Clever Springboks.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 170572, 4 August 1921, Page 9

Clever Springboks.

A GREAT WIN. UNDER HAPPY AUSPICES. SOUTH CANTERBURY BEATEN 34 TO 3. All roads do not lead to Patit.i Point, but almost all the traffic of Timaru and the surrounding countryside convev £ecl in that diiection yesterday, Avhen the long-envisaged meeting of South s le—presentathres with the South African team took place at the Caledonian Grounds. The weather was almost perfect &id the attendance was at least e’quftl to anything previously seen on the grounds, and most certainly exceeded all earlier records in connexion with South Canterbury football. It is not yet possible to give official figures, and the tendency has been *o exaggerate the numbers present at the South African games in other centres, but 10,000 seems to be a conservative estimate of the crowd which thronged the sports ground yesterday. Soon after noon the numbers ran into thousands, and a quarter ef an hour before play was timed to commence stands, enclosures, and embankments were packed with people, in addition to which a great conconurse of children was marshalle* on the cycling track inside the ring fence. The crowd m itself presented a remarkable appearance, quit* sufficient to relieve the tedium of waiting for play to begin, but anything approaching monotony was dispolled by lively music discoursed on the oval by the Regimental Band, under Conductor Schnack. The collection of motor-cars parked in various places contiguous to the sports ground 'also presented an interesting sight, and quite surpassed ■ anything of kind previously seen dn Timaru. Almost perfect control bf the abnormal traffic was exercised by the local police force. A constable ■ Stationed at the junction of High and South Streets diverted outgoing vehicles over the bridge and down the hill near the beach, cars and other conveyances plying for hire being compelled to return through the viaduct and reach High Street again via the South Belt. At the grounds, too, the organisation appeared to he as good as anything conceivable, and the Rugby Union executive deserve the fullest congratulations on the result of their unremitting labours. Some of the South Africans, indeed, expressed the opinion that the Ti- • xnaru match was the best managed i of any of their dominion fixtures. I The game could not correctly be ; described as a "command” performance, but the hour of starting was > fixed in accordance with the expressed wish of the Governor-General, who desired to take the earliest opportunity of welcoming the Springboks to the Dominion. At a few minutes to 2 o’clock His Excellency and party , arrived at the main gate, where they were met by the president and other officers of the Rugby Union. The huge crowd stood at attention whilst ; the Band played the National Anthem, and as the vice-regal party made its way towards the enclosure • the boys of the Timaru High School gave them a rousing welcome with I their well-known war-cry. At the stand entrance Boy Morkel, who captained the Springboks for the day, was presented to His Excellency, and introduced in turn the other players. This over, the distinguished visitors were conducted to a reserved section at the northern, end of the grand stand, from’the flagpole of which flew a Union Jack. Play commenced without further preliminary, and was followed with the keenest interest by the honoured guests. The welcome recorded to Viscount Jellicoe was of an informal character, hut there was no mistaking its enthusiastic nature. According to their own statement, the South Africans for the first time since their arrival in the Dominion found the conditions exactly to their liking, and they took the field with the avowed intention of making the most of them and doing their best to retrieve the defeat sustained at Christchurch in other circumstances. For the first twenty minutes, however, it appeared as if the home team, who commenced in a fashion quite foreign to their usual custom, might thoroughly extend their redoubtable opponents, and even at half time the majority of the onlookers expected that, with the aid of sun and breeze, South Canterbury might make a close game. In the second spell, however, the extra weight of the African for-

