Hosea Gear scored a hat-trick of tries as New Zealand Maori bounced back to eclipse England in Napier this morning (Wednesday).
The Maoris had enjoyed a lightning start against Ireland last Friday but had to withstand a fightback to claim a narrow victory.
The game against England – who made 14 changes from the side which overcame Australia at the weekend – was a contrasting affair but ultimately the result was the same.
Steffon Armitage’s try and two penalties from Charlie Hodgson gave the tourists a 13-0 lead before Gear and Messam went over to put the Maoris 17-13 in front.
A brilliant solo effort from scrum half Danny Care and Chris Ashton’s try gave England a 28-17 lead at the break but it was one-way traffic in the second half as the Maoris hit 18 points without reply.
Gear touched down twice, Luke McAlister added a conversion and Willie Ripia kicked a couple of penalties as the Maoris claimed a second win over northern hemisphere opposition in the space of five days.
New Zealand Maori: Robbie Robinson (Southland); Sean Maitland Canterbury, Dwayne Sweeney (Waikato), Luke McAlister (North Harbour), Hosea Gear (Wellington); Stephen Brett (Canterbury), Aaron Smith (Manawatu); Clint Newland (Hawke’s Bay), Corey Flynn (Canterbury), Ben Afeaki (North Harbour), Hayden Triggs (Otago), Jarrad Hoeata (Taranaki), Karl Lowe (Hawke’s Bay), Tanerau Latimer (Bay of Plenty), Liam Messam (Waikato, capt.).
England: Delon Armitage (London Irish); David Strettle (Harlequins), Mathew Tait (Sale), Brad Barritt (Saracens), Chris Ashton (Northampton); Charlie Hodgson (Sale), Danny Care (Harlequins); David Flatman (Bath), George Chuter (Leicester), Paul Doran-Jones (Gloucester), David Attwood (Gloucester), Geoff Parling (Leicester), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, capt.), Steffon Armitage (London Irish), Phil Dowson (Northampton).
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