Maori All Blacks dominate understrength United States in Chicago

AUCKLAND: An at times entertaining but predictable victory for the New Zealand Maori over the United States in Chicago yesterday has not come without its negatives, after three Maori players were sinbinned.

Hooker Ash Dixon, lock Pari Pari Parkinson and replacement hooker Robbie Abel were all sent from the Soldier Field pitch during the 5922 win. Skipper Dixon and Parkinson were off together at the end of the second half.

Dixon saw yellow for pulling down an attacking maul, and Abel was binned for not releasing a tackled attacker, but Parkinson’s action was far more serious, an ugly body slam of a tackle on Shaun Davies which caused the halfback to leave the field for a head injury assessment from which he did not return.

The yellow card for Parkinson blighted an otherwise excellent performance, and his secondrow teammate Isaia WalkerLeawere also impressed. WalkerLeawere, a 21yearold Hurricanes and Wellington player in his first game for the Maori, scored two tries in five minutes; the first, 18 seconds after halftime, via a spectacular 50m run.

If the All Blacks have an area they would like to strengthen it is lock, so the performance by the pair was both timely and encouraging.

The Maori had won their previous four matches against the USA and there was little chance of an upset by an understrength home side, which ral

lied after the break but was swamped by the weight of possession and firepower from the opposition.

Left wing Regan Ware was lively early on, firstfive Otere Black directed play well and Rob Thompson was a force in the midfield. Right wing Jonah Lowe’s break after the restart led to WalkerLeawere’s superb try.

Up front, Ben May put in a brilliant shift defensively in front of the standout secondrowers and with flanker Mitch Karpik was busy. No 8 Akira Ioane continued his excellent form for Auckland and firstfive Josh Ioane, the 23yearold Highlander, impressed with his composure and attacking instincts when he replaced Black.

USA hung in there but was too often guilty of making naive decisions on attack, which left itunder near constant pressure.

‘‘I’m happy that a few of the young fellas got a run today,’’ Maori All Black captain Dixon said.

‘‘We scored some nice tries but at times I was pretty disappointed with the way we defended.’’

The Americans lamented their performance.

‘‘I think we’re pretty disappointed with the way we played,’’ the Eagles’ New Zealandborn captain Tony Lambourn said.