FIRST TEST MATCH.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 15 August 1921, Page 5

FIRST TEST MATCH.

VICTORY FOR NEW ZEALAND

(BY TELEGRAPH —PKESS ASSOCIATION.) DUNEDIN, Aug. 13. The meeting in the first test match of South Africa and New Zealand, two of the leading Rugby football nations of the world, had been eagerly looked forward to for weeks past by enthusiasts in all parts of the Dominion, and when the All Blacks and the All Greens filed on to the ground to-day it was virtually to contest the football supremacy of the world. The game was the first test match played in Dunedin since 1908, when New Zealand met and defeated Harding's Anglo-Welsh combination, and the extraordinary degree of interest shown in to-day's test recalled that memorable occasion. The crowd was treated to a splendid game, which was fast and open throughout and very closely contested, with the exception of the last quarter -of an hour, when the All Blacks' ascendancy became more marked. The weather, which had been broken ■ and showery on Thursday and Friday, cleared overhead to-day, and by the time the match commenced the conditions were beautifully fine ami there was an entire absence of wind. The ground was a trifle dead, bjut was in surprisingly good order. ' The crowd was one of the largest ever seen at a football match in Dunedin, numbering on an estimate 25,000 persons. The Springboks commanded a distinct advantage in the matter of weight, the forwards averaging 14.1, compared with 13.8. and the backs 12.4 compared with 11.8. The teams were as follogs: SPRINGBOKS. Full-back: G. P. Morkel. Three-quarters: Van Heerden, Clarkson, Meyer, Henry . Morkel. Half-backs. J. P. Michau, Townsend. Forwards. I Roy Morkel (captain), Kruger. Walker, Mellish, Harry Morkel, Moestert, Scoltz, J. Michau. NEW ZEALAND. Full-Back: , Kingston. Three-qiiarters: J. ..Steele, G. G. Aitken (captain) P. Storey. Five-eighths: C, Badeley, M. Nicholls, Half-back: • H. E. Nicholls. Forwards: W. Duncan. E. Hughes, J. Richardson, J, Moffatt, E. Bellis, R. Fogarty, A. White, J, <}. Donald. THE FIRST SPELL. Punctually to time the teams appeared and were greeted with tremendous enthusiasm. After exchanging cheers the South Africans, grouped in front of the grandstand, gave their peculiar war cry. New Zealand kicked off- from the eastern end of the ground with a slight advantage from the light, but a variable breeze prevailed. From the first line-out the All Blacks broke away with a loose rush, but G. PMorkel sent them back inside halfway. In a forward struggle the Greens' weight told the tale until the Blacks obtained a free kick, and. play! settled (down to half-way. From the | first scrum New Zealand got the ball and it was handled by both Nicholls and Aitken, who found the line. Townsend got the ball from the next scrum and kicked down exactly to | half-way, gaining further ground •wrfih another useful .kick. A free kick to the Springboks was sent out by G. P. Morkel at New Zealand's twenty-five, but Donald and Aitken were responsible for removing it again to half-way, Bellis being temporarily injured. Meyer, Oarkson, and Van Heerden attacked in turn and the last-named kicked *o iihe Blacks' line, where the Greens were give?i a'penalty from near the outline on the twenty-five line, but G. P. Meyer's kick failed and a mark by Nicholls relieved. The Green backs again tried passing, but Storey ta«kled Clarkson strongly when the South African three-quarter was going for the line. From a penalty to the Greens Roy Morkel kicked over the line, the Blacks forcing. Donald started a loose rush from a scrum, but Van Heerden saved. The Blae'ks were awarded a free kick. w.hieh Michau returned inside half-way. The 'Greens continued to do most of the attacking, while the All Blacks were defending strongly, and the game was "very fast and open. From a scrum inside the Blacks' territory the Greens got the ball and Townsend sent it -on *fco Michau, who dropped the pass, H. E. Nicholls obtaining possession and dropping out inside the Greens' twenty-five. From a scrum near the line the Blacks got the ball, Tbut it was kicked out of H. E. Nicholls' hands and the pressure was relieved. Scholtz led the Green forwards in a loose rush until the ball was kicked to Steele who relieved with a nice line kick. 'The passing of both sictes was breaking down. Townsend was penalised inside his own half-way for picking the ball out of the scrum, but Mark Nichblls' kick, though well directed, fell a irifle short. Badelev marked :and kicked to Van Heerden, whose return gained rio ground. Moffat passed back to Badeley from a line-out and the latter "transferred to Storey, who was well tackled when streaking for the line. Fumbling by Steele enabled the greens to relieve the pressure. A mark by G. P. Morkel was splendidly returned by ..Aitken, whose kick gained fully 50 yarSs. Clmikson next kicked down field. Townsend, Kruger and Van Heerden indulged in a short passing, rush, but Stone.y 'kicked out at the New Zealand twentjifive, where fumbling by the Black backs threatened the gravest danger^ a timely kick by a forward saving a~dangerous situation. Fast play up ajid .down the field followed, but as yet it was hardly international football. The forwards were evenly matched and the backs on both sides were watching ■each other very closely. A nice centring kick by Steele gave the Blacks a chance, but the Green defence was sound and a free kick helped them further relieve tbe tension. Badeley continued to gain ground with useful line kicks, tout Townsend and Clarkson went through with a nice piece of passing, which ended by Van Heerden failing to hold the ball, enabling; Aitken to clear nicely. An exciting period of play followed, the Black forwards rushing the ball well into the Green territory, only to be sent right back by a long kick by Van Heerden. From_a scrum near the New Zealand line the Green forwards worked the ball withifl 12 pr 15 yards of the line and Michau, detaining a pass from Townsend. tried to fcreak through in front of the goal, bu€ was well collared A moment later a Green forward broke away on the blind side and passed to Van Heerden, who put in *

