SPRINGBOKS AGAIN

Grey River Argus, 9 August 1937, Page 6

SPRINGBOKS AGAIN

AN EASY VICTORY Over Wellington MAGNIFICENT FORM SHOWN. [Per Press Association]. WELLINGTON, August 8. On a hard, dry ground, with a stiff southerly wind, the Springboks had no trouble in disposing of Wellington by 29 points to nil at Athletic Park on Saturday afternoon. The visitors outclassed the local team in every department, and from the first few minutes of play, the only question undecided was how big the score should be. A crowd of thirty thousand watched the game. THE AFRICAN FORWARDS. The Springboks gave a wonderful exhibition of Rugby. The mechanical perfection of their play delighted the spectators, but threw’ into relief the deficiencies of the provincial team. Their pack was remarkable for the dogged way in which they followed up the ball untiringly. The African forwards were constantly on the ball and the Wellington team was quite unable to hold them. BRILLIANT BACKS. The half-back, de Villiers and the fly-half, van der Vyver, smothered all of the Wellington attempts to send the backs away. The Springbok back-line played a brilliant game, combining in head work and footwork. Brand proved a grand full-back. He retired toward the close of the game with a strained tendon, but his injury is not regarded as serious. THE SCORING. In the first half of the game, the Springboks, who started scoring within five minutes of the kick-off, ran up a score of sixteen. Wellington only twice looked like scoring. The first' occasion was when Griffiths made a promising opening, but a supporting forward knocked on. The second time was after the interval, when Ongley kicked through, but Brand beat him to the ball. For a long period after half-time, Wellington offered a determined resistance, but in the last ten minutes play, the Springboks advanced their score a further thirteen points. The Springbok forwards were much too heavy for the Wellington pack, which several times collapsed when the front row was unable to sustain the weight of the hefty South Africans. THE LOSING SIDE. Lambourne, the Wellington hooker, in the first half managed to aquit himself well, he on many occasions beating Lotz, but in the later phases he was not so successful. O’Halloran and Griffiths were the stars of the Wellington team. Veitch shone at intervals early in the game, but he was handling unsurely, and he weakened noticeably in the second half. Butler and Wells were playing a hard game in the forwa os throughcut. Vartan the Wellington lull-back, was disappointing. COMMENTS BY CAPTAINS. "My team were troubled by the wind. We have seldom experienced one of such force. It made kicking definitely difficult,” said the Springbok captain of the day, Brand, after the game. He added that they appreciated the firm, dry ground. It was the best that they had so far played on. He was well satisfied with the Springboks’ performance, but he believed that there was room lor improvement. “A great game,” said the Wellington captain, Griffiths. “The Springboks have a wonderful side. Their forwards are superb, especially in following and backing up. Their backs were clever in the use of reverse passing. THE TEAMS. The teams were:— Springboks: Backs: Brand (captain); Turner, Williams, Hofmeyer, White; van de Vyver, de Villiers. Forwards: Martin, Lotz, Jennings; van Reenan, van den Berg, Bergh, Strachan; Watt. Wellington: Backs: Vartan; Hansen, Fleming, Wright; Griffiths (captain), Veitch; O’Halloran. Forwards: Ongley, Lambourne, J. Wells; Fraser-Smith, Pringle, Andrews, Butler; Guy. There was one alteration in the Springbok- team. Martin replaced Louw in the front row of the scrum. Wellington won the toss and elected to play down the wind. When the teams marched on to the fields, they had a tremendous acclamation from the crowd. Lord Galway shook hands with all the players. The referee was Mr L. E. Macassey of Otago. THE PLAY. Within a minute of the kick-off, Veitch broke away and evaded a tackle, and then kicked. Griffiths, following up, carried the play well into the Springbok territory. Lambourne, in the first set scrum, outhooked Lotz, but the movement was smothered by a quick break-up of the scrum. First Score. Van Reenan came through the ruck with the ball, and won his way to near the Wellington line, when he handed the ball to Watt, who was following up hard, and the latter touched down for a try. Brand’s kick hit the upright, and bounched the wrong way. Springboks 3; Wellington 0. Chance Lost by Wellington. Wellington now launched a vigorous movement, when, after a fine run bv Fleming, the ball went out to Wright on the wing. He passed back to Griffiths, and cutting out Brand, Griffiths dashed for the line. Three men came to challenge him, and, with five yards to go, he passed to a supporting forward, who knocked-on. Wellington never again had such a chance. Griffiths, kicking well, repeatedly regained lost ground for Wellington with long line kicks, but

