A PICNIC GAME

Evening Star, Issue 22719, 5 August 1937, Page 8

A PICNIC GAME

SPRINGBOKS OVERWHELM MANAWATU BRAND'S GREAT GOAL KICKING FORWARDS AT THEIR BEST SCRUMMAGING A FEATURE [Speciat. to the ‘ Stab.’] PALMERSTON NORTH, August 4, C-lourful Rugby was played by the Springboks in the fourth match of their New Zealand tour, when they overwhelmed Manawatu by 39 points to 3 at the Show Grounds to-day. In the second spell the match developed into a ptcmc game for the Springboks. G. H. Brand, the crack full-back, revelling in the easiness of the match, took all sorts of liberties, but he proved what a menace he is with his boot, for of the Springboks 39 points he scored 21 —four conversions, a potted goal, and three penalties. He gave a grand exhibition. Another star who shone Just as brightly was T. A. Harris, the brilliant fly half, who had a real day out. Ho was hampered in the first spell poor sendee from the base of the scrum by G. P. Lochner, the Springboks’ utility back, who was not happy in the face of the fast breaking Manawatu fonvards. When a quarter of an hour after the start Craven, who had been playing ineffectively _at centre, took his rightful place behind the pack, Harris came into his own, and thereafter he was always a real menace to Manawatu These two, Brand and Harris, were outstanding among the tourists* backs. It was a colourful match m colourful setting. The Highland Band paraded round the ground before the kick-off, and the wrestler, “ Rusty Wescoatt gave an amazing demonstration of the methods used in American Rugby to throw the ball. From near halfway he threw the ball over the goalposts. Throughout the match the Springboks always had the edge on Manawatu. Against the wind in the first spell South Africa played indifferently, but it was a different story in the second spell. From the word “go ” they flashed the ball from hand to hand in devastating fashion, and the weakness of the Manawatu hacks left the way open on many occasions. The Springboks scored with apparent ease, but many more points could have been scored by them had they taken full advantage of all the opportunities winch were offering. Nevertheless, they gave a delightful exhibition. Hundreds of school children who lined the touchline on forms on cither side of the field gave an unfortunate display of sportsmanship. Several times when Brand attempted to kick they picked up the “ boos ” of the crowd behind them, and persisted with ‘‘ boos.’ Like children they aped their elders, who were unfair to the Springboks in a game which was clean throughout. At no stage of the game did Manawatu look like winning. The South African forwards worked for the first time on their New Zealand tour with real cohesion, and although they were up against a lighter and less experienced pack, they gave an indication that they will be a serious problem for the All Black pack. Their scrummaging was perfect. The form of S. C. (“Fanis”) Louw was watched with interest. He proved himself to bo a wonderfully powerful forward and a tactician to boot. Next in order of merit to Louw was W. E. Bastard, on the side of tho scrum, who was rocked with a kick to the jaw after a dive tackle, but who gamely carried on. Making his first appearance was H. H. Watt, who had not played a game since he was injured in tho New South Wales match. He revealed himself as a fast and capable loose forward, although he dropped an occasional pass. Of the South African backs, Graven and Harris again stood out, with Lyster contributing flashes of brilliance on the wing. Both centres, Lochner and White, had an off day on attack, but White’s defence was always wonderfully sound. His demon tackling rocked the Manawatu defence. Little can bo said in favour of the Manawatu backs. They tried, but they had neither pace, experience, nor defence to counter the brilliance of the African backline. Their best was C. Edlin, a half-back of many gifts, who occasionally broke brilliantly from the scrum and who was not afraid to go down at the feet of the onrushing pack. Outstanding among the Manawatu forwards was All Black R. M. M‘Keuzie (captain). He played a grand game and three times battled his way with amazing force through the opposing pack. He played a real All Black game. 0. N. Newman, who scored Manawatu’s only try, proved himself to be a useful loose forward. There were odd moments when the Manawatu forwards played well collectively, but throughout they coufd not match the solidity of the Springboks in the tight nor tho cleverness of W. F. Bergli and L. Straehan in line-outs. Upwards of 15,000 packed round the ring of the Showgrounds. The sun shone as play started l , but rain threatened. Tho ground had been dried by a south wind during the morning, but was still on the slippery side. Taking no risks, the Springboks changed their team before the match. Craven going in as centre in place of Hofmeyr, and Straehan taking Van Reenan’s place on the side of the serum, THE FIRST SPELL The captains decided to play 40minute spells, and the Springboks kicked off against a fairly strong wind. In tho first few minutes there was a series of drab, uninteresting forward scrambles. Then the Manawatu forwards broke away in a fine loose rush, led by M'Kenzie, and swept towards tho Springboks line. Into action went the tourists’ backs, Harris brilliantly retrieving an almost impossible pass from Lochner, but he sent an equally bad one to Craven, who was caught in possession. The Manawatu forwards swept through, and l at the height of the attack were awarded a_ penalty, but Powell failed with the kick. Instead of forcing Bastard attempted to kick to the line, but the ball rebounded and Straehan, picking up in an attempt to clear, was off-side. Manawatu had an opportunity to open the scoring, but Finlay missed from a comparatively easy range.

