FINAL TEST

Taranaki Daily News, 19 September 1921, Page 5

FINAL TEST

NEITHER SIDE SCORES HARO FORWARD GAME TUSSLE IN THE MUD

The meeting of New Zealand and South Africa in the final test at Wellington on Saturday ended in a draw, neither side scoring. The contest involved supremacy in the Rugby world. New Zealand wrested the world honors from the Englishmen in 1904-5, and since then they have survived all challengers. The result of Saturday’s mateh leaves the title of world champions here, for, of the three tests played, New Z ealand and South Africa have each been victorious once, and the final test has been drawn.

“It was really more like water polo than Rugby,” telegraphs the Daily News’ special reporter in -describing Saturday’s match. The weather was wretched—heavy rain during the match and the ground under water—-aad over 30,000 spectators watched a trial of strength between the opposing forwards, good football being out of the question.

Saturday’s game marked the close of the tour of the South Afriand the completion of another chapter in the history of Rugby. The South Africans have won 15 matches, drawn 2, and lost 2, scoring in all 244 points against 81—truly a great record.

THE TEAMS.

NEW ZEALAND. Full Back. st. lb Kingston (Taranaki) 11 7 Three-quarters. Steel (West Coast) 13 6 M. Nicholls (Wellington) 11 6 Siddells (Wellington) «>.«, 13 9 Five-eighths. Fea (Otago) 11 6 Ifwerson (Auckland) 11 9 Half. Roberts (Wellington) v. H 4 (Captain). Wing-forward. Bellis (Wanganui) 14 2 Forwards. Fogarty (Taranaki) 13 3 Dunean (Otago) 13 0 Moffitt (Wellington) ....... 14 10 Richardson (Otago) 14 8 McLean (Bay of Plenty) 13 9 West (Taranaki) . 13 2 Fletcher (Auckland) ....... 13 8

SOUTH AFRICA. Full Back. st. lb 1 G. P. Morkel (West. Prov) 12 10 Three-quarters. W. C. Zeller (Natal) 12 0 8. 8. Strauss (Griqua. West) ... 12 10 C. Du Meyer (West. Prov.) 12 7 A. Van Heerden (Transvaal) ... 13 3 Halves. J. P. Michau (West. Prov.) ...« 12 2 J. S. de Kock (West Prov.) .... 10 2 Forwards. W.H. (Boy) Morkel (West Prov) 14 0 (Captain) A. P. Walker (Natal) 13 8 M. Ellis (Transvaal) 15 10 N. J. Mostert (West. Prov.) .... 13 12 J. W. Van. Rooyen (Transvaal) 15 10 H. N. Du Plessis (Transvaal) ... 13 13 Royal Morkel (West. Prov.) ... 17 2 F. W. Mellish (West. Prov.) .... 13 12

STRUGGLE IN THE MUD.

CONTEST BETWEEN FORWARDS. NO BACK PLAY. “MORE LIKE WATER POLO.” (By Wire.—Special Reporter.) Wellington, Sept. 17. The match for the blue ribbon of Rugby football attracted large numbers from all parte of New Zealand, Taranaki being Well represented. The total attendance is estimated at over 30,000. The weather was wretched. Light rain fell in the morning without wind, but after noon a southerly set in and just as the teams entered the field, heralded by a bagpipes band, rain fell in torrents. The night and morning’s light rain did not affect the field a, great deal, but heavy showers soon converted the ground into a “lake.”

Football in such circumstances was out of the question juid the game resolved itself into a trial of strength between the opposing forwards. The New Zealanders were 12 lbs lighter all round in this department than the visitors and the backs could do little or nothing. Only two or three times during the whole game did the backs attempt passing bouts and they relied upon their feet almost entirely to pick up the ball. This was by no' means easy and after a few attempts most of the backs, with the exception of the full-backs, who had, more time to pick up the ball, speculated with more or less success. It was really more like water polo ' than Rugby. ALL BLACKS NEARLY OVER. The New Zealanders fought every inch of the way and there was no let-up. The South Africans were supposed to be a fine weather team, but to-day they showed themselves to be equally at home in the water. Their forwards gave a fine exhibition of hard and sustained close play and it was considered the best pack representing their side in the tour, but the New Zealanders held them despite their weight and Speed.

From the kick-off the New Zealand forwards forced matters and kept the South Africans defending for fifteen minutes, during which they nearly got over. They kicked at tiffies just a little too hard, enabling Gerald Morkel to kick into touch repeatedly, which he did unerringly. His was a fine display of fullback play under the worst possible conditions, and but for him the South Africans could not have sustained the seige as successfully as they did.

For the remainder of the. first half the visitors had the advantage of the play. Once or twice they were dangerous and forces on the part of New Zealand were frequent. The visitors essayed two kicks at goal, but the ball was sodden and successful place-kicking was out of the question. Towards the finish of the first spell the New Zealanders initiated a movement which nearly ended in Bellis touching down, but he was just beaten by a South African, Just before the half time bell rang Nicholls, by smartly taking the ball near the goalposts and finding touch, saved his side from a serious situation.