strong run,and though tackled, fell over the line and scored a good try. G. P. Morkel kicked a fine goal from a difficult angle -and the spell then ended with the score: Springboks 5 New Zealand 0 THE SECOND SPELL. The All Blacks opened the second spell and free kicks elided in New Zealand forcing down as the result of an illjudged kick by Gerald Morkel. Steele returned a kick by Michau to the Green twenty-five, and at once the Blacks were attacking; but bad passing broke down and play settled at half way Michau kicked out at the cower i on the New Zealand line and the Greens maintained vigorous pressure, until the Blacks found much needed relief in a : force down. Meyer and H. Morkel i showed out in a nice "piece of passing I but the Black backs retaliated and play returned to the Greens' twenty. I nve, where Storey took a mark, but gained only a few yards. Badeley kicked high and the ball went over fw?J eA? S ihi ie ' where a bounce beat Gerald Morkel and a couple of other Green backs, and Bellis, by fast follow- ! ing up scored amidst a scene of the ' greatest enthusiasm, which was redoubled when Mark Nicholls goaled New Zealand 5 Springboks ..-...-. V.'.'.".'.'.'. 5 Storey caused a scrum on the Black twenty-five, and from a speculator Micku Ind New ZeaSnd backs .had a great race for the ball I over the touch-line, but the leatW ! went into the dead baK area fi SSThAJ?* -Das*but knockeTon when he had a good opportunity of Sf J* § £ passm? r«sh broke down and Moffatt went trough to collar Clarkspn, who sent the ball alone th« ?T nd& herald Morkel, who go? tnt of X d lf G klck- Th-e next inc^ent tf hf^l itJhir^^S .lust His,de the Blacks' ground S ?hi eii^S mg «° ff f ne ma* off for n£?J} Mke a flaßh- He enti™b out!New Zealand . . irt Springboks .'.'.'.'.'.'.'.".'.'."!!!. 5 I Greens .returned" to the assault and Townsend sent.out the ball ?rom a scrum, but the pass went astray Sid Hughes came through. The South shXl Snir r? n + T V Rattling hard and shifted play to the New Zealand line vfcT^T scruuimi«g tussle JS' to the Greens were missed by the nar- '■ rowest margins. Van Heerden made a great run from half way and when a try appeared certain he gave a shock ing pass to Clarkson andTsigt of re! lief-was audible all over the ground ; A mcc lm^kick by Badelev saw New nvn as dagain packing, and White im- : proved the position still further A-i f^ rUl\r-°i O.7ins lTight on the Green? me, Nicholls sent out a pass to Bade- ! ley, who cut in. but was collared A "Ifl6ll^ 1^1 * ■*** baU" came out on tht other side and Aitkin passed to Storey N?chnTA ntvT r aiihe corner- Mark JNicholis' kick massed. New Zealand ....;... . 13 ' Springboks 5 ! 'Tie Greens made one final effort, but the game, which had proved a sterling contest between the All Blacks and their worthy foem'en. ended shortly af- ' te.rwards without further score. | Mr E. ..McKenzie (Wairapaxa) refer•eed. . ■ r ' j _ Am©ng -the New Zealand forwards it is difficult to single out any, but Bel™*j_ ©onal-a, White, Richardson and Moffatt were perhaps most prominent and among the backs Badeley, Aitkin and Steele. For the J visitors Townsend = A' P; Mlchau made a lot of play and Gerald Morkel gave a great dis- . play at full-back.