BIG- RUGBY GAMES

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 281, 22 August 1921, Page 6

BIG- RUGBY GAMES

SPRINGBOKS DEFEAT AUCKLAND

NEW SOUTH WALES BEAT WAIRARAPA VISITORS’ ATTRACTIVE DISPLAY With tho South African and New South Wales representative teams Jn action, and various Interprovinclai games, New Zealand had a feast of Rugby on Saturday. The South Africans had a very comfortable win at Auckland by 24 to 8, and the New South Wales team ran up a score of 35 to 5 against Walrarapa.

THE SPRINGBOKS

ANOTHER VICTORY BACKS TOO GOOD FOR AUCKLAND By Telegraph—Special Correspondent. Auckland, August 20. In the early part of the match between South Africa and. Auckland, the South Africans showed line handling among tho forwards, and great linekicking that carried them to the attack, till Ifwerson and Grierson broke away in a two-handed) bout, and tho Auckland forwards dribbled over tho African lino, Nicholas just missing a score. A breakaway and a great run by van Kooyon put the Africans near tho Auckland line, but a free kick saved. When Auckland were breaking clear Clarkson beat several defenders in a fine swerving run, and passed to Zeller, who scored', after thirteen minutes’ play. 'With the exception of tho back combination, the Aucklanders were playing up to tho Africans, but Townsend, was playing a superb game, giving his outsides fine chances. After twenty minutes the Africans began to throw tho ball about among tho backs, Clarkson showing dangerous cutting-in ability, and twice van Heerden was grassed almost at the line. Tho Auckland forwards outplayed the other pack in open rushes, but the visitors more than balanced the advantage by their superior line-kicking. Zeller shone out as a dangerous side-stepper, but failed to get through. Heavy forward rushes by the local men were continuously parried by line-kicking. When Auckland were frequently penalised for offside play, it was line, line, line. Just on time, the Auckland forwards improved in the loose play, but did not look like scoring. The opening of the second spell was marked by Auckland’s first passing work, and twice the African defence was within an ace of being broken.' Long lino kicks put the Africans on the attack, and when beautiful handling by Townsend and Zeller gave Africa a second) try, the game got very fast. Van Heerden showed up in several bumping runs. Mistakes in the African passing let Auckland win to a position, whore Badeley goaled from a free kick. In the second spell the Auckland forwards seemed to last best, but a third African score came. A breakaway by Clarkson was followed by a fine swerving run by Zeller, who is a dangerous scoring man. Van Heerden’s try followed ae the result ef outpacing the field in a seventy yards’ Tun. The Africans played to tho backs in the final stages, and the visitors’ rearguard was too fast for the local men. Townsend, Clarkson, and Zeller were up to the best New Zealand test standard. One of the outstanding features of the play was the triumph of the African scrum formation over the Auckland formation, for it was in very rare instances that the Auckland scrum obtained the ball, and consequently the Auckland backs had mostly to make their opportunities from line-outs or loose play. In this connection Townsend, as scrum half, got away a good deal in the first spell with picking tho ball out of the scrum, but early in the hecond spell he was penalised four times in quick succession for the fault. ' The fourth time cost hie side a penalty goal. Apart from this fault, Townsend played a, very clever and heady game, being right up to international standard. Among the other African backs only Clarkson, Zeller, and G. Morkel showed a standard of play up to New Zealand international class. Zeller, on the wing, was always brilliant when the ball came to him, his fielding, handling, kicking, and running being of the best class. Royal Morkel was literally a tower of strength to the African forwards in the line-out, and du Plessis and ElUs were good all-round men, but, generally, the Auckland forwards showed to better advantage on the line and in the loose. C. Pletcher and Nicholas were the outstanding local forwards. The Auckland backs were generally outpaced, and they got little chance to show their scoring ability, but their tackling was poor all round, and it was only tho tackling of the forwards that averted a much greater defeat. DETAILS OF THE PLAY ZELLER PLAYS A FINE GAME. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, August 21. The attendance nt Eden Park to-day totalled 25.000. The weather was ideal, with a light breeze across the ground, which was fast and dry. From an early hour spectators thronged the ground, and several curtain-raisers were played. As the non-playing Africans took seats in front of tho stand spectators gave three hearty cheers. Two forty minutes spells were played at tho visitors’ request, Mr. C. Fraser, of Manawatu, was referee.

THE TEAMS. Auckland—Muir (Auckland) V. Badeley (Auckland), K. Ifwersen (Auckland). M. Grierson (Auckland), C. Badelcy (Auckland). L. Weston (Whangarei), S. Crawford (Whangarei), Nicholas (Auckland), Lomas (Thames), Tresise (Auckland), C. Fletcher (Kaipara), M'Hugh (Auckland), B. Fletcher (Kaipara), T. Finlayson (Whangarei), Milliken (Auckland). Reserves: Backs, J. Macintyre (South Auckland), Hughes (Auckland), Morris (South Auckland), Mathiasen (South Auckland); forwards, L. Harty (South Auckland), M. Hayward (Thames). South Africa.—Full-back, S. Merkel; three-quarters, Van Heerden, Strauss, Clarkson, Zeller halves, Tindall, Townsend* forwards, Mellish, 11. Morkol, H. Marked, Walker, Ellis, Du Plessis. Kruger, Van Rooyeti. gnuth Africa won tho toes and Auekland kicked off against the sun, (but their opening rush was nullified by ii free kick for offside play. As the result of a good kick by Strauss in the Auckland •ft; half, play was worked down to the Auckland twenty-five, but from a line-out an Auckland forward rush transferred play I to Africa’s twenty-five, where Kruger I and Van Rooyen broke through to halfway. Tindall finding the lino in Auckland's twenty-five. Then Van Rooyen started a passing rush to near the line, where the tide was stemmed. Anotboi passing rush among tho backs ended in a SnuiT, Grierson saving. An Auckland rush ended in a farce. Play was then carried to Auckland’s twenty-five, ana

