RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3540, 21 September 1926, Page 4

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

THE MAORI ALL-BLACKS. Paris, September 18. The newspapers devote columns to comment on the Dijon match, expressing the opinion that as the Burgundians in the second half almost held their own, there is hope that a well-trained team will at least equal the visitors. They emphasise the Maoris excelled in open play, but the Frenchmen were superior in the scrums. The critics praise Shortland, but argue that the fact that the forwards were responsible for four tries, has shown weakness on the part of the three-quarters. The Maoris are most popular, their curiosity and delight at everything seen, making them easy to entertain. They visited the famous vinyard at Cloeveugeot, and sampled the celebrated vintage, at which some grimaced and others immediately appreciated it. The Dijon spectators were de-. lighted when, after the match, the Maoris plunged into the river bordering on the ground, and swain across, one carrying overhead a sheaf of flowers with which the team was presented when they entered] the field. MAORIS SCORE ANOTHER WIN. BIG MARGIN AGAINST ALPES. Paris, September 10. At Grenoble the Maoris beat Alpos by 34 points to six. London, September 10. The Maoris obtained five tries, of which four were converted. The Alpes team scored two tries, neither being converted. The Maori side consisted of Philips, Grace, Potaka, Falwasser, Bell, Lockwood, Shortland, Barclay, Rika, Gemmell, Stewart, Ilaupapa, Tatana, Wilson and Robinson.

The Maoris faced a combination stronger all round than those met at Marseilles and Dijon. The Alpes team set up a strong resistance in the first half in which they were often steadier, but they were unable to cope with the Maoris’ superior attacking movements. In the second half the local team more or less collapsed, the Maoris’ better training and cohesion gradually wearing them down. They obviously lacked the New Zealanders’ fitness. A French rally in the closing stages roused enthusiasm, but it was short-lived. Two out x>f the three tries obtained by the Maoris in the second half were due to mistakes made by the defending side.