SPRINGBOKS SUPERIOR

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 222, 19 August 1937, Page 4

SPRINGBOKS SUPERIOR

COMBINED TEAM BEATEN 22—0. GROUND SUITS TOURISTS. , Per Press Association. BLENHEIM, Aug.‘lß. 1 -If the touring South Africans have 1 not had the ground and weather conditions exactly to their liking in the six previous matches, Blenheim provided ample compensation with brilliant sunshine and a hard, fiery ground on which they defeated by 22 points to nil a combination representing the three unions of Marlborough, Nelson and Golden Bay-Motueka. The Springboks scored six tries, two of which were converted. Fielding seven Test players, plus Du Toit and Lawton, who were making their first appearance in New Zealand after being on the injured list, the tourists revealed a somewhat disap pointing form, and had the Combined team been blessed with a little more luck and ability in goal-kicking, the margin of points would not have been what it was. The Springboks were de cidedly the superior side, but all the same they were not entitled on their play to. win by the points they did. They disclosed elementary faults in passing and handling that stultified many of their open attacks. They had a feast of the hall, their big forwards dominating the set scrums and line-outs. They showed a substantial weight advantage by winning 20 scrums to seven. Taking an even number in each spell in the line-outs, they started with long throw-ins to Du Toit, who played largely a roving one, but this nas not persevered with, and for three-quarters of the play they followed their usual tactics of ' feeding the half back or taking the \ ball through. In the loose the touring forwards were well shaded, where the j extra 6peed and mobility of the Combined vanguard kept the opposition 1 bustled. . SLOW TO SETTLE DOWN. <

The Springboks did not really settle down until tne game was more than half over, by which time the handicap of a stone a man under which the Combined pack laboured had taken its toll. In the surprisingly sound resistance ottered by the Combined team the feature was their excellent tackling, which, according to 6ome Springboks, equalled the best defence they have encountered. The forwards particularly distinguished themselves in this reypect, and as far as the backs were concerned it was not until the last 20 minutes that the Springboks were able to find a passage down the centre along which to pave the way for the tries they ran up toward tne end.

A good indication of the game to half-time was the score, B—o8 —0 in favour of the Springboks. In this period the Combined team faced a strong sun and thrilled the crowd of 4000, which is satisfactory for a mid-week fixture, by relentlessly harrying the opposition in loose charges. When the Springboks got down to real business well on in the second spell, however, there was rto doubt about Hie result and who was the better side. The last 20 minutes was devoted to slashing open attacks that brooked no opposition. In this period the South Africans redeemed themselves in the eyes of the crowd. There were no changes in the teams. Lotz and Du Toit were the pick of the Springbok forwards, with Watt and Nel close seconds. Craven was outstanding in the backs, his celebrated dive pass delighting the crowd immensely. He was probably the best back on the ground. Lawton established a reputation as a wing-threeqnar-ter who was very' hard to stop, and Bester had a particularly good day and well deserved his two tries. Turner disappointed, allowing himself to be bustled, and on the day he was far front safe.

a solid Display. In the home side, the captain, McLean, led tlie pack in a solid display, with McDonald, Craig and M. Woolley also well in the picture. Reid at full-back got through a heavy afternoon with distinction, his fielding, tackling and kicking being beyond reproach. Mellish, half-back, and Kotua, first five -eighth, two ex-Maori All Blacks, figured in much enterprising play. There was a lack of constructive football in play generally of the home side, and this was ascribed by the home captain, McLean, to a quite unnecessary feeling or inferiority.

Combined tore into the tourists from the start, and for 10 minutes the Springboks hardly passed halfway. They then swept the field, but a series of back attacks consistently broke down through forward passes. Mellish opened up tbe play for Combined.* who attacked to the corner, and with 20 minutes gone the Springboks were glad to get relief with a penalty. The Springboks twice missed opening their account, Turner failing with a penalty attempt, and Lotz being stopped right on the line.

Bad handling and over-keenness were spoiling the play, but after 25 minutes had gone dll Toit started a passing bout, the ball going from Watt to Bester, who threw himself over. Turner’s kick failed. The Combined forwards and backs swept upheld in a likely movement which was smothered well inside the Springbok twenty-five, where Kotua missed a great chance to equalise from a penalty. A few minutes before the spell ended the Springboks stormed the Combined line, and the ball flashed through the backs for Lyster to trot over. Turner converted. . McLEAN MISSES KICK. The Springboks were affected by the

light of a declining sun in the second half, when Mellish and Kotua figured in initiating a series of attacks which kept the Springboks penned in their twenty-five for a full 10 minutes. 'McLean narrowly missed a penalty goal. The Springboks celebrated their escape when Bester stab-kicked to make a breach in the defence. Lyster knocked on near the corner, but from a scrum Craven shot for the line to score handily. Turner failed.

Combined had hard luck when, after driving the Springboks back into their twenty-five, Kotua kicked a poster from a penalty. Good solo runs by Craven and Mellish maintained interest, and the game was even. Brinsden now had a chance to goal, but failed, and with half the spell gone Bester scored from a brilliant exhibition of swift chain passing. Watt missed. From then on there was only one team in it, and Craven ran from a scrum near the line to put Van de Vyver over for an unconverted try. Combined retaliated solidly, and snappy back play saw Lunn actually cross, only to be recalled for an earlier infringement. Close on time Lawton, with a 30-yard run, topped off the most brilliant movement of the match, commencing on the Springbok twenty-five and culminating in a try between the posts. Turner converted, for the final score to read 22—0.

Mr A. Gordon (Manawatu) was the referee. ' , NEL DISAPPOINTED. Interviewed alter the match, Nel, the Springbok captain, confessed considerable displeasure at the team’s performance, particularly the failure of good movements to materialise in tries He admitted, however, that they could ’ be expected to play only as well as the opposition would let them, and in that respect they had not been given an altogether free hand. Comment from another responsible Springbok quarter was that the team would need to apply itself to the eradication of the faults disclosed before encountering harder matches further south.

McLean said he was delighted -with the game played by the Combined side, especially his forwards, who, he considered, gave tlie Springboks all they wanted until the extra weight told on their ’ condition. He was also highly pleased with the way the referee kept up with the Springboks’ dashing back play.