OVERSEAS SPORT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 289, 7 December 1931, Page 7

OVERSEAS SPORT.

SPRINGBOKS CONQUER Victorious Over Wales in First Rugby Test. BATTLING FINISH AT SWANSEA (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, December 6. Before 40,000 spectators at Swansea the South African Rugby footballers beat "Wales in the touring side's first Test match by 8 points to 3. The game was played in a downpour of -rain, which lasted throughout the match, turning the ground into a quagmire. The Springboks were behind, o—3,0 —3, at half-time, but they then exerted tremendous pressure on the home team, to put on eight points. Bassett and Morley, who participated in the British Eugby tour of Australia and New Zealand in 1930, were included in the Welsh team, which, despite rain and mud, was outplayed by the Springboks. Wales led at half-time t>y 3 to 0, after which the Africans beat the Welshmen at their own spoiling tactics. Morley failed to complete a tine solid run, which should have ended in a try. Bassett was the hero of the game, and prevented the Springboks from securing a far higher score. South Africa's record in the 1906 Tests —the Springboks' first tour of Britain — was:—Lost to Scotland, o—6; beat Ireland, 15—12; beat Wales, 11— drew with England, 3—3. The 1912 side, although defeated in three minor games won all four international matches, Wales running the visitors closest (o—3). The remaining Tests on the 1931-32 tour are: v. Ireland, December 19; v. England, January 2; v. Scotland, January 16. BILLIARDS. McCONACHY'S BIG* VICTORY. (Received 9 a.m.) • LONDON, December 6. • In his second billiards match with Joe Davis, the English champion, Clark McConachy, of New Zealand, won by 24,698 points (including breaks of 1077 and 684) to 14,199 (breaks of. 907 and 442. i' INTERNATIONAL SOCCER. IRELAND DEFEATS WALES. LONDON, December 6. In an international Soccer match played yesterday at Belfast on a soggy ground Ireland defeated Wales by 4 goals to 0. The score at half-time was 1 to 0 in Ireland's favour. INTER-STATE TENNIS. HOPMAN DEFEATS CRAWFORD. MELBOURNE, December 6. New South Wales beat Victoria in the inter-State lawn tennis tournament to-day by 15 rubbers to six. H. Hopman brilliantly defeated J. Crawford, 6—3, 6V2. South Australia beat Victoria by 14 rubbers to 7. In the women's games, Victoria beat New South Wales by seven rubbers to five and also defeated South Australia by eight rubbers to four. N.S.W. V. SOUTH AFRICA. NO PLAY ON SATURDAY. SYDNEY, December 6. Persistent heavy showers prevented play in the return cricket match between South Africa and New South Wales on Saturday.