S. CANTERBURY DOWN

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 191, 30 August 1937, Page 7

S. CANTERBURY DOWN

-Pres* Association.)

Biggest Victory' of Tour — 43 to 6 BRILLIANT BACK PLAY

(13y Teleferapb-

TIMARU, Last Night. j Despite tho aversion df the Springbok captain, Nel, for making refeords, it seems they are iinable to keep away from them, for in the match against SoUtli Canterbitry on Saturday tho visitors won by the biggest margin of the tour and also put up the highest sdore, the final figures being 43 points to 6. Ia 1921 the home side was beaten by 34 points to 3, which was the begt win that the touring side had. However, the big score on Saturday somewhat flattered the visitors, as at least three tries — which, ineidentally, were converted — came from off-side. This is not meant to detract from the win of the visitors, who gave a polished display, but serves to indicate that the game was not so one-sided as the total would suggest. The score of 15 points to 3 at the interval was a true reflection of the vun of the play' up to that stage, but the story of the seconi half was v6ry similar to that told in the ma-tches against the majority of the other provincial teams. Having taken the sting out of the opposing pack the visitors gave their backs their chance, and with Harris in form4 consistcntly cutting out a man to givo overlap on the wing, the task of the honu three-quarters resolved itself into one of chasing either Williams or Turner, and a hopeless tusk it was. When half an inch of rain fell on jThursday, it looked as though tho ground would be soft, and the chances of the home side making an interesting game appeated bright. Drying eastorlv iwinds blew all the morniiig, however, and when the teams took the field the .a'rea was in surprisingly good condition., ilt was not even greasy, and under tho I'circumstanoes it was not surprisin.g that Jthe fast visiting backs had a field davv | Harris in Brilliant rorjn. To add to the troubles of the home side, the visitors fielded very nearly their best side. Lotz, the crack hooker, was missing from the front row, and S. Louw, who was the hooker, did not have a very great pull pver Gunn, the local hooker. Actually there were nine members ,ofi.the side who played in. the first Test and, in addition, Nel and Harris were included. The form of these two in recenf. games suggests that ,they will be favourecl in the second encounter with the All Blacks, and on the ,display on Saturday Harris will be unllucky if he is not capped. He Teaohed jhis majority on Friday and his solection for the team would be a belated jbut most acceptable birthday present. (He was the brains behind pr&ctically nll the visiting back movemeuts and cut tho defence to ribbons with the greatest ease. The home backs repeatedly swuqg out in the hope of crowding the opposing wings to touch, but the policy was fatal, as Harris swiftly went through the gap aud then sent on, giving the opposition no chance. His clever manoeuvring would have gone for nought but for the afct that the outsides handled brilliantly for the most part. There were occasional lapses, but the home team failed to take advantage of them. When the forwards did break through, they ran into stubbOrn defence, and a quick pass back Would see tho ball~ shooting for touch wcll down tho field. The game opened sensationatly, for inside two minutes a good blind-side movement saw Ryan, the home winger, ove? in tho corner for a fine try. It was Teminiscent of the match of the Britifeh team here in 1920, when the combined team opefiod the scoring in the first few minutes. A few minutes later Hopkinson intercopted beautifillly and raced through to Brand, but threw a poor pass and a good chance wa'S lost. This was the closest the home team came to scoring dufing the Temainder of the spoll. Past Breaking Forwards The South Canterbuty pack was supposcd to average 14.14, which was 31b lijhter all round than the visitors, but it was obvious from the appearance of the players that there was a much bigger margin, and this was confirmed by the ease with which the §pringboks pushed the%scrum. They did not have matters all thpir own way in this department, however, and actually the Kome side won a greater share of the ball in the first eession. The fast breaking of the Springbok forwardfc, however, forced the home backs to kick for touch. While this wAs good defOnsive policy, it did not save the forwards much and the pack hid.a gruelling day. They did their part well, rucking solidly and tackling resolutely. The forwards did their very best to bag the ball as well as the man, but once the

themselves in the midet of swirling Vegs, the visitors not appepring to care who got trampled on so long as the ball came out on their Side. Nel paid a tribute to the play of the home forwards, particularly in the first half, when they held their own in the tight and loose. Twice early in the game the South . Cantcrbury forwards swept down tho field in great loose rushCS, which tho visiting team did not appear too keen on stoppihg, but unaccountably the home pack did not repeat the dose, even when they had a chance. Had they tlone so, they might have ehjoyed more success. The visitors displayed marked ability ito op6n up from loose melees, and 0rav6n, with long dive passes, sent the backs away on spectacular moves. Harris and Lockner frequently changed the direction of the attack, completely fooling tho opposition ,and when the progress of the three-quarters was barrod, the ball would be swung into the fast following forwards or be centred. The forwards often came up too fast nnd glaringly ofi-side, but were not penalised. Ncxt to Harris, Brand and Williams were the star backs. 'The latter scored three great tries, powerful running beiing a feature of his game. Brand. wbn 'was playing for the first timo nce hlb injury, gave a fine display. Ho converted five of the ten tries scored and kicked a penalty goal. Nol was promincnt throughout the whole of tho second h&lf, leading the pack in great style. Martin and Strachan also went well in the loose. The home pacx, which included G. Adkins, 1935 All Black, and J. Sirahg, Who played in the All Black trials this year, grafted solidly all day. Saxton, B. Mwrison and Cartwrigllt tackled with determination, but the rest of the Lacks were weak. Tries were scored for the visitors by Williams (3), TUrnor ^2), Bab'row (2), vau Reenan, Strachan and Cfaven, five being converted by Brand, who also kickcd a penalty. Ryan and Adkins scored for the 'home side. The referee was Mr. N. Eggleton (West Coast). Saxton, the home captain, said the game was a most enjoyable one, and he paid a tfibutc to the way thC visitors Mirew the hall about. Nel, the Springbok captain, said the game was a hard one, particularly the Grst half, and the score soniowhat flattered them. Asked wliat he thought South Africa's chancos wero in the Test, ho repRed, "You can't catch mo tlike that. We played South Canterbury to-day and we plsy the A'H Blacks next Satiirday.,J