NZ Baa-baas too strong for Maori ABs

The New Zealand Barbarians outscored the Maori All Blacks five tries to two to secure a 34-17 win at Eden Park on Saturday.

Despite the wet and windy conditions, the Maori All Blacks opted to run the ball but they committed too many unforced errors which the Baa-baas capitalised on.

Although most of the early exchanges were restricted to the forwards, the second half was a more entertaining affair as both sides played expansively.

The New Zealand Barbarians made a solid start and dominated the territory and possession statistics in the first half and were rewarded with tries from Blake Gibson and Mitchell Drummond.

Tom Taylor and Marty McKenzie traded early penalties to put both sides on the board but the Barbarians created more chances as the game progressed.

Gibson and Drummond then crossed over for their tries which were both converted by Taylor which meant the Baa-baas led 15-3 at half-time.

The Maori All Blacks made the brighter start in the second half and were rewarded with a try from Damian McKenzie which his brother Marty converted.

The Baa-baas responded with tries from Seta Tamanivalu and Patrick Osborne with Tamanivalu's effort particularly impressive.  The big midfielder fielded a clearance kick close to the Maori All Blacks' 10-metre line and shrugged of four challengers before crossing over.

The Maori All Blacks struck back with a try from Cody Rei but the Baa-baas sealed victory when Taylor rounded off three minutes before full-time after Richard Buckman did well in the build-up.

The scorers:

For New Zealand Barbarians:
Tries:  Gibson, Drummond, Tamanivalu, Osborne, Taylor
Cons:  Taylor 3
Pen:  Taylor

For Maori All Blacks:
Tries:  D McKenzie, Rei
Cons:  M McKenzie, Black
Pen:  M McKenzie

New Zealand Barbarians:  15 Andrew Horrell, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Seta Tamanivalu, 12 George Moala, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Tom Taylor, 9 Mitchell Drummond, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 Blake Gibson, 6 Brad Shields (c), 5 Dominic Bird, 4 Alex Ainley, 3 Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Mitchell Graham.
Replacements:  16 James Parsons, 17 Reg Goodes, 18 Ben Tameifuna, 19 Mark Reddish, 20 Jordan Taufua, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Ihaia West, 23 Richard Buckman.

Maori All Blacks:  15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Rieko Ioane, 13 Sean Wainui, 12 Charlie Ngatai (c), 11 Matt Proctor, 10 Marty McKenzie, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Elliot Dixon, 7 Mitchell Crosswell, 6 Blade Thomson, 5 Hayden Triggs, 4 Joe Wheeler, 3 Brendon Edmonds, 2 Ash Dixon, 1 Joe Moody.
Replacements:  16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Joe Royal, 18 Marcel Renata, 19 Akira Ioane, 20 Joe Edwards, 21 Brad Weber, 22 Otere Black, 23 Codey Rei.

Referee:  Kane McBride