MAORI RUGBY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 434, 16 August 1928, Page 6

MAORI RUGBY

TRIAL GAME AT ROTORUA BAY OF PLENTY’S WIN (Special to THE SUN) ROTORUA, Wednesday. The final Maori trial match played here to-day between a combined Auckland team and Bay of Plenty resulted in a win for the Bay of Plenty by 13 points to 8, after a sparkling exhibition of Rugby. At the start Bay of Plenty made play very fast and open, and as the result of brililant combined play Keepa scored a try, which was converted. The combined team was playing well, and several times was within an ace of scoring. The first half ended: Bay of Plenty 5, Combined 0. In the second half Bay of Plenty attacked strongly in an open rush, in which several players handled the ball before Corbett scored a try, which was not converted. The Combined team then struck form and carried the ball downfield for Bain to score. The kick failed. As the result of clever play by the Combined team Shortland crossed, and Watene equalised the scores by converting. Play became even faster and more spectacular. In the latter part of the second half Bay of Plenty was losing no chances, and just on the call of time Corbett took a pass and ran from his own twenty-five right down the field, to score between the posts. The try was converted, and the game ended: Bay of Plenty 13, Combined Team 8. The final selection of the Auckland provincial team to play a combined Hawke’s Bay and East Coast side is as follows: Fullback, Wallace or Watene; tlireequarters, Papuni, Turei, Jones; five-eighths, Thompson, Rata; half-back Shortland; rover, Rev. Paki Matene; forwards, Parkinson, J. Rika, M. Rika, Maniapoto, T. Rika, Tamati and Bayne.