SPRINGBOK TOUR

Grey River Argus, 18 August 1937, Page 5

SPRINGBOK TOUR

THE ALL BLACKS Captain’s Comment Ron King, the AIL Black contain in the first test, commenting on the play, said that the New Zealand team packed well tackled like demons, followed up fast and hunted like wolves. From the openins of the same they held their own, and it was a pleasure to work with them, each man putting in his best and that of a super quality. But it was after lhe defection of Cobden, with fifty minutes of play to go that the pack showed their real strensth. In spite of taking the hefty 21 year old Southland forward, Ward, out of the pack to play wing three-quarter and incidentally to mark the most dangerous wing three-quarter of the Springboks, the remaining seven fully held their opponents. It was a hard fight to do so, but the forwards excelled themselves and did not. let up for one moment, in scrum or loose, while special care was also taken to give some extra support on the wing to Ward, who filled his unexpected position with great success and distinction. The play of the backs was also of a very sound nature. Simon and Trevathan combined well and the latter’s place kicking was of a quality not to be excelled. He played a great game and like all the others, tackled in great style. Sullivan and Dick played fine sound games, while Taylor was a great success and got the team out of some very dangerous positions. King was of the opinion that the fast following up of the forwards combined with their strenuous tackling, upset the back play of the Springboks, whom he recognised to be a fine team, and dangerous at any moment of the play. Special mention was made of the play of Williams and of Turner, at full-back. The feature of the win of course-was the success of the team with only, fourteen men for so long a period which was a great tribute to the work of the remaining forwards. He was proud to have been associated with such a combination. He was fit- but had a somewhat tired feeling after the strenuous game of Saturday.

Blenheim Match TEAMS FOR TO-DAY. [Per Press Association]. BLENHEIM, August 17. After a smooth trip across the Cook Strait, the Springboks disembarked at Picton this morning, to enter upon the South Island portion of the tour, in the commencement of which they meet a combined team drawn from three Marlborough, Nelson, Golden Bay-Mot ue-ka Unions, at Blenheim, tomorrow afternoon.

Glorious weather prevails in Marlborough, and unless there is an unexpected break in the present winter “drought,” the South Africans will have the ground just to their liking. Yesterday afternoon, when the Combined team had a practice match against the second Marlborough fitteen at Lansdowne Pam, the players raised clouds of dust, the surfact being hard and dry. Though the Combined team won 17 to 8, under only slight pressure, the prospects are for an easy Springbok win, especially with the ground conditions so favourable. The visitors this morning enjoyed a launch cruise in Queen Charlotte Sound, before motoring to Blenheim at midday. TO-DAY’S TEAMS. The teams will be:— Springboks. Backs: Turner, Lawton, Lochner, Bester, Lyster, Craven, Van de Vyver. Forward;?: Martin, Lotz, Jennings, Du Toit, Nel, Bastard, Watt. Combined Team. Backs: Reid, Barton, Lunn, Jellyman, Brinsden, Kotua, Mellish. Forwards: Craig, Hippolite, R. and W. Woolley, Soane, Fleet, Drummond, and MacDonald. AUTOGRAPH REQUESTS. WELLINGTON, August 17. The touring South African Rugby football team left Wellington for ricton, by the “Tamahine” last night, being farewelled by a large number of friends. They play the seventh match ot the New Zealand itinerary against the combined Marlborough-Nelson team, at Blenheim to-morrow. It .is announced by Mr S. S. Dean, Chairman of the executive of the Wellington Rugby Union, that the Springboks have been unable to cope with all the autograph book requests. SPRINGBOKS TO VISIT MT. COOK TIMARU, August 17. Advice has been received in Timaru to-day to the effect that arrangements have been completed for the whole Springbok team to visit Mt. Cook during their stay in Timaru. The party will leave here on Sunday, August 29. They will visit Ball Hut and Tasman Glacier on the Monuay, and will return to Timaru on the Tuesday. South Canterbury Team TO PLAY SPRINGBOKS. TIMARU, August 17. The South Canterbury team to play the Springbobs at Timaru on August 28 is as follows: — Full-back: R. Lundy. Three-quarters: T. C. Morrison, K. McPhail, and D. Hopkinson. Five-eighths: B. Morrison and C. Cartwright. Half: C. Saxton. Back Row: J. Bryce. Middle Row: J. Strang, J. Stewart, F. Thomson, and H. Graham. Front Row: J. Gilmore, T. Gunn, and G. Adkins. This team plus G. Vucetich, P. Hansen, E. Ryan, G. Wright, and A. Gaffaney, will tour Hawke’s Bay, Manawatu, Wairarapa and Wellington,