SPRINGBOKS BEAT VICTORIA

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 126, 14 June 1937, Page 8

SPRINGBOKS BEAT VICTORIA

i — Press Asgri.-

Visitors Victors By 45 to 11 HOME SIDE'S FINE EFFORT

(By TetcrTarf'

-OopTitrht. )

MELBOURNE, June 12. Fielding almost their strongest available team, the Spring boks defeated Victoria by 45 points to 11 in the pregence of a crowd of 15,000. The Bpringboks outclassed "Victoria in all departments except in the loose forward play, where the local team played with exceptional dash. However, the Springboks won almost every scrum, enabling the half, Craven, to set the backs gorng in spectacular passing rushes, which often left the Victorians standing. Early indications were that, despite ■their Btrenuous training, the Victorians would suffer an overwhelming defeat and At half -time the Spring boks led by 35 to six. After the interval the Victorians played much better. The backs, gaining confidence, were frequently dangerous and the forwards hustled the visitors. For twenty minutes in 'the beginning of the second half the 'Victorians dominated the game and jwith ten minutes left the score was jSpringboks 35, Victoria 11. The iSpringboks, however, gained a definite 'ascendancy toward the close. .The reliability of Brand's kicking was responsible in a large measure for the Springboks' comfortable win. Braiid converted five tries and kicked two penalties, a total of 16 points. His display as full-back was magnifijcent. He never missed the ball and frequently initiated scoring movements. Craven and the winger, Lyster, were the outstanding Springbok backs. The best forwards were Lotz, whose hooking was superb, Vanderberg, Nel and the two Louws. The chief weakness of the Springboks appeared to be the inside backs, ^ho handled well but were too prone to run' across the field. Summed up, the game can be described as a highly successful dress rehearsal from the Springbok viewpoint for the more serious games ahead. The Springboks scored within two minutes of the- commencement, Hofmeyer kicking, a field goal. Brand started a passing rush, ending in Nel scoring and Brand converting. Hof meyer again kicked a field goal, giving the Springboks 13 points in 13 minutes. A spectacular run by Lyster resulted in a try tetween the posts, from which Brand goaled. Brand kicked a penalty 35 yards out and Lyster scored again after a bright bout of reverse passing, Brand for the first time failing with the kick at goal, but he made amends when he dropped a magnificent penalty goal 40 yards out. Lyster dashed in when a Victorian back movement broke down, scoring his third try. The goal kick was disallowed. The Springboks then led 30 to nil, but Bick opened for Victoria with a penalty goal almost from halfway. The Springboks were lucky with their next score. for Nel appeared to accept a pass offside before handing to Vanderi berg, who scored, Brand converting. Victoria rallied and a splendid passing movement resulted in Dorr, on the wing, racing from 20 yards to score. Bick 's kick missed. After half-time Victoria, renewing the pressure, were rewarded when Baker, a forward, scored and Bick converted. The Victorians were unlucky in not scoring on two other occasions. Their tacklfhg was more deadly and they had the Springboks pihned ou the defence. However, in the dying stages Bester intercepted and score easily and Vanderberg plunged across, rounding off a forward passing rush. Brand converted both tries.