ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL SOUTH AFRICA PLAY BRILLIANT FOOTBALL TO DEFEAT N.Z.

Grey River Argus, 30 June 1947, Page 3

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL SOUTH AFRICA PLAY BRILLIANT FOOTBALL TO DEFEAT N.Z.

A crowd of over 10,000 on Saturday at Christchurch witnessed probably the most thrilling soccer test match ever seen in New Zealand, and probably one of the highest scoring games played anywhere. Overhead conditions were good, but the ground was soft and very heavy. New Zealand weie more at home in the conditions, but once the Springboks settled down, the crowd were treated to a highly scientific exhibition of soccer. It was a match with thrill upon thrill, and when New Zealand led by five goals to two, with only 15 minutes to go, hardly a soul on the ground gave South Africa a chance of winning. Then,, however, came the most exciting period of the match. In twelve electrifying minutes, South Africa piled on four goals, and gave an exhibition that left the crowd gasping. During that twelve minutes the New Zealand defence which had played so grandly, collapsed completely due to the terrific, sustained pressure put on by the Springboks. Individually, New Zealand played brilliant football, and were the equal of the Springboks. However, superior physical condition, ball control, and combination always.' gave the South Africans the appearance of a winning side. When New Zealand went on the defensive in the last 20 minutes, they sealed their fate. Had they continued to play normal soccer, the Africans would have received their second defeat of the tour.

The two new members of the Springbok test side, Pretorius and O’Linn, played brilliantly once they settled down. The 20-year-old O’Linn tore the New Zealand defence to tatters during the gruelling twelve minutes. Smethurst at all times gave a polished, machine-like exhibition. McCreadie was a tower of strength at full-back. In the New Zealand team was probably the outstanding player on the field, M. Gordon. Cleai, Davey, Mason, Woods and G. Smith also gave grand displays. The teams lined out as chosen:—

South Africa: J. Fickerell; H. D. McCreadie, E. Dowell; H. Pretorius, H. Naish, D. Forbes; D. Wilson, G. Falconer, B. Clack, E. H. Smehurst (captain), S. O’Linn.

New Zealand: R. Davey; A. J. Harris, R. A. Speed (captain); M. A. .Gordon, O. C. Cleal, L. A. Beavis 1 ; J. H. Sharp, R. L. Wood, G. W. Smith, VZ. S. Woods, K. J. Mason. New Zealand won the toss, and defended the southern end. Thrills started early, each team making raids and missing narrowly. Pretonus had the crowd on its feet with a 70-yard run, Davey saving a hard drive by smothering it on the ground. Pretorius followed up fast, but was penalised when he tripped over the goalkeeper. Smith finally received from Cleal, and he whipped the ball out to Sharp, who put in a good centreing shot for Smith to beat Pickerell with a ground shot, after 20 minutes’ play. N.Z. 1; S.A. 0.

South Africa attacked with determination, Clack and Falconer missing narrowly. Wilson made a brilliant run up the right wing, and put in a long centreing shot to O’Linn, who made no mistake with a terrific shot to score the best goal of the day. S.A. 1; N.Z. 1.

South Africa were now becoming more used to the conditions, and giving glimpses of precision football. However, New Zealand were the next to score, when Cleal lobbed up into the goalmouth for Woods to shortpass to Smith, the last-named scoring his second goal, with Pickerell helpless. N.Z. 2; S.A. 1.

South Africa again came back on the attack, Davey saving brilliantly from Falconer. The New Zealand defence was playing brilliantly, with Cleal and Gordon dominating. Davey again saved brilliantly from a header by Clack and a hard drive from Smethurst. Just on half time Clack delayed his shot a fraction too long, and missed a certain goal. Half time came with the score: N.Z. 2; S.A. 1. South Africa pressed on the resumption, Woods- clearing a corner with a clever run. South Africa were not to be denied, and Smethurst scored with a brilliant shot to the corner of the net. S.A. 2; N.Z. 2. Both goals had narrow escapes, until Naish, in putting back to Pickerell, mis-kicked, and Mason,_ following up fast, beat Pickerell for the ball and went on to put New Zealand again in the lead by three goals to two.

New Zealand went further ahead when Pickerell was penalised for handling outside his area. Beavis put the kick right to Smith’s feet. Pickerell made a valiant effort to save by diving at Smith’s feet, but arrived there a fraction too late as Smith flicked the ball into the net. N.Z. 4; S.A. 2.

New Zealand had a lucky escape when the referee made an error in a decision, and cancelled a free kick to New Zealand, to award a bounce three yards from the New Zealand goalmouth. A free kick eventually did relieve the sticky situation. South Africa now started to apply the pressure, but the New Zealand defence was rising to the occasion. Wilson missed a sitting shot, for New Zealand to flash back, and Woods- beat Pickerell all the way to give New Zealand a three-goal lead. Back to the attack went South Africa, for New Zealand to- fight back, only to see Wood and Mason both mis-kick when well placed. Smethurst hit the upright with a terrific drive inches off the ground. Pretorius then made a great run to beat Davey and make the score S.A. 3; N.Z. 5.

