Springboks Win Last Game

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 6, 30 September 1937, Page 7

Springboks Win Last Game

— Press Aaaociation.)

NEL'S RETIREMENT North Auckland! Defeated by 14 to 6 P00R c0nditi0ns

(By Telegraph

• " WHANGAREI, Last Night. The Sonth Africans stnzck bad weather conditions for the final match of the New Zealand tour againsfc North Auckland to-day, and after a great wet-ground tussle vanquished the reviaining provincial aide 14 to 6. Following heavy rain the ground quickly churned up, the ball becoming very difficult to hancfle. This fact was commented on by P. J. Nel, who announced his retirement from Rugby after ' the match. "This ends our tour and wh have beaten every provincial side," he said. "To-day 's game was very hard and played under atrocions conditions, although the ground was ,not as bad as that upon which we played at Hamilton. The North played very well, especially the forwards. I would like also to compliment the referee. To-day was definitely my last appearance in Rugby, my only regret being that I played the final game under such conditions. The sooner Rugby authorities pay attention to the turf and turfing the sooner will the Dominion have grounds upon which it is possiblo to play even after rain." Mr. J£. Ifwerson, the northern selector, was deligbted with the showing made by his team. "I knew they wonld rise to the occasion," he said, "and they did magnificiently. I wonld like to compliment the Africans on their good wet-weather football. Those who attended the Test at Auckland in preference to staying home for the ■match here had the worst of the bargain.;j ~ Spirit and Determination. The northerners played with moro , spirit and tackled with mora determination than ihe Ali Blacks last Saturday. The scoro at half-time. was only.' 8_3 jn favour of the Africans andi immcdiately after the reaumption tho> North "had the misfortnno of losing. Blyth. Up to the timo his xetireme'nt North held their share of the game territorially, but thenceforward 14 men could not stand up to 15 and give nearly two stone away all round. The Springboks, too, were handicapped by the unaccustomed heavy going. Their play generallv gave the impression that the New Zealand record would have been different had SatuTday been as wet as at Hamilton. The Africans attempted to open the game in the first half, but found it getting them into trouble. AfterwardS they employed moro suitable up-and-under tactics with the Tesult that they were in complcte control, except that the tackling of their oppononts prevented them from just getting there. The tackling of the northerners will live long in mecmory. All wero oulstanding in this. rcspect. Fairly Even Play. . i»iay in the early stagcs was fairly even, Bmt the Springboks misss^d . a chance when JTotfmyr dropped a pass straight after the African ba'cks- --qnened out and only a brilliant pick-up by%. D. Wintle saved the northerners. Again the Africans looked like scoring. Bester cut between two men, but Wintle got him from behind. Then tho North pack eame throngh in a thrilling ruslf which" tj?.e Africans floundering. The crowd hai. .a thrill when Codling started a clever hioyoyj^t; the Wintle brothers gaining 50 yards and inpassing to Blyth, wlio got across only to be rccalled for an infringement. However, North kept attacking and drew first hlood when Masters kicked a penalty almost from the side line after 15 jninutes. Later a kick dropped short. and North again attacked, Johns diving for tho line when a Springbok beat him ■and Van der Vyvcr bursfc through for •Broodryk to scorc a spectacular try, which Brand failed to convert. From his own 25 Brand started a s'pcctacular movement, which Bastard and Hofmeyr carried on until Johns -soundly tacklcd Jhe centre, Masters played a brilliant game afc fullbaclc and another cifort with a penalty fell just short. The Africans gaincd the neat try when Yan de Yyvcr ran and sent to Hofmeyr, who short-lcicked over tho line. Broodryk chascd the rolliug ball and dived for tho touch down as it was cntering the dcad-ball area. Brand converted with a superlative kick. Just on half-time Masters, with a fourth shot at goal, raised tho fiags, making the scoro: Springbolis S, North C. Field Goal Disallowed. The only incident in the early Stages of the second spell was when Brand drop-kicked a beautiful goal oniy to Ilnd that a prior infringement had ,oceurred. Shortly after Blyth, who had received a face injury oarlier, was forccd to rctirc, Nathan taking his placo at first five-eighths. It was through that point that Craven notched Africa'a ncxt try, half hurdling Nathan to score. Brand niissed the easiest ' of kieks. South Ai'rica 11, North (i. Africa camped on North 's line for a long period but could not break past tho deadly tackling. Then, when North attacked, 1). Wintle followed through, cutehing Brand in possession. He held the full back too long, however, and was penalised. Colmore Williams put North on attack again with a fine liner, but after a series of £rim scrums

Yan de Yyver drove North back with a great kick. The referee at this stage had a fricndly chat with White, Flavell and Nel following heated work. Buth teams were showing the elfects of a strcnuous match and each sought respite in haphazard kiclcing. The final try came when Jennings broko away from a loose melee, and passing beI tweon Martin and Lister saw tho latter ilivo through Wintle • s tackle. . Brand Sttiled. Africa 14, North Auckland 6.