A NARROW WIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 August 1921, Page 5

A NARROW WIN.

SPRINGBOKS v. MANAWATU. MARGIN OF THREE POINTS. HARD FORWARD GAME. By Tslegraph.—Press Association Palmerston N., Last Night. Fifteen thousand people witnessed the match between the Springboks and Man-awatu-Horo-whenua combined to-day. The weather was beautiful and the ground in splendid playing order. It was generally anticipated that the Springboks would have an easy victory, and the result of the game—Springboks 3, Combined nil—came as a great surprise. The looal team played a remarkably good game and the issue was in doubt until the final whistle. The teams were:—

Springboks.—Full-back: De Villiers; three-quarters: Zeller, Strauss, Sendin Henry Morkel; halves: J. P. Michau, De Koch; forwards: Pienaar, Du Plessis, Ellis, Royal Morkel, Van Rooyen, Moatert, Olivier, Seholtz. Combined Full-back: Marshall; three-quarters: Glendinning, Swainson, Leeder; five-eighths: Ford, McDonald; half: Maire; forwards: Jacobs, Carroll,. Dustin, Galpin, Bevan, Moynihan. Broughton, Harkness. The Springbokfi opened the game with a back rush, which was quickly smothered. Strenuous tight forward work followed for a long time. The Combined forwards, except for weight, were a mc.tch for the opposing pack and their tackling was deadly, so that seldom did the Springbok forwards gain the mastery. Play was confined to the front divisions in neutral territory for the greater part of the game, but the visitors gained much by superior line-kick-ifig. Tho Springbok backs were associated in very few passing rushes, but those were brilliant flashes. The combined backs were better on the defensive, but nevertheless they threw tho ball about with few mistakes. Throughout the game there were many exciting incidents, not so much the result of passing as of forward battles on the respective lines. The Springboks’ only try was scored by Zeller from a beautiful passing rush started by J. P. Michau. The combined team was frequently penalised for off-side play, but all De Villiers’ kicks at goal failed. The combined team was unlucky not to score from a great concerted rush by the forwards, an infringement under the p<*s?a spoiling a chance. The game was very even throughout. The combined team’s forwards completely smothered almost all attempts to get the Springboks’ backs into action and kept the ball at toe as much as possible While it w«<s not a spectacular game it was fast and the hardest yet seen here. The Springboks say the Mana wn tnUorowhenua team compares more than favorably with any other provincial teame met.