GAME’S HIGHLIGHTS

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

GAME’S HIGHLIGHTS

DASHING EXHIBITION TOURISTS FAST AND CLEVER EXCELLENT TACKLING A FEATURE The speed, uncanny combination and hard low dive tackling by the tourists were the features of the Test on Saturday between the Fijian Rugby team and the Maori All Blacks. Conditions favoured the bright and spectacular game of the visitors who threw the ball about with gay abandon from start to finish and it was amazing tlie manner in which they changed the direction of their attacks when going at full speed. Taken all round it was the fastest team ever seen in Hamilton while superb tackling was a feature of their play. After seeing the display today the excellent record of the tourists in this country can readily be understood. To score tries against them seemed an impossibility. Combination Lacking Although the Maori All Blacks lacked combination at the start they later settled down. The conditions also suited their style of play and they attempted to beat the Fijians at their own game. The deadly tackling upset them considerably while this was one phase of the play where they failed themselves. Perhaps the Maoris’ greatest weaknesses were their poor passing and erratic handling. There was no doubt but that they were completely outclassed. They made the game exciting by fighting back as well as they could and made several sallies which raised the crowd to its toes. The best of the Maoris were Phillips and Steel, the wingers and they had all too few chances. The halfback Pile sent out some very smart passes but they were erratically thrown at times and T. Wi Bepa could not reach them. When he did get to them he mishandled too often. If he took the pass well Kotua or White failed to hold the ball. All three made one or two spectacular breaks but lost touch with their supports. Mason, Jackson, McDonald and Whitely were the pick of the forwards. Grand Footballers The Fijians all played very well. Wesele was the best halfback seen in Hamilton for many a day while the manner in which Cakobau moved into his passes and straightened up the attack paved the way for many bright movements. The centre Ralawa was the finest centre seen in Hamilton for a decade. His speed, handling ability, penetration, ability to chanige direction, defence and the way he ran his wings into position stamped him as a player of class. The wingers, Bola and Voreqe, were fast and determined, and the fullback, Korovulavula, very sound. Dashing Forwards The forwards played the three-four-one scrum for the first time on the tour, but were beaten for possession by the Maoris. However, their fast-breaking forwards soon robbed the Maoris, while on the occasions they did hook it the backline swept smoothly. Their natural agility was most marked in their great forward dribbling rushes. They also played well in the lineouts and gained more than their share of the bail from this. Qurai and Vosaicake were, perhaps, most consistently on the ball but Lagilagi, Vavaitamana and Ganilau were also exceptionally fast and fit. The forwards and backs never made the mistake of trying to pick up a rolling ball but dribbled it and waited for a good bounce before scooping It up and throwing it out smartly. BRIGHT CURTAIN RAISER In a bright curtain raiser to the Maori-Fiji Rugby match on Saturday Technical Old Boys senior team defeated Technical Old Boys Veterans by 27 points to 14. It was a bright game with the backs and forwards throwing the ball about in grand style. OTHER RESULTS Representative Matches Auckland 11, Wellington 5. Canterbury 19, South Canterbury 12. Taranaki 34, King Country 8. Otago 18, North Otago 11. Wellington B 31, Wairarapa 20. Southland 25, Wanganui 19. Hawke's Bay 16, Manawatu 6. Referees’ Match Wellington 12, Auckland 7. Morrinsville In the final match of the season for the Binnie Cup, Matamata, club champions in Matamata Sub-union, beat Old Boys, tlie Morrinsville champions, by 9 points to 6. Tauranga College Rifles (Auckland) 12, Tauranga thirds 9. Thames Crusaders 27, llauraki Maoris 15; Thames Juniors 14, Paeroa 3 (Johnston Cup) ; Thames thirds 47, Manukau fifths 0; Grafton thirds 16, Thames 11. Pukekohe Pukekohe 18, Suburbs 9.