THE SPRINGBOKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 157, 5 July 1937, Page 14

THE SPRINGBOKS.

WIN BY 33 POINTS.

DRY GROUND AT LAST.

SOLE TRY TO TOWERS.

BRISBANE, July 4. The Springboks decisively beat yesterday an Australian Rugby fifteen composed mostly of Queenslanders by 36 points to three. Conditions were ideal and the attendance of 25,000 was a record for a Rugby match in Queensland. The teams were:— SPRINGBOKS. Full-back.—Brand. Three-quarters. — Turner, Hofmeyr, Babrow, Bester. Half-backs.—Harris, de Villiers. Forwards.—Nel, Lotz, Martin, Bastard, Bergh, Van Den Berg, Strachan, M. Louw. AUSTRALIA XV. Full-back—Walker. Three-quarters.—O'Brien, Towers, Hayes, Andrews. Five-eighths.-r-Lewis. Half-back.—De Gibbons. Forwards.—Bermingham, Bonis, Cerutti, Wilson, Bissett, Douglas, Oxlade, Blunclell. The Australian fifteen wan soundly beaten in all departments of the game. The Springboks were playiHg for the first time on their tour on a hard, dry ground. They fully upheld their reputation as a fine side. Crowd Annoyed With Brand. The team included eleven players who took part in the first Test match. If the ground is dry in Sydney on July 17, Australia has little chance of success. The stars of the game were Brand, Babrow, Turner, Bester and all the forwards. Brand raised the ire of the crowd by his repeated kicking out, but gave a finished display. His tackling was as good as anything Brisbane has seen. Turner, playing on the wing, scored three delightful tries, a feat that was emulated by Babrow, who was always constructive on attack and very destructive on defence.

Beater, who may be the star of the side in New Zealand, chimed in delightfully in many back movements, which were a feature of the second half. Of the forwards it is - best not to individualise. They played as a pack and dominated the line-outs. Lotz beat Bonis in hooking, not convincingly, but well enough. Of the Australians the less said the better. One of the most unimpressive players on the field was the Australian captain Towers, who was never near his top until late in the game. Walker and Cerutti Great Players. Easily the best of the local players was Walker, the-, full-back, whose daring invasion with the three-quarters more than once nearly .''brought tries. He was the only one who could pierce the Springboks defence. Cerutti was great all through and is still Australia's best forward. De Gibbous, at half-back, was plucky. If McShane is dropped in the next .Test match De Gibbons inay get his chanced The first half of the game was. made to seem poor because of the Australian fifteen's miserable showing, bufei the full strength and dominance of the .South Africans were revealed in the second half. It was not a happy day for Australia, but Xel and his men must be very pleased. For South Africa Babrow (3), Turner (3), Louw and Bester scored tries, Brand converting six. Towers kicked a penalty goal for Australia. The Springboks this week will. play against Toowooinba, at Toowoomba, on Wednesday, and against Queensland next Saturday at Brisbane. The second Test match against' Australia, and the final one before the team leaves for New Zealand, will take place on Saturday week.

The team has now played six official matches in Australia. Its record is as follows: —

Points Points for. against. Victoria 45 11 Combined Western ... 83 0 New South Wales 6 17 Australia (first Test).. 9 5 Newcastle 58 8 Australian XV 36 3 Totals 217 44 SOUTH AUCKLAKD V. THAMES. WINNING CAPTAIN INJURED. In the annual- match between South Auckland and Thames, at Waiuku. South Anckland were far superior in the forwards, and dominated- the game. Shortly after the start Moffitt broke away from the scrum, and ran to the full-back before passing to Carter, who scored wide out for South Auckland. Shortly afterwards Shilton, the South Auckland captain, was taken off with a broken collarbone. South Auckland forwards continued to put in a lot of hard work, which was finally rewarded when Sherrard dived over near the corner. A further attack was being made by the South Anckland forwards when Storey obtained possession to beat the South Auckland defence and score near the posts. Hamilton converted, and the half-time score was: South Auckland 6 Thames 5 After the change over South Auckland Indulged in spectacular passing which swung from one side of the field to the other and ended in Wright scoring. Bustling tactics by South Auckland again had Thames in trouble, and two tries resulted, Loughrin and Reynolds going over. Cathcart converted both, and South Auckland led 10—5. A quick change of direction by Thames had South Auckland in trouble, and Dovell went over for Thames. Hamilton missed with the kick. From the kick-off Soxnth Auckland went straight through to the Thames twentyfive, where Moffitt broke clean away and dived over as he was tackled from behind. Cathcart again converted with a beautiful kick from near the side-line. Thames attacked vigorously, but the South Auckland defence held them out and the game finished.: Sojtth Auckland 24 Thames 8 TAKAPUNA V. SHORE A. In a practice game on Taharoto Park, : at Takapona, Takapuna Senior & 10, boat North Shore seniors 8. I