jiiddleton, darken, Prowse, Stuart, George, Fnhey, and Row.

Tho game was a remarkable one, and in the matter of form it was difficult to realise that the Maoris were the same team in 'the second half as that which played so dismally in tiro first spoil.

Tho whole of the first interval was practically spent in Maori territory. The Maori team went- sluggish to a degree. Tho back division could not got the ball at all.

It must be admitted that tho brilliant passing of the local men completely beat tho Maoris, and score after score eamo with almost wearying frequency, Gilbert. Row, and George playing finely. 1 Tire first spell ended with 24 points to the local foam's credit. It might havo been 2S, but for Gregory's failure- to convert a couple of reasonable goals. ■ The second spell saw a wonderful change. Tho Maori temperament became mercurial, and Stead did his utmost to spur liis side. W. Winiata and Rot~>r fi stood out well in their play. W. Winiata drew first blood for the Maoris with «■ lucky goal from a froe-K-iclc. Tho ball struck tho post, but bounced in on. tho rigit sido of the-tim-4w.

Hodgkin, for New South Waks, got af try, the only one, for tho local men in tho second spell, but the- shot at goal failed. The Maoris rushed down, and Hall eot over, Takarangi kicking a really fine goal. The visitors now worked like Trojans, and pressed their opponents, with the result that Sellars dashed ovcr. ; . Takorangi added vantage points, converting what looked like a hollow victory into a reasonable defeat of 27 to 13. The New South Wales team played brilliantly throughout.