World XV beaten by provincial side

Press, 31 August 1989, Page 34

World XV beaten by provincial side

NZPA-AP Pretoria In spite of missing eight of its regular, South Africa’s top provincial rugby club. Northern Transvaal, overpowered a Welsh-dominated World XV team 32-19 on Tuesday. The "Blue Bulls” are undefeated leaders of South Africa’s premier division and have not lost at their home, Loftus Versfeld, in more than a year.

The team they beat was in effect the second string of the visiting International XV, which has lost, three of the first four games of the con-

troversial five-match tour. the Welsh fullback. Paul Thorburn scored 15 of the visitors’ points with a try, a conversion and three penalties. Mark Ring, a Welsh centre, also scored a try. Northern Transvaal ran in six tries, including three by flank Piet Pretorius. It led 16-7 at half-time.

The International Rugby Board approved the tour in honour of the centenary of the South African Rugby Board, but anti-apartheid activists here and abroad have denounced it as a violation of

the international sports boycott.

The losing squad included nine Welshmen, two Frenchmen, two Australians and two South Africans pressed into service because of injuries to several of the touring players. Northern Transvaal rested six of its regulars who played for the South African national team in its 20-19 victory last Saturday and will do so again this Saturday in the test which will end the tour. Two other Northern Transvaal starters were sidelined by injuries.