FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10305, 4 August 1911, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

WAIRARAPA (3) v. MAORIS (3)

A largo crowd witnessed the Rugby football match at Carterton yesterday afternoon, between Wairarapa aid the Maori representative touring team. The teams were as follow : WAIRARAPA.—FuII back, Wi | Brown (Gladstone), three-quarters, E. Mason (Gladstone), P. Thompson (Gladstone), K. Welch (Red Star); five-eighths, C. Groube (Carterton), Tori Ratima (Gladstone); half, 1« • Groube (Carterton), wing, A. Ross (Red Star); forwards, N. Johnson i (Gladstone), W. King (Masterton), A. Miller (Red Star), P. Bond (Carterton), A. Hodge (Gladstone), R. Spack- | man (Masterton), F. Brough (Carterton). _ . MAORIS. Full-back, Erekana (Poverty Bay); three-quarters, Rogers (Rotoru'a), Kaipara (Poverty Bay), Ryland (Poverty Bay); five-eighths, Porohiwi (Hawke's Bay), Kongo Nuku (Bay of Plenty); half, M. Piki (Canterbury); wing forward, Makahun (Hawke's Bay); forwards, Kouka (Poverty Bay), Simpkins (Whakatane), | Moana (Poverty Bay), Takarangi, captain. (Wanganui), Dawson (Hawke's Bay), Burnett (Otago), Cocurau©

(Auckland). The visitors won the tors and elected to play with the wind at their backs. Wairarapa kicked off, ' and soon .after the commencement the Maoris were awarded a free-kick within easy range of the goal. This opportunity to score Avas lost, Rogers failing in the attempt. For a time the reds had somewhat the better of the game, during which time the ball was cleverly handled by Piki, Nuku and Kaipara. The two latter players were particularly dangerous, owing to their speed. On several occasions Nuku inaugurated passing rushes, and things looked rather black for Wairarapa, but the fleet-footed Maori was,not so good, at passing the leather, or else the next man was bad at taking it. This faulty play cost the visitors many chances. At centre three-quarters Kaipara was excellent and if it were not for the homo forwards keeping the game close it would have been a hard matter to stop him once he got going. In the whole-of the n?st spell the game was very even. The greens were too faW in the forward section for the heavy Maoris, but in the backs the reverse was tho case. The clever little Maori half. Piki, succeeded in marking the ball at about the twenty-five line, and Rogers lacked a splendid goal. This was the only score of the first half, and the bell rang with the Maoris attacking. \ On resuming the Maoris started one of their fast back rushes, and it looked as if a score were certain, but K. Welch neatly intercepted, and the 1 Maoris were sent scurrying back to defend,their line, which they managed in a very effective manner: For the • greater part of the second half the play was much the same as it war. in the first, each having tho advantage alternately. In the scrums Wairarapa secured the ball on most occasions, .while in the line-out the Maoris were nearly always successful in tipping the leather to their backs, who lost very little time in starting their passing rushes. These, however, were rendered fruitless by the good play of the home backs, of whom Welch and the two Groubes were very good in defensive work. Wairarapa were awarded a free kick, and, outside the twentyfive line, from a difficult angle, Hodge . kicked a beautiful goal, thus equalising the score. From this out the Wairarapa forwards, with Spackman nearly always to the fore, made desperate attempts to cross the line, but were unable to break through the solid' Maori defence. The game ended with Wairarapa attacking, but the scores unchanged: On the whole, there was little to choose between the two teams. The Maoris certainly had a wonderful combination, but the forwards were hardly fast enough. The Maori captain, Takarangi, was a good leader. He was the pick of the visiting forwards, and he kept his men well together. The Wairarapa backs were not equal to the opposing backs, but the forward section, although not so heavy, were faster than the Maoris, and were thus able to quite hold their own. Miller, Spackman and Ross were perhaps the best of ,the pack. Tho 'Maoris are certainly a fine lot of play- , ers, and, with a few more hard matches ought to improve considerably. In open play the fast backs would:be dangerous against any team. The Wairarapa men, who suffer from lack of combination, are to be congratulated orf the'excellent fight'they put up. Mr E. McKenzie made a perfect referee, his decisions meeting with the approval of all; ■