MAGNIFICENT RUGBY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 206, 16 September 1937, Page 6

MAGNIFICENT RUGBY

Springboks Beat Bay In Keen Tussle RECORD CROWD THRILLED Ideal Conditions at McLean Park South Africa beat Hawke's Bay by 21 points to 12 at McLean Park, Napier, yesterday, in what must have been their hardest match of the tour to date. It was a wonderful game, and the Bay yfe re magraficent. Honours were as much with the home side as with the Springboks, and at one stage the famous Springboks pack found themselves very nearly mastered in much the same manner as in the first Test at Wellington. Conditions were ideal for the Springboks, the ground being conductive to fast, open play, and considering that they had practically their Test side on the field, it was to be expected that they would be seen at their best. They did not disappoint, for they provided a brilliant exhibition, but they were fully extended and to earn their victory in a struggle that will long be remembered.

.Th© teams were:— SOUTH AFRICA. Full-back / G. H. Brand. Wing-Threequarters. P. O. "Williams. ' S. E. Hofmeyr. Centie-Threequarters. Babrow. A. D. Lawton. Stand-off Half .D F. van der Vyver. Scrum Half D. H. Craven. Back Row B. Du Toit. Middle Row W. E. Bastard", P. J. Nel, W. F. Bergh, L. C. Stracban Front Row & C. Louw, J. W. Lotz, M. M. Louw. HAWKE'S BAY. Full-back M. Dyer. Threequartera y. Herbert, B. Devine, E. Apsey. Five-eighths C. Robins P. Reid Half-baek Clothier. Back Row W. Johnson Middle Row P. Smith, B. Reid, H. Bowman, C. Wilson. Front Row E. Jackson, D. Dalton, L. Hannigan The great struggle for mastery by the packs, witb Ilawke's Bay having only seven wembers to siaud up to the South Al'rican eight; the grimness of the Bay baeks in the 6ccoud spell; the wonderfuily-inspiring play of the Springboks backs on attaek — these were features of the gaiue that will live in the hiemory of the 15, 000 or so thrilled spectators. Cruelling Forward Str-cp' That Hawke's Bay- rose to the occasion there is no gainsaying. They were defeated, but in their defeat they were jnagnificent. Particularly was this so of the forwards who, handicapped as they were in numbers as well as in weight and experience, stood up to tlie

towering Springbok forwards in great style, and in the second spell they were actually mere effective in the loose than their opponents. It was a grueJling and epic struggle that was waged by the two packs. But the Bay baulrs, too, are deserving of a measure oi praise. They certainly excelled themselves and gave a better exhibition of dei'enee than was anticipated of them. Their display was not without its blemishes and faults, and it was these lapses that euabled the Springboks to secure their victory. From the viewpoint of the Bay the first spell was aisappointing despite the iact that the tourists were down 9—8 at the interval. Witb the strong wind at their backs the Bay did not take advantage of this l'actor to the extent that oue expected of tl.em. Ihe crowd, delighted though they were that the Bay at. least had a lead at the interval, obviously were not. hopeful of their stalwarts coming out ot the game without a. suhstnntial defeat. The Springboks were clearJy adopt.ing safety-iirsfc tactics while playing against the wind, and territorially they had dono surprisingly well, for there is no doubt that tlie wind was a very big lactor. On the otlier haud the Bay team had not been particularly lmpres«iv©. There did not seen to be anything out of the usual in the work and their failure to use the wind to the best advantage seemed to indicnte that Qief were rathei overawed bjr the re-