Would the X<3W Zealanders laatq

through the second half? That was the question in moat minds. They did; they lasted better in fact than their opponents, though the going was tremendously heavy. They had an absolute advantage in this period and got close to scoring at least twice. It was very hard, however, to finish any piece of play, indeed to propel the ball at all in the water, which, with successive heavy showers, resembled a small pond. A player would kick with all his might and the ball would go about two or three feet. Tho New Zealand backs twice got out the ball and started passing, but the leather was very slippery and nothing effective could be done. > NEAR THING. If the ball did get back it generally found its way to Gerald Morkel, who invariably found the line, bringing play back to its originating point. Once Bellis got tho ball from a line-out near the Springbok line and he dashed over, but the ball slipped from his arms. It was a very near thing and in dry weather would have been a certain score. The .South Africans showed superiority, as they did at first, in the scrums, often pushing the lighter men off their fe.d, but at close and loose work they were no match for the New Zealand forwards Roberta pluckily got down to rushes, as also did Fea. Kingston gave a very fine, display, taking and kicking with sound judgment. He had not as much to do as Gerald Morkel. Bellis played a great game as usual, and he and Van Rooyen were easily the most prominent forwards on the ground. All the New Zealand forwards played a splendid game, Fogarty and West particularly, and with any luck might have scored thrice. There was, on the day’s play, little or no difference in the merits of the two teams and the result accurately represents the merits of the play. It was not football—just a trial of strength between two well matched sets of athletes. How the game would have resulted had the day been fine it is hard to say, but the New Zealanders showed that they pc£3essed great form and that they had remedied by a new arrangement a detect in the centre backs revealed in previous test games. The South Africans, sam afterwards, expressed themselves as quite satisfied with the result. They were disappointed, of course, with the weather, but they recognised that the New Zealanders were an unbeatable team on the day’s play. The spectators had a very unpleasant experience. Those not under cover got wet tl. rough and many visitors had to return by train and motor in wet clothes.

FEATURES OF THE PLAY. THE SPECTACULAR ABSENT FAST AND WILLING TUSSLE. “DRAW A FITTING RESULT.” By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Sept. 17. It would, only be a matter for conjecture what the crowd would have been

(Continued on page 6) ,

at Athletic Park to-day on the occasion of the final test between New Zealand and South Africa had the weather been fine. Rain commenced to fall yesterday afternoon and continued without intermission throughout the night and the day broke with the elements still unfavorable. During the forenoon drizzling showers prevailed and by the time the match was scheduled to start it seemed to have set in for a steady downpour, and so it proved. It was a bad day for football and a bad day for spectators, but nevertheless enthusiasts rolled up in their thousands and at the time of starting probably 25,000 people were present. As a spectacle the g.wne was disappointing, purely owing to the state of the ground. Dry on top the. rain had not had a chance to soak in -and consequently it was a question of mud-holes and pools of water. It was unfortunate that it should be so in view of the importance of the occasion, but to the credit of both teams, be it said, they rose to the occasion and provided an exhibition of football which perhaps exceeded the expectations of the onlookers. It was a great struggle, mostly confined t-o the forwards and perhaps a draw was a fitting result. SPRINGBOKS START WELL. In the first spell the Springboks had a good deal the better of tlie play and consistently attacked the All Blacks’ line. Their handling of the KaTI amongst the backs was superior to that of their opponents, but in so far as the packs were concerned honors were easy. In the second spell, however, the advantage was more with the All Blacks; indeed, towards the end of the' game they overran their opponents and except for an occasional burst by the wearers of the green the All Blacks looked much like , scoring the few points which would have been required for a win. The game was essentially a mud slog between the forwards; anything in the nature of concerted play was naturally lacking and it was with the backs mostly a question of “speculators,” and surprisingly effective at times they proved. Play throughout was fast and willing, j but '‘with one or two exceptions not j rough. The ball travelled up and down field at a great rate, although at times baffling either side by a sudden stop in a miniature lake. After such a sudden steppage the forwards usually got to work with such vim that indicated, given fine weather, it would have been a most spectacular game. Time and again, more especially in the second spell, did the New Zealanders break through the South African back defence, only to reach Gerhard Morke’ at fullback, who played a remarkable game. Indeed, it may be said that it was he who robbed the All Blacks of victory. Cool in all circumstances he fielded and kicked with remarkable acchracy and his line finding was a treat to witness. Zeller, in the Springbok three-quarter line, was frequently of much assistance in aiding his compatriot in the defence of their citadel. VISITORS NOT AT SEA.

