FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 17 August 1921, Page 4

FOOTBALL

‘ the FIRST TEST MATCH. NOTES ON’ THE GAME. (“ Lyttelton Times.”) Divested of its interest as a lo»B----vected international eontest, the ■ M »»« «Od»m snodnorfar, >« m first-class standard. i*h m»vit up 1111 si t contention may he' qualified bn ; t,, ™ , mv ~I S, . there is something to b< said I,; the statement by a southern eriOe that tho New Zealand team was on „f the poorest seen on the held 01 the last twenty years. Slow forwards and fumbling backs. There tm_nll t; different in the world between then* that heat Britain at Cambrook in • _ „ nd t h o side that beat the South Afn- - >«• °r"‘T: compel of ml lOV-..0M. Bub Saturday's fifteen n> »>« ' L aonddnaUan of aaytind and almas, devoid of individual brilliance, thh Springboks bad the upper hand during the greater portion of tht gamer but they lacked something when it came to the final dash for the line. Their play between the twenty-fives was nippy, dashing and resourceful. Over tlie last few yards something seemed to stop them. Very often it was the slow, lob pass that allowed the defenders to „ot hack in position and left the man in possession hemmed in. New. Zealand had three scoring opportunities and each time they secured the necessary try. Even then fortune favoured them. Only the referee could say definitely that Ilcllis actually scored t his try. There are many people who have no doubt that at least one South African touched down before Beilis did. Steel scored his try virtually on his own, but it was a particularly dashing effort, the reward of sound play all through. Storey went over when his half-hack fund worked the blind side effectively lor the first time, with the transfers going correctly and the defence “drawn” in scientific fashion. FOLLOWING UP POOH.

The fa nits of the New Zealand team lay primarily in tho absence of last following up forwards and in the weakness of the inside hacks. 11. 15. Nicliolls behind the scrum, was off his game nearly all the time. Often the hall shot clean through his legs. His passing was not accurate, and his tackling bad little sting. Mark Nicliolls, second live-eighths, was in worse case, tlis form had no resemblance to that of a leading senior grade player, and he failed to ipal<o a decent opening. How the selectors could prefer either to E. Roberts is a question that must he beyond answer. The first five-eighth, Bndeloy. could not rise to the heights of his display in the North v. South Island match. When he did cut in, be went too far and finished blindly, and when lie tockeld it wa,s usually a half-hearted attempt. Aitken. centre three-quarter and captain of the New Zealand,team, saved at least two certain tries by the ether side, hut ho was far from being an ideal man for lu s important position. lie got out of his place, sent misdirected passes, and crowded his wings. Storey lot bis defence go to pieces at times in the second spell, giving van f{cordon almost a clear path now and again. The explanation probably 1 io s in t he fact that lie received a heavy knock on the shoulder early in tho game, and had difficulty in raising his right arm. AVitli allowance made for this injury. Storey fully made up for odd mistakes liv scoring a. bard try at the corner in the closing minutes of the game. Kingston, as full-back, was overwhelmed by G. P. Morkel. All the same, his work wa s next thing to being without serious flaw. He held his end up without being spectacular, and fie countered forward rushes with good judgment. The outstanding hack on the New Zealand side was Stool, of the "West roast. Tlis style is aptly summed np by the remark of one old player, who said after the game, “ A rough diamond, hut a wonder.” Saturday saw Steel at his best, dangerous on attack and unpassable on defence. Tn linekicking alone be was one of the two best men on the field, and his tackling with one exception was below tho knees. The occasion when ho overhauled and threw blenrv Morkef was conclusive evidence of hi s speed, without that afforded by tin' run which brought the winning try. MORE GRIT THAN RACE. The New Zealand forwards had more grit than pace and dribbling ability. They did fail conspicuously at chasing th(> high kick, and they were not powerful enough to break away in bunches. Where they did show up was in battling against heavier forwards in the line-out and in holding a steady, compact scrum after the first ten- minutes. Donald, the All Black winger, started s bakily, but was eventually the host forward on the field. His spoiling work was excellent, and it was not marred by off-side play or obstruction. Next to him Beilis was most, consistent in the loose, with the added virtue that he gave hi s backs liberal assistance on defence, taking all the heavy stuff with zest. Afoffitt flock) and Richardson boro the brunt, of the tight work and were going hard nil through, interrupting combined shoves from the line-ont by the opposing pack and holding the serum together with dogged strength. The hooking honours were evenly divided, hut, speaking generally, the New Zealand pack would he strengthened hv the inclusion of younger and faster forwards. More “ ginger ” is absolutely necessary if success in the next tests is to he assured. SPRINGBOKS’ HARD LUCK. The Springboks had the worst of the the luck. The majority of the open-ing-up movements came from thenside and they narrowly missed going over on several occasions. * At times, a hold, straight-ahead runner would have helped them immensely. AU round, the South Africans played brighter and more resourceful football than they had played during the earlier part of the South Island tour, taking all kinds of risks in order to break through their opponents. Of the visiting hacks, G. P. Morkel ffull-back) was at the top of his form. Often his line-kicking was wonderful for length and accuracy, and his clean rush-stopping won frequent cheers. His only mistake seemed to b"e in slowing down while Meyer chased

