Rugby: Gear hat-trick powers NZ Maori

New Zealand Maori team celebrate their victory against England at McLean Park in Napier. Photo / Getty Images

Former All Black Hosea Gear grabbed a hat-trick of tries here tonight to help New Zealand Maori put the icing on their centenary rugby celebrations with a 35-28 win over England.

With All Blacks coach Graham Henry in the crowd at McLean Park, Gear's second and third tries early in the second half helped swing the contest the home side's way.

It was the second time the Maori side had beaten England in their three meetings, and the result followed victories over the New Zealand Barbarians and Ireland in the past fortnight.

Having been put under plenty of pressure in the opening spell, New Zealand Maori came into their own in the second half to hold the tourists scoreless.

Another player looking to get back into test contention, second five-eighth Luke McAlister, showed plenty of nice touches, with his only real blemish being an intercepted cutout pass that led to an opposition try.

A second-string England line-up had dominated much of the opening spell and opened up a 28-17 halftime lead.

In a match played at frenetic pace, the visitors belied their reputation for 10-man rugby with a willingness to throw the ball around.

But they still showed their traditional strength up front, while the Maori weren't helped by being on the end of a heavy penalty count.

England came fast out of the blocks, and they were able to turn their early dominance of possession and territory into points.

After first five-eighth Charlie Hodgson landed a penalty, the English scored the opening try through flanker Steffon Armitage.

The effort owed plenty to the nifty footballing skills of winger Chris Ashton, who was able to stop the ball from going out to keep the movement alive.

Hodgson landed the conversion and another penalty, before the Maori got on the scoreboard with a McAlister penalty.

The home side then produced the movement of the match after yet another Hodgson penalty attempt hit an upright and fullback Robbie Robinson gathered the rebound and headed upfield.

The ball went to both sides of the field, through numerous pairs of hands and on to Gear, who bumped off a tackler before dotting down.

New Zealand Maori then hit the front when halfback Aaron Smith snapped up a loose ball from an England scrum to help set up a try for skipper Liam Messam.

Gear could have put his side further ahead, but lost the ball when about to score his second try.

That was the cue for a comeback by England, who grabbed two quick tries before the interval.

The first came from smart thinking by halfback Danny Care, who scored from a quickly taken penalty and the second came after a McAlister pass was snapped up by Hodgson, his former Sale teammate, who sent Ashton away to the goaline.

When the second half began, it was the turn of the Maori to grab a quick double, with McAlister firstly making amends with a strong midfield run that was finished off by Gear.

The winger was then on the end of another expansive move to complete his hat-trick in the 47th minute and nudge his side back in the lead.

Two late penalties from substitute Willie Ripia put the Maori seven points ahead, before the home side repulsed a late England charge to secure victory.

England captain Chris Robshaw had no complaints.

"I think they were probably the better team. From turnovers, they kind of destroyed us when we switched off," he said.

"When you give them a bit of open space these guys can kill anyone."

New Zealand Maori captain Liam Messam said the two tries in the opening 10 minutes of the second half proved vital.

"That was awesome. We knew those 10 minutes would be crucial and we got those two quick tries."

- NZPA