RUGBY FOOTBALL

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 43, 15 November 1926, Page 7

RUGBY FOOTBALL

MAORIS BEATEN BY LLANELLY TOURING TEAM’S DISPLAY DISAPPOINTING MATCH ALMOST SAVED IN LAST FEW MINUTES By Telegeaph.—l’ress Association Copyright. (Rec. November 14, 5.5 p.m.) London, November T 3. Fifteen thousand spectators yvitriessed the Rugby match between Llanelly and the Maoris, which was won by the home team by • 3 points to nil. -Llanelly was in great form.' Threatening weather with -a . high: wind spoilt back play. Though the 'Maoris played with the wind iri the first half, Llanelly did nearly all the pressing. The Maori team consisted of McDonald, Falwasser, Pelham, . Phillips, Bell, Mete, Haupapa, Love, Olsen, Dennis, Wilson, Rika, S. :Gemmell, Matene, and Manihera. ■ / Parker scored a try for the Welshmen after twenty minutes’ play,- but it was not converted, Falwasser . alorie ariiong the Maoris; utilised the wind. The play of. tlie others', was disappointing. When , the Maoris attacked the Llanelly backs tackled- splendidly, ( especially John, Jenkins, and Hay. The half-time whistle, with the scoring unaltered, was greeted with great cheering. - .- - ... - . •■ Assisted by the wind in the half, Llanelly penned the Maoris on their line, Finch, Tom Evans, and Ivor Jones being held up when ’crossing. The Maoris were disappointing, mainly because combination was lacking. Only a great covering defence held Llanelly at bay. John was in fine .form,',and twice nearly dropped a goal. Time and again Llanelly beat the Maori defence. It is recalled that the Maoris ■ placed Pelham at full-back instead of McDonald at one stage, but failed to staye off defeat, though they passed brilliantly during the last few minutes, and almost pulled the game out of the fire, the Llanelly full-back tackling Phillips on the line and so saving the game. Llanellv’s best players were John,* Evans, Jenkins, Jones, and Griffiths. For the Maoris, Phillips, Falwasser, Love, and Matene were the most prominent. •• . ' ■ ' LAWS OF RUGBY ENGLISH UNION’S DECISION TEMPORARY SACRIFICE FOR UNIFORMITY London, November 12. A special meeting of the English Rugby Union unanimously ' decided that the International Board’s laws should be observed for the remainder of the season. ... Mr. Baxter,' the president, said he was most anxious to get unanimity in the laws. The union would, endeavour next March to induce the Interna- ■ tional Board to accept the union’s rules.

Sir Rowland Hill said that the game would be spoiled if tlie laws differed. It was absurd to think of New South Wales in their British tour next season having to discuss in different countries the set of rules under which they had to play. . . The chairman said that the decision showed that ‘England was prepared to make a temporary sacrifice for the sake of uniformity. Her lead syould be reechoed throughout the Rugby world.