MAORIS V. NORTH OF IRELAND

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 337, 26 January 1889, Page 3

MAORIS Y. NORTH OF IRELAND

and a try, and Trinity was afforded a splendid chance of scoring by fcho Maori back failing to catch Stack's kick-ofl", but the forward ,who was first up failed to get possession, and a scrummage was formed in front of the Maori goal. ffere they worriod each other tor the remainder of the time, a kick by Browning, who tried for touch, just going into touch in goal, and soon afterwards all was over, with Oho ball in close pioximity to the New Zealand goal. It was a much better match than that, ot Saturday, the Maoris playine much more brilliantly, although both Keogh and Warbrick wore great Ios&op. Elliott wa& \ cry clever, the big forwards, Williams and Stewart, playing very well, but Tuiaroa and Taare woi-e very rough. Every one of the Trinity forwards played well, and their quarteis weie about equalty brilliant and determined. By the English method of scoring- Trinity won, but by the Irish rule 1? tho match must remain a draw greatly in favour of Dublin, as follows :—: — Dublin University. 1 goal 1 try 4 minois Maoris .. 1 goal 1 try 1 minor

This match was played at Belfast on the sth of December. The " Belfast News Letter" says :—-The visitors who came to tho city on Tuesday night, after their deteat of Ireland, and their draw with Dublin University, were-in good foim, and elicited the admiration of the spectators whon they made their appearance on the tield. The team \\ Inch had been selected to do battJe for the North was a good all-round one, and certainly they have not the slighter reason to feel ashamed of the display which they made against such a strong combination as the New Zealanclert?. The home team winning the toss, electod to defend the Blackhou°e goal, and the vi&itors put the leather in motion, the play tor a considerable time boing confined to Maori territory. Although the North had decidedly the best of the game at this point, they could not break through the splendid defence of the visitors, and tho venue was soon changed to homo tenitory, where some stili play took place. In a short time, however, the North torwards got away, and for a long time the Maoiis were on thoir defence, but nothing zesulted, and until half-timo the play was ot a '^ivo-and-take character neither side gaining any .appreciable advantage. \V hen the whistle announced a tempoiary cessation of hostilities the score was—Tho Alaon-, nil: North of Ireland, nil. On changing sides Johnston kicked off, but the leather was immediately returned, and went into touch within the Noith t.\\enty-!i\e. On tho leather coming out the North men worked it well into the strangers' territory, but the Maoris defended well and tho ball went to mid field, where some >ci umraagincf took place, ot which the Noith had the best, bringing the leather well within their opponents' territoiy. Here the North made a good attempt to scoie, but tho defence was too good, and the forward di\i«uon of the &ti angers getting a chance eariied the ball inside the North twenly-ii\e, where a great deal of scrummaging took place, without, however, any result. Mid field was then the ccene of operations tor a time, until the Noi tl) got away, and "\\eie gaining lapidly when the ball went into touch. After this the Maoiiti £o( away and earned the leather into close pioximity to the Noith goal, whete a maul t<*ik place, out of "which Gage (visitors) gained a try, which William? failed to improve upon. Johnston restarted the leather, and the play took place for sorno time in the vicinity of the half - way Hag, but x>he Maoris again got through, and scoied, the point being, however, disallowed. The visitors scored a try immediately afterwauls, and Williams was again unsuccessful in the attempt to convert ifc into a goal. Tho play was of a give-and-take character after this, and neither side obtained any great advantage, the visitors having, it anything, the be.-t of the game. When the referee's whistle was heard, the Maoris were the victors, the score being — Maoris .. 2 trios and 2 minors North of Ireland 2 minors