LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 216, 12 August 1937, Page 7

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

MAORIS BEAT AUSTRALIANS. NEPIA PLAYS WELL. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND. Aug. 11. The New Zealand Maori League team sprang a surprise by beating the visiting Australian team by 16 points to five. The Maoris’ 6core 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 ill the full-back position. His line-kicking, although at times erratic, way frequently of great length, while his tackling was very sound. Hemi, who was limping when the game commenced, retired half-way through the first spell, but returned after the interval. However, lie was more or less a passenger throughout. Early in the second spell J. Cootes sustained a nasty cut over the eye and, although he returned with his head and eye-brows heavily plastered, lie was later sent off by the referee for further attention. In addition to Nepia’s fine play, the Maoris owed their win to sound 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 days and last evening were the guests of the Maoris at a function .at Ngaruawahia and did not return to the city until early this morning.