SPRINGBOKS MEET MANAWATU

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 278, 18 August 1921, Page 7

SPRINGBOKS MEET MANAWATU

A STERN STRUGGLE HOME FORWARDS’ MAGNIFICENT FIGHT. CLOSE CALL FOR VISITORS Tho Spifingboiks met the combined, loam (Manawatu ami Horowhenua) at ■ Palmerston North, yesterday afternoon in the presence of some 15.000 spectators. It was a magnificent game, not brilliant, but fust and exciting from I start to fiuish.i Certainly tho South i Africans won by three points to nil, \ but the result of the game largely hung ' in. the balance till the call ,of time. The (balance of play was oven, and it is no ’•exaggeration to say that the Springboks j were for the greater- port of the game Ifully extended in their endeavour to i overt defeat at the hands of a team , Which they had held all too cheaply. ( The Manawatu men were considerably (■lighter than the visitors—unfortunately (lio record of their weights was iivailjiblo—but the South Africans’ superiority in point of weight was immediately apparent on the teams taking the field. The discrepancy was particularly noticeable among the backs, the Manawatu . and Horowhenua rearguard being decidedly on the light side. Play was mostly confined to the forwards, the, contest largely recalling the Springboks' game ■gainst tho Taranaki stalwarts, which ended in a draw. During the past week or so ex-All Black J. Ryan, tho coach of the combined team, had drilled the following advice into the heads of his team: —"Do not play a tight game. Play loose, al- ; ways loose, and run them off then feet,’’ Andi in the same breath he assured them of a sporting chance of victory. The value of his advice was borne out by yesterday’s play. The shock tactics affected by the Sprrngboks' forwards wore of no avail. Time and again they resorted to their favourite expedient—that of wedging all scrums and tight movements—but without avail. They ■were outgeneralled by the New Zealand pack. So much so that on change-over the South Africans temporarily changed tlieii- tactics, and! essayed to play an open game among the for words, but a few minutes < f the new order convinced them that their experiment was in vain. Consequently they reverted to their ao customed form of play, and threw all their energies into wedge-llke formations. To show how seriously the visitors were impressed with the possibility of defeat, it is interesting to note that as the game wore on, contrary to their usual procedure, they commenced to woo tho touch-line, with the result that linekicking was much more in evidence among their backs than has been the case on former occasions. South African Pack Bustled.

■ In the end it was superior back play ; that carried the day for the South Africans. In this connection there is no question but that tho combined team were outclassed. Apart from their disadvantage in the matter of weight, they were lacking in the fine combination. 1 possessed by the visitors, and their rearIguard were not capable of anything like the same degree of individual prowess. Incidentally, if one thing more than any •other contributed to the defeat of the New Zealanders, it was the superb linekicking on the part of de Villi era, Die South African full-back. Frequently he codiverted defence into attack by longrange kioks which gained forty yards or so, and 'in close-ups he was never • bustled. Only once or twice was lie called, upon to tackle an opponentkind ho was not found wanting. An undoubted feature of the combined team's Success—for defeat by the slender margin of three points was no failure in the light of the performance of some of the other Now Zealand provincial teams —was the admirable tackling employed by both Forwards and backs—the latter particuarly. They stopped at nothing, nnd again and again the bulky South Africans hit tho turf with a dull thud. For that matter, both teams pkyed a very hard and willing game, and well on in the second spell a little rough play erept into the game, but from all accounts no ill-feeling was imported into the contest, Royal Morkel, the big 17stono Springbok, frequently hit the turf, pud it did the heart of the crowd good, Judging by their frequent manifestations of approval, to sse him up-ended and inundated by tho lighter but wiry Naw Zealanders. 1 An Even Game. Play was remarkably evenly distributed in the first half.'The combined team hod the wind—such as it was—in their favour, and also the sun, which shone Lrilliatnly throughout the whole game. (The turf, springy and dry, was in excellent condition, but the ground had ua "'undulating roll from goal to goal, which fact told, if anything, against the South Africans. The referee’s whistle puncjtuatod both spells to an extent which occasionally tried the nerves ef the I crowd, but on all occasions it was justified. In the first half the home team I were mainly the offenders, over-eagerness (leading to frequent breaches of the offi aide rule on their part. Carroll was one 1 Of the principal offenders in this respect. I This lapse spoiled a number sf good ' openings made by Manawatu and HoroI whonua, and a little more attention- to i.tho rules might have gained them at (least one try. It was in tho second ( half, when the South Africans realised ■ that they wore up against no moan proposition, that tho referee was frequently I called upon to award penalties in fav- ; our of the New Zealanders. The visiting i forwards threw moot of their science to i the winds of chance, with the result that i they were repeatedly called to account • for off-side play and for holding the ball I on the grourid. '' Tho Springboks’ try was MOured fair- ; ly early in the first spell, the fleetness ■ and finished combination, on the part of their backs completely nonplussing their i opponents. Perhaps on only one or,two other occasions were the South African •.backs really dangerous to tho extent that ' a score seemed imminent. The home team’s backs for their part missed one Tory likely chance when M’Donald. when eight yards from the Springboks’ goal."tine, hung on for a lone hand stunt, i whioh did not come off, instead of letting I the ball out to his supporting backs. But It was a good game, played under ideal conditions, and it represented a fair test Of strength. The crowd were obviously pleased with tho result, for th? combined team wns loudly cheered as it left the field of play. TOT TEAMS.

