SPRINGBOKS’ TOUR

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 13 September 1937, Page 2

SPRINGBOKS’ TOUR

RECORD SCORE AGAINST | OTAGO VISITORS MAINTAIN BRILLIANT I FORM i HARD GROUND AT CARISBROOK PARK | Itiv reTSgraph-I'ress Association 1 DUNEDIN, 11th September. A brand of Rugby hitherto unknown in Otago was turned on at Carisbrook Park this afternoon when the Springboks put up their record score of the tour in defeating Otago by 47 points to 7. The attendance was about 30.000. Conditions were ideal and probably the best the South Africans have experienced during their tour of New Zealand. The faintest of breezes blew across the field, the sun was obscured by cloud, and the ground was hard and fast—in fact dust rose freely from many parts. The atmosphere was almost unpleasantly warm for Rugby, but this was no doubt also to the Springboks' liking and the brilliant display of the visiting backs and forwards more than compensated for this ; and the feeling of regret on the part of the local enthusiasts that Otago suffered the severest trouncing ever | administered by an overseas team.

Heavy massed play by the forwards, fast breaking through the faintest opening, and big rucking men handling and running like backs were features |of the visitors’ forward play. The !dazzling passing movements by the j backs were a revelation. It was a i combination of pace, intense backing 1 up, and sure handling such as has j probably never previously been seen in | Dunedin, and this was fortified by long I and accurate line kicking. I BRAND OUTSTANDING ! Brand was outstanding and revealed himself as a wonderful full-back and his value as a goal kicker was demonstrated by the fact that 18 points came from his boot, six conversions out of seven attempts and two penalties, j His only failure was when the ball j narrowly missed the posts from a try i at the corner.

The Otago forwards put up a game fight, especially in the scrums and lineouts, in which department they were not shaded to any great extent. Lancy hooked well against his formidable ! opponent Lotz and he, Quaid and Par- ! khill were the outstanding trio in the j Otago pack. Simon played well be- ; hind the scrum and Trevathan used 1 his boot effectively, registering a pen- | alty goal and a smart field goal. The ! half time score was 13 points to 7 in j favour of the Springboks, whose scores ; consisted of three tries, two of which were converted. In the second spell five more tries were registered, four of which were converted, two penalties by Brand, one from 48 yards out, and I two field goals, one each by Hofmeyr land Turner, the latter’s from near the ! side line.

PRESSURE IN SECOND SPELL Otago’s defence in the second half wilted under the sustained pressurfe of the Africans, whose scintillating passing bouts appeared at times to have a demoralising effect on the opposition. It was not that the Otago backs shirked tackling but that they were outpaced and outgeneralled by the speed, thrust, and backing of the Springboks’ rearguard. Craven’s dive pass was much in evidence a#d the ball found safe judgment in the hands of van der Vyver. Hofmeyr and Babrow were wonderful connecting links with the

; speedy wings Lyster and Turner, the j last named in particular revealing real j international class. ! In an even pack van Reenen, due (Toit, van den Berg, and Bastard were j perhaps the pick. Van der Vyver played instead of (Lochner and Lyster replaced Williams ! for South Africa. Babrow, Bastard, : Turner, du Toit, Lotz, van Reenan and Lyster scored tries for South Africa, i Brand converted six and kicked two i penalties. Hofmeyr and Turner potted j goals. ! Otago kicked off, and from a followling line-out a forward struggle ensued jin which van Reenan was caught offiside. Trevathan had a shot at goal from near half-way, and just missed. ! A moment later the Springboks were | penalised again, and this time Tre- | vathan kicked a fine penalty goal from ! forty yards out. Otago 3, South Africa ! 0. ! The Springboks then launcehd a | strong offensive. Taylor saved well j in face of a dangerous rush, but the ! Springboks came back again. This j time Trevathan came to the rescue j with a sound line kick. From a scrum ! in midfield Craven sent his backs away, ! but good tackling broke up the attack, j Some indecisive play followed until | van der Vyver put the Springboks on ! the attack. From a line-out van Reenan i passed to du Toit, who whipped the j ball out to Babrow. The latter cut in | nicely and ran through the defence to I score in a handy position. Brand j converted. South Africa 5, Otago 3. | Otago were in danger again when (the Springbok forwards swarmed on to their line but Taylor saved. The ; Otago pack then swept play to the | visitors’ twenty-five, but misfielding by Taylor allowed the Springboks to get back into Otago’s twenty-five. The game was held up for a moment while van Reenan received attention. Otago were penalised and Brand attempted a field goal from near halfway without success. Du Toit, in a brilliant breakaway, nearly got over on his own, Simon saving with a welltimed interception. A moment later there was a line-out a few yards from Otago’s line and Jennings threw himself over near the corner with two .tacklers still on him. Brand just I failed to convert. South Africa 8, Otago 3.

