FIJIANS BRILLIANT IN TEST

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20912, 18 September 1939, Page 10

FIJIANS BRILLIANT IN TEST

MAORI ALL BLACKS BEATEN 14-4 ISLANDERS MAINTAIN UNDEFEATED RECORD RUBBER WON IN SPECTACULAR EXHIBITION It was a great day, a great crowd and magnificent Rugby . . . That, in a nutshell, tells the story of the most brilliant exhibition of football seen in Hamilton for many, years when the clever and versatile Fijian tourists won the only test match of their initial international tour by defeating the New Zealand Maori All Blacks by 14 points to 4, at Rugby Park on Saturday. By winning the game the Fijians won the rubber for the first time, the initial series in Fiji last year between the two native races being drawn. Furthermore, the Islanders finished their highly successful tour to-day with an unbeaten record—a magnificent achievement for a country so young in its experience of Rugby. Fiji is destined to play a big part in the Rugby world. It has started a keen career brilliantly. Almost uncanny in handling the ball, lightning in the pace of their sprinting, relentless in their dive tackling, experienced in combination, and all the time pursuing methods of bright, open football, the Fijians gave a sparkling display and thrilled the large crowd. The Maoris played up to the stout opposition really well. It must be remembered that they were a team without practice, and therefore without combination. As individuals many were outstanding and a little more combination would have given the All Blacks a great chance in a match in which they made the Fijians fight all the way for victory.

Before the largest crowd seen at Rugby Park since the Springboks’ match in 1937, the teams lined out as follows: FIJI Fullback. —I. Korovulavula, Threequarters.—E. Bola, S. Ralawa, J. Voreqe. Five-eighths.—l. Nagatalevu, G. K. Cakobau (captain). Halfback. —J. Wesele. Back Row.—V. Vavaitamana. Middle Row. —P. Lagilagi, A. Tuitavua, S. Qurai, P. Ganilau. Front Row. —V. Loba, T. Vosaicake, S. Vatudau. MAORI ALL BLACKS Fullback.—G. Harvey. Threequarters.—H. Steel, R. L. White, W. J. Phillips. 'Five-eighths.—N. Kotua, T. Wi Repa. Halfback.—J. H. Pile. Back Row. —T. Whitney. Middle Row. —A. West, M. McDonald (captain), D. Tuhoro, P. Smith. Front Row.—E. Jackson, R. W. Winiata, D. Mason. The referee was Mr D. S. B. Heather, of Hamilton, who was controlling his first international fixture. ® About 12,000 people cheered the two native races as they paraded, and the Fijians were given a great ovation as they performed their impressive haka. The New Zealanders won the first scrum but the Fijians soon stifled the movement and Ralawa kicked judiciously to open the first offensive. Then the entire back line went away in evasive running. When the Maoris tried to clear, Korovulavula, the Fijian fullback, ran his team into position and with a brilliant side-step cut into the defence. The captain, Cakobau, came into the picture and then sent Bola sprinting for the line, but Harvey hauled him to the turf with a great tackle. Hard Tackling Already the islanders were giving the crowd an exhibition of fast, open football, and as they threw the ball about with almost reckless abandon, they nevertheless guarded their territory well with hard and accurate tackling. Despite the fact that the scrums and the line-outs were repeatedly in the Maoris’ favour, Wi Repa and Pile were not combining well, and the New Zealanders seldom went into concerted action. Furthermore, the Fijian tackling was brilliant, and clever line-kicking carried them closer to the line. Working the blind side, Wesele smashed his way right to the line, but Bola missed the connection and the All Blacks had a life. Kotua and Wi Repa staged the first bright movement of the All Blacks, and the New Zealanders rushed play to the Fijian territory for the first time in the match. A forward pass nullified the rush and in a flash the Fijians had the tables turned. Dribbling brilliantly, Bola took the ball across the line to outpace Harvey, and Fiji secured the first score after 15 minutes of play. Cakobau missed the kick. Fiji 3 Maoris 0 Maoris’ Turn on Attack Well fed by Pile and Wi Repa, Kotua gave impetus to the New Zealand attack with a clever stab kick but Korovulavula was cairn and safe at fullback, and before the Maoris had a chance to form up again Voreqe was sprinting down the flank until Steel pulled him down in a brilliant tackle. Now the Maori attack was being tempered and White changed his pace cleverly to baffle Ralawa. The Maori centre sped to the Fijian twenty-five with Phillips hot in pursuit of the judicious kick put in by White. Again Korovulavula came to the rescue but this time the Maoris hammered away at the door of success for several minutes, but eventually Fiji forced down. The Waikato crowd had been waiting patiently to sec W. J. Phillips in action. As the Maoris worked up their combination and the football became brighter, Phillips came into action for the first time and the Fijians foiund he was a harder man to tackle than the average Rugby winger. They were determined, however, and brilliant backing up again saved.the visitors from having their line crossed. With Yosaicke breaking quickly from the scrum and Nagatalevu coming into action to form the spearhead of a great dribbling bout, the Fijians carried the game to neutral grond for the first time for many minutes, but Phillips sped into action again and once morn Fiji was hemmed into its own territory. Fullback’s Injury Playing to Harvey, the New Zealand fullback who had been injured earlier, the Fijians found a weakness. Ralawa, the speedy island centre, kicked to him and then a line of Fijians surged down for what appeared to he a certain try. Phillips raced and dived at the feet of the phalanx and displayed superb courage in stopping the rush. Wesele. the Fiiian half, tried to carry on but he had knocked on. Again Phillips

