31—6 Victory

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 188, 26 August 1937, Page 3

31—6 Victory

-PreRp Assorinfiop I

SPRINGBOKS WIN • WELL Wesi Coast-Bullcr Team Overwhelmed VISITING BACKS SHINE

(By Teleeranh-

GREYMOUTH, Last Night. TTnder good weather and ground conditions 6000 saw the Springbolcs defeat the Buller-West Goast comhined representatives by 31 (seven tries, Turnei converting five) to sis (penalties by Stewart and Dunn). The half-time score was 11 — 3. The Africans took the initiative .throughout, meeting with stoufc resistance in the first half when the local 'forw.ards despite a difference of a stone per man contested every inch, but the ■visitors got the ball among the backs with. nearly monotonous regularity, thus obliging their opponents to rely mainly npon a defensive game. Exawing iirst hlood with a penalty goal the homesters early caused the .visitors to go all out and a serics of Springbok passing movements were staged until a lead was gained, where•after the visitors appeared to taka things more comfortaDiy. Sheer stamina told in the secoud^ spell, scores coming from regular back' .movements, while short passing by thej forwards was freely utilised to make' .openings as well as . short transf ers to the backs. The loeals tackled gameiy,' ■but their opponents were often able through sheer strength on their feet to await the arrival of "supporters for passes, while the power of the threequarter line, espeeially ■ Williams, was osemplified in the second spell in breaking past tacklers. Probably lack of combination among the Combined team's hacks facilitated the scoring movements . which were markod less by speed, than by accuracy and the ball very seldom being mishandled. Broodrijk, the Transvaal winger, • made his first appearance slnce Eewcastle and was heady but somewhat slow, being collared oftener than the other backs. The inside African backs seldom failed to get- the ball to their wingers, mainly through the accuracy of van do Vyver and Lochner. Dc Villiers, the scrum half, was sometimes caught by Mason who with Ron Eing and Kirkwood, was outstanding for Combined, whose bcst bae.ks were Mann (first five-eightk) who several times tacddcd cleverly and kicked aceuratcly. Game tacklers were the wingers HUI and Roberts, the lattcr goihg to first five-eighth in Ihe second spell with the result that the Springboks veered plav more to the wings. Finlayson (half) though otkerwise sound passed indiscrimiuately. Bergh was the pivot of the African vanguard, transferriug to the backs from the lineouts anci ruclis in a masterly mann'er, Well supported by Watt ■and Fanie Louw, while' Strachaa was |the outstanding looso forward. Eon IKing rather shaded Eel in the ruck. ; The tactics of Lotz won a sligkl Imajority of the serums from Orman |who did creditably. The Springboks, J though compelled by the local forwards jto play a good deal in the tight, took j every opportunity for open play and ] their display generally was orthodos, jaud spectaeular, winning "the admira-j ■ tion of the spectators. A splendidj jsporting spirit prevailcd throughout. ; The Coast aided by the wind opeucd; Iplay in Africa's half, Dunn finding ■touch near the goal line. . A penalty re.lieved Goast, passing Finlayson and finding touch in the African tweutyfive. Williams took play to Coast twenty-five with a Mgh kick, the Goast forwards led by King returning to the African half.4 From a passing rush Broodrijk became dangerous, running till 'tackled by Roberts from bekind. Lochner faiicd to take AVhite's pass, Hill finding touch. Bergh was dffsidc outsido the twenty-five, Stewart kicking a magnificent goal. Coast ••«•*■•■■« 3 Springboks .......... 0 The Africans staged three passing movements in Coast twenty-Uve, ending in Williams scoring in the corner, Turner converting with a great kick. Springboks 5 Coast 3 Watt found touch inside Coast twenty-five and from a penalty for oifsido Turner's lcick failed. Coast invaded Ihe oppositiou territory, but the African backs now had plenty o±" the ball and Turner agaia failed from a penalty just outsido the twenty-five. Coast relieved from a penalty for shcphcrding by the African forwards. Coast were doing exeepticmally wcii in the loose, i'orcing thc Spriugboks to their own quarter. Tho Coast forward -i wero holdiug tho visitors in tho tighf work. The African passing lost ground through 'good taekling by thc Coast forwards. Then Whito dashed 'downfield and his pass to Brookrijk was well taken, Lochner finishing the movement and scoring well out, .Turner's kick failiug, Springboks 8 Coast 3 After half an liour's play following Miappy lineout work by the Coasters Slrachan and Hill took play near the Africail line, Williams relieving. Mann attenxptcd a poi, going xvidc. From tho lincoul an African cross field passing inovement ended when Hill stopped Williams on the line. The Springbok forwards by good play took tho ball to Coast territory, Manu rnakiug a timely clearance. Tho suphrior backiug up of the visitors kept play in Coast wh«f Roberts

failed to field the ball and White cut in and scored well out. Turner failed with the kick, Springboks 11 Coast 3 Half time was sounded after a briliiant passing movement, nine Africans participating and taking play near the Coast line, Hill clcarlng. In Ihe second spell Africa invaded their opponents' quarter whcre Lochner kicked through, beatiug Dunn to colloct the ball and dive over. Turner converted. Springboks 16 ' Coast ' 3 Stewart interruptcd African passing and kicking through. Coast were awarded a penalty ten yards inside half way, Dunn's kick failing. Finlayson sent to Mann who made a brilliant cut "through and' sent to Hill who was forced out in the corner by Williams. Iving made a determined attempt to get over but Brookrijk cleared. After Coast had kept the line iu danger for some minutes fast African back passing took play to the Coast end, but Dunn made a fine line kick. Mann again surprised the Africans, breaking through but being taken by Brookrijk a few yards from the goal posts. Coast were winning the scrums and lineouts and had the Springboks ternporarily in difficulties till Turner found touch well inside Coast territory. Roberts eventually i'oreed. Bergh i-e-pcatedly in the lineouts gained possession. Good loose play by Mason took Coast to the African twenty-five but Lochner broko clean away, passing in Coast twenty-five to .Brookrijk who sent Williams over, Turner converting. Springboks 21 Coast . . 3 The visitors renewed the attaclc when their inside backs passed to Williams who centred but Hill beat Watt to force. Coast held* the Africans in a series of lineouts, taking play inside Africa's twenty-five with a kick through by Finlayson. Coast were awarded a penalty at half way, Dunn's kick going to Turner whe sent the backs away for Brookrijk to be taken at the Coast twenty-five by Stewart. Kel with only one man to pass sent the ball to his supports who lost possession on the line. Coast relieved by a penalty. An African passing rush in front of the posts was stayed by an infringement. Turner attempted a pot, the ball failing to rise. The Africans' passing kept play m the Coast half, the ball going to Brookrijk who met no oppositiou to run round undcr the posts. Turner converted. j ( Springboks .......... 26 J Coast 3 i Coast kept play in African territory for a short time till Boy Lcuw found touch in Coast twenty-five with a fine kick. From the resultant play Coast were awarded a penalty, Dunn missing from inside Africa's half.' Hill's faiiure to liandic cost Coast further points when the African back line passed freely in front of thc goal and White cut through to scorc, Turner converting. Springboks 31 Coast 3 The Africans. were pcnaliscd for offsdie play 10 yards out, Dunn puuing over a fine kick. Springboks 31 Coast G Full time was sounded a miuute lat'er with Coast pressing. The rcferee was Mr. A. B. Rowland, of Timaru.