FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 10 September 1931, Page 2

FOOTBALL

[WALLABIES BEAT MAORIS. BY 14 POINTS TO 3. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association) PALMERSTON NORTH, Sppt. 9. ( In the presence of a crowd of about Seven thousand, the “Wallabies” today defeated the Maoris by 14 'points to 3, after a great game. The ground was heavy after the morning rain, but the afternoon was line and the game spectacular, considering the conditions. The Australians scored the first try fifteen minutes after the start. It was a very good one, both Backs arid for- / wards combining in a pretty movement. Ross converted. For the rest of the spell, however, the Maons had the better of It, but could only score once. In the second spell the Wallabies . were definitely superior, their backs being, brilliant. The score would have been larger, had the forwards been able to handle better, as two simple tries were missed when they had nothing to stop them. The Wallabies won the toss and Bell kicked off for Kaua to give the initial advantage to the Maoris with a good line kick. The Wallabies worked their way back. Bennett's attempt to get his backs going was smothered, bait the Maoris were penalised for shepherding, The first' thrill came when Gemmel broke away with a great *>run, before passing to MacDonald, whose reverse pass went astray. A long kick transferred the scene of opeiv ations and the first score oame when Bennett worked the blind side and gave a nice pass to Hemingway, who drew the defence and fired a long pass infield to Cerutti, who sent Judd over by the posts. Ross converted. The Wallabies were throwing the ball about, but Rata, taking the ball off Sfieggall’s boot, raced away on bis own, kicking over Ross, who, however, was equal to the occasion. Three penalties to the Maoris saw the. game in front of the posts; when a scrum was formed. Harrison came round the blind side, dummied his way between two Wallabies, and passed to MacDonad. Ross tackled him on the line, but fiis weight. carried him over for a splendid try. There was no further score in the first half, the Maoris holding a territorial advantage for the rest of the spell.’ . •( . A. succession of passing rushes signalled the opening, of the second half, and then . Perrin was instrumental in taking the game to the corner, where the Wallabies tried upavailingly to get over. They then sent the ball across the chain of backs to' Tolhurst, who was grassed by Johnson. The ball Q went back in front of the goal, where H r. the Maoris were penalised. Ross bad an easy kick, but the ball hit the upright, rebounding into play. The Wallabies sustained the brilliant. Maori rushes were halted by Ross. Then Bennett sent his backs rway again, and from a short punt to Harrison, who. was caught in possession, the Wallaby forwards had the ball afc'their feet and the way to the line clear, but they failed to seore. Ross, however, added three points when a Maori was penalised for standing offside. Australia followed this with a series of brjllianit attacks, the wings can- . tring when pushed for room, and had the Maoris on the run. The green forwards had another clear run to tb« line, but over-tan the ball. Towers then found the line right on the corner, and Bonis scored from the resultant melee. Ross failed to convert with a difficult kick. The Australian forwards wer e hard to stop at this stage and the next score came when Cerutti broke through with the ball at his feet. Johnson got- it, but was downed and lost possession, Steggall gathering in ■ and racing over under the posts. Ross again failed to convert. Over the final stages the Maoris played with, renewed vigour and the game "was becoming willing. A very good Maori passing rush broke down near the line, Ruru failed to accept .; a difficult pass. They then .tried the other side, Walford and Rata going to the corner. Both sides were firing the ball about. Hemingway made a great run down the line, but over-kicked for the Maoris to force. Just before time the Wallabies were attacking on the line, but, Purdue and Wilson broke up a bark movement an,d worked their way to half way, where a long kick by Ross, and the game ended. Mr R. J. Paton was referee. .

OTAGO TROUNCE TARANAKI VISITORS’ BACKS TOO GOOD. HAWERA, September 9. Otago’s Rugby touring r.presentntives cone 1 ink'd their North Island engagements this afternoon by trouncing Taranaki to the tune of 28 points (six tries three converted, and a field goal) to eight points (two tries, cue converted). Despite the sodden ground and the greasy ball the Otago backs gave n clever display, particularly in the second spell, when they opened up play to over-run their opponents. The back combination, Simon, Bathgate, H. Fookcs and Smith, were very sound. The team was without the All Black Hore, who is resting with a slight attack of influenza, but it is expected ■that lie will be fullv fit for the Ranfurly Shield game with Canterbury cn Saturday. In his absence to-day len, the wiug-ihreequarter, led the team, and proved one of the day’s best backs. Taranaki was reoresented by one of its strongest teams this season, except for the defection of Gudgeon the province’s best f°r many

years. Tho inside hacks were glaringly weak on defence, their failure to even attempt orthodox tackling, frequently meaning disaster. The forwards were evenly matched, Taranaki holding the visitors easily in close order play. Otago opened their discount in the first spell after three minutes’ play, when the rover, Laiug,- who was prominent throughout capped a forward sortie, with an unconverted try. Taranaki retaliated within a few moments, a forward attack ending an a score bv the c-entre-Jdireequarter, K. Fookes. Collins converted. Bathgate and H. Fookes paved the way for Otago’s next try, the winger, Proctor, touching down. At half-time the scores read: Otago (i, Taranaki 5. Otago piled up the points in the second session, mainly through the clever handling and resource of their hacks, the ball often going right through the chain front the half-back to the wing-three-quarter, with sometimes a reverse movement when blocked on the flank. Gluston (2), Proctor, and Allen provided finishing efforts Jo combined Otago attacks, two tries being converted by Souter and one by Nicholson, while Bathgate potted a field goal. Taranaki’s only try was the outstanding effort of the day, all the backs handling for the winger, Hunter, to score.