WIN FOR MAORIS

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 49, 22 November 1926, Page 7

WIN FOR MAORIS

BLACKHEATH BEATEN BY 9 POINTS TO 5.

A HARD STRUGGLE BY Telegraph.—press association. Copyright. (Rec. November 21, 5.5 p.m.) London, November 20. The Maori Rugby team beat Blackheath by 9 points to 5. ’Hie Innco of Wales was present at the match and shook hands with the teams. Mr. Coates also attended. . Haupapa, although not playing, changed iuto football clothes and led a war dance. . ... Kain all night had soddened the turt, resulting in a very greasy ball, making handling most difficult. The teams wore:— Maoris: Potaka. Falwasser, 1 ciham, Phillips, Kingi, Wincera, Love, Bell, Olsen, Dennis, Rika, Wilson, latana, Manihera, and Robinson. Blackheath: King-Turner, Sir inomas Devitt, Kendal. Bishop, Wynne, Young, Kemp, Chichester, Bonaventura, Ryder, Pratten, Gwynne, Haslett, Brashier and Rodham. - . , The Maoris started shakily, Blackheath pressin" for the first quarter ot an hour, and once crossing the line, but the referee ordered a line-out. Subsequently Rika broke away and Tatana carried on a good run, but the pass was intercepted. The Maoris were again forced to play on the defensive, although they made several breakaways, in one of which Falwasser got in a sixty yards’ run before he was thrown into touch, with several colleagues waiting to take a pass. Phillips started a Maori offensive, from a scrum, and continued attacking until a free kick relieved the pressure on Blackheath’s defence. Love spoiled a chance to score by hanging on to the ball. Young broke through the Maoris in vigorous style, and passed to Pratten, who scored a try, which Kemp converted. Half-time found the scores:— Blackheath 5 Maoris 0 Immediately plav was resumed in the second spell the Maoris attacked, Robinson, Bell, and Falwasser combining in an excellent dribble, till Phillips picked up, and beat several opposijj" players, only to be tackled when within inches of the line. Manihera secured the ball from a scriun, put down his head, and forced bis way across. Potaka failed with the kick. The Maoris continued to press, but their passes went too often at random. Falwasser got over the line, but the referee ruled that a pass from Pelham had been forward. Kingi dashed round a scrum, and sent the hall in to Dennis, who scored, bu.t Potaka was unable to add a goal. Devitt made a great run, but was grassed opportunity by 801 l with a magnificent tackle. The Maoris’ butter condition enabled them to continue their attacks, and Rita forced his wav over the line Potaka’s kick, however, was a failure. The Maoris’ victory was due to great forward piny. Bell, Kingi, Pelham, and Lovo were also excellent.

FINANCIAL PROSPECTS OF TOUR London, November 19. It is expected (lint the Maori football team’s tour will be a financial success. as the gates have been fairly good despite the coal strike, though (he Welsh ggfes were affected. The French Rugby Federation anticipates that the lour will cost <£1?.OOO to 4)13,0(10. The first half of the tour in Franco realised «C4OOO. The games in England nre expected to return A’GOOO thus, with an improvement in the exchange rate, the federation should make about .£lOO profit, but much depends on the final match.—Sydney “Sun” Cable.