wards, and the excellent combination and speed of their backs, placed their superiority beyond question, and tlie visitors compiled Hie largest score or their tour. They incline to the belief, however, that under similar conditions, yesterday’s total will be exceeded beforo they embark for home. Their play was not free from blemishes, infringements on the line out and in the scrum being- made with great frequency, and in the first spell much of their handling was erratic, but they improved perceptibly after Wespener and Se-udin tion.s, and their IVreezy runnim* was most attractive to watch. Thf.Jr forwards dominated the scrums, into which their half put the ball with considerable shrewdness, and their forwards also displayed line defensive capabilities, hunching quickly when danger threatened. Iheir tackling also was solid, but in kicking their rearguard, with the exception of G. Morkel, compared rather unfavourably with the home hacks. If thev possess many better halves than Townsend, they are singularly fortunate. Of the three-quarters Clarkson was the most striking, though Zeller was brilliant when lie had overcome his habit of dropping passes. Van Heerden hardly lived up to his very high reputation. Sendin, the midget of the party, was not altogether at home as stand-off half, hut in the centre displayed sidestepping ability of a high order. G. Morkel, the goalkeeper, was cool all through, and placed his kick with fine judgment. Of the forwards the most striking appeared to he Du Plessis, Ellis, and the Morkels. The South Canterbury pack was outweighted by its opponents, and consequently had a very hard row to hoe. The backs also were at a decided disadvantage in not getting much of the hall, but some of their passing was a little wild. The three-quarter line, however, was a good one, the wings fielding finely, and Storey doing a lot of valuable defensive work. The game was a pleasurable one to watch, being by no means one-sided except for the scoring dashes of the winners. Actually more than half the time the ball was on the Springboks’ side of half-way. The spectators ivere extremely generous in their appreciation of the play of the Africans, who, whatever their fate may be in the Tests, are at least equal to any combination previously seen in Timaru.

THE TEAMS. SOUTH AFRICA. (Green.) G. Morkel A. van Heerden W. C. Zeller J. Weepener W. A. Clarkson W. Sendin W. Townsend W. H. Morkel T. Kruger J. Olivier J. P. Mostert 11. Morkel H. Scholtz N. du Plessis M. Ellis SOUTH CANTERBURY. (Green and Black) ■ P. Crannitch D. Clark P. W. Storey H. A. Scott J. E. Cooke G. P. Lawson M. Angland A. Scott P. Ward R. Stewart M. Flynn D. Stewart T. Clark P. Tutty ' J. Mcßride Referee—Mr J. H. Grover. THE PLAY DESCRIBED. Boy Morkel won the toss and elected to play from the northern end, Scott starting the game for South Canter- , bury against a bright sun and light wind. G Morkel returned to near the centre flag, and from the first scrum Townsend fed Sendin. Cooke intercepted and got to the 25, where tho Africans were penalised for holding almost straight in front, but Scott missed a fairly easy shot. G. Morkel put up a high drop-out, which D. Clarke marked finely, and the wing placed a fine liner near the corner. The Green hacks were handling near their own line, hut the home pack kept them defending, and H. Scott picked up from the loose and drove the Greens back to the corner just as they appeared likely to raise the siege. South Canterbury then essayed passing, but the rush broke down and the" African vanguard stepped in and transferred pla.y to midfield. The homo forwards again asserted themselves, and from the fringe of a ruck Lawson made on opening, but Storey dropped Iris pass and Sendin headed a ground rusli hack to the centre. A term of neutral play followed, then Kruger secured and attempted a pot. but the oval struck an opponent and flew across the line for a force. Several exchanges of lacks followed tho drop-out, H. Scott getting in tho last one for a liner beyond the

