FOOTBALL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2316, 16 August 1921, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

THE FIRST TEST MATCH,

WON BY ALL BLACKS,

The meetin<? in the first Test match of South Africa and New Zealand, two of the leading Rugby football nations of the world, has been eagerly looked forward to for weeks past by enthusiasts in all parts of the Dominion, and when the All Blacks and the All Greens filed on to the ground at Dunedin on Sat urday it was virtually to contest the football supremacy of the world.

The crowd was treated to a splendid game, which was fast and open throughout, and very closely contested, with the exception of the last quarter of an hour, when the All Blacks’ ascendancy became more marked. The weather, which had been broken and showery on Thursday and Friday, cleared overhead on Saturday, and by the time the match commenced the conditions were beautifully fine, and there was almost an entire absence of wind. The ground was a trifle dead, but was in surprisingly good order. The crowd was one of the largest cv<jr seen at a football match in Dunedin, numbering, on an estimate, close on 25,000 persons.

The Springboks commanded a distinct advantage in the matter of weight, their forwards averaging 14st. llh., compared with 13st. Sib. and their backs 12st. 41b., compared with list. 81b. The teams were as follows:—

Springboks. Full-back, G. P. Morkel; three-quarters, Van Hecrden, Clarkson, Meyer and Henry Morkel; half-hacks, J. P. Michau and Toknsend; forwards, Boy Morkel, (captain), Kruger, Walker, Mellish, Harry Morkel, Mostert, Scholtz and J. Michau.

New Zealand. —Full-back, Kingston; three-quarters, J. Steel, G. G. Aitkcn (captain), and P. Storey; five-eighths, C. Badelev and M. Nicholls: half hack, 11. E. Nicholls; forwards, W. Duncan, E. Hughes, J. Richardson, -1. Moft'ilt, E. Beilis, R. Fogarly, A. White and J. G. Donald.

From a senun near the New Zealand line the Green forwards worked the ball within twelve or fifteen yards of the line, and Michau, obtaining a pass from Townsend, tried to break through in front of the goal, but was well collared. A moment Inter a Green forward broke a way on the blind side, and passed to Van Heerden, who put in a ■-Irung run, and though tackled, fell over the line and scored a good try. G. P. Morkel kicked a fine goal from a difficult angle, and the spell ended with the score: Springboks 5, New Zealand 0.

The All Blacks opened the second -pell with the sun at their backs, and three kicks ended in New Zealand forcing down, as a result of an ill-judged kick by G e rald Morkel. Badelcy kicked high, and the hall went over the Greens’ line, where the bounce beat Gerald Morkel, and a couple of other Green backs, and Beilis, by fast following up, scored amidst a scene of the greatest enthusiasm, which was redoubled when Mark Nicholls kicked a goal. Springboks 5, New Zealand 5.

The next incident of the game was sensational. Steel look the hall high from a cross kick just inside the Blacks’ ground, and after throwing oft' one man set out for the line like a flash. He entirely outpaced Meyer, and Gerald Morkel could not get across in time, enabling Steel to race round behind the posts and score one of the most brilliant tries ever seen at Cai’isbrook. Mark Nicholls converted, and the Blacks led: New Zealand 10, Springboks 5,

Nicholls sent out a pass to Badeley, who cut in, but was collared. A moment later the ball came out on the other side, and Aitken passed out to Storey, who went over at the corner. Mark Nicholls kicked, missing the goal. New Zealand 13, Springboks 5.

Tho Greens made one final effort, but the game, which had proved asterling contest between the All Blacks and their worthy foemen, ended: shortly afterwards without further score. Mr E. McKenzie, of the Wairarapa, acted as referee. The receipts for the match total led £2,700. The attendance is estimated at 24,000. The takings for the Otago match on Wednesday were £1,500.

The visitors express dissatisfaction with the referee’s ruling which gave New Zealand their first try. They claim that the ball was forced, but the referee was satisfied that Beilis was the first to ion eh down.

teams for second test, and AGAINST N.S. WALES.

The New Zealand second Test players are the same as for the first, except that West (Taranaki) replaces White (Southland). The fifteen will be picked from the following seventeen who are to train: —Kingston, Steel, Aitken, Storey, Badeley, M. and 11. E. Nicholls, E. Roberts, Duncan, Hughes, Moffit, Richardson, West, M’Lenn, Beilis, Fogarty, and Donald. Against New South Wales. —Full-

back, Evans (Canterbury); three--quarters, Ford (Canterbury), Sven|kvn (Wanganui), Ward (Otago); Algar (Wellington), (Auckland); half, Mullins (Canterbury); forwards, Cabot (Otago), W. Cummins- (Canter bury), Fletcher (North Auckland), Whyte (Southland), Peterson (Canterbury), Brownlee (Hawke’s Bay), Carroll (Manawatu), Sid Shearer (Wellington).

Palmerston on Saturday, defeating them by 58 to 6.

MANAWATU-HOROWHENUA TEAM TO PLAY SPRINGBOKS.

, The following team has been selected to represent Manawatu and Horowhenua combined against the Springboks, at Palmerston to-mor-row: —Full-back, Marshall; threequarters, Glendinning, Swain Son, Leeder; five-eighths, Ford and McDonald; half, Maire; forwards, Jacob (wing, captain), Carroll, Bevan (hookers), Harkness (lock), Dustin, Moynihan (supports), Broughton, Galpin (back rankers). Emergencies: (Backs) Eglinton, Reid, (forwards) Dalziell, Mullins.

New South Wales played their first match against Waikato, at Hamilton, on Saturday, and won by 28 to 11.

Wellington reps, signally defeated Canterbury (the only provincial team so far to lower the colours of the Springboks) at Wellington on Saturday, by 20 to 11. The game was witnessed by 8,000 people.

TO-MORROW’S BIG MATCH,

To-morrow, at the Palmerston Showgrounds, the Springboks are to play the Manawatu-Horowhenua combined team. Those who witnessed the latter’s game against Wellington B on Saturday were surprised at the remarkable performance put up by them. The Springboks will not have such an easy victory as has been anticipated, for the combined pack is a hard proposition. The backs, on Saturday, acting on instructions from the coach, threw the ball about, and did it well. The combined backs have been selected more especially for their defensive qualities. Unfortunately the selectors had little opportunity to estimate the true defensive power of the team on Saturday. because it was on the attack for almost all the play. The match, which is to be preceded by a curta-in-raiser (Western United v. Feilding), will commence at 2.30. A civic reception is to be tendered the Springboks a I Ihe Opera House at 5 p.m. 10-day.