SPRINGBOKS WIN

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 167, 2 August 1937, Page 3

SPRINGBOKS WIN

-Presa Associaiion.)

Good Team-work Secures Victory MATCH WITH TARANAKI

(By Telegraph-

NEW PLYMOUTH, Last Night. An efficient, well-knit and vigorous team, but not unbeatable. That was the impression left of the Springboks after they had heaten Taranaki by 17 points to three before a crowd of 20,000 at Rugby Park. It was teamwork, positional play and sure handling that gave 4 the South Africans their victory over a team with indivfdual brilliance but lacking cohesion, and Taranaki 's tackling sometimes was not ^s good as it should have been. Lighter by over u stone a man, the Taranaki forwards often caused havoc in the loose, but the Springboks had a substantial advantage in the scrums and line-outs. The ground was in better condiHon than the Springboks had previously experienccd in New Zealand,' and the firm turf and dry ball were to their liking. Play was always open and spectaeular, both sides using their backs frequently. The Springboks had almost their strongest team and the scores fairly indicate the merit of the play, although Taranaki was within inches -of scoring three times. Since Taranaki may be taken as representing fairly the strength of New Zealand provineial teams, a good indication was given of the ability of the Springboks under favourable conditions. The Springboks' backs were of even quality, oxcepting that Brand was not particularly impressive. His line-kiek-ing was sound, but his goal-kicking was not very , successful. : Williams and Turner, on the wings, Were dangerous, particularly Turner, :who also kieked well. i Bester scored two tries and played a ifine game. Babrow was more subdued because he was well marked. Graven was spund and he handled surely and used his dive pass in spectaeular f ashion. Yan den Berg was the most noticeable forward because he did most of the work, particularly in the line-outs, and because he got into most trouble. Many penalties were given against him by tho sreferee, Mr. A. de Clifton. Strachan and Bastard were also promiinent in the pack. Prequent offside Iplay often stopped Springbok move;ments and their scrummaging was not always satisfaetory. • Taranaki was never completely dom;inated and they mado frequent thrusts, both back and forward. Xf Brand worthilv fllled the full-back position for South Af rica, Collins would not disgrace the All Blacks, His linekicking was better than Brand 's, fre- | quently driving the invading team back | and gaining great slices of territory. : His tackling was deadly, but his goal- j kicking was not successful. ; Sullivan was outstanding at centre and later at second five-eighths. He was prominent in many driving back attacks. He and Smith were responeible for the spectaeular piece of work when Smith scored, There was not a better forward on the. ground than R. Clarke, the former All Black, who seems to have struck his tbp form again. • The Springboks played relentlessly, asked no quarter and gave none. Quick heeling from the scrums, success in ;he line-outs and the Springboks .were soon storming thi Taranaki line, but they committed frequent breaches. Brand narrowly inissed an attempt at a field goal. The Springboks were frequently offside. Brand missed with a dropkick f rom near half-way. Collms was doing fine saving work for Taranaki and the home forwards were frequently bustling through. _ # "Working down to the Taranaki hne, the Springboks hooked from a Bcru?J' Craven's dive pass flashed out to M. Louw, who short-passed for Bastard to dash over for a try. Brand 's kick from a fairly easy position failed. Collins was soon called upon to save by marking in the f ace of tho charging Springbok forwards. Babrow, with a spectaeular interception, was away, but jhe was brought down by a great tackle by Collins. The Taranaki forwards then had an. inspired patch and they eharged through. Taranaki heeled from a ruck and C. Brown and Arnold were away for a certain try, when they were recalled for an infringement. A Springbok offside gave Clarke a good chance at goal, but he failed. The Taranaki backs opened out with fine passing and they swarmed on the line. Again the Taranaki backs went away, but wero recalled ior a forward pass. Arnold, the Taranaki half, was playing a good game and the team attacked . for a long period. Two line-kicks by Brand, however, and Taranaki were defending desperately in the corner. McClenaghan was caught offside and Turner kicked a fine goal. Strachan and Van den Berg were prominent in line-out work, before the spell ended 6-nil. • " The Springboks attacked immediately on resuming, and after a quick throw-in near the line, the ball passed across the field for Bester to score an easy try. Turner missed the kick. There followed a period, of intense excitement, crowned by a runaway try. The Taranaki forwards fought desperately to the line and Clarke was all but over. Smart footwork by the Spriugbok forwards sent the ball out t'o Williams, who xan .almost the whole length of the field to score a spectaeular try. Brand missed. Taranaki followed promptly with a wonderfully fine try. Sullivan broke away from th® loose, ran fifty yards through the opposition and passed near the line to Smith, who scored. Collins failed with a difficult kick. Another thTilling attack by the Taranaki backs and Sullivan was taken by the feet a foot short of tho lino. The ball came back and Sullivan ran round and missed a pot at goal, the ball going just under the bar. Taranaki sent in a geries of stinging passing attacks whi(jh

i just fell short of success. Collins was responsible for good kicking. Yan den. Berg was continually inf ringing and, Bester followed up a long kick to thei line, but Sullivan. raced him and forced. Protests came from the crowd when Richards was tackled and temporarilyi ■knocked out when not near the ball. All the Taranaki backs handled wellj ,f rom a scrum, Sullivan and Smith again' making a Tun down the line, but good tackling stopped them. Taranaki were given a free kick when Van den Berg keld on to. the ball, but Collins couM not kick a goal from a fairly easy position. Turner was' responsible for a fine j piece of work. Sullivan had broken | away, but his pass was intercppted by j Turner who, with a great dodging run, went over for a try and Brand converted with a steady left-foot kick, making ithe score 17 — 3. Ncither side had any advantage in •the remaining play. .The teams were: — Springboks: Brand, Williams, Bester, Babrow, Harris, Turner, Craven, M. Louw, Bastard, Strachan, Van den Berg, Van Reenan, Nel, Lotz, Martin. Taranaki: Collins, Wetton, Sullivan, Funter, Smith, Brown, Arnold, McClenaghan, Richards, Clarke, Coull, O'Dowda, Murphy, Fowler, Fastier. Thi attendance was over 20,000 and the gato receipts £2300. "It was certainly the hardcst game oi the tour," said Craven after the match. "The play of the Taranaki i forwards was astonishing and the South Africans did not expect such fierce opposition. ' ' Captain Nel said: "It was a good, hard game fought in the best of spirits." _ i Sullivan, the Taranaki captain, said: 1 "It was oue of the eleanest big games I have played. I doubt if the Spring- . boks on the form so far displayed will be able to beat the All Blackr " ' j