SPRINGBOKS’ TOUR.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXI, 11 August 1921, Page 3

SPRINGBOKS’ TOUR.

THE OtAGO MATCH. WON IN CLOSING STAGES. Pres .ssn.—By Tel. —Copyright. DUNEDIN, August 10. Although the weather early in the week was very wintry, and was marked by freq ent showers of rain, to say nothing of a fall of snow, it cleared last night, and the overhead conditions today for the big match with the Springboks were beautifully fine. The ground was in splendid order, and attracted by the almost summer-like conditions there was an enormous attendance, which numbered close on 20,000 persons.

Dealing with the game itself, the visitors’ vanguard had a distinct advantage in tlig matter of weight, their forwards averaging 14.6 as compared with 13.0 on the part of Otago. During the greater portion of the game the Blue forwards held their own, especially in the loose, the result being that play was very fast, travelling up and down the ground at a great rate. In the first spell the local team had actually the better of the exchanges, and the Greene could not get their dangerous rearguard effectively into action. In the second spell, however —and more particularly towards the end of the game—the visitors showed superior staying power, and the battle which the Otago pack had waged against the bone and muscle of their' opponents told its tale, with the result that the speedy Green three-quarter line iwas more frequently seen in motion, and three tries scored at short intervals placed the issue beyond all doubt.

On the whole, the visitors’ heavy forwards did not give a particularly impressive display, but the backs frequently showed clever tactics, and in l the passing rushes got the ball out with remarkable rapidity to the wing, notably on Zeller’s side, this player scoring the three tries. Sendin and Zeller also played sound games, and the tall Van Heerden, in one or two brilliant flashes, showed that he is a dangerous wing three-quarter. The teams were as follows:—

Springboks.—G. P. Morkel, A. Van Heerden, W. Sendin, J. Weepener and W. C. Zeller; W. Townsend and J. Tindall ; Boy Morkel (captain), M. Ellis, J. W. Van Rooyen, N. Du Plessis, R. Walker, Boyle Morkel, P. J. Mostert, J. Olivier. Otago.—Watson; Stewart, Bell, and Ward; Owles and Perry; McNaughton; Duncan (captain), Bain, Patterson, Richardson, Sonntag, Harty, Boreham, and Cabot.

Punctually to time the teams marched on to the field, and after exchanging cheers promptly got into action. Otago won the toss and kicked off, with the wind in their favour. Bell returned the) kick to inside half way, and a rush by the Green forwards followed, Zeller finding the line near the corner. A free kick for holding the ball brought relief to Otago, and »from a serum Owles settled an incipient passing rush by the Africans by a dashing tackle. From a couple of scrums the Greens got the ball away, but had no room to work, and the ball was kicked out. A free kick to Otago was made good use of by Harty, and fast following up by Cabot saw the Blues invade the Springboks’ territory, iwhere Townsend returned to half way with a line kick. Ward, on the Otago wing, next kicked through to G. P. Morkel, and tackled him before he could kick, but the Greens cleared and attacked in turn, until they were penalised. After some tight forward , work Patterson broke through nicely, and gained a long stretch of ground with a well-judged line kick. Ward centred and Sendin marked, and from the free kick Bell had an unsuccessful shot at goal. Otago backs tried their hand at passing, but the Greens were standing close and tackling well, and the ball went straight across the ground.

The pace was very fast. The Otago forwards iivere breaking away with irresistible loose rushes from the line out. A free kick by Bell transferred play to the Greens’ line, where South Africa, after being hard pressed, found relief in a force-down. Tho centring kick by Perry again placed Otago in an attacking position, and the Blues were awarded a free kick well within striking distance, from which Bell landed a fine goal, amidst a scene of tremendous enthusiasm. Otago 3 Springboks ... nil The Blue forwards, aided by Owles, again took play to the Africans’ quarters in a fast loose rush, but another force-down resulted. A free kick to the Greens, which was taken by Van Heerden, ivas marked by Perry, who returned nearly to half way. Ellis broke away strongly from the line out, but Was solidly tackled by Patterson and temporarily laid out. At this .stage tight forward work was the order of the day, until Perry brightened up matters by breaking through the Greens with a passing rush, until Weepener returned with a i-. od saving kick. The Greens

again tried their hand at passing, but Van Heerden was jammed on- the line. Sonntag next headed the Otago forwards in a loose rush, but Sendin sent them back with a good line kick. Patterson marked, and had a shot at goal, which Morkel did not touch down, preferring to kick from the line to half way. Townsend had the ball sent back to him by a forward, but the succeeding passing rush went straight across the ground, and ended in neutral territory. Play was central when the spell ended. Otago 3 Springboks nil

The second spell opened with a short period of even play in mid-field. Sendin placed his side in an attacking position a few minutes later. He received a pass in front of the goal, from which he had a good but unsuccessful pot, although several of the Green backs were awaiting a pass. The South Africans continued to attack, and their backs got going in a likely-looking rush, but Zeller was pushed out. Like a flash the Green backs were again in action in one of the best pieces of passing of the day, the ball being handled by Townsend, Sendin, and Zeller. The lastnamed made a fine run, and, beating Watson, scored in a good position, G. Morkel goaling. Springboks 5 Otago 3

Bain and Patterson next made a fine opening, and passed to Cabot, who was tackled, but the Blue forwards, showring- great dash, kept up the pressure, until Townsend got the ball from a scrum and found a good line past the twenty-five flag, a good opportunity being lost. From a scrum in Otago territory Townsend shot out a pass to Tindall, but this player failed to hold the ball. G. Morkel had a shot at goal, which failed, and badly-judged kicking by the Green backs enabled Otago to force twice in succession.

