WELLINGTON ROUTED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 213, 9 August 1937, Page 5

WELLINGTON ROUTED

SPRINGBOKS WIN 29—0. BALL FOLLOWED UNTIRINGLY. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON. Aug. 8. On a hard, dry ground with a stiff southerly wind, the .Springboks had no trouble in disposing of Wellington by 29 points to nil at Athletic Park on Saturday. The visitors easily outclassed the local team in every department and from the first few minutes of play the only question undecided was how big the score should be.

A crowd of 30 000 watched the game and the Springboks gave a wonderful exhibition of Rugby and the mechanical perfection of their play delighted the spectators, but threw into relief the deficiencies of the provincial team. Their pack was' remarkable for the dogged way it followed up the ball untiringly. The forwards were constantly on the ball and Wellington was quite unable to hold them. The halfback, de Villiers, and the fly-half, Van der Vyver. smothered all the Wellington attempts to send the backs away, and the hack line played a brilliant game, combining lioadwork and footwork. Brand, the full-back, retired towards the close because of a strained tendon, but the injdry is not regarded as serious.

FIRST SCORE IN 5 MINUTES. In the first half of the game the Springboks, who .started the • scoring within five minutes of the kick-off, ran up a score of 16 points and Wellington only twice looked like scoring. The ■first time was when Griffiths made a promising opening, but a supporting for ward knocked on. The second time was after the interval when Ongley kicked through, but Brand beat him to the ball. For a long period after half-time Wellington offered determined resistance, but in the last ten minutes of play the Springboks advanced the score a further 13 points. The Springbok forwards were much too heavy for the Wellington pack which several times collapsed when the front row was unable to sustain the weight of the. hefty South Africans. Lambourne, the Wellington hooker, in the first half managed to acquit himself well, on many occasions beating Lotz, but in the later phases he was not so successful.

O’Hallornn and Griffiths were the stars of the Wellington team. Veitcli shone at intervals early in the game, but he was handling uiisurely and he weakened noticeably in the second half. Butler and Wells were playing a hard game in the forwards throughout, but Vartan, the full-back, was disappointing. TROUBLED BY THE WIND. “My team was troubled by the wind. They have seldom experienced one of such force and it made kicking definitely difficult,” said the Sprinkbok captain of the day, Brand, after the game. He added: They appreciated the firm, dry ground, the best they had so far played on. He was well satisfied with the performance, but believed there was room for improvement. “A great game,” said the Wellington captain, Griffiths. “The Springboks have a wonderful side. The forwards are superb, especial'-" in following and hacking ‘up. The backs were clever in the use of reverse passing.” There was one alteration in the Springbok team. Martin replaced Louw in the front row of the scrum.

Wellington won the toss and elected to play down wind. When the teams marched on to the field there, was tremendous 'acclamation from the crowd. Lord Galway shook hands with all players. The referee was Mr L. E. Maeass-ey, of Otago. DETAILS OF THE PLAY.

t Within a minute of the kick-off, Veitcli broke away, evaded a tackle and kicked. Griffiths, following up, earned play well into the Springbok territory. Lambourne, in the first set serum, out-hooked Lotz, but the movement was smothered by the quick break up of the scrum. Van Reenan then ea.ine through the ruck with, the ball and won to near the Wellington line, when he handed to Watt, who was following up hard, and the latter touched down for a try. Brand’s kick hit an upright and bounced the wrong way.

Wellington now launched a vigorous movement when, atter a fine run by Fleming, the ball went out to Wright ou the wing. He passed back to Griffiths and, cutting out Brand, Griffiths dashed for the line. Three men came to challenge him, and with five yards to go he passed to a supporting forward, who knocked on. Wellington never again had such a chance. Griffiths, kicking well, repeatedly regained lost ground for Wellington with long line-kicks, but the South African forwards forced them back into their own country. From a loose scrum the ball came out to White, who ran past the Wellington forwards and, when challenged by Fleming, kicked. Vartan failed to clear and only quick work by Hansen saved another score. Brand essayed a penalty at long range into the wind, but missed. The South African forwards were keeping hard oil the ball and again and again smothered Wellington efforts to bring the back line into action. CLEVER REVERSAL.

