SPRINGBOKS WIN 19-5

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20254, 24 July 1937, Page 8

SPRINGBOKS WIN 19-5

TRIUMPHANT NEW ZEALAND DEBUT

AUCKLAND BEATEN IN BRILLIANT RUGBY

AUSPICIOUS PRELUDE TO DOMINION TOUR

HUGE CROWD WITNESSES GREAT DISPLAY

The prelude to the 1037 Springbok Rugby tour of New Zealand, the game between South Africa and Auckland, at Eden Park to-day, augured for the keenest series of battles among Rugby giants for more than a decade, when, after a match which was fought with great keenness, the visitors defeated Auckland by 19 points to 5. Enthusiasts were rewarded by a brilliant game, in which the tourists impressed as a clever combination. The team proved a smart set, formidable in all departments. The Auckland team, too, played well and in the closing stages rose to brilliant heights to treat the crowd to great football. In the face of the open tactics of the Springboks, the team rose to the occasion in great style.

A 1 GREAT COMBINATION.

BABROW’S BRILLIANT FORM. EXCITING CLOSING STAGES. All roads in the Auckland province loti to Eden Park to-day for the Springboks’ first match of their Dominion tour, and long before even the curtain-raisers commenced the, ground was filled to capacity. Special trains from all parts of the province brought full complements of passengers, while the main highways were congested with traffic, and an even greater crowd than that which packed the ground for tiie test In Auckland against the 1930 Britishers was present when the game commenced. Enthusiasts had commenced to arrive at the park from 3. o’clock this morning and when the match started it was estimated that the crowd numbered from 35,000 to 40,000. The weather was fine with a light breeze prevailing. The ground while slightly heavy, was in good order considering the recent rains experienced. At half-time the score was s—o in the Springbok’s favour. The teams were as follows: — Auckland. Bush, . Dick. Prentice, Byerley, Killeen, D. Solomon, Frankham, Anderson, Lockington, Hull, Lange, F. Solmon, Pearce, Hadley, Pepper, o Springboks. Martin, Lotz, Louw, Bastard, Nel, Bergh, Strachan, Jennings, Graven, Harris, Bester, Babrow, White, Williams, Brand, There was a deafening roar from one of the biggest crowds seen at Eden Park when the Springboks, led by P. J. Nel, made their appearance through the gate entering the field from the dressing shed. The Auckland team received an equally warm reception. Auckland won the toss and defended the Dominion Road end, Babrow kicking off for the visitors. Auckland soon forced play to the African half, Harris being caught in possession after having received from Craven. In the subsequent melee Graven again handled but a free kick to the visitors brought relief. Brand took the kick inside the Auckland half, but the attempt fell short. Killeen found the line near halfway. The Springboks’ pack brought the ball through and play was again centred in Auckland territory. From a subsequent scrum South Africa heeled cleanly but while they kept up the attack the Auckland pack was holding its own. Then the Auckland forwards, breaking through, caught Craven napping. There was wild enthusiasm when Dick broke through to go down the line, but the ball went out of bounds and South Africa retaliate.il from the subsequent throw-in, Nel taking it on from Graven to throw it out to Strachan, who failed to take it cleanly. With a speculator Lange cleared.

Auckland Lose Pearce. Brand cleared with a magnificent robbed play temporarily of tile spectacular. Loose play centred at halfway, both packs working strenuously tor the upper hand, the heavy African eight pushing Auckland off the ball and proving superior up to this stage in gaining possession. Frankham was off-side when he came around 100 fast and Craven, drop kicking the free kick awarded, sent the ball down tn Prentice, who cleared. Auckland hooked the ball to Frankham. who flashed it to Solomon, but the movement was short-lived and the forwards again crowded on the hall. At this stage Pearce had to leave the field. South Africa fielded the ball. Craven sending out to Harris and White. Then Rabrow and Hester handled, the lastnamed being pulled down and the Auckland forwards carried the ball

