DECISIVE WIN

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 265, 5 August 1937, Page 13

DECISIVE WIN

Springboks Run Up High Score MANAWATU TEAM OUTPLAYED Crowd of 20,000 See the Match By Telegraph—Press Association. Palmerston North, August 4. Though the run of play was much closer than the totals suggest, the South Africans scored a decisive victory over Manawatu by 39 points to three. In the first spell Manawatu, with a fair breeze behind, held the territorial advantage. Their forwards, ably led by R. McKenzie, shared the honours of the set scrums, and, if anything, had the better of the line-outs. The South Africans, however, backed up to a man, and with great support from Brand, who never looked like making a mistake all the afternoon, their defence was much too sound for Manawatu. Manawatu had two chances for penalties early in the game, but both kicks, one fairly easy, went astray, and 27 minutes after the start a penalty gave Brand his first chance. From the sideline, just outside the twenty-five, and dead into the wind, he kicked a beautiful goal, the ball just floating over the eross-'bar. The South Africans increased the score just before the spell ended, when Lyster brilliantly cut through for a try near the posts. Brand made no mistake, and the Springboks were eight points ahead. Within six minutes of the start of the second spell the Springboks had doubled their tally, the defence during, that period being rather disorganised. Manawatu rallied, however, and after Edlin, the half-back, had eut round the scrum. Newman scored a well-earned try well out from the posts. Manawatu then held the Springboks for a period, but during the last quarter the visitors had matters practically their own way, and they ran on another 23 points, 11 of which came as a result of Brand’s fine goal-kicking. In all, Brand scored 21 points, and his kicking was really the feature of the match. The weather was fine, and after steady rain the previous afternoon and during the night, the ground, though slow, was in remarkably line order. The attendance was estimated at about 20,000. The Springboks’ backs were all good and they handled with confidence. Their passing rushes, however, were usually smashed before the ball reached the wings. Positional Changes. When the game started Craven was playing fly-half, but later he moved in to scrum-half. When it was thought the ground would be heavy Craven replaced Hofmeyer in the Springboks team and Strachan replaced Van Keenan. For the Springboks, Craven, Lyster and Brand appeared the best backs, and Louw, Lotz and Bastard the best for : wards. Bester did not see much of the bail until late in the- game, but then proved himself a resolute and resourceful wing. The forwards always played its a pack and always gave the impression they had plenty in reserve. Manawatu held their own during most of the first spell and at times in the second. To-day the Springboks were just an ordinary team until the opportunity offered. and then the forwards and backs became brilliantly active and took a power of stopping. The accuracy of their short punting was a-revelation. Manawatu, with McKenzie in the thick of it all the time, played a very good game, and they deserved to have* had a smaller margin against them. The forwards worked like Trojans, and they gave their backs a fair share of the ball. Passing, however, was not straight enough across, r.nd the receiver was usually standing fiatfooted. During the first 20 minutes there was not a great deal between the teams, and both sets of forwards were going at such a pace that the backs only had time to kick hurriedly for the line. On the occasions the ball did get out to the backs the tackling was so deadly that pacing rushes were never allowed to get far. Within the first quarter the Springboks were penalised, and Powell had a shot, but missed. The ball was not forced, but the clearing kick hit the upright and Lochner came in offside and Finlay had another shot from a handy position, just missing. It was a let-off for the visitors. Manawatu went close when Waugh centred to the goal front, the Springboks just forcing in time. The Manawatu forwards were going well, ami Fell led them in a sortie to the line, where Sullivan was recalled after actually grounding the ball. Infringements, however, were rather frequent, and they were all turned to advantage by Brand. The visitors had their chances of scoring, but it was not until Brand kicked a penalty that they opened their account. Manawatu returned to the Springboks’ twenty-five, where Waldin, their full-back, tried with his left foot for a field goal. Bergh next made a sensational dash and passed to Bester, who was thrown into touch. The South African backs then went away on the other wing, but White failed to get through. For the rest of the spell the Springboks’ backs were continually in action, but the tackling was sudden and accurate, and it was not until Lyster accepted a dive pass from Craven and cut clean through to score that the Manawatu defence was found wanting. Brand converted, and the visitors led 8-0 a t the interval. Springlwks Put Up Great Pace. Down wind, the South Africans started the second spell at a great pace. Waldin took the ball off the feet of the forwards and stopped them once but they were back immediately, and from a line-out in the corner the ball travelled along the backs to Lochner, who short punted, and Lyster, like a flash, had the ball to score an easy try. Brand missed. , They scored again a moment later when a Manawatu pass went astray and was soon in Bester’s hands. Bester kicked over the full-back, and Lochner won the race to score. _ Brand goaled. Manawatu were disorganised, but they rallied and drove the Springboks back past half-way where, from a set scrum, Edlin streaked round and passed to Newman, who made ground and returned to Edlin. The Manawatu forwards joined in, and the ball was rushed over the line, where Newman pounced on it. Finlay’s kick hit an upright and failed to go over. A penalty to the Springboks returned play to the other end, where Brand kicked another penalty from a bandy position. Brand was now having shots at field goals from all angles. Watt, who received from Craven and Harris, ran over unopposed for Brand to convert. Brand then brought the spectators to their feet with a glorious field goal from near half-way. Only 11 minutes were left, but the ball came from a sortie to Bester’s wing, the ball going from Strachan to Watt to Bastard, who went over near the corner. Brand kicked a poster. The Manawatu forwards made one last desperate effort, but were held up near the line, and a counter-attack and a long kick by Bester sent Manawatu back hot-foot. Wasley raced Bester to the ball, and kicked it to dead ground, but a five-yards scrum wa« ordered, and an infringement gave Brand another easy penalty kick. The last try came when Manawatu lost possession and Bastard, drawing the defence, passed to Louw, who raced over

unopposed. Brand goaled, and the game ended with the score 39-3.

The referee was Dr. M. Dickson, of Canterbury. Interviewed after the match the Manawatu captain said that the Springboks were much too clever, and the experienced work of the forwards, particularly their short passing, was very fine. Also, their backs always had the edge on the Manawatu men. It was a good, clean game played in the best spirit. Brand's kicking was great, and he helped considerably to swell the total.