The Blue forwards again commenced to assert themselves, and the scene of operations was shifted to the Greens’ quarters, where Stewart came through nicely. and passed to Bain, but Sendin found the line. At this stage Patterson retired temporarily, through an injury, out speedily returned to the field. The Blue forwards broke away with another rush, but Van Heerden turned them back with a good kick. The Green backs again showed up in another fine concerted effort, and Van Heerden was streaking for the line in great style when he ;was brought down by Watson with a beautiful tackle. With ten minutes to go the Blue forwards showed signs of tiring, and the speedy Green backs were constantly dangerous, especially as the sun was troubling the Otago backs to some extent. From a scrum in the Otago twenty-five the ball was handled in a fine passing rush by Townsend, Tindall, Weepener, Sendin, and Zeller, who raced round the Otago’backs and scored behind the posts. G. Morkel’s kick failed, and the score read — Springboks 8 Otago 3 The Greens were now having rather the better of matters, and returned to the attack. A short kick by Van Heerden went over the Blues’ line, and a race for the ball ensued, in iwli Stewart just beat tho tall South African and touched down. Weepener next obtained possession, and transferred to Sendin, who sent out a long pass to Zeller. This player outpaced Stewart and Watson, and scored a pretty try, which G. Morkel failed to convert, and the game ended almost immediately afterwards, with the score— Springboks 11 ■Otago 3 Mr D. Strilker (Invercargill) was referee. PERSONNEL OF SPRINGBOKS. The following' are the weights, the positions generally played, and other interesting details regarding the South Africans, who played in the above match: — Gerhard P. Merkel, age 33, height sft llJin, weight 12.10, full-back. Member of the Springbok team of 1912. Noted for his powerful kicking; in his prime probably the finest kick iu the world. Represented Western Province, 1911-1920.

A. Van Heerden, age 23, height 6ft IJin, weight 13.3, wing threequarter. (Transvaal, 192 Q). Won Olympic Hurdles, 1920. One of the “‘stars of the team). W. Sendin, age 24, height sft 6in, weight 9.7, centre three-quarter. Lightest man in team; type of Sveuson, Wanganui. (Griquland, 1919-20) J. Weepener, age 24, height sft 9in, weight 11.12, centre three-quarter. Resourceful, competent. (Western Province, 1920).

W. C. Zeller, age 26, height 6ft, weight 12.0, wing three-quarter. Fast and dodgy runner, good on side step; prolific scorer. (Natal, 191920).

W. Townsend, age 25, height sft 4’in, weight 11.4, half-back. Short, stocky; great battler for openings. J. Tindall, age 21, height sft 7in, weight 10.11, half. Sturdy, nnggety, young player. (Western Province, 1920).

W. H. (Boy) Morkel, age 35, height 6ft lin, weight 14.0, vicecaptain, doyen of the team. Great forward; represented South Africa in 1910 and 1912. (Transvaal, 191920). M. Elies, aged 29, height sft Ilin, weight 13.8, powerful forward. (Transvaal, 1919-20). J. W. Van Rooven, age 28, height 6ft IJin, weight 15.10. One of the leading forwards in the loose, strong on line-out. (Transvaal, 1919-20). N. du Plessis (pronounced du Plesse), weight 14.8. Heavy, solid type of forward. A. 11. Walker, age 28, height 6ft 9 J in, weight 13.8. Next to Mellish, probably the best forward in the team; first down in the scrum, and always on the ball. (Natal, 1919-20). Royal Morkel, age 25, height 6ft 3in, weight 17.2; great forward in scrum. (Western Province, 1919-20) P. J. Mostert, age 24, height 6ft, weight 13.12. Promising forward. (Western Province, 1919-1920).

J. Olivier, age 24, height sft Ilin, weight 14.1. A young forward with a promising future. (Western Province, 1919-1920). Ths Tour to Date. The following are the results of the fixtures played to date:— The Springboks have now played seven matches, of which they have won five, lost one, and drawn one. i July 13—v. Wanganui; won, 11 to ' 6- I July 16 —v. Taranaki at New Ply- ; mouth; drawn;no score. July 20 —v. Wairarapa and Bush' districts; won 18 to 3. July 23 —v. Wellington; won, 8 to 3. July 27 —v. West Coast Combined Unions at Greymouth; won, 33 to 3. July 30— v._ Canterbury, lost by 4 to 6. August 3—v. South Canterbury; won by 34 to 3. August 6 —v. Southland, won by 12 to nil. August 10—v. Otago, won by -11 to 3. The Remaining Matches. August 13—First test (at Dunedin). August 17 —v. Manawatu. August 2(1, —v. Auckland, North Auckland, and South Auckland, at Auckland. August 24—v. Bay of Plenty, at Rotorua. August 29 —Second test (at Auckland). Aiigust 31—v. Hawke’s Bay and Poverty Bay, at Napier. September 3 —Third test (at Wellington). , September 6 —v. Nelson and Marlborough, at Nelson. September B—Leave8 —Leave for Sydney.