Scotland survive stirring Maori comeback
MATCH REPORT: Scotland edged the Maori team 29-26 in Whangarei on Saturday, holding off a spirited fightback from the hosts to start their Pacific tour with a win.
In front of a sellout crowd at Okara Park, Scotland overcame a sluggish start and a tired finish, riding the sound of bagpipes in the final stages for a tense victory.
The Maori caught Scotland off guard with a try inside 40 seconds.
At the first opportunity, they spread the ball wide to the left, then a cute chip, chase and offload from Bailyn Sullivan put scrum half Sam Nock over.
Scotland awoke and struck back 10 minutes later, Harry Paterson dotting down just before the dead-ball line after chasing down a grubber kick.
Sloppy play by the hosts allowed Scotland to extend their advantage, fumbling a high bomb before watching the scramble for the ball roll 50 metres into their own territory with scrum-half George Horne eventually scoring his first of the afternoon.
Isaia Walker-Leawere found a response in the 32nd minute after sustained pressure on the Scotland line, which also saw Alexander Masibaka yellow carded minutes into his debut off the bench.
Despite being a man down, Scotland struck once more on the stroke of half-time, Arron Reed collecting another grubber kick to score with no defender in sight.
Horne scored his second in the 53rd minute, Scotland using added space created by two Maori players being sent to the bin, stretching the field and breaking for a stunning team try.
Maori All Blacks captain Kurt Eklund scored from a rolling maul with just over 20 minutes remaining to give his side hope.
Gideon Wrampling rampaged over a tired, ramshackle Scottish defence with 14 minutes remaining, making it a three-point game
But Scotland held firm, pipes blaring from the banks of the ground, for a victorious start to their tour.
The scorers
For the Maori
Tries: Nock, Walker-Leawere, Eklund, Wrampling
Cons: Reihana 2, Trask
For Scotland
Tries: Paterson, G Horne 2, Reed
Cons: Hastings 3
Pen: Hastings
Yellow cards: Kamaka Howden (Maori, 44), Bailyn Sullivan (Maori, 46)
Teams:
Maori All Blacks: 15 Zarn Sullivan, 14 Cole Forbes, 13 Bailyn Sullivan, 12 Gideon Wrampling, 11 Daniel Rona, 10 Rivez Reihana, 9 Sam Nock, 8 Cullen Grace, 7 Jahrome Brown, 6 Te Kamaka Howden, 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 Antonio Shalfoon, 3 Kershawl Sykes-Martin, 2 Kurt Eklund (captain), 1 Jared Proffit.
Replacements: 16 Jacob Devery, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Benet Kumeroa, 19 Laghlan McWhannell, 20 Caleb Delany, 21 Kemara Hauiti-Parapara, 22 Kaleb Trask, 23 Corey Evans
Scotland: 15 Ollie Smith, 14 Harry Paterson, 13 Rory Hutchinson, 12 Stafford McDowall (captain), 11 Arron Reed, 10 Adam Hastings, 9 George Horne, 8 Ben Muncaster, 7 Andy Onyeama-Christie, 6 Josh Bayliss, 5 Cameron Henderson, 4 Marshall Sykes, 3 Fin Richardson, 2 Patrick Harrison, 1 Nathan McBeth.
Replacements: 16 George Turner, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Will Hurd, 19 Max Williamson, 20 Gregor Brown, 21 Alexander Masibaka, 22 Fergus Burke, 23 Jamie Dobie.
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant referees: Jordan Way (Australia), Reuben Keane (Australia)
TMO: Oli Kellett (Australia)