The teams were: — MANAWATU-HOROWHENUA. Marshall (full-back) Glendinning (M.), Swainson (M.). Lender (M.), Ford (H.), M’Donald (H.) Mairo (M.) Jacobs (H.), capt. Moynihan (H.), Galpin (M.) Dustin (M.), Harkness (M.), Broughton (H.), Carroll (M.), Bovan (H.) SOUTH AFRICA. De Villiers (fall-back) Zeller, Strauss, Sendin, Henry Morkel J. Michau, do Kock Pienaar (capt.), Du Plessis, Ellis Royal Morkel, Van Rooyen, Mostort Ollivier, Soholtz.

DETAILS OF PLAY. Manawala and. Horowhonua wn tho ioS3 and had the- advantage of a llgfht

sou’-wester and the full glare of the sun. Reeder returned the kick-off inside lais own twenty-five, and the Springboks' backs went into action. The ball was eent out by de Kock to J. Michau to Henry Morkel, but the latter missed. Dustin and Jacobs led the home forwards in a relieving rush, and Royal Morkel, being penalised for off-side play, Swainson found the lino in neutral territory. The local men were nervous and over eager, and before long the referee. awarded a free-kick against them for being offside—the first of a long series. Db Villiers took tho kick, which was about ten yards inside the half-way, and the crowd held its breath, but tho South African full-back —as he later demonstrated on several occasions—was off colour when it camo to place-kicking. Then for a fairly long period play hovered in the vicinity of the half-way line. Manawatu were endeavouring to keep the game open, whereas the Springboks wore resorting to close play. Carroll made a break for the open, but Zeller, the resourceful three-quarter, coolly snatched the ball from his grasp and found the line. A few seconds late Du Plessis and Vim Rooyen invaded the home teams territory by dint of short range, high, juggling passes, but their opponents downed them, and the same moment the whistle blew for off-side. Once more do Villiers essayed to goal from midway between half-way and the twentyfive, but the ball wont outside the posts —a lucky kick for the defenders. In ensuing play a timely mark by Marshall stopped an ugly rush by tho visitors, but his kick was fielded by do Villiers This placed tho South Africans in a favourable position. Michau snapped up tho ball and sent it out to de Kock, who, cutting in, beat Swainson and transferred to Straus'S—a few yards and the big South African back was over. J. he movement was carried ®". t ll^ iago '^ 1 1 L a at high speed. De Villiers failed to convert from about five yards inside the line. . «

