Led 6-3 At Half Time

Northern Advocate, 15 August 1949, Page 3

Led 6-3 At Half Time

Conditions were good except for a fairly strong breeze. Just before the game started the official figure given for the attendance was 66.900. but a large number of spectators was known later to have gained admission by scaling a broken fence. The teams were:— All Blacks.—R. W. H. Scott; W. A. Meates. R. R. Elvidge. P. Henderson; F. R. Allen. J C. Kearney. L. T. Savage; J. G. Simpson. E. H. Catley. K. L. Skinner. J. R. McNab. H. E. Frazer, L. R. Harvey. L. A. Grant; P A. Johnstone. South Africa.—J. van der Schiif: B. Marais, van Schoor. M. Lategan. C. Mess; H Brewis. S. du Toit; A. Geffin, R. P. Jordaan. S. Koch: L. Strvdom. F. du Plessis. H. Koch. W. Durand; H. Muller. Scott and Geffin had each kicked a penalty goal before either team looked like settling down. A beautiful touch kick bv van der Schiif went out in the All Blacks’ twenty-five and in subsequent play the Springbok backs moved with precision. The impressive dash of Iho South African forwards was also an ominous sign. CROWD ELECTRIFIED Du Toit electrified the crowd when he moved quickly through a gap on the blind side ef a scrum and sent to Lategan. who shot away with great speed. He kicked over Scott's head, but the latter wheeled smartly, gathered the ball and with a couple of Springboks trying to pounce on him kicked over his head into touch while running toward his own goal-line. He received an ovation for this piece of football. Brewis punted across field, the ball going over Henderson’s head to Scott, who dodged one attacker, but the referee ruled that Henderson had shielded Scott. Geffin missed the comparatively easy kick at goal. The All Blacks swept upfield and Scott missed a kick at goal from 43 yards out. Savage shot round the scrum and passed to Henderson, who ran 30 yards, but Johnstone could not hold the low infield pass. Scott missed with another penalty. The Springboks cleared, but Skinner marked and put up a high kick. Johnstone secured and McNab and Elvidge carried on, but a knock-on halted a dangerous rush near the Springbok line. THRUST AND RESOURCE. The Springboks hit back with rushes which showed thrust and resource, Brewis cleverly worked a cross-kick in one movement and Marais was ahead of Henderson, but the ball went

into touch. Muller, Durand and H. Koch combined in an excellent short-passing rush, but Koch knocked on. From the resulting scrum du Toit sent the ball well back to Brewis, who appeared to set himself for a pot. When he saw Kearney moving up, he shot round the scrum and clapped on a brilliant burst of speed to score just as Scott dived at him. Geffin failed to goal and halftime came with South Africa leading 6—3. The South Africans played like a winning side from the change-over. There was a dash and cohesion in their play which the All Blacks could not match. RALLY TOO LATE. ' After 10 minutes, Muller came into a passing rush which gave his side an extra man. Lategan was able to go through the gap and though Scott made a desperate effort he was unable to cut him off and the speedy centre scored. Brewis missed the kick. * The Springboks played with renewed confidence, but the great rally of the All Blacks now followed. The failure of these efforts seemed to mark the end of the All Blacks’ hopes, but Kearney fielded a clearing kick near the sideline, ran infield and potted a grand goal. With only a few minutes to go, the Springboks drove to the New Zealand twenty-five, where du Toit sent to Brewis. who potted a goal to put the result beyond doubt. At the final whistle the teams were given- a tremendous ovation and du Plessis was chaired off the field.