Barbarians too good in the wet

By WYNNE GRAY

BARBARIANS 37 NZ MAORI 22

A pickup Barbarians side put a hefty final dent in the NZ Maori record when they sent them to their third defeat in four matches.

On a cold, blustery evening at Albany, the Barbarians benefited from three soft tries in the opening half and Ben Blair's boot to outlast their rivals, who showed better rapport but could not break the Barbarians' defence.

It was billed as an unofficial All Black trial and although a crowd of about 3500 and the selectors would have seen all their players go round again, they would not have seen much they did not know already.

There was some heavy industry, with the Barbarians looking to have a few individuals who were a shade sharper, with the nous and drive to make their evening a success and send the Maori to another loss after defeats by Queensland and the Wallabies.

The Barbarians led 34-5 at the interval and even though the Maori showed signs of a revival, they were unable to peg back such a significant margin.

After that first-half pasting, the Maori wasted just two minutes before Bruce Reihana went in at the corner after a series of recycled possessions.

The momentum continued, though Rhys Duggan was held up over the line by his halfback rival, Mark Robinson, before replacement Maori wing Joe Maddock completed a Willie Walker grubber kick.

Until Reihana completed his hat-trick after the siren sounded, that had been the extent of their fightback as the Barbarians got some possession in the last quarter, hung onto it and pinned the Maori down in their territory.

Three mistakes from Carlos Spencer late in the first half helped the Barbarians to their huge lead at the break.

Before that, with a strong wind at their backs, the Barbarians had been struggling to get away from the tenacious Maori side.

They had a slim lead, fullback Blair contributing all the points.

He converted his own try after three minutes and then goaled two penalties.

In reply, the Maori had only an early try to Bruce Reihana when he cut back down the blindside.

Unfortunately in the same play, wing Rico Gear fractured his right ankle. That injury will rule him out of the national sevens squad for the Commonwealth Games in Manchester next month.

The Maori did not threaten again until about 30 minutes.

Having settled near the Barbarians line and with a huge backline advantage, Spencer went for a cutout pass.

Unfortunately for the Maori, Tana Umaga, on the wing for the Barbarians, expertly intercepted to canter 95m for a converted try.

Five minutes later, Spencer fumbled a pass. His opposite, James Arlidge, hacked on, regathered and fed flanker Highlanders flanker Sam Harding for another bonus converted try.

Another spilled Spencer possession came in a tackle near the Barbarians line.

After several magical manoeuvres, guest wing Rupeni Caucaunibuca had a further converted try.

He had been helped by a brutal Umaga tackle and a great slap pass by Taine Randell to keep the ball alive.