AUCKLAND HOLDS SPRINGBOKS TO DRAW

Chronicle (Levin), 23 June 1947, Page 2

AUCKLAND HOLDS SPRINGBOKS TO DRAW

press • Association,

SOGGY GROUND HANDICAPS VISITORS

By Telegraph -

-■ AUCKLAND, June 22; •The South African soccer team, beaten only once in 17 games Of its Australian tour, came from behind to make a draw . of the Arst match of its New Zealand tour against Auckland. Eaeh side scored three goals, one of. Auckland 's being f roni a penalty kick which was taken twice when C. ft. Brink, Springbok goalkeeper, moved his feet before the first kick had been taken. A wet and soggy ground and a very heavy and'cold rainstorm just as play began, created conditions totally foreign to most of the touring players' experience and for the first quarter of an hour play .was all in Auckland 's favour. Auckland opened the scoring in the 13th' rninute when Eobinson, on the right wing, kicked the ball across to Mason on the other wing and Mason, with a hard shot, gave Brink no chance. The combination built up by the Springboks then began to show out and Falconer sent a perfect pass .to Smethurst who feinted to the wing and. then shot the ball to Glack, centre forward, who booted hard and aceurately ibr goal. Auckland 's centre half, O. C. Cleal, paved the way for the hoine team's second goal when he crashed in a long shot which rebounded froin the bar. As Brink twisted to grab at the . ball, Brown, Auckland centre forward, rushed in and headed it into the net. Cleal scored Auckland 's third goal just before the interval. South Africa eonceded a penalty when Mason was charged by a Springbok player. Cleal 's first kick was brilliantly saved by Brink but he made no mistake with his second attempt. The crowd booed.the referee's decision that Auckland should have a second shot. • In the second spell Auckland controlled play for about ten minutes and then the Springboks took charge and Clack scored his second goal with a f ast header. Auckland was penalised for handling but Wilson, who took the shot for the Springboks, put it straight at Iles who saved well. With just over jten minutes of play left Falconer, the Springbok inside right, lobbed across the goal mouth and Smethurst rau in to head the ball between Iles' legs into the goal. The match was very fast and exciting and notable for the splendid sportsmanship. When Mason was winded and knocked out by a ball which caught him full in the stomach, McCreadie, a Springbok back, imniediately'kibhb'd thd ball out so' that Mason could be attended to." On a dry pitch the Springboks will be a great team.