South Africa - Combined teams v Several spirited rallies then took place on the part of the home team Broughton and Dustin broke away fto The line-out, and Carroll improvethe r good work, and carried play over th line, where the defenders were oompeßed to force. Dustin, who was continually putting «| all over the heavy Springboks pack made two valiant attempts to break through the latter’s defence, but somehow de Villiers was to stop either dribbling rushes (th. South Africans’ bete noire) or a to the centre. Fairly close up to the South Africans’ line Dustin picked up from the loose, and sent the leather out to Ford, who transferred to Swainson, after cutting-in with pretty effect, but the latter was found wanting. More free kicks were awarded the South Ain cX, one of which, from about five vards outside the home teams twentyfive de'Villiers endeavoured to pilot between the uprights, but a bad miss was the result. Jacobs and Bevan-the latter was doing great work mt e g both, in turn made openings, but we home side’s left wing was a negative feature when it came to attacking. Shortly afterwards Pienaar, the visitors’ equivalent for a wing-forward made a break through the blind, and got well away, only to be overlia^ and grounded by Broughton. / South Africa maintained the pressure, and from one of the few scrums that were worthy of the name-in most of them the ball never came out to either side J- Michau secured and passed to de Kock, who dummied past Glendinnlng, but miss-kicked in endeavouring to centre. In the remainder of the spell there was no outstanding incident. Half-time saw the home side attacking well up in. the , South Africans’ twenty-five. Immediately following tho kick-off in the second spell, the home backs indulged in n snappy passing rush, Mairo sending the ball out to M'Donald . to Ford, who deftly centred, but de Vilheis pounced on the ball, and found the line fully forty yards away. Changing their tactics, the South Africans started in to make play open among the ’in a few mintues they found that they were being beaten at their own game, and so reverted to their orthodox method of tightly-wedged scrummages. Manawatu were mow coming in for quite a number of free kioks, whioh more than once placed their backs at an advantage, but the' opposing full-back, who was from time to time assisted by de Kock, proved their undoing. Once during a .counter-attack Dustin brought Strauss down with a magnificent tackle. Things looked dangerous for the home team for a while, but a bad miss by Royal Morkel, of a pass sent out to him by Zeller, brought relief to tho defenders. With both sides striving to score, the Springbolts backs were naturally seen m action on several occasions, but there was nothing brilliant about their work. The most dangerous moment of the spell for the home team occurred when Henry Morkel, who obtained possession just inside Manawatu's twenty-five, essayed to . pierce the defenders’ right wing but he was overhauled by Swainson, and at the same instant tackled by Marshall, who was standing up to his work in good style A faster man than Morkel would probably have scored. Through hanging on to the ball and for passing off the ground, the Springboks nullified much of their ’ work. The home team, on tho other ing by their experience in tho first halt, were keeping their infringements down to a bare minimum. Off-side play by Maire gave the South Africans a freekick, however, a few yards inside halfway and de Villiers made another ambitious attempt to goal, but the ball failed to rise. . , Up to this stage the visiters had had slightly the better of tho spell,, their hacks being more prominent than in the first half. In tho lost twenty minutes, however, the visitors were never really dangerous, and only once wag tho home team compelled to force. Some of the big South African forwards— noticeably Royal Morkel and Du Plessis-wero visibly tired, and the Now Zealand pack led them a merry dance. Had the latter been supported by a good set of Backs they would have canned the day. rhe closing incident of the game was a longrange kick by de Villiers, which eent the ball ove? the line and Marshall forced. Shortly afterwards the bell rang. Mr. E. M'Kenzio, of Mastcrton, was referee. NOTES ABOUT THE PLAYERS. The winning team, although not representing the full strength of which their side was capable, was fairly strongly seasoned with tho best material at their command On tho day’s play do Villiars was tho most useful member of their back division. His line-kicking was ever a thorn in the side of tho home team, and he refused to bo bustled. Henry Morkel played a more or less Colourless game for a back of his reputation, Zeller doing most of tho wing work. Strauss overshadowed tho diminutive Sendin as a centre three-quarter. As regards the half-back lino, do Kock made hig first appqnrance since the Wanganui match. His play was useful, but not as versatile as his partner (J. Michau), and he shone more on the defence than on the attack. Naturally the long spell ho lias put in nursing his ankle precluded him from being seen at his best Tho most interesting fact about-tho forwards was the excellent game played by Pienaar. He struck first-plass form for the first time during the (Suf, proving a very dangerous man in ths loose. Mostly ho affected the blind side and ho was the most prominent player of his side on the line-out. He put it all over Carroll around the scrum. Van Rooyen was tho only other South African forward of outstanding merit, tho remainder being patchy. Coming to tho Manawatu-Horowhenua team, Marshall, the full-back, was well worth his place, and ho did whatever work was required of him, making only one mistake and that towards the end Of the game.

