INTEREST IN SPRINGBOKS' TOUR

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 57, 4 September 1937, Page 23

INTEREST IN SPRINGBOKS' TOUR

GREAT SCORING AGAINST PROVINCES

It was only to be expected that after the Springboks' mulches in Wellington the interest in local Rugby events would show a decline; Even so, attendances at matches have been quite good, and the remaining events on the season's programme will attract some attention. What interests most people, of course, is the South Africa-New Zealand Test battle, and today attention was concentrated upon doings at Christchurch, where New Zealand faced the second Test in the happy position of being one up. It was expected that the Springboks would stage a great effort to make honours easy once again.

Since, the.first Test the- Springboks have been piling up points, and tneir record, outside the Tests,' is the finest that has been put up by any team from overseas.' Four matches since the Springboks were in Wellington have increased -their scoring account by 119 points, with only 20 on the debit side. In the five matches in New Zealand prior to the first Test the Springboks scored 110 points and had only 14 scored against them. So that, against provincial sides to date on the tour the visitors have the following record: Played 9, won 9; points for 229, points against 34; Their other engagement was the first/Test, and in this they were beaten: by 13 points 7. ■ •

The' Springboks' result sheet shows: July 24.—v. Auckland, won 19-5. July 28.—v. Waikato-King: CountryThames Valley,, won 6-3:

July "31,—v. Tafanakir'won 17-3. August 4.—^v. Manawatu, won 39-3. August 7.—v. Wellington, won 29-0. August 14.—v. NEW ZEALAND (FIRST TEST), lost 7-13. .

August 18,—v. Marlborough-Nelson, won 224).

August 21.—v. Canterbury, won 23-8. August, 25.—v. West-Coast-Buller, won 31«9f

August * 28.—v. South Canterbury, won 43-6.