FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 10 August 1921, Page 3

FOOTBALL

SOUTHLAND MATCH. ’ INVERCARGILL. Aug. 0. The Springboks’ weight allowed them to carry the line outs time after time, and they made solid use of their linked formation in tile rucks where they gained yards. The maroon tactics in the first spell seemed to be to meet these ] attacks with similar methods, hut they failed, and it was only when the loose ! dribbling rushes were used that the j local forwards gained the ascendancy. | lu the open the forwards romped all I over the Africans and shook the do- , fence of the visitors very badly, but j only once did they look like, finishing oil their efforts with a score, the Africans being saved by a penalty a few yards from their goal posts. The eap- ; tains evidently agreed to play forty 1 minute spells, and to allow the South i Africans to put the ball in all of the I serums. The effect of this was to give j the Greens a big advantage, especially ! as their methods of putting the hall in j was not above suspicion. The Maroon | hacks, especially the inside ones, were !so uncertain that fhe decision to keep I the ball in the serums may have had some justification, but the strategy was | not productive of good results. There I was a tremendous amount of line out ! work, over a hundred being formed in the first spell. The visitors carried | most of them with solid pushes, but in I the second half White, Cockroft and Baird came away from them with the ball at their toe and made lots of ground. The Africans did not scruple to find the line, in fact, in spite of reports about previous matches, they played the line consistently for atia.;- ! end defence. Baird played a fine game jas wing, hut he was cut. off from the ! play at the scrums at times through Townshend using the opposite side. A second wing would have played havoc with the Springbok halves, who showed hesitancy time after time. The visitors started by going down to rushes, hut were unsuccessful with these tactics and relied on fielding the hall. The African hacks fielded better arid kicked, | Letter than the Soutlilaiulers. who, however, persisted in long range duels and [ usually came off second best. Strauss and Do Villiers were especially (towerful in this work. The latter played a tine game throughout. The African j hacks, in individual eflorts. ran as, straight as a die, hut were inclined to j run across in concerted movements, j The pace of the wings, however, allowed j them to get round the opposition in spite of the slowness, and t lie deliberate , nature of their inner work. \an Beerden scored two good tries, hut l.xtith, his opponent, played a weak gaum, showing no pace and no determination. ||. .Morkel, on the wing, was responsible for much good work, especially in finding the line. The Maroon hacks gate a disappointing display, showing verv little combination, and with the exception ot Lopdoll their tackling was -without sureness. Brown, at lull back, received heavy kicks above both knees early, and his kicking was affected, hut he played below torm. St George tinm after time held on too long, and O’Kane, live-eighth, was rarely quick enough to take his man. The .Maroons gave only one Hash of passing, and it nonplussed llu* Africans, but Gilmotir kicked instead of giving Lynch a chance. There were many infringements tor off side play, and the Springboks were caught King on tiie hall in the early part when they essayed going down. Illegal tackling and holding were also prominent, but on the day they were undoubtedly the better side, and thoroughly deserved their win. Davidson, tin* Southland half, was hurt just helore the close, and went oil'. A section of the crowd hooted one of the big Springbok forwards, but without a shadow of justification, the local back wrenching his knee as he tackled his opponent. The crowd were i lit Imsiastie, but were disappointed at the inune team’s exhibition, especially in the hack division.