TREVATHAN MISSES PENALTY The Otago forwards swept play to the Springboks’ twenty-five, where the visitors were penalised for a scrum infringement, but Trevathan missed a difficult kick. Simon led an Otago rush deep into the Springbok territory, but Babrow cleared. Neipcr and Laney were at the head of another rush that ended suddenly when the Springboks turned the tables. Craven slipped the ball out to Babrow, Hofmeyr. and Turner, and the winger streaked off and scored without opposition, running through a practically uninhabited -Otago twenty-five. Brand converted. (South Africa 13, Otago 3. j Mahoney took Otago to the Spring-

boks’ twenty-five with a good line kick, but the Springboks secured from the line out, their backs racing off again. Turner was pulled up at the Otago twenty-live.

There were some spectacular passing bouts that sorely tried Otago s defence. Craven nearly had Babrow over, but the latter was just beaten in a race for the ball. Trevathan then took Otago to within ten yards of the Spr'--' line with a brilliant kick, ar .a Springboks got relief w'th n ORRID EXCHANGES : There were some torrid exchanges in the tight, and the Otago forwards were standing up well to the formidable African pack. Quaid was at the head of a rush that took play right to the Springboks’ line, where a penalty kick in favour of the tourists allowed them to clear. Craven sent all his backs off in a rush that saw Babrow and Lyster streaking to Otago’s line. I The referee should have given an obstruction try against Otago here. A | moment later Parkhill was at the van |of a determined rush to the Spring- ; boks’ twenty-five, and in a tight j situation here, Trevathan snapped up | the ball and potted a brilliant goal. ! South Africa 13, Otago 7. Half-time I sounded with the score unchanged. | An exchange of kicks opened the I second spell. Otago were in danger I when Taylor misfielded but a moment j later the Dark Blues staged their most | respectable passing rush of the day. 1 Werner, the last to handle, was bundled into touch. The Otago forwards took up the running and pressed hard into the Springboks’ twenty-five. The visitors were penalised right on their twenty-five line frpm a scrum infringement but Trevathan missed a fairly easy kick. The Springboks kept the ball in play and a free kick in their i favour saw Brand put his side deep into the Otago twenty-five where Trevathan saved. OTAGO HARD PRESSED Craven, with his celebrated dive pass, launched a passing movement but Turner was soundly grassed by Werner. The pace was still a cracker and play was sweeping from one end of the field to the other. The Springboks were making it a spectacular game, throwing the ball about in great style. Otago were hard pressed*for several minutes and narrowly escaped with a force down in the face of a Springbok forward rush. Then Craven sent Jennings and du Toit off, the latter going over in a handy position. Brand converted. South Africa 18, Otago 7.

The Springboks were back again within a minute and Craven snapped up the ball and passed to du Toit and Lotz, the last named going across. Brand converted. South Africa 23, Otago 7. Otago continued their dogged resistance against superior odds, and the hopes of the crowd were raised when Trevathan took the Dark Blues to the Springbok line with a xvell-judged kick. The Green forwards, however, broke away. From play at half-way du Toit intercepted a pass from Simon and sent Lotz and van Reenen away the latter scoring. Brand converted South Africa 28, Otago 7. POINTS COME QUICKLY The Springbok tally went up again in another three minutes when Hofmeyr snapped up the ball in loose play in Otago’s twenty-five and coolly potted a goal. South Africa 32, Ofago 7. The visitors were completely dominating the game, but did not let up. | Then Brand kicked a brilliant penalty goal from nearly fifty yards out. South Africa 35, Otago 7. The Otago pack were tiring, but were still making a game showing. With ten minutes to go Craven sent the ball out and started a rush that ended in Turner potting a neat goal Africa 39, Otago 7. Otago took the offensive for a change, and a .penalty kick by Taylor took the dark blues into the SpringI boks’ twenty-five. The visitors were I penalised again. Taylor missing the it at goal. Van der Vyver put the Springboks deep into the Otago twenty-five again with a clever kick. The blues were penalised five yards out from their own line, and Brand had no trouble in kicking a goal. South Africa 42, Otago 7. Then van der Vyver, Babrow, and Lyster completely beat the opposition with a brilliant movement that ended in Lyster going over. Brand converted, and the game ended South Africa 47, Otago 7.

CRAVEN’S COMMENT AN ENJOYABLE MATCH ! DUNEDIN, 11th Septemebr. “If Otago had finished as well as they started the final issue would Rave been very close,” was the comment by Craven after the game. The first quarter of an hour, he said, the side pefrormed brilliantly, and gave us many anxious moments, forwards and backs showing uncanny combination. It was a very hard and enjoyable match.