DOUR STRUGGLE

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 59, 3 December 1926, Page 13

DOUR STRUGGLE

BETWEEN MAORIS AND LANCASHIRE WON BY VISITORS BY 11 POINTS TO 6 Bt TELEGBAPH.-Rasss Association. CoPVttIGHT. London, December 2. The Maoris defeated Lancashire by three tries, one of which was converted, to an unconverted try and a' penalty goal. The game was played at a great pace throughout. Lancashire on more than one occasion in the second half looked like pulling the game out of the fire, but the full-back, Phillips, was safe.

It was a dour struggle between two Strong packs, in which the Maoris could not claim an advantage, though Robinson, Wilson, and Bell worked tirelessly. Lancashire’s outstanding players were Periton, Rigby, and Woolier, but the backs were beaten for speed, especially by the inside men. The Maoris played an open game. Their passing was sometimes erratic, although strong backing up retrieved many mistakes. Falwasser scored an early try, which Love converted, and Pelham crossed, but the kick was not successful. Wilson scored an unconverted try for Lancashire. After the interval Robinson scored for the Maoris, but the kick failed, and Ogden replied with a penalty goal. Falwasser dropped many passes. Barclay was always dangerous, and with quick bursts along the line made many Openings. Lancashire were comparatively slow, but their tackling was deadly. They gave their best exhibition of the season. The Maoris lined out as under: — Phillips, Falwasser, Pelham, Barclay, Kingi, Wineera, Love, Bell, Olsen, Dennis, Wilson, Hika, Gemmell, Crawford, Robinson.