MAORI FOOTBALLERS. RETURN TO THE COLONIES. INTERVIEW WITH THE MANAGER.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 373, 1 June 1889, Page 6

MAORI FOOTBALLERS. RETURN TO THE COLONIES. INTERVIEW WITH THE MANAGER.

On board the steamer Oroya, which reached Adelaide the. other day, were the team of Maori footballers who have been touring England during the past six months. Ib will be remembered that the managers of the team, ab considerable expense, engaged the services of J. Lawlor with the view of having the A3apris instructed in the peculiarities of the Australian game and enabling them to play a series of matches with the leading teams of South Australia and Victoria on their return. The team were to have played matches v South Australia, but, owing;- to a palpable mistake, the dates were fixed too soon, and the-fixtures had to lapse. The South Australian Football Association declined to give their patronage to the Maoris, but the Kensington Association, under whose auspices the matches were to have been played, made no provision for meeting tlie visitors on their arrival. Considerable surprise was manifested by the team when they found the way they had been treated by the South Australians, as they had anticipated a two weeks' stay in Adelaide. , t Mr J. R. Scott, in the course of a con versation with a representative of *'Th' Melbourne Herald," gave some information on the subject of the tour. "We have been away," said Mr Scotb, "six month's, and the trip, so far as the game itself was concerned, was a wonderful success. We are all exceedingly pleased, and our conquests exceeded the most sanguine expectations, While in England they little expected to find us such able exponents of the Rugby game, and they opened their eyes considerably when at the start we vanquished Surrey and Rent. Toour splendid start I mainly attribute the success which attended the venture ab home. They had little idea of our capability, and were fairly startled when we ttiumphed over such doughty opponents. We played, as you know, in all seventyfour yames, which was an exceptionally long: programme, and proved a great strain on the Imen. We trained sedulously on our way/ | home, and were in excellent trim when westarted, despite the fact that the matches j were arranged for much sooner than we expected. YVe used to play four and five matches a week, and we were banqueted' everywhere we went, and spent a large ! amount of time in the railway train. I think it wonderful that the boys were able to stand the trip in the manner they did. We won forty-nine ■ games — more than two-thirds — and drewfive, and you must remember they were all! against superior teams, and altogether we) kicked 92 goals and we had 115 tries, and/ our antagonists could only muster an aggregate of 43 goals and 59 tries. We werewonderfully fortunate as regards the' weather, and I think there was onlyone engagement that was interfered with. We have been treated right royally at home ; in fact, too well. The attendances at most of our matches were gratifying. Eighteen thousand people on more than one occasion, were present, ana the greatest excitement' prevailed. Bub much more interest is now taken in the Aseociation than in the Rugby game. In Yorkshire and Lancashire we met with most success as far as gate money is concerned. The people in these districts became perfectly wild with excitement, and old women joined with the others in watching the sport. Volleys of stones were thrown at us more than once", so great was 1 the excitement of the onlookers. Well, with regard to the financial aspect of the ; tour I may say it was fairly satisfactory. The expenses were terribly high, but I think I may safely say we will not be out of pocket. Some of our men were rather* badly hurt during tiie tour, bub they have recovered. We were when our success was first established accused of playing: roughly, but this was untrue and our men genetally came off worst in the way of accidents. I believe our players will do well with the 4 Australian game, and as they have gob/ a good idea of it, are good marks, and can all kick well, . with practice they will soon become proficient. We intend giving exhibition matches when we reach our native land where I expect a big reception awaits us. The team have worked well together, and thoroughly enjoyed themselves." Questioned as to the probability of another team of Maoris going home, Mr Scotb stated that if another football team went from New Zealand it would nob be compoeod solely of natives, but would be a representative one.