SPRINGBOKS' TOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 169, 18 July 1921, Page 7

SPRINGBOKS' TOUR.

DRAWN GAME WITH TARANAKI. A KEEN CONTEST. BRILLIANT PLAY ON BOTH SLOES. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.'i NEW PLYMOUTH, Saturday. The South Africans played the second game of the tour to-day against Taranaki before the largest attendance ever >een in New Plymouth, the crowd being estimated at 12,000, the gate totalling .1.000. it was a hard fought battle from start to finish, and ended in a pointless i draw. The Springbok team was as follows: — 1 Full-back: Dv Meyer. ' Three-quarters: Van Hcerdan, Clark- I son, Weepener, Henry Morkel, ; Halves: Tindal, J. Michau. Forwards: Boy Morkel (captain),: Mostert, Harry Morkel, K. Morkel, Ellis. | Scholz, Kruger, M. Michau. The wcatner conditions were favour- j able, but the ground was heavy after j ■ recent rains. South Africa kicked oft, ' and play hovered round half-way, until ' ■1. Michau set his backs going, but ' Weepener droppeil the pass when look- , ing dangerous. The Taranaki forwards '• were holding their own in all depart- ! ments, and set up a hot attack, but ' Tindall worked the blind side and passed j to Van Hcerdan, who kicked out in the j Taranaki twenty-five. After close for- ! ward displays Kingstou found the line in I ithe visitors' territory with a great kick, i •Then the South African bac>__ got the | ball from the scrum. The >_[_ travelled I swiftly along the lies of the backs to .Henry Morkel, but Dick Roberts ! brought him down with a splendid tackle. I Three times in succession the visitors' I Shacks got going", but the tackling of the | •local team was equal to the occasion. The South Africans, who here gave sev- I eral penalties for playing the j ball < while on the ground, were j iriven back in to their own territory, and from a scrum Atkins , et the Taranaki backs going, but the j |frie__.n backs tackled low and hardten J. Michau. a clever half-back, got •■•ay, but Weepener's pass went wide, fd a good chance was lost. Kruger stji Mostert prominent among t£ visiting forwards, the former kicking <£. near the local line. Dick Roberts, dning possession, put in a good run, hi kicked too far, and Dv Meyer saved. T| Taranaki forwards swept down with ai-eat dribbling rush, which the visitors f*s d to stop, Cain, Spratt. and Masters e»cially doing great work. From a eeim, Sykes, on the wing three-quarter, ■*! nearly over twice, but the visitors' tajling was deadly, and suddenly the forwards burst through and cajed the ball by short passing right upjhe field. From a scrum, Michau pajd out, and the ball reacheel Wpener, who kicked high. The African foferds, following fast," fienned Taranajin their own line, where the visitors objned a free kick,-and Dv Meyer just fafi to land a goal. / V m . the kick-out the African' forwafe kicked high, but Kingston sent tha back. Hard, solid ruck play follo* at midfield for some time, the visVs seeming to like such tactics, but tbejeal forwards were equally as good in I close work. Then, heeling nicely frojthe scrtrm, the Africans set up a badttack, hut Henry Morliel was well taklby Sykes, and a fre._-kick gave Tarlki relief. Again J. Michau set the Iks going; Clarkson, making a fine' opeifc, gent the ball on to Henry Morkelio sprinted for the line, butKingstonfcming across, by a magnificent tacHthrew him over the corner Hag. imijately afterwards Clarkson made ano» opening, but Van Heerdan failed to tl the pass at the critical moment. Thepie player soon afterwards missed a hilkick, and the Taranaki forwards rushlthe ball down tiie field. Here Kinati, receiving the ball near halfwayide a fine attempt to pot a goal, the 1 falling just undgr the crossbar. Taraji continued to press, but Atkins, at hi was too slow, nnd just before ] half-* the visitors' forwards, headed by "Mert and Boy Morkel, took play to h»'ay, where from a line-out the ball Veiled sweetly along the thrcequarljine to Henry Morkel, who was againlared right on the line by Kingston. I JTHE SECOND HALF. . FoAe first quarter hour of the seconlell the Taranaki forwards dominated! play, and had the Springboks pennell the line, an_ only defence of the ft quality saved the visitors. Evcrylk except Van Heerdan tackled despeilv. and kept the line intact. Hickeltted at goal, but the whistle had b| for an infringement. Th& Taranlbacks tried to get going on* the passing was too sll and the visitors smothered every 4 The Springboks were forced on sevaoccasions as a result of splendid fold rushes, but the local men could' fcut on the finishing touches. Cain, If-ty, Masters and Spratt were especianrominent. The visitors at length le clear by good work on the part ol two halves, J. Michau anel Tindalllo worked the blind side anel lined antre. Then the Taranaki hacks IgiSl in pretty passing, but Hickey I brilliantly collared by Dv Meyer _fehe line. KTORS LIVEN UP. The \Bg forwards now began to freshen Ind charged down on Kingston, wh«3 penalised for hanging on too londu Meyer essayed to kick a goal frofclf-way, but failed. Dick Roberts I at centre, and the African forwardlempted to throw the bp.ll out to the blfrom the line-out, but the Taranaklc.- pounced on their opponents toelkly. Several tijpes in succession Jihau, getting the ball from the ruck lose scrums, set the backs moving, |he Tarar-S.ki tackling was great. Vafcrdan 'had several chances, but did nlow the brilliance expected. Play wap and down the field for some timtther side looking dangerous. As I drew near the Africans made greArts to score, and for the last ten jte. had Taranaki hard pressed ri»i the goal-line. Kingston repeatedljtd. J. Michau made several brillialns from the scrum, and on one o|n sent the ball out to Van Heerlvho passed back to him, and the J little African half was tackled rill the line. A high kickby Henry Si was taken by Kingston right undel goal-posts. Time after time the A backs looked like scorintr, but *fence was magnificent. Right in t» minute of the game J. Michau goly from the scrum and passed ouf Clarkson, who cut in brilliantly, I had only Kingston in front of "hill Van Heerdan coming up fast, buifson slipped, and almost certain victfas thrown away.

