Rugby: Māori All Blacks claim a deserved victory over Moana Pasifika

As the Māori All Blacks and Moana Pasifika presented their challenges before their clash in Hamilton, the passion that would be on display was evident.

An exhibition match with some of the country’s best talent on display, the match lived up to their expectations as the Māori All Blacks claimed a 28-21 victory.

Both teams showed their strength and speed, with some brilliant rugby passages, although for the most part execution was lacking in the most vital areas, as is often the case with teams that have been together for about a week.

Moana Pasifika’s lineout was an easy pick for the Māori All Blacks in the first half, with blocking Manaaki Selby-Rickit having a lot of success in interrupting the shot, while both sides had their problems with handling and turnovers in the rupture.

But despite the fact that possession often changes hands, both sides offer their chances to hit. For Moana Pasifika, her first opportunity came moments after kickoff.

After a short kickoff from the first five eighths, Josh Ioane was picked up by number 8 Pita-Gus Sowakula, jumping high over rival midfielder Quinn Tupaea to pick him up, he was knocked down and Moana Pasifika received a penalty in the next Breakdown. Ioane kicked the penalty goal and clinched a 3-0 lead in one minute.

While it might not have been what fans expected to see in an exhibition match, Moana Pasifika was content to score three at a time when she couldn’t break, and she soon took a 6-0 lead.

The Māori All Blacks took a different approach, rejecting penalties well in the range of kicks in favor of attacking the test line through starting lines.

Veteran winger Liam Messam was about to put the Māori All Blacks on the board with a charge from close range, but he was deemed to have made a second move to lower the ball. They didn’t have to wait much longer for their first points, though, with fullback Kaleb Trask directly cutting into Moana Pasifika’s defensive line from about 30 yards, converting his own attempt to give his team a 7-6 lead.

But after another Ioane penalty, Moana Pasifika held a slim 9-7 lead at the break.
The lead lasted just a couple of minutes after play resumed, with Māori All Blacks hooker Ash Dixon scoring a try from a lineout. He ended up being the spark the Māori All Blacks needed, with the attack flourishing in the second half.

Midfielder Billy Proctor scored on the back of a tremendous kick and pickup play from Tupaea, and backup wing Mitchell Karpik added another at the end of the piece.

The two were broken with a try by Moana Pasifika on the open side by Alamanda Motuga, and a late try by Dwayne Polataivao gave the team a chance to try to secure a draw, but the Maori All Blacks held on for a deserved seven-point victory. .

Maori all blacks 28 (Kaleb Trask, Ash Dixon, Billy Proctor, Mitchell Karpik tries; Trask 4 cons)
Pacific Ocean 21 (Alamanda Motuga, Dwayne Polataivao tries; Josh John scam, 3 pens)
HT: 7-9