Ford and M’Donald, the two fiveeighths, wore the most successful pair, the latter displaying brightness and initiative, but their lack of weight told against them. Swainson did most of the kicking, amd pulled off several good saves in this connection. Mairp was as good a back as there was on his side, but none of them were anything to enthuse over. The forwards were a magnificent crow. They all worked hard and with groat success. Dustin was unquestionably the best of the bunch. Al wavs on tho ball, he headed rush after rush, and when it came to tackling ho took on all-com-ers. Broughton was also another topnotcher. Carroll and Jacobs are also entitled to ■spvcial mention—but they were all sterling players. VISITORS’ IMPRESSIONS OF THE GAME By Telegraph—Special Correspondent. Palmerston North, August 17. After the Springbok match to-day. a Dominion reporter, in conversation with the visiting players, asked for their impressions of the game. The general opinion expressed was that they were right up against it, and were surprised at the dashing work of the combined team’s forwards. Tho Springboks expressed this opinion in view of the fact that they left the game to their forwards, especially in the second half, but were unable to increase the score. They consider ths combined forwards an excellent A prominent Manawatu official when interviewed gave great praise to J. Ryan's coaching, the selector’s wisdom, and tho great game put up, by the combined forwards. their tackling apd spoiling work frustrated heavy onslaughts of the opposing vanguard, and was a great factor in stopping tho operations of tho Springbok backs. WELLINGTON REPRESENTATIVES The following team has been selected to represent Wellington on the North Island tour-.— Backs:—Siddells, D. Algar, E. Ryan, Jackson, Markham, Hutchison, Tunnlngton,’and F. Tilyard. Forwards :—B. King (Poneke), Parker, Standen, Duncan, Bruce, Price, Hansen, J. Shearer, Ryan (Athletic), King (Oriental). The match at Hamilton has been cancelled. After the second Test match at Auckland the services of tho Wellington mon in the New Zealand team will be available. UNIVERSITY AND PONEKE At Athletic Park on Saturday Poneke will meet University, in the Mutual In surance Cup match. The University team, by excellent football, defeated both Poneke and Petone on tho return of the New Zealand University team from Australia. Aitken, Jackson, Hutcheson, and Hansen will all be available for the match, whilst Poneke will be at full strength. An exhibition of fast, open play is anticipated, and those who have enjoyed tho games played by both University and Poneke this year will not fail to see this match. In the curtain-rais-ers St. Patrick's College will meet Scots College in the first game for the Moascar Cup, and another good exhibition should be witnessed. On No. 2 ground Poneke and Oriental will meet in the final of tho fourth, class championship, and as both teams are unbeaten, a good game is expected. Tho proceeds of the match will go to improvements at the Park—the union having a scheme of improvements in hand. WAIKATO BEAT BAY OF PLENTY By Telegraph—Press Association. Hamilton, August 17. In a Rugby football match, Waikato v. Bay of Plenty, there was no score in the first spell. In the second spell Stewart and Morris scored tries, and C. Clarkin kicked a goal from a mark. Just on th& call of time Stewart scored a try for Bay of Plenty. Waikato thus won by 9 pointe to 3. HAWKE’S BAY BEAT WANGANUI Napier, August 17. A representative match, Wanganui v. Hawke’s Bay, was played at Waipukurau to-day in the presence of about 1500 spectators. It was a fast, even gome, but the play, which was somewhat ragged, was chiefly remarkable for heavy scoring, an aggregate of 40 points being recorded. The result was in doubt up to tho last whistle, victory finally going to Hawke’s Bay by 22 points to 18. Tries for the winners wore scored by Miller, Kivoll, M'Nab, Blake, Barclay, and Gronside. Two were converted by Kuril. For the losers, the try-getters wero Smith, Ross, Potaka, Hartley, Cox, and Crotty.

Yesterday afternoon tho schools’ representative team met Scots College, and were defeated after a very even and hard game by 12 to 4. Nixhead scored twice for the winners and Hayne crossed the line once, ono of the tries being converted. The only score notched by the losers was a petted goal