Of tire game itself much cannot be said. It did not lend itself to description. It was supposed that the All Blacks, favored by the weather conditions, would have romped in, but the Springboks dispelled the idea that on a thoroughly wet ground they would be at sea. They were not. As has been pointed out their handling of the ball in the first spell was a good deal more accurate than that of the All Blacks, but. attempts at passing runs were always nullified by the greasy state of the ball. The Springboks had the better of the first spell, although in the first few moments New Zealand attacked so strongly as to raise the hopes of their supporters, who naturally were many. “Two great teams of forwards” was the comment of an old All Black, and just about sizes up the situation as it was a battle of giants in this respect.

As mentioned Gerhard Morkel was wonderful at full back for the visitors, and his display has seldom, if ever, been equalled since the days of “Billy” Wallace. Zeller and Meyer were the pick of the Springboks’ three-quarter line, and Strauss put in a lot of useful work in the back division alongside De Kock, who did not get many opportunities to shine. Michau, at half, was clever and his screw kicking was at times of much value to his side. Of the African forwards “Boy” Morkel and Van Rooyen were always prominent, but perhaps they were fortunate they were not pulled up more often than they were for breaches of the offside rule. Mr. Neilsen was especially lenient in this respect. Mellish amongst the forwards put in a*, lot of solid graft and was unfortunate in receiving a bad knock late in the game in endeavoring to tackle Siddells. Ellis was the most noticeable amongst the other forwards, each of whom played as if (as it did) everything depended on his efforts.

THE BEST ALL BLACKS. Of the New Zealand team Kingston saved his side on many occasions. His fielding left little to be desired, and while his line kicking perhaps suffered in comparison to that of his vis-a-vis his game was soynd. Steel and Siddells shareu the honors in the threequarter line. Each showed ability in defence and attack and thoroughly justified their inclusion. Mark Nicholls, tried, may be, as an experiment in the centre, was not often in the picture. Ifwerson and Fea at five-eighths and Roberts at half got through a tremendous amount of work. The two former perhaps shone more .individually than in concerted work, but Roberts, while feeding his backs well when the rare opportunity offered, did heroic work behind the pack. It is an accepted .saying in Wellington, and a true one, that where the ball is there Roberts will be. The saying was exemplified to-day. Bellis, Fletcher, West and McLean were the best of a hard-working set of forwards. Trained to the hour, they did credit to their mentor, “Dorrie” Leslie, and they lasted the game out to the end in a manner which clearly showed, after the experience in Auckland, the advantage of scientific training. The referee (Mr. Nielsen) lias given many better displays, but in his favor it must be said that it was a difficult game to handle. indeed, ho strenuous was it and so holding the mud that on one occasion he got so intermingled with the players that he was temporarily incapacitated. Mr. Neilsen’s interpretation of the advantage rule was liberal and at times his decisions did not, altogether meet with the approval of the spectators. PLAY MERITS A DRAW. Outstanding incidents in the game ware few. In the very early stages the

All Blacks looked like scoring and the Springboks were forced twice in rapid succession, but until the spell the Springboks practically dominated the play. At the very first of the second half, so vigorously did the greens attack, that it looked much like as if they must open their account, but stubborn defence kept them at bay and towards the close so dominant were the All Black forwards that it seemed as if it were only a matter of time for them to ecore. Taken

“by and large,” as the sailor says, a draw just about represented the respective merits of the teams on the day, so the “ashes” and incidentally the Rugby championship of the world remains with New Zealand, but there are not wanting those who would have preferred to see what they described a “real teat” under different weather conditions. TOUR COMPLETED. RESULTS AT A GLANCE. MATCHES AND SCORES. The following is a complete list of the matches played by the Springboks during their tour of New Zealand, together with the scores for and against in each contest: — Wanganui, at Wanganui, July 13. Won by 11 pointe to 6 points. Taranaki, at New Plymouth, July 16. —Draw; no score. Wairarapa, at Masterton, July 20. Won by 18 to 3. Wellington, at Wellington, July 23. —Won by 8 to 3. West Coast, at Greymouth, July 27. —Won by 33 to 3. Canterbury, at Christchurch, July 30. —Lost by 4 to 6.

South Canterbury, at Timaru, August 3.—Won by 34 to 3. Southland, at Invercargill, August 6. —Won by 12 to nil. Otago, at Dunedin, August 10.—Won by 11 to 3. New Zealand, at Dunedin, August 13. —Lost by 5 to 13.

Manawatu-Horowhenua, at Palmerston North, August 17.—Won by 3 to nil. Auckland, at Auckland, August 20. — Won by 24 to 8. Bay of Plenty, at Rotorua, August 24. —Won by 17 to !). New Zealand, at Auckland, August 27. —Won by 9 to 5. Waikato, at Hamilton, August 31. Won by 6 to nil. Hawke’s Bay and Poverty Bay, at Napier, September 3. —Won by 14 to 8. Maori representatives, at Napier, September 7.—Won by 9 to 8. Nelson, Marlborough and Golden Bay, at Nelson, September 10.—Won by 26 to 3. New Zealand, at Wellington, September 17. —A draw; no score.

Summary—Matches played, 19; won, 15; drawn, 2; lost, 2; points for, 244; points against, 81.