A GREAT GAME. ' It was a great game, stubbornly contested from start to. finish, but the Africans had the better of it. Had they played to their backs all through as they did in the last ten minutes they must have won. Their football is scrupulously clean, and in many respects unorthodox. The backs combine well, but the only two to attempt to make openings were J. Michau and Clarkson. The former, quite a. young boy in appearance, played a splendid game, ocing tricky and resourceful in attack and j solid on defence. j Clarkson, the centre three-quarter, is I very fast, his play reminding oone of C. j liadely of Auckland. Dv Meyer, the full-back, though not ' brilliant, was safe and took the ball and ! tackled well. j Henry Morkel, on the wing, is not fast , enough for a great three-quarter. Van . Hcordon was a big disappointment, being I very weak in defence and failing to take j passes when in good scoring positions. j The forwards were no better than I Taranaki, except on the line-out. They ' j indulge in much ruck play, and attack | by handing the ball on to* each other. I Teiey* , la_ted out ' the game well. Boy I Morkel, Mostert and Kruger were the : most prominent. ' J I To Kingston, the Taranaki and ex I .Aucklanel full-back, most credit must be j given for preventing the visitor, from j scoring, lie never played a better gam?") I than to-day. His tackling was magnili- i j cent, and all his other work worthy of I a New Zealand representative. AH the other barks displayed fine j 1 defence, but the passing was tlistinc-tly {weak. Dick Roberts, in the centre, held I j the team together well. Atkins, at half, ! .failed to get the hall away. j The forwards quite held their own I throughout. The huge crowd were dcI lighted with their great dribbling rushes, -and line spoiling work. " It would be invidious te> pick eiut any for special nuenition. The Africans have had a wonder- . fill reception in Taranaki, and have I firmly established themselves in the ! affections of the people. They are good ! feiotballers and good fellows, and by the. ;time they arrive in Xtickland should have developed such form as to fully extend the Auckland team. I THE ALTERED ITINERARY. The following Is the latest itinerary 1 lof the South African football team: — Play Taranaki To-day ! " Wairarapa July 21) | '* Wellington July 23 ] " West Coast luly 27 1 " Canterbury July 30 j " South Canterbury .... August II " Otago . _. August G " Southland August 10 " N.Z. at Dunedin .... August 13 " Manawatu' Aygust 17 " Auckland August 20 " Rotorua August 24 " N.Z. at Auckland .... August 27 " Hawke's Bay August 31 The tentative dates for the final matches are the third test at Wellington on September 3, and Nelson on September 6, but these are subject to alteration. The team will sail for Sydney on Septernlier 19. -