Stool, though he was in a good enough position to bring off a tackle. . Townsend wa s another “ star.” Behind the scrum ho worked pluckily all • through a hard game, varying his 1 methods and never hanging on. The other half, Miehau. was not as con- , sistent hut he brought off some clever j moves, occasionally ‘“handing the dummy ” with effect. Of the three-quarters, Clarkson was undoubtedly the pick. He gave van Heerden and Hen 17 Morkel many golden opportunities and backed up perfectly, always watching and attempting to anticipate the defence. Van Heerden did not impress anyone a? 1 icing a great Rugby player. Ho is simply a fast runner, ungainly when trying to get the hall, but the possessor of a delightful side-step. Storey found him an awkward man to stop. Henry Morkel had many admirable points and he had to he closely watched, though a persistent tendency to make for the touch-line instead of the goal-line helped the other side. Kruger was the leader of ihe Springboks’ pack in the loose sorties. He vns ably supported by W. H. Morkel, Mollisli and Walker, but all the others 1 opt going hard and vigorously. Tn fact, it was the best lot of forwards the South Africans have yet put in tho field in New Zealand. At one time it looked as if ihey had the All Black pack beaten, but tho last toil minutes told.

SOME VIEWS ON THE GAME. Mr \Y. ,1. Stead, coach of the All Blacks:—“Wo won, as wo expected. Our team played a wonderful game, considering Hull they were carrying four partially-injured men. Hughes, Storey, .Moffitt and Beilis received nasty knocks in the first spell. Storey could not lift his right arm in the second spell. Personally, I think the South African hacks were badly placed. I would have had Miehau scrum - half. He is nippier in getting the hall away than Townsend, though Townsend is much pluckier and stands up to the rough stuff. Morkel, the full-back, gave the best exhibition for South Africa. The Springboks made their supreme effort in the. first spell. The rest was ours. Steel was New Zealand’s best hack.”

(•, Aitken, captain of the All Blacks: “The game demonstrated the superiority of tin- 2-3-2 scrum formation. Donald was able to get round and spoil their passing movements, it was a good game and a clean game. I was pleased with our team.’ W. 11. (“Boy”) Morkel. who captained the Springboks:—“As far as tlie play went it was a lovely clean game, played in lhe sportsmanlike spirit that the game should he played in. The try scored by Steel wa» a tine opportunist try. We admire a man for scoring a try ot that kind. J think that there was not much difference between the sides, and that the scores do not represent the run of the game. If the field had been better it- would have soiled 11s more as far as movement was concerned in every respect. After flip first try we thought we were on a good wicket. Nevertheless we are not down hearted and we live to light again. We hoj)e to give New Zealand the best we possibly can in t lit* tests to conic.”

■ lames Duncan, coach of the 191 In All Blacks: “The Now Zealand backs wore \otiug and needed an older head to steady them up. Roberts would he an imjii ovemeiit behind the scrum. Although Steel secured the medal for the lie.-.t hack on the ground, I consider that Townsend should have got the honour. lie took the gruelling Donald gave him. dealt it bark, came again, and saved his side time after time. Moikel’s exhibitou at lull-hack was a line performance, though he generally had plenty of tme in which to gather up and kick the hall. Kruger is the best forward on the South African side.”

Beilis, the line Wanganui forward, severely sprained his ankle when playing against the South Africans on Saturday, and went through the greater part of the game in that condition. I'hough he himself is hopeful, it is not too likely that he will have entirely recovered for the second test. McLean (Bay of Plenty - ), whom many competent critics regard as the finest forward in the Dominion, is making a slow recovery with the injured knee which kept him out of List Saturday's game. If it mends in time for the second test, lie will be a distinct acquisition to the New Zealand pack. Storey, the All Blacks’ left wing three-quarter, received a very severe hump on tin* shoulder’on Saturday, and was consequently handicapped for the remainder of the game, which made his try all the more meritorious. He is, however, rapidly regaining tho use of 1 he arm.

