RUGBY FOOTBALL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 194, 17 July 1937, Page 4

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SPRINGBOKS “BABY.”

BESTER’S METEORIC RISE,

(By “Front Row.”)

Behind the sudden rise to prominence of Johnny Bester, just turned 19 years of age, and the “lvtby” of the Springboks team, there lies an interesting story, for up to the time of his selection as a Springbok bo had not even gained provincial honours. About four years ago a Cajietown schoolmaster, himself a former well-knotvn Springbok Rugby player, spotted a well-built little centre “running rings” round his opponents in a schoolboy match at Capetown. This schoolboy centro was fast, know how to swerve, could take a gap and sold a “dummy” beautifully. The schoolmaster realised at once that here was a youngster with great possibilities and he made a point of training and coaching him properly. “I’ve got a. youngster at my school whom I’m certain will play for South Africa,” lie told his friends confidently. That schoolboy was Johnny Bester who, when he had completed his education, joined tho Gardens Rugby Football Club, the strongest club side in South Africa. Last year Bester turned out for the under 19 team when tho season started and put up some grand performs nces. One day the first team found themselves short of a. centre for an important mutch. The selectors at first thought of promoting a second team man, but then somebody mentioned Bester, the boy who had played such magnificent football in the under 19 competition. He was given the chance ho had lieen waiting for and played a fine game. He retained his place in the first team, but even then was not chosen to play for ’Western Province in the provincial tournament. The selectors, however, had been watching him pla.v in club football and his name was included among the players to take part in tho trials. That was the st.art of his meteoric rise to Springbok honours. Throughout the intervening six

months Bester trained hard to keep fit and when the first trial matches took place he walked on the field knowing that if he did not gain Springbok honours it would not be on account of his physical condition. But from the word go he played magnificent football and there could never have been any doubt about his selection. To-day he is the most talked about young man in South Africa and the envy of every young footballer. . I Hester's rise has truly been meteoric, and in Australia he has been playing great football. North v. South, Thirty-two matches have been played between the North and South Islands. North has won 18 and South 11, while three have been drawn. North lias scored 5-17 points and South 376. McLean’s Injury. H. F. McLean, the well-known All Black forward, who has been oil the sideline for several weeks with a broken thumb received in a club match, will not be available to represent Auckland against the Springboks. After several medical examinations recently it was hoped that McLean would recover in sufficient time, but lie will not be able to take the field until July 31, when lie will again play for Grafton in the senior championship matches. Promising Player's Death, Only a fortnight after being the best back on the field in tile match against Massey College, James Derrick Reid, aged 22, hall-back for the Auckland I University Rugby team, died suddenly! in the Auckland Hospital this week. I Born at Waikino, Reid was educated at Auckland Grammar School, and after leaving there as a member of the senior fifteen he became the foundation player of the Takapuna senior side, and fielded for the suburban team in 1934 and 1935. The following year he was half-back for Technical Old Boys, and at the beginning of this season he transferred to University. So well did ho pla.y in the opening match against Otahuhu that R. G. Bush had him nominated for the half-back position in the North Island universities’ fifteen to meet South at Dunedin.

SPRINGBOKS’ MATCH. INTEREST IN TO-DAY’S TEST. SYDNEY, July 16. Fanie Louw is not likely to play in to-morrow’s Rugby Test. It is expected that White and Craven will be omitted from the Springboks’ back line, which will then be: Villiers, Vyver, Hofmeyer, Barrow. Turner and Williams. The weather is at present fine and mild, hut is not expected. to hold out to-morrow. The ground is in splendid condition. The greatest interest is_ being taken in the match. The Australians are making a supreme effort to win and intend to rely on speed, while the Africans are intent to play the Australians at their own game. The referee will he Mr A. L. Irving.

The Springboks sail on Saturday night for New Zealand.