THE SPRINGBOKS.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 July 1921, Page 3

THE SPRINGBOKS.

SCORE THEIR FIRST WIN, DEFEAT WANGANUI BY IV TO A SPLENDID GAME/ (By Wire—Own Reporter.) Wanganui, Last Night. The Springboks opened Lheir first match of the New Zealand tour hero to-day in the presence of 10,000 people, defeating Wanganui by 11 points to 6. The ground was soft but in good order. The game was fast and interesting, the local team pitting up a great fight against much, heavier forwards, whose bollocking tactics nonplussed them for a start. The visiting forwards and backs handled the ball well, keeping the game open and always on the move, but infringed very frequently. They were very difficult to bring down. The basks handled tte bail cleanly and kicked well, but the centre men did not run straight, crowding the wings, who are fast aud dangerous. The forwards handle the ball wall, but are apt to get off-side. The visitors had the better of the first half; against the wind, but in the second half Wanganui had the advantage, tte visitors appearing to tire. Had the local players tackled in the early stages as well as in the later they might have won, though it must be admitted that the visitors were not at their beat form, having travelled from Auckland last night, and also lost De Koch early in the game. They will, however, have to show improved form if they aro to defeat New Zealand. The forwards dominated the scrums, and the Wanganui backs seldom got tho ball. The South African team was as follows: — Full-back, De Villiers; three-quarters, Van Heerden, Weepener, Strauss, Zeller; halves, Michau, J. S. De Koch; forwards, Kicnaar (captain), Kruger, Van Rooyen, Du Plessis, xt. Morkell, Sholtz, Olivier,. W. H. Morkell. The Wanganui team was as follows Fullback, A. R. Collier; three-quarters, R. Scott, K.' Svenaon, A. Brown; flve-oightts, Jackson, F. Baddeley; half-back, J. Tilyard (captain); wing forward, E. A. Bellis; forwards, hookers, J. O’Connell, Sinclair; W. Batley, J. Dillon, B. Tuke, C. Murphy, W. Ross.

The local team won the toss and played with the wind behind them. Right from the kick off it could be seen that the visitors adopted unorthodox methods. W. Morkell . kicked towards the side line, and the for- ; wards bunched behind and charged with groat dash, with Van Rooyen and R. Morkell in the van. They were checked, however, by the tull-baek. Then from a scruin Do itoch started a movement, the leather travelling via Weepener and Strauss to Van Heorden, who scored brilliantly. De Villiers just failed to goal within two minutes of the start. South Africa .................... 3 Wanganui 0 Wanganui kept the play in inld-field. Bellis and O’Connall were prominent, but Weepener, with a long kick, drove them back. Tte visitors worked hard, backs and forwards throwing the ball about, but frequent infringements gave Wanganui relief. R. Morkell, Du Plessis, Kruger and Slioltz were prominent in bullocking forward rushes, whilst the backs also passed, well. The tackling of Wanganui was rather weak. Jackson and Brown were prominent in a Wanganui movement. Van Heerden secured and sent the leather ever to Zelier, who dodged, but Collier rescued and lined in the corner. Wanganui still pressed, but Kruger gathered the bail, and, when collared, ixrssed to Weepener, who lined. The visitors’ backs again got moving, Weepener and Zeller passing and r«passlng, but Dillon intercepted. The Wanganui pack, headed by Bellis, set up a rush, and off-side play gave Collier a shot which went wide. Michau, Strauss and Zeller were prominent in a spectacular move that Collier checked. Horo De Koch injured his leg and retired, Kienaar taking his position. The visitors’ backs again essayed a passing rush, Van Heerden being grassed by Scott when dangerous. The visitors kept Wanganui busy with backs and forwards passing, but Wanganui kept them out, having a narrow escape when Michau worked on the blind side but slipped. Tilyard and Collier were prominent on tho defensive, the latter lining well, while Bellis, O’Connell and Sinclair also led the pack. De Villiers, however, was not found wanting. Then great work by Van Rooyen, Kruger, and Kienaor saw play near tho Wanganui line, where R. Morkell picked up and passed to Kruger, who "dummied” the opposition and scored just as he was collared. De Villiers goaled. South Africa 8 Wanganui P Good work by Bellis carried the play past half-way, hut the visitors brought It back, and in a fine movement Zeller was pushed out at the corner. Kruger again scooped up tho leather and sent it on to the backs, who had the better of the game till half-time.