saved the situation. Harvey then retired and Kawe took his place as the All Black fullback. Pile baffled the Fijian breakaway and the Maoris launched another offensive. McDonald led his forwards with Mason co-operating before giving Steele, the winger, the responsibility of carrying on. Kawe mis-kicked in fielding a return and Ganilau opened an attack which Voreqe carried on right to the line before the Maoris came around into position. On the surge went and Vosaicake touched down just ahead of Steele for Fiji’s second try. Ralawa failed to convert. At half-time the score was: Fiji 6 Maoris 0 Opportunities Lost With every chance, the Maoris were spoiling scoring possibilities early in the second half because of poor passing and erratic handling. Then, with clever strategic play, the Fijians turned defence into attack and applied the pressure in no uncertain manner. The speed of the islanders was remarkable and their gymnastics on the field pleased the large crowd. Twice the All Blacks had to force down to escape from a tremendously dangerous position. ißalawa attempted a field goal but the ball skimmed the grass-tops. Jackson turned the tables with great dribbling when Nagatalevu fumbled a pass, and the All Blacks came down on the Fijian line as Wi Repa cut in spectacularly. Out came the ball again from the All Black sgrum, and Kotua whipped his foot to the ball for a brilliant field goal which soared up high between the posts. Fiji 6 Maoris 4 With interest added to the match the crowd came to its toes as Bola, the lightning Fijian winger, galloped down the closed-stand flank. But an infringement brought him back and then, like lightning, the Maoris whipped the attack in their favour, with Wi Repa again emulating the great deeds of his father. Speedy Winger Lagilagi was playing a great game for the Fijians in the vanguard, and he sped into action again to send Vorqe heading straight for the line. The winger's speed carried the day and again the Islanders earned a great try. Ralawa missed the kick again. Fiji 9 Maoris 4 Showing all-round superiority, determined in defence, devastating in attack, and quick to take advantage of the frequent Maori mistakes, the Fijians had the New Zealanders running in circles. Ralawa gained possession again and cleverly changed his direction to baffle White and then pound over the dry turf to raise the dust as he scored another brilliant try. Cakobau landed the converting kick, making the score— Fiji 14 Maoris 4 Emulating, for a while, the Fijian tactic of hunting in at least fives or sixes, the Maoris rode on the crest of the wave for a period. Kotua just missed another field goal and Steel shot around the blind side but Qurai brought the ball clear. Then Phillips carried the attack and the ball was sent in-field through the hands of Pile, Kotua, Wi Repa, and White to Steel. The winger made a brilliant effort to reach the corner but he lost possession and a Fijian dived through the air to force down. Phillips, who was waiting all day for a really good run, at lust got a chance. He shook Bola off but unfortunately tipped the touch fine in the effort. Then the ball was thrown by the Maoris right across the field to Steel who turned a period of neutral pliy into a definite Maori offensive but Voreqe trapped him. Nagatalevu was injured and held up play for a moment. Then' the New Zealanders whipped into the fray again until the end, without success but with detcrmiimtion. The final score was: Fiji .* 14 Maoris 4 SYDNEY CHAMPIONSHIP UNIVERSITY BEATS RANDWICK united Press. Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) SYDNEY, Sept. 17 University raced away with a big lead in the Rugby Union grand final against Rundwick at North Sydney yesterday, and, although Randvvick fought back gamely in the last spell, I University won by 25 points to 17. At lialf-limc University led by 17 points to 0. Uandwick’s captain, Cyril Towers, who was involved in a tram smash en route to the ground, was then knocked out during the game and had to receive treatment from the ambulance men.