Rugby Union: Maoris' power warns Scotland

Edinburgh Reivers 3 New Zealand Maoris 69

THE NEW ZEALAND Maoris sent out a warning to Scotland in advance of the Murrayfield international on Saturday with a massive win over Edinburgh Reivers at Hawick last night.

The Maoris wasted little time in displaying their scoring power with a try after just two minutes by Daryl Gibson, the dynamic centre looping round the wing Glen Osborne.

Reivers could make little progress against an aggressive defence, but a penalty goal represented some reward for early territorial gains. The Maoris, however, responded immediately as their powerful centre Norman Berryman finished off a break by the stand-off Tony Brown with a try under the posts. The prop Greg Feek burst from a maul to end the first half with a fifth try for the Maoris.

The second half had barely started when Osborne raced over for another Maori try - a prelude to a further procession of scores, the first of which came from the substitute scrum-half Rhys Duggan.

A shocked Reivers coach, Ian Rankin, admitted: "If you could be objective about it you had to admire their skills."

Edinburgh Reivers: Penalty Chalmers. New Zealand Maoris: Tries Berryman 2, Feek 2, Cashmore, Duggan, Flavell, Gibson, Meuws, Osborne, Reihana. Conversions Cashmore 7.