Wanganui made a fine start, but De VVliers. lining well, kept them back, and the visitors passed until Tilyard Intercepted, but dropped the ball. Michau set tis team ,’oIng, but an infringement gave relief, and Wanganui’s hopes rose high as Batley headed a rush. Kruger and Van Heerden were prominent on the defence. The locals w°ra now tackling well. Then Scott secured but had l-.ard luck, putting his foot out of touch. Here Bellis was temporarily injured. The Springboks now swarmed round the goal. Van Sholtz being prominent. From a mark at half-way De Villiers just failed to goal, the ball being forced. The visitors kept passing, Van Heerden being taken by Brown and Svenson. Later Tilyard had another shot, which went under the bar. Drown, Tilyard and Baddeley participated in a passing rush which ended in the latter being collared. From a scrum the visitors were penalised, and Jackson landed a nice gcai amidst great cheers. South Africa 8 Wanganui 3 The visitors now appeared to be tiring. Bellis, Hike and Ross headed a great rush, but tl.e latter kicked too hard, a force resulting. Wanganui kept up the pressure. From a scrum Tilyard cut round on the blind side and was collared, but O’Connell rushed the ball over the line, beat Van Heerden, and Feared. Scott, from a difficult angle, just failed to gcal. South Africa 8 Wanganui 6 The excitement was now intense. Wanganui pressed, but the visitors cleared and sec up a hot attack, but the tackling was deadly. Strauss and Zeller indulged in a fine dash, the latter esaying to pot. Then from off-side play De Villiers landed a beautiful goal. South Africa 11 Wanganui ‘ 6 Wanganui attacked, but Svenson failed to pick up. Sholtz, De Villiers and Strauss were prominent In an attacking bout, but Collier Intercepted. Tilyard next tried to cut in, being collared. The visitors worked their way back, and Zeller made a characteristic dask, but was well taken by Tilyard, the game ending soon after. Mr. ‘A. G. Neilson (Wellington) was referee. If Taranaki tackle hard and low, making sure of bringing down their man and have the condition to last till tho finish, they should have a good chance of holding ineir owon with the Africans on Saturday. TO PLAY THE TARANAKI REPS. The following players have boon selected to play the Taranaki team on the Recreation

Grounds ut 3 p.«n. to-day:—Dunford, Hart, G. Hooker, B. Boon, R. Oliver, B. Roberts, Sole (Old Boys), H. Oliver, R. McLean, P. Allen, Sims, Bridger, QulcJrfall. P. Atkinson, T. fieona. J. Whittle, Friar, T. D. J.

SOUTH AUCKLAND BEAT MANAWATU, (t# ‘tfeleersiih.— Fresi Association. Palmerston N., Last Night. At Rugby football South Auckland defeated Mnuawatu by 6 points to nil. THE RUGBY LEAGUE. PLACING BALL IN SOBW. AN AUSTRALIAN DECISION,By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—CopyrlSbt. Received July 13, 9.30 p.m. Sydney, July 12. The Rugby League has decided tliat tho referees shall put the bail in the scrum from tho J6th. It is hoped thereby that three of the present breaches will thus be eliminated, namely, the half-back not going behind bls pack, not fairly placing the ball in the puck, and feinting putting tho Pali Ln the pack.— Aus. N.Z. Cable Assn. THE SPRINGBOKS AT SYDNEY. **MARK VAN HEERDEN I’* . An old Patea boy who is at present in Sydney and witnessed the match between the Springboks and New South Wales, has /the following reference to it la a letter just received. Ho says: 'T saw the game on Saturday between the Springboks and New South Wales. The latter played a great game, and were finally defeated by 25 points to 10. Van, Heerden is a great player, and reminded me of Hughie Good, Taranaki's greatest threequarter of by.egone days. He is big, strong and fleet, and a sprinting, powerful runner. It takes two men to bring him down as a rule unless he is securely taken. In scoring some of his tries (he scored four out of the six scored by his side when I saw him) ho jumped clean over three of the backs. This is a dangerous and risky thing to do, and it won't do In New Zealand, I am thinking. He holds the world’s record for hurdles, by tte way. . In my opinion. New Zealand will beat the visitors. The forwards are a big, heavy lot, but the New Zealanders, I think, will tire them out, and in the second spell score a sufficient number of points to win. The backs are good aud nippy, but with Hau Heerden well marked the New Zealand backs will be pretty nearly as good—perhaps better—but A don’t think there is a man in New Zealand who can catch Van Heerden once to gets going. New Zealand’s motto will be, "Mark Van Heorden,” and you can trust them, to see that hs does not get going.