From a serum in their own twentyfive, the Springboks heeled and de Villiers made one of his clever reversals of play and sent Turner away. Turner sprinted downfield, beat Hansen and turned inwards to dodge Vartan and, having gained 40 yards, passed out to White. Holmoyer and Williams, the .latter completing a brilliant and

spectacular movement by running across to score. Brand’s kick was in keeping and the score was eight to nil. Jennings, leading the African pack, took play into the Wellington territory again. The big forwards suddenly attacked with a savage rush, handling the ball in short, snappy passes. Lotz gave to Bergh and Borgh to Van Keenan, who touched down. Brand’s kick from near the line curved just inside the post. Several interesting kicks followed. Fleming, from a penalty five yards inside the half-way, took a long shot at goal, but as he made his run the ball toppled over. Then, from loose play, Van der Vyver tried to pot, but the ball struck the post and bounced the wrong way.

SPECULATIVE KICK. Williams then fielded a speculative kick out of a scrum and crushed across at the corner lor a try. Brand’s kick fell short and at halt-time tile South Africans led 16-nil. A long period of scrappy play followed and Wellington made desperate efforts to fight off the African attack. From a melee well outside the twenty-five, Brand made a beautiful drop-kick, hut missed narrowly. He then fielded the drop-out and tried again with an equal lack of success. Wellington then made a fine break when Lambourne hooked to O’Halloran, who sent the ball to Veitcli on the blind side. The latter gained 25 yards with a successful sprint. Van der Vyver dropped a forward’s pass from a lineout and Ongley kicked on, but Brand beat him in a thrilling race ior the line. With ten minutes to go, Van der Vyver passed to Lota, who m turn sent, on to White. Griffiths collared White, but could not bring him down. He passed to Hofmeycr, who went over a yard from the posts. Turner converted, making the score 21 —0. Brand now retired injured and Turner shifted to full-back and Watt took the wing. When Wellington were penalised 4o yards out in midfield, Turner kicked a spectacular goal, making it 24-nil. With three minutes to go, Vartan fielded a kick from Jennings, but passed forward to Fleming. There was a scrum at the twenty-five and the Springboks hooked the ball, which flew out to White, who promptly reversed the play by returning to Williams, who darted across near the posts. Turner easily converted.

WEST COAST TEAM. TO MEET THE SPRINGBOKS. Per Press Association. GREYMOUTH, Aug. 8. The combined Buller-West Coast Rugby team to meet the Springboks on August 25 at Greymouth is:—G. Gilbert (Coast), J. Hill (Buller), A. Strachan (Buller), R. Roberts (Coast), W. Mann (Coast), B, Stewart (Buller), M. Davidson (Coast), J. Lake (Buller), G. Orman (Buller), R. Kirkwood (Coast), G. Mason (Buller), G. Wilson (Buller), R. King (Coast). M. Scandrett (Coast), P. Garden (Coast). Emergencies : R. Pratt (Buller), R. Butterfield (Buller). TO TRAIN AT OTAKI. W. J. PHILLIPS PICKED. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND. Aug. 8. The selection of W. J. Phillips, the King Country wing-three-quarter, as an additional player to train at Otaki in preparation for the first Test a.gainst the Springboks was announced by Mr Nicholson, of Auckland, a member of the selection committee, after consultation with' the other coselectors. Phillips was an outstanding member of the New Zealand Maori team which toured Australia in 1934 captained by Nepia. He has been showing brilliant form in club football this season and was included in the North Island fifteen for the inter-island match in which he showed distinct promise, displaying plenty of pace and fine determination.

MORRISON INJURED. NOT ABLE TO TIIALN FOR TEST. Per Press Association. TIMARU. Aug. 8. T. C. Morrison, the South Canterbury wing three-quarter, who was selected to train for the Test match next Saturday, suffered a rib injury while playing ior South Canterbury against Ashburton yesterday and will not be .able to play for three weeks.