SPRINGBOK WALKOVER.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13640, 26 August 1937, Page 5

SPRINGBOK WALKOVER.

Electric Telegraph—Press Association GREYMOUTH, Last Night. Under good weather and ground conditions 6000 saw the Springboks defeat the Ruller-West Coast combined representatives by 31 (seven tries, Turner converting five) to six (penalties by Stewart and Dunn). The half-time score was 11—3. Th© Africans took the initiative throughout, meeting with stout resistance in the first half when the local forwards despite a difference of a stone per man contested every inch, but the visitors got the ball among the backs with nearly monotonous regularity, thus obliging their opponents to rely mainly upon a defensive game.

Drawing first blood with a penalty goal, the homesters early caused the visitors to go all out and a series of Springbok passing movements were staged until a lead was gained, whereafter the visitors appeared, to take things more comfortably.

Sheer stamina told in the second spell, scores coming from regular back movements, while short passing by the forwards was freely utilised to make openings as well as short passing by the forwards was freely utilised to make openings as well as short transfers to the backs. The locals tackled gamely, but their opponents were often able through sheer strength on their feet to await the arrival of supporters for passes, while the power of the three-quarter line, especially Williams, was exemplified in the second spell in breaking past tacklers. Probably lack of combination among the Combined team’s backs facilitated the scoring movements which were marked less by speed than by accuracy and the ball very seldom being mishandled. Broodrijk, the Transvaal winger, made his first appearance since Newcastle and was heady but somewhat slow, being collared oftener than the other backs. The inside African backs seldom failed to get the ball to their wingers, mainly through the accuracy of van de Vyver and Lochner. Do Villiers, the scrum half, was sometimes caught by Mason who, with Ron King and Kirkwood, was outstanding for Combined, whose best backs were Mann (first fiveeighth) who several times tackled cleverly and kicked accurately.

Game tacklers were the wingers Dill and Roberts, the latter going to first five-eighth in the second spell with the result that the Springboks veered play more to the wings. Finlay son (half), though otherwise sound, passed indiscriminately. Bergh was the pivot of the African vanguard, transferring to the backs from the line-outs and rucks in a masterly manner, well supported by Watt and Fanie Louw, while Strack an was the outstanding, loosee forward. Ron King rather shaded Nel in the ruck.

The tactics of Lotz won a- slight majority of the scrums from Orman who did creditably. The Springboks, though compelled by the local forwards to play a good deal in tho tight, took every opportunity for open play and their display generally was orthodox and spectacular, winning the admiration of the spectators. A splendid sporting spirit prevailed throughout.

COAST TEAM BEATEN.

BACKS IN BRILLIANT FORM.

RANKIN AGAIN FIT. CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. J. G. Rankin, the Canterbury forward who was selected among 20 New Zealand players to train for the second Test, is fit after his recent illness. Rankin went to Wellington to train with the team for the first Test but contracted tonsilitis, being in hospital for a week. He is now completely recuperating on a farm at Davauchelle and has been doing steady training. He has recovered all the weight he lost in hospital and is expected to be thoroughly fit for training for the second Test. WHAT OF MITCHELL ? INVERCARGILL, Last Night. N. A. Mitchell, who was forced through an injury to his leg to miss selection for the All Blacks in the first and second Tests against the Springboks, when in Dunedin recently visited a specialist, whose opinion confirmed that of his own doctor that Mitchell was suffering from a slight rupture of the left bicep muscle of the thigh and that with careful train* ing and gradual exercise lie should bo fit to take part in the third Test, in which his inclusion should strengthen the New Zealand rearguard materially. Mitchell has been indulging in practice runs during the past week, and with the knowledge that careful preparation should make him fit will probably undertake his future training with more confidence. WELLINGTON BEAT SOUTHLAND WELLINGTON, Last Night. Given a feast of the ball from the scrums and allowed plenty of room in which to work, the Wellington backs had. a day ogt against the Southland Rugby team to-day. Wellington won 19—5 (five tries, two converted, to a converted try). Wellington’s success came substantially from Lambourn’s hooking, but the deciding factor was that the visiting backs failed to play up close on the defence. This allowed Thompson (the Wellington half) to throw out long passes which enabled the back line to work well into the open. In addition, the rearguard ran straight and passed crisply. For Wellington Wright (2), Guy, Lambourn and Burns scored and Griffiths converted two. Ward scored forHSouthland and Ballantvne converted. MANAWATU DEFEAT OTAGO. PALMERSTON X., August 26. By nine points to six, a penalty goal representing the margin, Maiyiwatu defeated Otago in a representa tive Rugby match played at the Showgrounds. Palmerston North, yesterday afternoon before a fairly good attendance. The issue was close throughout and there was excitement i-ight to the last. for just before time, Trevathan, who distinguished himself by great kicking i n the first Test, attempted to equalise with a penalty kick. The ball rose beautifully and was well flighted, but struck the post and bounced the wrong way. By such a margin did Manawatu achieve a win when a draw* seemed imminent.