FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 28 July 1921, Page 4

FOOTBALL

SPRINGBOKS V. COMBINED COAST

SPRINGBOKS 33, COMBINED

COAST 3

Victoria Park, Greymouth, yesterday, afternoon held a crowd of several thousands drawn from all parts of the Coast, from Puller in the north to Okarito in the south, to witness the match between the visiting South African team, and the combined BullerWest Coast team. The game resulted

in a win for the South Africans by •!

points (H tries, three being converted, and three penalty goals) to 3 points (a penalty goal). The ground was in capital order am

1 the day was perfect, line and sunny i with no wind, all being in favor of a fast game. The teams were as follows: j South Africans (Greens)—Full back: Do Villiers ;© three-quarters, Zeller

‘ Weepener, Sendin, Van Heerden i halves: Michau, Townsend; forwards | H. Morkel (Captain), Van Rooyon | Kruger, Du Plessi.s, Roy -Morkel j Olivier, Scholtz and Mostert. | Combined Coast (Reds). —Full hack ] Osborne; three-quarters: Steel, Ryan ! O’Callaghan ; live-eighths: Griffiths | Palmer; half: Walton; forwards j O’Neill, Turnbull, Whittaker, Mouatt. | Hall, 11 agar, Mclntosh (Captain), Col

Referee—Mr Williams (Greymouth). FIRST SPELL. Coast defended the southern goal, and from the kick off an exchange of kicks saw Griffiths find the line. A line out saw the ball go to Zellar, who was tackled, a scrum resulting. Out came the ball like a flash from the first scrun and Townsend sent it to Weepener who found the line in Coast 25. Tliei from the line out a scrum followed and the half Townsend, getting it clean l.\ sent it out with a smart pass to Michau who was tackled high. He made a fine

opening and sent the ball to Weepener who taking cleanly had a somewhat easy opening and went over scoring after four minutes’ play, near the corner. Do Villiers made a fine atteinp from near the side line to convert —3—o. From the kick-off from the centre Africans opened out and then a long kick went to Osbourne who tailed to take the ball, the visitors taking the ball to the Coast line by loose play. Palmer kicked well up field, hut a great rush in which several Africans took part was stopped by Ryan collaring Sendin. The forwards took charge and a loose rush went to Steele who relievo; in capital style. Then the whistle went for the first penalty, Mouatt being offside. The kick was well taken by Osbourne. who returned down the field but flic visiting hacks passed across tin field, a kuoekon stopping tlie play, : scrum resulting. I‘rout the scrum, Africa were penalised for picking up out of the scrum and the free kick took the ball to past half-way. From the line nut a Coast rush was spoilt by Mouatt handling. Then O’Callaghan made a dash hut was collared and \ an Rooyon was penalised for playing the hall oilside. From the return, the ball went to Van Iborden. who tailed to handle hut he recovered cleverly and louud the line. Hall was prominent in a loose Coast rush and then the game was pulled up, Van Jleerden being winded. Mouatt took the hall along but in a following scramble Hall sprained his wrist, another stop taking place for the arm to he bandaged. Then \an lleerden missed a nice opening and Coast were penalised for handling in the serum. r l le hall went across tlie field and Kruger opened out with a nice pass to Weepener who missed. A long kick by Zellur sent the hall out at the Coast flag, where O’Neill got off-side and with a line penalty kick Do \ illiers goalcd. (i—o, twenty minutes’ play having taken place. From the kick oil a scrum took place. Walton breaking away, hut was tackled and a dribble took play to Const line Tire hall came hack to the centre where Weepener kicked well down, O’Callaghan returning to past the the centre. From the line out, Griffiths marked, hut the kick was a poor one. A loose red rush took the hall to the front of Africa’s goal, where a line kick was given for Townsend hanging on too long. Walton tailed with an easy kick straight in front. The kick out went to Steele*who gathered in good style and found tlie line. Zellar gathered the hall from a loose rush, hut was tackled b--11agar and a red rush was stopped In Michau. Then Mostert broke away am kicked high, a fine opening being los by the hall going out, after ()’( allaghai had made a had miss. ’I he latter ncx< stopped Sendin, who broke away fr: i a line out, and from an ensuing scrum Const wore penalised lor oliside. I)« Villiers made no mistake and kicked r fine goal—9—o. From the kick-oil', Hagai led a loose rush, hut African hacks got possossioi from a scrum, Michau, 'lownsciu! Weepener and Zellar handling in line style, Ryan tackling the latter and O’Neill shifting play, but: was tackled Back came the hall, \ an iiuoyeii kii k iug over the line rather hard, a lorn resulting. From a serum near the ecu tic the African forwards nga.ii