N.S. WATiHS TEAM EASY WTN AGAINST WATKATO. HAMILTON, August 13. For the New South Wales v. Waikato match the weather was fine but dull, and there was a large attendance. The visitors won the toss, and quickly went to the attack. Mingay marked smartly and taking the kick placed the ball over. The home side then carried play into the visitors’ territory, but. the latter were soon back, their forwards playing well. Mata, the home fiveeigliths was injured at this stage, sue! was replaced hv Buckingham. A penalty to the visitors shortly after was taken by Mingay who goaled nicely. The home team then carried play down the field, and Teach, from a penalty, kinked a goal. Tn the closing stages of the spell the visitors attacked hotly, Wallace getting over, but he failed to ground the hall. Tn the second quarter Waikato attacked for a. time, and tested the visitors’ defence. From a pretty passing rush Buckingham scored and Peach converted. The second quarter elospd with Waikato having the best of the game and the scores reading:—Waikato 8; New South Wales On resuming. New South Wales altacked and Loudon goaled. Lane, one of the visitors, retired hurt, and was replaced hy Carr. A penalty gave Mingay a shot and he added a good goal. From a passing rush Carr scored. Loudon failed with the kick. The Australians had the best of the quarter which ended with the visitors in, AVc kato 8. In the final quarter Carr scored shortly after resumption, and after a, spell of fast play Davis got over. Minga] converted. Just before th e fin-

ish Wogan scored and Mirigay goaled. From loose play Harty scored a try, and the whistle went with the scores: New South Wales 28; Waikato 11. The visitors had the best of the game throughout, particularly the backs. The home team held their own in lineout play, but in all other departments the visitors were superior. CANTERBURY V. WELLINGTON. NOTES ON THE PLAY. WELLINGTON, Aug. 13 Tl - issue of the match was never in doubt from the start, and the score, 27 to 11, is a fair measure of the superiority of the Wellington foam. Playing against the handicap of a strong wind. Wellington scored two tries, and it was evident that with the wind in their favour in the second spell they would iintcjialiy increase their lead. At first, for a considerable time, and again towards the end of the match. Ihe Canterbury forwards showed a decided superiority over the Wellington i.u wards, more especially in the loos; rushes, but they failed to stop flip straight runs of the Wellington hacks owing to the weakness of their tackling. For the rest it was mainlya ease of the brilliance of the Wellington hacks against a very poor display behind the scrum on the part of the visitors. While the Wellington men fielded the hall well, passed cleanly, and showed a line turn of speed, the Canterbury -,-ks fumbled and passed wildly, often to the void. Wellington’s first try was obtained by a brilliant passing rush, and their second was indirectly the result ot 1 1 ■ fumbling of the ball by the Canterbury hacks, which gave the Wellington men an opportunity which, ;Ister a welljudged coni ring kick from the left wing, they were not slow to avnjJ themselves of. During this sjxdl the visitors had several shots at goal from tree kicks, hut though the wind was in their favour the place kicking was feeble in the exit erne. The second s|>cll laid been started only a minute or two when Wellington. a splendid passing rush Imm near the centre, carried the hall light up the held and scored t licit second try. From this a goal wus kicked. Almost immediately renewed fumbling by me visitors' hacks enabled Wellington to seote again by another ol their brilliant dashing runs. With the score sixteen to nothing, and the wind against them, the Canterbury team were now laced with a hopeless task. Wellington was scarcely to |,e denied, and a further score was only prevented by the plucky tackling ol the Canterbury full-back, who stopped a brilliant rush right on the line. The pressure was momentarily relieved, hut with a second attempt Wellington once more came within an ace ot scoring. Thee tried ;> third time successfully, and the score read 10—0. Yet another attack was stopped almost on the goal line. The scene soon shilled to the Wellington twenty-live, and Canterbury scored after a loose forward rush—l9 — 3. The Canterbury team now began to plav up, and for some time attacked vigorously. There was asi 111111 in front of the Wellington goal, but had CaitterImrv passing released the pressure. ('outinning the attack, Canterbury scored another try, and kicked it goal, making 1 1 to score 19—8. Two more tries to 'Wellington, from one of which .: resulted, and one try to Canterbury, after some give-and-take pla.v, brought the match to an end, with most people .mulcting how Canterbury had 'managed to heat the South Alricans. it was mainly owing to the superiority of the Wellington hacks that so big a score was piled up against the visitors. Roberts was not playing, but he was really not missed. The combination was all that could he desired. The ball was invariably surely lielded. ami the passing and straight running were at times brilliant. The attendance was, of course, nothing so large as at the South African match here, but it was satisfactory. The scoring board was eagerly scanned for the scores of the test match in Dunedin, and the crowd became depressed when the South Africans were shown to he leading by five points at half-time. The score of five all revived the drooping spirits, and when fiiialU, at 1.30 p.in.. the final result—New Zealand 13, South Africa A—was posted, the delight of the crowd knew no hounds. The local battle was for the moment forgotten, and cheer after c’ eer arose from the thousands surrounding the arena. ' 9 SOUTH AFRICAN TOUR. August 17 Manawatu. August 20 Auckland. August. 2*l Rotorua. August 29 Second test (Auckland). August 31 Itawkc s Bay. September 3 Final test (Wellington). September fj—Nelson.