THE MAORI TOURING TEAM.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3578, 21 December 1926, Page 3

THE MAORI TOURING TEAM.

DEFEAT FRENCHMEN BY 25 POINTS TO 12. Paris, December IS). The Maoris at Beziers, in the Montpellier district, defeated a French team by 25 points to 12. The Maori team was: Love, Falwasser, Pelham, Barclay, Mete, Wineera, Love, Bell, Olsen, Dennis, Manihera, Rika, Robinson, Gerranell and Matene. The game was played in line, cold weather, and was hotly contested throughout. The Frenchmen kicked oil' and Rika got away over the line, but lost the ball when about to score. The Maoris quickly retrieved the error, Pelham scoring a superb try after fifteen minutes’ play, Matene converting with a brilliant kick. A Maori passing rush ended in Falwasser running nearly the length of the field and scoring. The place kick by Mfftene was successful. The French then rallied, but Bell managed to run in, Matene converting, making the score at half-time 15 to nil.

A tussle o)i the home line marked the resumption. Bell twice dribbled over. Matene’s efforts to convert twice succeeded, bringing the score to 25 to nil. The Frenchmen immediately spurted, Battut getting over and Maurv converting. Dupont a moment later got the ball from a throw-in and dropped a fine goal. The score was then 25 —9. Dupont got away and passed to Velat, who scored a try, the match ending:— Maoris 25, Frenchmen 12.