Scotland earn first ever victory over Maori All Blacks

In the first meeting of the two sides in a quarter century, tries from Harry Paterson, George Horne (2), and Arron Reed – combined with three conversions and a penalty from Adam Hastings, was enough to keep the home side at bay.

A stirring Māori All Blacks haka welcomed Scotland to Whangārei – the challenge well and truly laid down for the visitors to meet from the outset.

Crusaders’ Rivez Reihana got the game underway, and Ben Muncaster initially brought the ball down, allowing Adam Hastings to clear hurriedly. It was returned with interest though, as the black and white went coast to coast in a single phase.

From the ruck, the ball was flung to left wing Daniel Rona, who put in a clever chip and chase down the touchline and flicked a pass inside to scrum half Sam Nock, who ran in untouched from the 22 to score the game’s opening try. Reihana couldn’t add the extras. (Māori All Blacks 5 – 0 Scotland, 2 mins)

After the initial shock of going behind early, Scotland won a succession of penalties in the opening 10 minutes to allow them to settle into the game and set up attacking opportunities.

Battling away on the edge of the 22, Hastings stabbed a grubber through the Māori All Blacks defence on the right-hand side, and Harry Paterson gave chase. The ball looked to be going dead, but Paterson threw himself at it and – after a TMO check – the try was given, putting Scotland on level terms. Hastings’ conversion was good, and Scotland took the lead. (Māori All Blacks 5 – 7 Scotland, 12 mins)

Scotland won another penalty just a minute later, about 30m out from the black and white try line. Zarn Sullivan was found to be holding on after he brought down a high ball, and Hastings looked to the corner for an attacking set piece.

A second penalty quickly followed, inside the 22, and Hastings pointed to the posts this time – adding the three points with minimal fuss. (Māori All Blacks 5 – 10 Scotland, 15 mins)

Neither side could find their rhythm in the opening quarter, but the Māori All Blacks were caught napping when a high ball turned into a bobbling ball, and Reihana couldn’t regather. Hutchinson stabbed a kick into the 22 – chased by a pack of blue and white shirts. And it was Horne who was fastest, beating Cole Forbes to the ball in the in-goal area, touching down for Scotland’s second of the game.

Referee Amashukeli was called back to check the grounding – but confirmed the try decision. Hastings slotted the conversion from the left-hand side. (Māori All Blacks 5 – 17 Scotland, 24 mins)

Alexander Masibaka entered the fray on debut, with Muncaster making way due to what looked like a leg injury.

Māori All Blacks used a break in play to regather and make a concerted effort before the half hour mark to push deep into Scottish territory. Prop Jared Proffit made a break into the 22, and they won a penalty, opting for a lineout on the 5m line.

Under penalty advantage, Nock flicked it wide to big man Howden, who went into contact and offloaded to Isaia Isaia Walker-Leawere to fall over the line and score the home side’s second try. Masibaka was the victim of penalties stacking up and he was sent to the sin bin – double punishment for the visitors. Reihana nailed the extras from wide left. (Māori All Blacks 12 – 17 Scotland, 32 mins)

Scotland were back under pressure with a man down, but Ollie Smith picked an attempted chip and chase from the home side and, seeing no one was home, nailed a clever 50-22 kick, relieving the pressure.

And the lead was extended on the brink of half time, when Smith was found wide left. He stabbed through a kick for Arron Reed to chase. He sped away from the defenders to dot down, reminiscent of Scotland’s opening try. Hastings nailed the extras with the final play of the match. (Māori All Blacks 12 – 24 Scotland, half time)

Half time: Māori All Blacks 12 – 24 Scotland

The Māori All Blacks made a horror start to the second stanza when a poor pass from a black and white lineout forced Reihana to put one skyward in the in-goal area. It was knocked dead deliberately by Howden, and he saw yellow because of it.

With Masibaka back on the field, the home side collected another yellow card for a deliberate knock down when Scotland were on the attack – this time when Bailyn Sullivan stretched to intercept a try-bound pass. The home side going down to 13 saw Scotland opt for more scrums, but with the try line at his mercy, Hastings dropped the ball, letting the home side out.

Refreshing the forwards, Gregor Townsend took off Nathan McBeth, Fin Richardson, Marshall Sykes and Patrick Harrison for Will Hurd, Alec Hepburn, Max Williamson and George Turner.

Horne grabbed a second try when Scotland went wide through Hutchinson, who flicked it inside to Reed. He sped off, beating another down the left, before finding Horne in space on the 22. He was chased by Forbes, but won the race and dotted down by the left corner flag. Hastings couldn’t add the extras this time. (Māori All Blacks 12 – 29 Scotland, 53 mins)

Māori All Blacks captain Kurt Eklund reduced the deficit when the home side won a penalty and kicked to the corner. With 14 men on the park, they rumbled toward the line, with hooker Eklund at the back. He dotted down by the right flag and Reihana nailed the conversion. (Māori All Blacks 19 – 29 Scotland, 57 mins)

Fergus Burke and Jamie Dobie were brought on for Horne and Hastings with a quarter of an hour to play.

An opportunistic 50-22 from Rona then put the home side on the front foot and phases piled up as the forwards inched toward the 5m line.

The patient build up was rewarded when Gideon Wrampling was the recipient of a wide pass left, with Scotland committed to covering the pick and goes. He dove over the line, giving the home side more than a sniff with 13 minutes left. Kaleb Trask took over kicking duties, and nailed the conversion from the touchline. (Māori All Blacks 26 – 29 Scotland, 67 mins)

Gregor Brown entered the fray, replacing Andy Onyeama-Christie with 10 minutes to play.

Scotland won a succession of penalties inside the Māori All Blacks 22, choosing firstly to kick to the corner, then for a scrum, then a tap. But ultimately it came to nothing, as the home side won a ruck penalty, allowing them to clear with five minutes to play.

Scotland were pinged for holding on to the ball with seconds remaining and Reihana hoisted one into the crowd for a lineout on the visitors’ 22 line with the game on the line.

The home side kept it tight, not wanting to risk anything expansive as they inched towards the line. They held it for 28 phases under penalty advantage, continuing to batter down the door.

Referee Amashukeli brought play back for the penalty and Reihana kicked to five metres out for the final play of the match. Another penalty came and the yellow card was brandished for Cameron Henderson’s involvement in bringing down the lineout maul.

The game was still in full swing as the clock ticked over into the 86^th minute, but Scotland’s dogged defence paid off, and the ball was turned over in the ruck. Dobie flung it back to Hutchinson, who gratefully booted the ball into the stands, bringing the game to a close.