putation of the South African backs for their renpwned defeusive ability. and cleverness in turning defence into attack. * Two Bad Lapses. The discomfiture of Ihe crowd was added to in the first five miuutes of the second spell. It was duriug this brief period that South Alrica wou the game. Two bad lapses in the Bay defence were exploited and the Springboks regained the lead and increased the lnargin with two fine tries. Tlie fl|etness of the Springbok backs and the shock tactics of their forwards in these five minutes created the impression that they were due for another runaway victory. But this was far from being the case. The highest praise is due to the Bay players for the manner in which they rallied. at this stage. The whole team eettled down with a grimness and determination to tackle tliat aroused nothing but the greatest admiration from the crowd, who jyere aroused to intense enthusiasm that knew no bounds when eventually the Bay did score. It was one of the wildest scenes of enthusiasm witnessed at McLean Park when Jackson finished off a movement, worthy of the Springboks themselves, with a try in the corner and the fact that shortly afler the South Africans placed the issue beyond doubt by a further five points did not. dim the enthusiasm that Jackson's try aroused. It was only in those brief first five minutes of tlie secoud spel] that tlie Springboks appeared to liave coutrol of the game and they bud no sooner taken it than their claim was disputed, and disputed forcibly. it is very deubtful wliether the Springboks pack actually ever did gain the upper haud of the Bay forwards in the rucks and loose in that second spell. Unlilie in the first half of the game the Bay baeks were givun a fair measure of tlie ball, botli from the scrutns and tlie loose, and .again there were oecasions when the Bay forwards actually took possesfcion olf the Springboks, 'which must have been a novel experience for Ihe lattcr. Better Team Won. That the better team won will readily be admitted. Tliere was° a finish and polish about the Springboks movements, especially those of tlie rearguard, that was not in evidence on the Bay side. Then tliere was about tlieir attack a wonderful sense of confidence, tlie players nevc-r Josing touch with one s/,uothei and each appeared to know that lor a certainty there would be someone ready to take tlie ball or be someone according support. hrequcntly. tlie ball traversed across field for the Springboks to find themselves bloeked, and they did uot hesitate to swiftly cliange direction of play by wbipping the ball infield again. It was when the Springboks were on the inove in this manner that they were most impressive, ioi they sought to retain possession by the expediency of passing to and Iro and keeping the opposition on tho move and at times on the wrong foot. As already , mentioned the Bay showing was not impressive iu the first spell. The tourists gained almost toLal posscssiou from tlie scruius aud tho liue-outs, or the rucks tbal lollowed these, but ili tlie secoud spell, wheu everything was in their t'avour and they sliould have enjoyed Ihe same measure of success, such was not the case. The Bay forwards was not the case. The Bay forwards worried the Springboks in similar manner to that of the All Black pack iu the first Test, the ball being kept at the toe in the- rucks and possession being rarely gained by either side. Spectacular Football. Territorially the Springboks were in the asceudaucy. This was only to be expected, for any long kicks into tlie open enabled Brand to make full use of tbe wind and drive play back iuto Bay territory, but for the greater part of the secoud spell the play was confined to betweun the Bay •qliarter-way and the half-vvay. Now and tlien the Bay forwards would take play into their opponents' territory but it was then that one fully appreeiated that greatness of the Springboks, for they wquld start attacking movements, or passing bouts, and s'end play right back again to beyond tbe Jialfway. Twioo movcmenl's oi iliis calibro wero cnrnmonced when Ihe Bay wero but n few yards from tho Springboks' gnalline and it was mo3t spectacuJar footbn.ll. Tho major honours fell to tho forwards. The real battle was between the opposing packs, and throughout it was a hard and gruelling game that called for great stamina and endurance. At tiines the play undoubtedly passed the border-ljne, and there were instances of rough play. The referee ijpwever, kept •© strict cpntrol qu this

phase ot the game, though after giving two general warnings to the forwards ho had to adopt the course of calling the captains together to iustruct them to exereise control over their players. The outstanding forward on the groupd was Du Toit and his return to form will present the Springboks selectiou committee with a problem for the final Test at Auckland at the end of next week. He initiatcd many splendid passing movements from the rucks, following both the scrums and line-outs. Hd' handled the ball witb the same degree of efficiency and accuracy as the backs and time and time again it was he who scooped up the ball from the f'eet of the forwards to set it in motion in the open. His service to the backs was rivalled only by Craven. One of tbe liveliest of the Springbok forwards was Bastard, though Nel, Bergh and "Boy'> Louw were Bergh was wonderfully efficient and ahvays prominent. In the line-outs probably obtained possession from the throw-in more consistently than any other player. The Springboks all revealed themselves gieat handlers of the ball, but their efficiency in this respeet was ofl'set by the grimness and tenacity of the Bay forwards, who were uutiring in their hustling and taekliug. Bay Forwards' Big Task, Despite the fact tliat the Bay forwards had a trcmendoue task to do to hold their own in tlie tiglit they still found, and inade, opportunities on attack in the loose, and in the second ipell for close on half an liour they were unquestionably the equal, if not at times superior, of the Springboks. The loss of Johnston threw tho onus upon the forwards to.hunt as a pack and maintain a solidarity that actually was the niost effective weapon they jould have used. Circumetances did uot warrant individualisin. The experience of Reid, Dalton and Jackson-, the tliree Bay All Blacks, was undaunt'cd by the opposition. They set the standard and the remainder of the forwards rose up to that standard. Bowman was quite the equal of the three All Blacks, and this quartette was in evidence throughout. All were prominent in brilliant breaka, and their spoiling. work was magniiicent. They and P.eter Smith, Hannigan and Wilson appeared tireless in their efforts to smother the Springboks backs as well as to overcome the Springboks forwards