clean possession, Townsend and .Mieliai: hand line;. The latter was shook b; Walton n hen passing and -drew : missed. A red nisli followed, bti r Mount t got. ollside. 'I lie hail came line l to Griffiths win) made a had miss, tie. hall striking his head and humping haei. over the line, a force resulting. !'•■'! lowing the drop out Weopctior missed lint recovered cleverly. Michan opcnc. tlie play, hut Weepener kicked to Steel who finely marked. Then the Cons forwards led by Colvin and Ilagnr, too' the ball down the field, to he stop 1 by Do Villiers luckily marking. Centre play followed till another red rush wn stopped hy Sendin marking. O’Cnlle ghan missed a high kick, hut .Mclntos : saved just in time. Then Mieliau was slopped hy Turnbull, and Coast wet" rrdieved by Van Rooyeii getting oflside The latter returned the penalty ki< across the field, and Africa made merry but flie- ball went out in Const quarters-. A loose forward rush relieved, but McIntosh was penalised for offside and De Villiers, from almost tbe same place as the two previous shots took the kick. The ball hit the upright, and went over, a goal resulting—l2—o. An exchange of kicks was to the disadvantage of Coast. Griffiths stopped a green rush and then O’Neill broke away, but Weepener stopped him. A green rush replied and the ball wont out at tbe corner. McTntosh relieved l v intercepting a pass and then Oa-

borne stopped a dangerous rush, Krugers getting offside relieving the pressure. From a line out, Van Rooyon broke | away, but Steele stopped it when dan- 1 gerous. Another African rush was followed by a scrum inside the Coast 25. The ball came out cleanly and a fine run resulted, Zellar, Michau and Weepener handling, each being well collared. The ball then went to Van Heerden who dashed to Osborne, who went low, but Van Heerden .hurdled him and went over the line. In trying to get round he. missed the ball, and lost a. certain try. Half time was then called.

SECOND SPELL. In the second spell for the visitors, De Villiers kicked off. A good return was made and Van Roovert found the 25 with a long punt. From a scrum Colvin broke away, but Van Heerden relieved with a clever screw kick. From a scrum Michau broke away, hut W alton stopped him. Then Scholtz and Mostert were prominent, but Osborne relieved to the centre Africans opened a passing run from a line out, hut Steele stopped it. The visiting forwards were now breaking through from the line out, and the play went to Coast'quarters. From a scrum near the lino Michau worked the blind side and passed to Zellar who scored a pretty try near the corner. De Villiers failed fo enhance the score, though the kick was a fine one.—ls-0.

Following the kick-off Griffiths broke through, but failed to open the play, and the hall went out. From the line out a serum followed and Africa handling in the scrum, Steele had a shot, and landed a penalty goal.—3-15 The Coast broke through from the kick-off, but Zellar relieved. Van Roven broke away from a line out, but Inst, the ball and Weepener marked a. heavy forward kick, and put Coast on the defence. Kruger broke away from the line-out and sent it to Zellar who made a dashing run and finished a clever effort by badly beating Osborne by side-stepping him and scoring the best try of the day. De Villiers gonled with a fine kick.—2o-3.

From the kick-out Coast were penalised anil then Zellar for obstruction was similarly dealt with. The ball went past the centre and from a loose rush in front of the green posts, Michau was penalised for offside. Steele failed with « fairly easy place. Exchanges hv Walton and l)e Villiers saw play at the centre. Roy Morkel broke nwav from a. line out. hut was stopped by Ryan, but the African hacks again got going to be> stopped by Griffiths. A loose rally on the line saw Sobolt-z use his weight and carry on the play. A penally gave De Villiers a shot within striking distance, hut the ball went astray. ’ O’Callaghan fielded and kicked up the field. 'Hie hall come bark bv the aid of a green forward rush and then Michau spoilt a nice opening !-v fumbling. Steele showed out with a short dash and kick and a. red rush headed by Mclntosh forced the visitors. The Coast got possession but poor handling lost ground, O’Callaghnii and Rvan handling badly. A further passing lost more ground the greens, break ing through nil Morkell got offside and relieved. A green passing run saw Sendin get possession, hut three men managed to get him. Kruger then broke away from a. line out anil the hall went to the lino, Coast being forced. Another green rush headed by H. Morkell saw Weepener get possession and after a fine dash he passed out to Zellar who again heat Osborne and touched don.it. Do Villiers again made no mistake with an easy kick.—2s-3.