the South African forwards forced them back into their own country. From the loose the ball came out to White, who ran past the Wellington forwards, and, when challenged by Fleming, kicked. Vartan, the fullback, failed to clear. Only quick work by Hansen saved another score. Brand essayed a penalty at long range into the "wind, but missed. The South African forwards, keeping hard on the ball, again smothered Wellington efforts to bring their back line into action. A Brilliant Try. From a scrum on their own 25, the Springboks heeled. De Villiers made one of his clever reversals of play, and sent Turner away. Turner sprinted down the field, beat Hansen, and then turned inwards to dodge Vartan, and having gained 40 yards, passed out to White, Hofmeyer and _ Williams, the last-named completing a brilliant and spectacular movement by running across to score. Brand s kick was in keeping. The score was now 8 to nil in the visitors’ favour. Jennings, leading the African pack, took play into the Wellington territory. Again, the big forwards suddenly attacked, with a savage rush, handling the ball in short, snappy passes. Lotz gave it to Bergh, and Bergh sent on to van Reenen, who touched down. Brand’s kick, from near the line, curved just inside the posts. Springboks 13; Wellington 0. Several interesting kicks followed. Fleming, from a penalty five yards inside half-way, took a long shot at the goal, but, as he made his run, the ball toppled. Then, from loose play van der Vyver tried a pot, but the ball struck the post, and bounced the wrong way. Williams fielded a speculative kick out of a scrum, and crashed across at the corner for a try. Brand s kick fell short. At half-time the Springboks led by 16 to nil. SECOND SPELL. A long period of scrappy play followed the change over. Wellington made desperate efforts to fight off the African attack. From a melee well outside the 25, Brand made a beautiful dropkick, but missed narrowly. Then he fielded the drop-out and tried again with an equal lack of success. Wellington made a fine break when Lambourne hooked to O’Halloran, who sent the ball to Veitch on the blind side. The latter gained 25 yards with a successful sprint. Later van der Vyver dropped a forward’s pass from a line-out, and Ongley kicked on, but Brand beat him in a thrilling race for the line. With ten minutes to go van der Vyver passed to Lotz, who in turn passed to White. Griffiths collared White, but could not bring him down. He passed to Hofmeyer who went over a yard from the posts. Turner converted. Springboks 21; Wellington 0. Brand now retired injured. Turner shifted to full-back and Watt to the wing. When Wellington were penalised 45 yards in midfield Turner kicked a spectacular goal, making the score .-4 to nil. With three minutes to go, Vartan fielded a kick from Jennings, but he passed forward to Fleming and there was a scrum at the 25. The Springboks hooked the ball, which flew out to White, who promptly reversed the play, by returning it to Williams, who darted across near the posts. Turner easily converted, making the final scores: — SPRINGBOKS 29 WELLINGTON 0 Buller-West Coast Team TO MEET THE SPRINGBOKS. The joint selectors, Messrs H. Casey and D. R. Dowell, have announced the following team to represent Bul-ler-West Coast combined against, the Springboks at Greymouth on August 25:— Full-back—G. D. M. Gilbert (West Coast). Three-quarters—J. Hill (Buller), A. Strachan (B.), R. Roberts (C.l. Five-eighths—W. Mann (C.), S. Stewart (B.). Half-back —M. Davidson (C.). Forwards —Front row, J. Lake (B.), G. Orman (B.), R. Kirkwood (C.); second row, G. Mason (B.), G. Wilson (B.), R. King (C.), M. Scandrett (C.); last man, P. Garden (C.). Emergencies—R. Pratt (B.), forward; R. Butterfield (B.), back. TARANAKI B (6) v. KING COUNTRY (6). TAUMARUNUI, July 7. King Country and Taranki B played a drawn game to-day the score being six all. King Country failed to reproduce the form they showed against Waikato whom they defeated heavily recently. The forwards appeared sluggish^,.find were beaten by Taranaki in the majority of the scrums and line-outs. When the King Country backs got the ball they were definitely more dangerous than the Taranaki backs who lacked penetration. Crossman played sound football and made many splendid openings. Phillips, the King Country wing, scored the first try after a magnificent effort, forcing his way through three or four men. Then Robinson made an opening for Cameron, who cut in brilliantly to score King Country’s second try. Ross gaoled for Taranaki from a penalty just on half-time and kicked another penalty goal in the second spell. Robinson played a great game behind the King Country scrum both in attack and defence. Bourke and Ross were outstanding among the Taranaki backs. Trustum and Box were the best King Country forwards, and George and Longstaff played outstandingly for Taranaki. Prior to the match Crossman took part in the Coronation Day seven-a-side final. He scored two tries and converted four tries, his side Niho Niho, defeating Pio Pio by twentypoints to nil. MORRISON INJURED. TIMARU, August 8. T. C. Morrison, the South Canterbury wing three-quarter who was selected to train for the SpringboksNew’ Zealand Test match next Saturday, suffered a rib injury while playing for South Canterbury against Ashburton yesterday, and will not be able to play for three weeks. ■