O’Linn made brilliant, for New Zealand to force a lucky corner. Brilliant play by McCreadie kept New Zealand, penned in its own half. O’Linn again had hard luck when he hit the side of the net with a sizzler. The New Zealand defence were making repeated brilliant saves, but South Africa maintained the terrific pressure. Finally, Falconer breasted in a brilliant corner kick from O’Linn. S.A. 4; N.Z. 5. South Africa went straight, back, but the tired and harrassed New Zealand defence he,ld, until O’Linn again made an electrifying run down the left wing before centreing to Smethurst, who made no mistake in putting the scores level, five-all. , South Africa returned to the ’ attack, and were all over New Zealand. Brilliant shots were miraculously,

and sometimes luckily saved. _ W large crowd were absolutely with excitement,,, and were cheeriW the Springboks to the echo. CM would have thought New Zealaiii were winning. With three minute! to go, Clack received, to beat his man 1 and give Davey no chance with’ a well-placed ground shot, amidst wild enthusiasm and appreciation. S.A. 6; N.Z. 5.

Each goal received short, sharp raids, but South Africa eased off the pressure once they had gained the load. The game ended with the score: SOUTH AFRICA 6; NEW ZEALAND 5 Referee: Mr C. Sweeney.

West Coast Fail Against Canterbury

West Coast reps, disappointed supporters on Saturday at Christchurch by their display against Canterbury, the home team being superior in fitness and positional play, and had what the Coast lacked—goal-scoring forwards. The Coast defence generally was as good as the Canterbury defence, with the exception of poorer positional play by the wing halves, Perrin and McMahone. Perrin was playing his first game at left half, and could not be blamed, and otherwise he played solidly. •Of the Coast defence. R. Armstrong, R. Lee and J.' Lee were a tower of strength, whnSo R. Scott was the outstanding forward. Marshall, of whom much was expected, failed inexplicably. For Canterbury, Anderson and Gowans were always prominent in tlie defence, whilst I' ox, Lucas and Bailey were the pick of the fast forward line. The last-named scored four goals. The teams were:— West Coast: J. Lee; P. Bailey, R. Lee (captain); B. McMahone, R. Armstrong, J. Perrin; J. White, J. McNaughton, M. Marshall, R. Scott, G. Glen. Canterbury: B. Lambert; P. Melson, D. Gowans; C. Anderson, R Smith, A. Laffey; P. Fox, W. Rogers, C Bailey; K. Lucas, C. Thomas. Coast kicked off, but Canterbury rushed straight through to score within a minute through Bailey. >',anterbury 1; Coast 0. End-to-end play followed, both goals having escapes. Marshall twice failed to score when well placed, due to weak shooting. Fox took the ball down, and centred for Canterbury to score. Canterbury 2; Coast 0. J. Lee was giving a brilliant exhibition in the Coast goal in the face of repeated Canterbury attacks. From a pass by Thomas, Bailey scored Canterbury’s third goal from close range. The half time score was Canterbury 3; West Coast 0. Coast started off in the second half with great determination, but a solid defence and weak finishing neutralised all efforts, until Scott,, after clever work, put Marshall througn to open Coast's account. Canterbury 3; Coast 1. Coast rallied, Scott hem outstanding in the forwards. However, Canterbury held, and made re peated sorties into Coast territory, where they were repulsed in a solid defence by R. Lee and Armstrong Not to be denied. Canterbury came again for Lucas to send on to Fox, and to Bailey, for Canterbury’s fourth goal. Coast made several attacks that were fruitless. Lucas received in mid-field, to put Thomas’ through to put the ball in off the far upright. Canterbury 5; Coast 1. Shortly after play in Canterbury territory, Bailey received to run through and score his fourth and Canterbury’s sixth goal. Coast still made valiant efforts to reduce the leeway, and when Lambert fumbled a hard shot' from Scott, Gowans very luckily saved for Canterbury. The game ended: Canterbury 6; West Coast 1. Referee: Mr P. Consedine.

SPRINGBOKS KEEN TO VISIT WEST COAST

Hopes of a visit to the West Coast by the South African Soccer team again is high. Messrs F. Bishop and R. Lee, manager .and captain respectively of the West Coast team, had a long discussion on Saturday evening with the manager and captain of the Springbok team, Messrs Banboun and Horace Smethurst. Mr Banboun said that he was particularly keen to visit the Coast and the players themselves would be delighted to pay the visit. Mr Banboun stated that he had heard so much about the scenery and hospitality on the** South Island’s West Coast that he himself would pay a visit even if the team could not. He was of the opinion that as they were to stay tn New Zealand another month, their North Island itinerary should be postponed and the South Island visit extended by another week or so, in order- that they may make the trip to the Coast.

IL is Mr Banboun’s intention, if no arrangements have been made by the New Zealand Council upon the team’s return to Christchurch on July 9, to include the Coast—to leave the team in Christchurch, spend two or three days on the Coast and then fly to Wellington in time for the next match.

Horace Smethurst, the captain, desires to see every part of New Zealand whilst he is here and said that if the New Zealand Council granted permission for them to make the journey, they would be only too willing to play on the West Coast. Mr Bishop is striking while the iron is hot and contacting the New Zealand Council immediately. The Westland Football Association are confident of being atje to meet any guarantee that may be necessary to get this team of famous international Soccer players over to Greymouth. The Springbox have already been assured of the highest hospitality and it is to be hoped the New Zealand Council will not place any obstacles in the way of the visit.