a force down by tho local men resulted Shortly afterwords from a scrum in Luck land’s quarters tho African half ran round and mado an opening, passing to Zeller, who gave tho dummy to two Aucklanders and scored a fine try, S. Morkel converted. « South Africa 5 Arcklind 0 Glvc-and-tako play was followed by a series cf scrums and line-outs. The Africans worked down field, and Townsend, Van Hoerder, and Clarkson operated in a promising rush, which was spoiled by a knock-on. A few minutes later a passrush by the visitors' basks was stopped by C. Badeley near the line. The visitors made determined attacks until Ifwerson transferred with a good kick. Mulling by Tindall let Nicholas and Lomas through, but a free kick on the lino relieved. Auckland then attacked until a free kick sent play to halfway. Clarkson and Zeller got near the line, but a tackle stopped their effort. Another run by R. Morkel was Mopped by C. Badeley. Strauss then marked in a good position, but the kick was smothered. Kicks were interchanged, and then from the African half the two Badeleys ran, the latter finding tho line near the African twenty-five. Another free kick to the Africans was returned by Muir to within the twenty-five. For tho remainder of tho spell play was in neutral territory. tho hell sounding with tho tally— South Africa 3 Auckland 0 Shortly after resuming Townsend sent the ball to -Zeller on the blind side, and the latter nearly scored. After resisting a strenuous attack. Muir, Badeley, and Ifwerson carried play to the Africans’ twenty-five. The visitors, however, worked back until Weston gathered up and ran to almost tho twenty-five. Townsend got the ball from a kick and passed low to Zeller, who scored. G. Morkel failed to convert. South Africa 8 Auckland 0 From a penalty kick near halfway, Ifwerson had a fruitless kick at goal. A little later a scrambling rush compelled Auckland to force. Several passing rushes by the Africans were nipped in the bud. Nicholas and Lomas were associated in a rush, and then V. Badeley goaled .from a free kick. South Africa .................... 8 Auckland Soon after Clarkson got away, but Muir brought off a magnificent tackle. Then Townsend picked' up from the loose and passed to Zeller, who beat all the Auckland backs and scored. G. Morkel failed to convert. South Africa Auckland 8 The African backs started passing, but a mull enabled V. Badeley to save by a good kick. From a line-out well in Auckland’s twenty-five Ellis secured, and passin" between Clarkson, Strauss, and Van Heerden ended in the latter scoring, under the goal. G. Morkel converted. South Africa I 0 Auckland 8 Another promising African back rush was spoiled by mulling, but the backs continued throwing the ball about until forced. From well in the Auckland twenty-five passing Strauss to Clarkson to Zeller enabled the last-named to score. G. Morkel failed to- convert. South Africa 1® Auckland 8 Auckland attacked, Grierson, Lomas, and M’Hugh being prominent, and as a result of the attack Ifwerson scored, V. Badeley converting. South Africa 19 Auckland ® Wifh ten minutes to go play became willing. Ifwerson stopped an African forward rush and passed to Muir, who kicked Fletcher, by fast following up, gained further ground by a kick. Auckland continued to attack, but within a few minutes of time Townsend got the ball from the loose and passed to Tindall, who side-stepped the Auckland hacks and scored under the posts. G. Morkel converted. South Africa Auckland 8 Then V. Badeley from a free kick had a fruitless kick at goal and the whistle sounded with the score— South Africa ....... Auckland 8 The match was not characterised by spectacular work. Auckland lacked combination, any effort being individual. Their tackling was also weak, being responsible for several tries. The forwards seemed to lack pace, but showed clever foot work. Tho backs were good in attack, but did not get enough of the ball, as the Africans had the better of tho scrums, and' their backs, when going. were too speedy. Of the individuals in the Springboks, G 'Morkel was safe, but hod comparatively little to do. Van Heerden, Clarkson, and Zeller, in the three-quarter line, were good, Zeller being the best three-quarter on the field. Tindall did fairly well. Townsend also played well. Ellis was the best forward on the ground, Van Rooyen being also good. For Auckland, V. Badeley played a very sound game. C. Badeley was also good Of the forwards, Fletcher was outstanding and M’Hugh played well. In th© second spell Milliken replaced Nicholas as rover.

VISITORS ENTERTAINED By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, August 21. Tho visitors were entertained last evening by the. New Zealand Rugby Union. Mr. Bennett, managor of tho South African team, said ho had heard that New Zealand was progressing as regards Rugby, and that South Africa and Britain represented to a certain extent the conservative element. Ho must say that after his experience in New Zealand he wondered whether it was progress so much as obsession. He yould leave it at that. He had been Instructed by tho South African Council to play only under the rules authorised by the English Union. So far as Africa nos concerned football under those rules was good enough for players and spectators alike. As regards Auckland, he realised that they were under a disadvantage, having played under amended rules, and that tire local score would have boon better had tho game been under the other conditions. It was the best game of tho tour.