halfway lino. Flynn was prominent in a dangerous looking forward rush, but Clarkson checked him nicely, and in spite of a free against Kruger, Boy Morkel returned to midfield. The Springboks were securing the hall in nearly all the scrums, and Townsend was sending it hack smartly, but tho handling of the middle men was uncertain, and little ground was gained. On ono occasion Townsend worked the blind, but Zeller failed to bold tho pass. Play hovered around tho centre lor a time, then du Plessis hurst through from a line-out and kicked through; to Crannitch. Tho full back returned brilliantly to the neutral zone, and almost immediately was applauded for a lino piece of fielding of a high kick by Weepener. The African forwards were showing a lot of dash at this stage, hut the backs wero not performing up to expectations. A bout of chain passing was finished by a centre kick by Clarkson, and though Cran- ! nitch made a good return G. Morkel put the Springboks in an attacking position with a. great line kick. A rebound threatened danger in the South Canterbury twenty-five, but H. Scott fielded it well and forced the attackers back to half way. The African scrummere gradually pushed their lighter opponents in, and for a time play was conducted on the home side of the centre line. G. Morkel had a shot from a free, but it fell short, and after the Greens bad indulged in some passing ns a result of a break by Ellis, Van Heerden got offside, and A. Scott brought up the flag outside halfway. H. Scott improved South Canterbury’s position by smothering Zeller at tlie African twenty-five, but Sendin got away quickly and transferred to Kruger, who was not pulled down until R. Stewart got to him near the home twenty-five. A. Scott instituted a loose msb which presented possibilities, hut Mcßride kicked injudicously and the. chance vanished. Cooke attempted to open piny with a loose pass which was ■smothered by the Greens, who surged through to South Canterbury’s quarter Storey effected a brilliant recovery, and plnv returned to the Springboks’ half of the field, whore it remained until Crannitch made his first- mistake, allowing Mostert to initiate a rusli which was not pulled no until the home line wa.s in sight. The South Canterbury forwards cleared well, but Flynn got offside straight in front about 40 yards out, and G. Morkel put the ball over with an accurate low kick. South Africa *> South Canterbury 0 A long kick-off by Scott was nullified by Morkol’s return, but the South Canterbury men soon invaded their opponent’s territory, where they remained •for some time, attempts to gain relief by kicks from the scrum proving futile. The weighty packmen, however, glutted back to no man’s land, and Townsend shot the ball out to Sendin. Clarkson and Zoller handled in turn tho latter heating the full hack and though he was pulled down by Storey and Scott he got the ball safely infield to Harry Morkel, who crossed alongside the posts. G. Morkel placed the easy goal. , . Q South Africa ° South Canterbury ... ... Kicks by A. Scott and Cooke placed the home team on the offensive, and though thej' wero penalised for offside work Morkel did not get tho line, and 11. < Scott regained the ground. Du Plessis made a dash out, but IT. Stewart checked his progress, and the home forwards swooped down and smotheieu Morkel. Toswnsend relieved the pressure, only to see Scholtz get offside in the loose, and A. Scott landed a goal with a good kick. South Africa ° South Canterbury •> This roused tho Springboks’ vanguard, who swarmed into the home twentyfive, but an infringement lost them their advantage. Just outside halfway Sendin obtained possession, and after feinting past a couple of opponents shot the oval out to Clarkson and Van Heerden. Tlie wing man wriggled and twisted away from three or four high tacklers, and sent a reverse pass in to Sendin, who scored unopposed between the sticks. G. Morkel goaled again, the scores reading

South Africa 13 South Canterbury 3 Offside work by Scholtz and Kruger enabled Scott to place the home team on the offensive again, bub weak passing by the backs lost all the ground gained by a hefty line kick, and a succeeding Green fornvard sally placed South Canterbury in an awkward predicament. Storey saved well, however, and the Springbok backs lost some opportunities through indifferent handling. Tho home backs appeared to advantage in some exchanges of kicks, and Sendin placed his side in difficulties by mulling a high ball which should have been left to Morkel. Tho African men wero securing from the scrums, and Townsend exploited the pass back

ns ,-i defensive manoeuvre, hut tlie >pringhoks’ kicking was poor, ami .South Canterbury continued to attack for the remainder of the spell. Just before the half-time bell rang Scott had a long shot from a free, the lack falling a little short. South Africa IT South Canterbury a SECOND SPELIb. Most of the play in the first spell was conducted on tho Springboks’ side ol half way, and when the home team took the field again with wind and sun in their favour it liras generally expected that they would take a more prominent part in the scoring. A change _ was effected in the African back division, Weepener moving up to stand-off half and Sendin. taking his place at centre. The kick-off gained some ground for tlie Greens, but Flynn' recovered it, and play zig-zagged near the centre. Ilia African packmen gradually assumed control, and from a ruck near tlie home twenty-five tho leather was got out to Sendin. Clarkson was next to receive, and after a slashing run transferred to Van Heerden, who got tho ball down at the corner, though tackled on the goalline. This time Morkel failed to convert.