With the wind behind them, Manawatu. were doing most of the attack and, keeping the ball at their feet went away in dangerous forward rushes. Occasionally they sent their backs into action, but they were ineffective against the demon tackling of White and Craven. The Springboks were now playing with more heart and cohesion. A quarter of an hour after the start Craven went to .scrum half and Lochner went to centre. Lochner’s passes from the base of the scrum had been erratic and had made play almost impossible for Harris and the rest of the African back line. At this stage Manawatu was winning the ball from the scrum, but was doing little with it. The home team then attacked with great force, and Newman got over, but was called back, and from the scrum which followed the Africans cleared with fine loose forward rushes, in which Straehan, Bastard, and “ Fame ” Louw were the leaders. The visitors swept to the Manawatu line and sent their backs away in a blind-side movement, but Bester was held up a yard short of the line. From the following scrum M'Kenzie, Terry, and Powell broke away, and in solid formation the Manawatu pack went almost the length of the field in a brilliant dribbling rush. Back to the attack went the Springbok forwards, and Manawatu were penalised in their own twenty-five. With a magnificent kick from the sideline at the twenty-five flag and against a tricky wind Brand landed r. goal. South Africa 3 Manawatu 0 Just on half-time came a brilliant try. From the loose Craven threw a long dive pass, and Lyster, wing threequarter who had gone inside for the movement, took the ball going at top to score between the posts after a 20yds run. Brand converted. Half-time score:— South Afxica ... 8 Manawatu 0 FAST SCORING SECOND HALF The Springboks opened the second spell with a pretty try. They won a line-out near the Manawatu line, and Craven sent a long dive pass to Harris and on to White to Lochner, who shortkicked cleverly for the speedy Lyster to race ahead, collect the hall as it bounced, and score. Brand’s kick missed. South Africa 11 Manawatu 0 The visitors started to open up the game at every opportunity now, and in the next minute Lochner scored from a combined forward-back attack. Brand goaled. South Africa ... 16 Manawatu 0 At midfield Edlin, the Manawatu half, broke away brilliantly from the scrum and passed infield. The fonvards rushed play to near the line, and in a scramble Newman got over. Finlay’s kick hit the post and bounced back infield. South Africa ... 1C Manawatu 3 Tho Springboks were having matters nearly all their own way now. Two penalties in quick succession came to the visitors. From the first Brand attempted to drop-kick a goal 40yds out and just missed, but from the second he landed a beautiful goal. South Africa 19 Manawatu 3 Bound the open side of the scrum flashed Craven to send infield to Straehan, to Harris, who had gone inside his forward, and out to Watt, who had raced into position to score a spectacular try. Brand goaled. South Africa 24 Manawatu 3 Brand was making a picnic of it in attempting three field goals from different angles, but just missing on each occasion. A minute later came a brilliant field goal from halfway by Brand. South Africa 28 Manawatu 3 Bastard was the next to score after Straehan had made an opening from a ruck near the Manawatu line. Brand missed by inches. South Africa 31 Manawatu 3 Two minutes before the end Brand landed a penalty. South Africa 34 Manawatu 3 Before the end the Springboks’ forwards broke away and “ Far'e ” Louw shot past the half-hearted deposition to score. Brand goaled, and the final score was:— South Africa 39 Manawatu 3 The referee was Dr M. Dickson, of Canterbury. Interviewed, the Manawatu skipper said that the Springboks were much too clever for the home players, and the experienced work of the forwards, particularly their short passing, was very fine. Their backs always had tho edge on the Manawatu backs. It was a good, clean game played in the best spirit. Brand’s kicking was great, and he helped considerably to swell the total.