LEAGUE VICTORY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 176, 12 August 1937, Page 9

LEAGUE VICTORY

■Press Association.)

Maoris Defeat Visiting Footballers NEPIA'S EXCELLENT DISPLAY

(By Telegrraph—

1 AUCKLAND, Last Night. I The New Zealand Maori league team sprang a surprise by defeating the visiting Australian team by 16 points to five, The Maoris' seore consisted of two tries, one converted, and four penalty goals, against Australia's one converted try. , Included in the Maori team was G. Nepia, former All Black. He played an excellent game in the full-back position. His line-kicking, although at timos erratic, was frequently of - greal length, while his tackling was very sound. Hemi, who was limping when the game commenced, retired half-way through tho first spell, but rcturned after the interval. However, he was more or less a passenger throughout. Early in the secoud spell J. Cootes sustained a nasty cut over the eye and, although he returned with his head aud eye-brows heavily plastered, he was later sent off by the referee for furthei attention. Iu addition to Nepia 's fina play, the Maoris owed their win to SQund tackling. The Australian team, however, was the visitors' second selection, the majority of those who played last week being reserved for the second test next Saturday. In addition to this, the Australians had been entertained at Rotorua for two daj^s and last evening were the gucsts of tho Maoris at a furxction at Ngaruawahia and did not return to the city until eariy this morning. A feature of the game was the awarding of numerous penalties against the visitors, who were obviously puzzled by the referee 's decisions in this respect. The day was beautifully fine, and the ground in fair order, and the attendanee was estimated at between 10,000 and 12,000. Two tries for tho Maoris were scored by Broderiek. Hemi converted one and Nepia kieked four penalty goals. For Auslraiia, Currau ncoxed and Bcatou Coayeried-