AUSTRALIA LEADS SPRINGBOKS, 2-1

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30219, 26 August 1963, Page 12

AUSTRALIA LEADS SPRINGBOKS, 2-1

Brilliant 11-9 Victory In Third Test (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) JOHANNESBURG, August 24. Australia scored a magnificent, 11-9, victory over South Africa in the third Rugby test at Ellis Park on Saturday. A capacity crowd of 75,000 watched the XV allabies take a 2-1 lead in the series.

The fourth and final test, at Port Elizabeth on September 7, gives Australia a great chance to win its first Rugby test rubber against the Springboks.

Australia won the second test, at Newlands, 9-5, and South Africa the first, at Pretoria, 14-3.

Saturday’s win, in which the haif-back, K. Catchpole, and the full-back, T. Casey, were the Wallaby heroes, came with a secondhalf try by the right-wing, J. Williams, and a field goal, a penalty goal and a conversion of Williams’ try by Casey. South Africa replied with three penalty goals by the halfback, N. Smith.

The Wallabies’ win created 20th century South African Rugby history. It was the first time this century that South Africa has lost two successive tests at home. The last occasion was the 1896 tour by the British Isles.

The teams were:— South Africa.— L. Wilson, G. Cilliers, D. Stewart, J. Gainsford, J. Engelbrecht, N. Riley, N. Smith, S. Kuhn, R. Hill, J. Marais, J. Schoeman. Avril Malan, S. van der Merwe, T. Bedford, S. Prinsloo.

Australia.— T. Casey, J. Boyce, R. Marks, B. Elwood, J. Williams: P. Hawthorne, K. Catchpole; J. O'Gorman, J. Guerassimoff, G. Davis, P. Crittle, R. Heming, J. White, P. Johnson. J. Thomett (captain).

The Wallabies thoroughly deserved their win. Only Smith's splendid goal-kicking made the margin close.

Catchpole was magnificent. His cover defence was as outstanding as his ability to get the loose ball moving among the backs. Casey shone as a goal-kicker, and with his clean catching and exceptional line-kicking.

Riley kicked off for South Africa after the crowd sang the National Anthem. Australia's anthem was not played.

After only one minute when the Springbok forwards held the ball in the scrum on Australia's twentyfive, Captain Myburgh ruled R. Marks offside. He awarded a penalty almost straight in front, 23 yards out, and Smith make no mistake. South Africa 3, Australia 0.

Malan held Davis on the side of a ruck when the Australian breakaway did not have the ball. Davis retaliated with his elbows to try to get free. However, Captain Myburgh came in and gave a penalty to South Africa. Australia dominated the early line-outs. In the fifteenth minute Casey superbly gathered a long clearing kick by Wilson and from 45 yards brilliantly kicked a field goal This made it, 3-3.

When Van Der Merwe tackled Thornett as the Australian captain leapt for the ball Australia received a penalty. Casey, with superb line kicking and outstanding catching, was playing his best game of the tour. But Australia continued to be hit by penalties. Penalties favoured South Africa, 7-2, after 25 minutes after Captain Myburgh in quick succession twice penalised the Wallabies in the scrum. Wallabies Lead

Then, in the thirtieth minute. South Africa was penalised for feet up and from 38 yards Casey kicked the penalty goal to take the Wallabies into the lead, 6-3. Casey, still playing magnificently. had to race hard to retrieve a kick through by Hill off the loose ball. With Engelbrecht flying through. Casey found touch in time. Guerassimoff brought Australia back to half-way with a run from the back of the line-out. The Springboks kept up their touch kicking but without much effect Finally the crowd booed when Riley kicked for touch as Davis and Guerrassimoff raced for him Casey’s six points which took him to a tally of 61 on tour—ls behind P. Ryan—gave Australia a half-time lead of 6-3. It was rugged in the forwards. The Springboks backs never got a run in the entire first half. But the Australian backs tried to open up at every reasonable opportunity. Early in the first half a break bv Hawthorne, Catchpole, Eilwood, then Hawthorne again and Williams almeet put the Randwick rightwing in. But Ciiliers tackled Williams well Smith made full use of the chance with a superb kick for a penalty goal from 47 vids, wide out. The ball just scraped over the crossbar and it was even at 6-6 after 11 minutes in the second half. , . Australia had a fortunate break in the eighteenth minute of the second half when from the Springboks seconc full line movement of toe match. Ciiliers. the right wing looked certain to score.

But Catchpole, covering brilliantly as usual, tackled him a yard short of the line as he dived.

It looked like the Springbok still must touch down, but the ball jolted from his hands and the try was lost. A superb break by Marks for 30 yards before he sent on to Williams gave Australia a great try with 13 minutes to go. Williams skirted along just inside the sideline to fly across by the comer flag. His legs, after the touchdown, knocked over the corner flag, and Captain Myburgh consulted the local touch judge before awarding the try.

Casey converted from the sideline. After 27 minutes in the second half Australia led, 116. Two minutes later Smith kicked a great penalty from 52 yards to close the gap to 11-9 in favour of Australia. There was a punching exchange involving Crittle and Heming with several Springbok forwards. Crittle had to receive attention. The game was in injury time when Gainsford made a fine break to send on to Cilliers, but Catchpole was there to save with a great tackle.