in their more Iegitiniate field of act.ivities. The Springboks were givcn something to worry about for Ihe llual Test, for there can be no doubt now that it is possiblo for Iscw Zealand to field n pack of forwards tliat will out-rival the tourists and throw tho responsibility of winning the match on Ihe ability of Ihe backs lo snalch what opportunitios como their way. The tackling by tho. Iavo sets of backs was lirst-rate, but that of tho South Africans was tlie better. Certainly they did uot liave so much tackling to do, but uevertheless when called upon to defend tlicy did it with dcligblful accuracy aud presentcd an i.lmost impenetrable safeguard. On attack the visitors w^re the mbre impressive aud they iuitiated many brilliant movements that deserved greater ruccess than came their way. That this succcss did uot come of these movements was due to the splendid showing made by the Bay on defence, and talcing tho gqme as a whole no cornplaint can be made of the manner in whidh the Bay backs rose to the oecasion. There were mistakes and lapses but tliere were not nearly as many as the majority of the spectators had reason to believe would be the case in view cf recent exhibitions. Wonderful Exhibition. ' Clothier and Robins combined well without brilliance on altack aud iu defence. There was not the same degree of efficiency between Robins and Reid and Reid and Devine, and thici in part may be due to the fact that the Springboks have a tendency to run across at an angle that throws a great responsibility upon this pnrt of the defence. licid cerLaiuly gave, his best display of del'encc of this season, and tho lapsTss on his part and ou that of Devine wero duo to indccision in tackling tlie man with the ball or the man about to get the ball. The wingers, Herbert and Apsey, also revcaled ability on defence, but the palm goes to Morrie Dyer who, in the second spell, rose to great keights. He gave a wonderful exhibition in the second spell when lie was called up to do more work than is usually his lot. On attack the Bay baeks were seldom seen. Clothier, Reid and Apsey were responsible for some good breaks though theN gaius were not great owiug to tlie excollent defence of the Springboks. Apsey was quite the best of tlie Bay backs 011 attack, aud cousidoring that he had tho redoubtable Williams opposite liim his display gcnerally was (irst-rate. Considering the uso o:f tho ball tliai tbe Springboks rearguard bad throughout the game, they did not meet with the success thaf lias been theirs in other games on the tour. They performed sufficiently well, however, to reveal that thev are a wonderful side. The backs are particularly hard to hold in tackles. The slightest easing of t.ho hold. or a semblanee oi" indecision, is sufiieiont for* them to brenk awny, niu! as man for man they wero fasler, mu) probably stronger, runners, they took n lot of stopping. Tliey had no ho.fi tatinn ia Ihrowing the ball about wliilo on tlie move, but tho moment tliere was a danger of losing possession each and every one made sure pf linding the Hne. Craven's Dive Pass. Craven had plenty to do at the base of tho serum and gave first-rato service. Hia famous div.Q pugs wua sccu only

twicey but on boih oecasions it was ai treat to witness. * He is 'a particularly sound defeusive playcr, but also an enterprising oue, as evhdenccd "by his try eai'ly in Ihe second half when he caught Lhe Bay uiside backs well and truly napping to ince at au acule angle across tlio field, Lo scoro behind Llio posts. -Van der Vyver aud Hofmeyr wero rcally only 'good connecting links. Certainly Hofmej r at times cut througb nicely, but he was not as impressive in this regard as Bahrow, who was the key man of the Springboks attack. Botli, however, took a lot of watching. and it was faithfully earried out, too. Tho wingers, Lawton and Williams, did not liave tho opportunities that liave been l.heirs.in previous ganies. J.awton was ahle to eross once, and it wns :i fine effort, but Williams failod to g'-T th rough. The vioitlng 'haclcs were well served by I'.raad at l'ull-bnck. nis positional play was splendid, though twice he was badly bustled, and his Louch-fiuding was a model of accuracy. Braud was uot as successful with bis kicks at goal as was anticipated, especially in view of there being such a strong wind, Ho failed to colleet a peatUty goal, lHough many jfree kicks ,

wero awarded throughout tlie game,- and the Springboks had their fair: share oi them. The .Springboks ■ scored five tries, Bastard aud Lawton crossing in the prst spell ior Brand to convcrt.the L'ormer's. After the intorval Craven, Hofmeyr and Bcrg scored. Brand converting two of them. Hawko's Bay scored three tries,. Johnson and Wilson doing so after Herbert bad . kicked a penalty goal, in the lirst epeli, and Jackson reeording the Bay's only points in the second half of tho gamo.