South Africa Ip South Canterbury ... ••• 3 . . Tlie Green forwards returned with zest, and Townsend strengthened the Springboks’ position with a straight run. Almost immediately he made another opening, but Clarkson mishandled, and Storey carried tho game to the opposite twenty-five. Hero Scott had another chance from a free, but the kick went outside, and Townsend ran into play and got the line nearly at hallway. H. Scott got into trouble through attempting to evade too many followers, losing another good position, and the Springboks flashed into a pretty passing run. Townsend, Weepener, Clarkson, and Sendin handled quickly and accurately, but Zeller failed to take in the South Canterbury twenty-five. A dash by Van Heerden resulted in a penalty for holding on when tackled, and Scott shifted play to tho halfway zone. A short kick by Townsend found an opening, and Zeller streaked up, but Cranuitch was equal to the occasion. Just afterwards, however, he made a weak speculation, which placed the homo team in difficulties, until Cooke upset some Green passing and drove the attack out to mid-field. Storey ran down the line, and sent over a crosskick, but Sendin fielded and screwed neatly to the opposite line, nearly out to half way. Du Plessis nullified Isom© passing by the home backs, and a loose rusli invaded South Canterbury's twenty-five, where play was confined for some time. G. Morkel sent the ball out at the corner, hut another penalty was turned to account by Scott, who got in a. beautiful line kick to halfway. Tonwsend continued to open up well, and one rusli, in /which Clarkson and Zeller starred, threatened to score, when the win gw as upset by Storey in dongerous proximity to tho South Canterbury goal. A scramble ensued on the home line, from which Ellis fired a long piass out. Van Heerden failed to take it, but Clarkson snapped it up, and transferred smartly to Sendin, and the little fellow ran across for tho second time, for G. Morkel to add the goal. South Africa ... ■ ... 21South Canterbury 3 Lawson and Flynn forced tho Springboks to defend, and tho two Scotts kept up the pressure with well judged kicks. Again the close work of the green pack saved the situation, and Townsend continued to open up freely. Indifferent handling was tlie rule for some time, then the tacklers wero badly beaten, and an easy try was- in sight, when Sendin got offside for Van Heerden’s pass, and had to come back. Scott’s kick sent the ball out fifty yards downfield, and good kicking by "Crannitch and Cleark kept the Africans defending for some time. Eventually Kruger broke through and was out past the centre when A. Scott grabbed his pass. Tlie next thrill was provided from a scrum on tho dividing line, Townsend, Weepener, and Sendin handling smartly and giving a chance to Zeller, who scored after a dazzling run. Morkel’s kick went wide.

South Africa 24 South Canterbury 3 T. Clark' hSeaded a ■South. Canterbury rush to the Green 25 and Scott had another long kick at goal. Morkel fell with the ball, but recovered well. South Canterbury continued to be aggressive but defence wa3 changed to attack by Clarkson, who intercepted a pass from Lawson and raced across in a good position. Morkel again goaled easily. South Africa 25) South Canterbury 3 Du Plessis instituted a fresh attack, and Zeller showed up with another strong run, but again offside lost tire

Africans a lot of ground Ellis this time being the offender, and Scott planted a long kick at the Springboks Jo. Da Plessis was soon busy again, however, emerging from a. ruck and kicking through Crannitoll’s legs. Two or three other forwards dashed up, and Harry Morkel fell on the ball for his second score. G. Morkel ganged the wind nicely, the oval being earned in tor a goal. South Africa South Canterbury o A spiral punt by A. Scott and soma good spoiling by Cook© were the only striking incidents until the final bell went leaving the visitors handsome winners. „. South Africa 34 South Canterbury 3 Tlie South Africans leave this morning for Invercargill, where they will meet Southland on Saturday. They appear to have enjoyed thoroughly their stay in Timaru, and express keen appreciation of their reception and entertainment by the people of South Canterbury.