Following a. scrum near the centre Michau corkscrewed through the loose forwards and the hall went to Sendin. Griffiths stopping with a line mark. Van Rooyen broke away from the next line out. hut Walton found the line. A green rush by Corkell saw tlie ball go t« O’Oallaghnn who missed. \ an Rooveii headed a green rush and the ball went to Sendin who was badly missed and scored an easy fry under the posts. Do Villiers again converted. <lO-3. Michau made a tine run hut passed forward spoiling a line opening. From an ensuing serum Sendin potted, hut missed. Shortly after tho greens went away in a great rush, but Sendin missed and the hall went out. Ihe line out saw the visitors again break through and Mostert scored near the corner. De Villiers failed to increase Ihe scorn. Time was then called with the score 33 to 3.

COMMENT. With the advantage so much in their favour, the Springboks natiu illy had every opportunity to shine, ju handling, and kicking they gave a fine exliiBit kin. The passing was smart ami [rue, and they gol possession 1 rum tin scrum nearly well time they dosiied if. The heavy forwards played a fine game, but it v.as not till the scron 1 half, v. lien 111,. Coast tired ba.l'.V th:.t tli" hacks were able to get the linisii to their passing runs, and even in th< first half the Toast collaring was of

only a viqy moderate nature, \gh and again' the halves were badly missei in Miening out play, hut even tn m im visiting hacks did mil gel there, <• u<■ l lie Mijicr-kickiig of lb* \ dleTs m ining il|< tile score iu lee lost L.'d. P

ves on!\ half way through the ,s-i ■•■! ball' that the visiting forwards wei.-k; broke down the opponents and l •“> 1 I lie ri'ii over was ( oiii| h'led. ■ lea - till'' was the very fine place k’ekopof lie Villiers. who look all the kicks. Of the Const hacks. Steele on l' 1 " defensive did a lot of work well. 1" attack lie liardlv had a show .-ii d \ The handling of the backs and then kicking was tin* direct opposite of t-lmi opponents and none shone to advantage, though now and then they pot in good individual] flashes. The forwards though overweighted had a lug task, and they worked hard. In loose rushes they did well till they us'd tie boot too hard and then their opponent turned the tables \ i T-l>

Towards lialf-wav throi !i l ie half, flic forwards g:e way ler t ! ’ heavy strain and the visitors Ir-’.l mat tors much as they liked.

The play for some t ime :n '' hr I '!' half was only modi' in. The game licued but then 1 was a lot of slow play at times. Probably bad tbe winners been harder pressed the game would have been much brighter. With weak opposition the visiting backs were abb 1 to give a clean exhibition. As before stated their handling, passing and kicking was of a high order, bet wtoi looking back over -the many opportunities they had in the first spell one wonders that having the. hall on so many

occasions why they were not able to cari'y out the passing movements so beautifully opened by the halves, to a I scoring finality.

SATURDAY’S GAME

THE AVEST COAST TEAM

The following will represent the West Coast in their match against Rol-

ler on Saturday at Victoria Park : G. Osbourne, J. Steel, J. Russell, T. O’Callaghan, G. Nelson, P. ltyan, A Walton, T. Mclntosh, H. Bowman, V. Rutherford, N. Mouatt, C. Hall, \ . Dawson, E. King, B. Ilagar.

Emergencies r Backs : Powley ; forwards: McEnaney.

SPRINGBOKS’ EIXTURES

DATES ALTERED

[bv TEIiEG It APEC—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION’!

WELLINGTON, Juy 27

The New Zealand Rugby Union has altered the date of the last test matcch in Wellington from September 3rd to Septebmer 17th. The South Africans do not leave New Zealand till September 19th, and are unlikely to stay in Sydney on their wav hack.

This may involve an alteration in the Nelson-Mnrlborough match to September 3rd.

The match against the Maoris mill he played in Wellington.