THE SPRINGBOKS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17248, 12 September 1921, Page 9

THE SPRINGBOKS.

EASY WIN AT KELSON. (press association telegram.) NELSON, Scptcn-.'jerK-. The Springboks ana u. Nolsou. Marl- i borough, and Golden Bay corubiuoi team J met at Trafalpr.r Park tcx'.ar- Tho wnather j was fine, and the ground ::i excello'ii coudi- ! tion. During the first epell plav was fairly • oven, with flashes of brilliance on both sides. Fitzgerald kicked a goo<l penalty gca', end a few moments later da Kock,'accentin<j and cutting dn emartly, touched down. Morkel failed to convert. The ecore at halftinio w«s:— South Africa, .. ..3 Combined team ■. S In tho Ecccn-.i ipell South Africa gave a magnificent display, throwing the ball about witn great abandon. Vercoe, at full-back for the combined team, saved' his side time and time again. Miehau, accepting cleverly, dashed over. His try was unconverted. South Africa .. ..6 Combined team •• •• 3 The Africans' too frequent picking out of the Bcrum was responsible for a wektiine relief for the local team. The tackling of the local -Ade was not up to repreeentativo form in tho first spell, but a considerable ini provement was effected in the second half. A brilliant passing rush, dn which Morkel, Strauss, and de Kock participated, ended in the Last-nnmod cutting in cleverly and passing out to Zcllor, who eooredi between the posts, Morkel converted. South Africa .. ..U Combined team .• • • 3 South Africa's backs were now getting into better working order, brilliant play becoming more frequent. A kick by Miohau was smartly followed tip by Strauss and de Kock the latter touching down. Morkel added the extra pointe. South Africa. . • ..18 Combined team .. .. 3 Meyer, breaking away, made a n-ico run, but was securely tackled. Securing tho ball from a loose ecrunr, tho half-back imsscd out to Mej-er, who scored in the corner. Morkel converted from * difficult angle. South Africa- .. .-31 Combined team .. •• 3 Tho Nelson forwards pud in some fine work, and took the ball lap tho field, but the South African defence was very sofa, Morkel saving by •&• long kick. The South Africans wore now putting; in some beautiful passing work. Ellis, Miohau, do Kock, Zeller. and Strauss took part, and the lastnamed acored a. brilliant try. Morsel convorted, and the game ended:— South Africa ■.. < •• 2* Combined team .. • • 8 NOTES ON THE GAME. imcUi TO "THE PB«M."1 NELSON, September 10. The matoh proved interesting and spectacular. Although beaten by 26 points to 3, the combined team put tip quite a good display. The greater part of the gorno was evenly contested. It was when the South African books got the ball in clear country that their brilliant machinery was put Into operation, resulting in spectacula.r football of the highest order. The combined team's collaring at first was too high and ineffective, but later it considerably improved', Mid mamy dangerous rushes were brought to an end. Vercoe, a Marlborough player, at full-back, played a brilliant game, tailing tho ball with perfect ease and finding the line with great judgment. He should w> watclwu I for bigge* matches.' De Hock's first Irv was the result of a vexy tricky piece of play. Feinting to pass, he dashed over, completely surprising tho local backs. A feature of the game was tho rapidity with which the Scrath African halves started the three-quarter line in action. Good spoiling tactics by the combined forwards rather upset the back play of the visitors during the first few minutes of the second spell. The Springboks' backs got into working order, but Phillips grassed Zeiler near the line. ZeHer was soon at work again, but was stopped by Vercoe. No sooner had play been resumed than Strauss got away, but ho was also collared. Immediately after Michau got the ball and dashed over. The Springboks, with half an hour to go, got to. work in earnest, and after a brilliant piece of combined play Seller flashed across the line a,midst great applause. Then several brilliant attempts by the visiting backs. Some were splendidly collared,, others were i»r beyond reach. The South Africans threw the ball about with great abandon, and thare waa i always a man ready to take tt.

LEAGUE GAME. THE THAOKER SHIELD. (I'EBSS ASSOCUTION TELEOHAM.) AUCKLAND, September 10. In a match for the Thacker Shield, the Ponsouby League team beat Petone by 18 pointa to 13. The attendance waa nearly 7000. ■ The game throughout waa highly exciting, and kept the large crowds on the side-Une in a state of great enthusiasm;

ASSOCIATION. ENGLISH CUP: £t. Albans and Rangers met at English Park on Saturday in the eemi-final of the English Cup. . , _ Playing against the wind and sun, Bangers attacked hotly, and St. Albans conceded a couple of corners in quick euccession. though a St. Albane 'offensive ended in a shot missing by inohes. Each aide attacked in turn, and the game became very fast and interesting, the respective goalkeeper* being called on to save on various occasions. Rangere played, a.man short for a time owing to an injury to Norman, who, when he returned, missed an open goal, and a little later -headed a corner just over the bar. Half-time Bounded with no score to either aide. .... . Past open play marked the beginning 01 tl» second spell, and eventually a gocxl centre by Shaw eaw Dowker put the ball just over the bar. AiteT even play Rangers again attacked, and Shaw, centreing again, Barwell found the net and opened Rangers' account. Rangera kept up the pressure, and Dobbs had a busy time clearing, and at last a hot shot by Norman beat lain. Almost immediately afterwards Dowker got away with a good eolo run, and beat Dobbs with a hot shot from close range. Rangera continued to be aggressive, and Dowker and then Biesett sent the ballover the bar. In the closing stages St. Albans attacked hard, and good work by Donaldson and Colville ended in the latter scoring, the final scores being! Rangera 3, St. Albans 1, Mr' H. W. liiddells was referee. FOURTH GRADE REPRESENTATIVE MATCH. Playing at Wellington on Saturday, Canterbury played a very fast game in the interprovincial match with Wellington Fourths. Canterbury lost tho toss and had _ to kick •gainst the wind and the eun, which were very strong, the wind making good shooting impossible. From fino forward combination on the left wing, Shaw, the Canterbury centra, eooied with, a neat shot, which gave the Wellington custodian no chance. Canterbury 1, Wellington 0. Wellington made a determined attack from the kick, and, sending the ball from wing to. wing in great stye, came down the field and scored with a hot cross ehot. Wellington 1, Canterbury 1. Play remained very even, both sides ehowing splendid combination. From a neat pass from Silvester, Msrritt accepted nicely, and, steadying the ball, had a shot, wh.ch the Wellington goalie made a brilliant, but unsuccessful attempt to savo. HeJ-time cams with the scores: Canterbury 2, Wellington J. Canterbury then made things very hot from the kick, and from tricky line passing Shaw again scored. Canterbury 3, Wellington L Wellington then played a much better s»me, but their centre wae poor in his shooting, while the Canterbury defence waa sound. .From good feeding tactics from the Wellington halves, Snowy, their outside left, waa instrumental in scoring the home team's eecond goal. Canterbury 3, Wellington 2. Play then became very exciting, Williams, Canterbury's left wing, playing the best game on the' field. He seemed to have the happy knack of knowing how to reoeive the ball, and how to get rid of it to the best advantage of his side. Although WeJLngton had the better of the last few minutes of tho game, they were unable to score, Canterbury's defence being too solid.' After the match six ex-Soccer players subscribed and presented Williams, the outaide left for Canterbury, with a handsome medal, in token of the splenaid performance shown by him on tho field. Williams was instrumental in making the opening for all the goals scored by the visitors.

The soccer footbeul girls ehowed a marked imjuoveraenu in their practice on Saturduy, in "anticipa-tion of the rnaloh with the Aoiea Club (We'uirsion) this month. _ Miss Wood kicked a. goal witlh earns ekilL