PAKEHAS WELL BEATEN.

Shannon News, 15 June 1928, Page 4

PAKEHAS WELL BEATEN.

IN DEWAR TROPHY MATCH. MAORIS SCORE 19 TO THEIR 7. The annual district Rugby! match, Maoris v. Pakehas, was played on the Levin Park Domain Wednesday afternoon, when‘the Natives amply avenged their defeat of last year, winning this time by 19 points to 7, and being entitled to hold the Dewar Trophy until they are defeated. They were the heavier team on Wednesday, and were strong both on attack and defence. It was noticeable also that they' played close together as a pack and seldom became scattered. The Pakehas were agile, and displayed plenty of initiative, but weight and superior combination told against them. Fortunately their backs, partieunuiy Ryder at full, were very useful; otherwise a substantial addiuca ouiu have been made to the score of the Natives, whose three-quarter line was a picture.

The teams took the field as under: —

Maoris (red and blue). —Full back, Taylor; e three-quarters, Roberts, Warren, Wallace; five-eighths, Heta, ,T. Parata; half W. Parata; forwards, Hakaraia (wing), Dick McDonald, Keremaia, Hurst, Tatana, C. McDpnald, K.

Ransfie.ld, and Wehipeihana. Pakehas. (green and white), — Full back, Ryder; three-quarters, Robbie, Westw T oodi Procter; five-eighths, Fuller,, McKenzie; half, Walls; forwards, L. Dalziell (wing), Moodie, Andrews, Ward, Satherley, K. Dalziell, Cole, and McDonald. ' The Pakehas kicked off from the western end, and the ball was “almost immediately returned, ultimately . resulting in a force-down. From a scrum in front of the Green’s goal their backs relieved the pressure somewhat, and when operations were in progress near half-way the Maoris were awarded a free kick. Meta took it and missed by a narrotv margin. The Reds kept up the attack until the defending backs got in some effective footwork, and a series of short punts, with the forwards following up carried the game to the opposite 25. Satherley made a dive for the ball, and lost it, but L. Dalziell gathered it us from the scramble, and, taking several opponents by surprise, scored out towards the corner. McKenzie was unsuccessful with the kick. Pakehas 3, Maoris 0.

The Reds were soon again on the offensive. Following a line-out the Greens were penalised, and the Maori full-back, Taylor, had a shot from near half-way and in line with the goal, but failed to register. A dribbling rush by the Maori forwards sent the ball into the scoring area, with Hakaraia, the winger, close on to it, but he was just beaten for possession. Midfield play was witnessed for a while, prior to the Maoris again invading. The leather travelled from the grandstand side towards the southern touchline. The pack being hard on it, the ball quickly went over the goal line, where Dick McDonald was the first to fall on it. The kick was taken by Tatana at'an angle of 45 degrees, and he shot a pretty goal. Maoris 5, Pakehas 3. ’

The Greens now took a turn at attacking. Warren saved the line from danger, and Fuller shortly afterwards performed the same service for the, Pakeha side. Returning to the charge the Reds had their opponents defending for all they were worth. Taylor punted heartjly, and the follow-up took play to the touch line near the corner. A series of exchanges with the foot took place in Pakehas’ ground, and a free kick nearly gave the Reds a goal. A minute'later they landed it, Taylor putting the ball over from a penalty. Maoris 8, Pakehas 3.

From the kick-off the ball, with the Green mob in hot pursuit, went to the goal-line, where the full-back had to force. Subsequent to loose work at half-way, Robbie got possession, ran well and passed to L. Dalziell, but in the next fliflght it went astray. A momentary excursion by the Greens forced their opponents, who afterwards travelled swiftly down the field. Owing to off-side play they were penalised, and this gave the Greens an ojfportunity of which they took full advantage, invading until they encountered the solid resistance of the Maori three-quar-ter line, which shifted the engagement to half-way. Ryder’s kicking helped the Greens to re-assert themselves, and for a time play centred in the Maori territory, where several scrums gave little advantage to either side. A passing manoeuvre was essayed by the Pakeha backs, but was nullified by Roberts, and their twenty-five, was reached with the aid of a punt by Tatana. A free kick was awarded against the Greens for off-side, but no goal came of it. Some spectacular passing work by the Maoris’ three-quarter line was seen, but they were not sufficiently well supported to enable them- to break through the Pakeha defence. Following one of these interludes, Hakaraia kicked to the corner, where Procter got the ball and was forced out of touch. A free kick against the Reds was taken by Ryder, who returned the play to half-way, where a struggle developed with the odds in favour of the Maoris. Warren passed to Roberts, who kicked up field, but the Greens’ backs cleared. Renewing the attack, the Maoris closed up inside their opponents’ twenty-five, when Warren again secured the ball, this time with a better result, as he dashed over the line and scored against opposition, the tackle coming too late. This time Tatana missed with the kick. Maoris 11, Pakehas 3. The incursion into the Maori quarters was repelled by a free kick to touch at half-way. The line-out was followed by a good deal of scrambling, in which the Greens were getting the upper hand when half-time was reached. Maoris 11, Pakeha 3. In the second spell play livened up considerably. The Greens soon invaded; a long kick from the Maori back division was returned by Ryder. This

event seemed to open the way for an Effective follow-up, and the ball was kept going till it neared the Reds* line; then Wallace, wing three-quarter, grabbed it smartly and put in a run which saved his side from a dangerous , position. Pakehas attacked again, principally by means of dribbling rushes, and the flail was sent out at the corner. After some loose work at their end the Maoris charged up the field, but the ball received more impetus.than was necessary and was kicked oyer the dead-ball line. During another incursion by the Maoris Roberts started a passing movement, but off-side play presented a score. In a little while the Greens were penalised in front of their goal, and Dick McDonald put the ball over. Maoris 14, Pakehas 3; The Reds’ score was shortly increased as the result of a dribbling rush, Warren grounding the ball, and Tatana converting. Maoris 19, Pakehas 3. The struggle became intense after this; the Pakeha side seemed to increase in speed, but the Maoris were playing very solidly* together. The Greens’ full back cleared many times, otherwise the score would undoubtedly have been augmented. Tatana headed one or two likely rushes, but the opposition outstripped his supports. At one stage the Reds reached the corner flag with the ball at the toe, but were unable to break through the Racks. Much scrambling occurred in midfield, where play became fairly rough once or twice. The Greens were able to assert themselves ultimately and the Maoris were held back for a time, relief coming from a passing movement among their three-quarter backs. The venue shifted from one side of the field to the other, without much of definite promise. Once the Greens came near scoring at the corner. Later their full ’back, Ryder, picked up from near halfway and potted a splendid goal. Maoris 19, Pakehas 7. ’ The Greens being penalised, Dick McDonald took a shot at goal, but. missed. Tatana also missed with a penalty kick from a sharp angle. Close play took place on the Reds’ side of the half-way line; then the game wms opened up, towards the finish, by punting on both sides. Further good work was done by the Maori backs in pass- . ing, taking play to the Pakehas’ twen-ty-five and'Jeading to a scrum in front of their goal. The Greens got the advantage, and a return was made to half-way. The ball was kicked out of touch on the Maoris’ side just as time sounded. Maoris 19, Pakehas 7. ~J-c T. Parata was referee.