down to well inside African territory. Brand figured in a spectacular dash shortly after, being pulled by Byerley within ten yards of the Auckland line. D. Solomon found the line on the visitors’ twenty-five yard mark and from the scrum South Africa hooked, Craven knocking on as he attempted to whip 04. it the ball. Solomon was caught in possession and the African pack took the ball to Auckland’s twenty-five, where Frankham whipped the ball out to Killeen, but Prentice, who handled subsequently, was pulled down in possession and from a scrum in Auckland's 25, Africa heeled but failed to push home the advantage. Play shifted to the visitors’ 25, but Nel cleared and Craven dummying the opposition made ground to within half way. Harris was injured shortly afterwards but was able to resume after receiving attention. Auckland hooked and Frankham handled to send to Solomon who took the ball to halfway. Hadley broke through with the ball at his toe, but play was still anchored on the half-way mark. Auckland won the next scrum and now appeared to be holding their own more. Babrow was floored In possession and Dick essayed a move on the wing; but failed to get far and a counter-attack launched by South Africa also proved abortive. First Blood to Africa. The first score came when, in the Auckland 25, Harris gained possession to sling a long pass to Babrow who caught the opposition out of position to go over for an easy try between the posts. Brand converted without difficulty. South Africa 5 Auckland 0 South Africa attacked again on resumption, the big visiting pack carrying play into Auckland territory. Hadley hooked the ball and Frankham attempted to clear, but Bastard came through to kick the ball out of his hands. Babrow snapped it up, to pass to Williams. The latter was grassed within striking distance of the Auckland line. The Auckland vanguard was making Herculean efforts in the face of a gruelling attack and relief came when after the Auckland baclvline had handled the touchline was found near half-way. Hadley Hooking Well. The South Africans’-attacking combination loomed up, but D. Solomon stopped the rush and Killeen, securing sent the ball up the field again. Harris, White and Williams featured in a subsequent move, but deadly tackling on the part of the Auckland defence held the attack at bay. Hadley was working like a Trojan in the pack and it was bis fine hooking that was mainly responsible for Auckland receiving as much of the ball as it was. Lockington broke through to send the Auckland pack in full cry, but Craven was there again to spoil a likely movement. Byerley then took a hand and dashing down the line was pushed out by Brand near the line. There were scenes of great enthusiasm as Auckland made strenuous endeavours to nullify Africa's advantage. Off-side play by the visitors gave Auckland a free kick near half-way, the ball going out five yards inside Africa's twenty-five. Graven’s kicking transferred play to half-way and Hadley, booking from a subsequent scrum, sent Dick down the line and although supported by Solomon he was unable to pentrate further than a few yards. The Auckland defence was still holding well and the visitors were finding it difficult to open up the game. Solomon was supported by Byerley in the next movement, but he was forced out by Strachan after covering little territory. The entire African back line then handled and they came through to the Auckland twenty-five before Williams was forced out iO yards inside the Auckland twenty-five. South Africa held (he ball in the scrum and attempted to carry it through but Hadley hooked and Frankham sending to Solomon. relieved the pressure. However, Africa kept up the attack hut an offside movement allowed Auckland to raise the siege. Auckland’s Strong Bid. Auckland then took a hand on attack Killeen throwing out a long pass to i Prentice who kicked over the full back’s head. There was a race foi the ball, but the South African custodian was able to force. Half-time sounded with Ihc sevo unaltered. South Africa 5, Auckland 0. South Africa 5 Auckland o THE SECOND SPELL. Rush kicked off after the spell and LOUW was caught in possession, ihc Kill goluc out In South Africa’s 25 ! Solomon atle.mptert to force his waj through the Auckland pack behind him, hut play was held up when a scrum was ordered in the visitors' 25 A free kick awarded Auckland was taken by Rush in a handy position, and although a tine attempt, it was carried by Ihc breeze to the off side of j the posts. Harris found the line neni j half-way but Auckland came agaii: j and Killeen and Frankham handled ii a determined burst, which was mei I with a vigorous and successful dePretty Work to Score. Another free kick to Auckland foi J obstruction tactics was awarded. Bust

finding the line 10 yards from the African line. From the line-out the African pack handled, but the Auckland forwards broke through and from a scrum Auckland gained possession, but an infringement gave the visitors a free kick. Craven sent the ball out at halfway mark. Harris beat his way past an opposing back, Bester sending out a long pass to Harris who sent on to White. The last-named flashed the ball to Babrow, who handled to Williams, who outpaced the opposition to score in the corner. The kick failed to increase the tally. South Africa 8 Auckland 0 A free kick to Auckland allowed Bush to find the line on the half-way mark. Dick attempted to open up play, but the African forwards quashed the movement and play see-sawed in midfield. The African backs were now opening up the game more and a further attempt to storm the Auckland line saw the entire attacking line in action, Babroxy being forced out In the Auckland 25. Auckland hooked- the ball from their own goal line. Anderson kicking to bring relief. Africa were keeping up the pressure and again and again they sorely tried the home defence. Martin Up to Sooro Brand was given the ball when Africa was awarded a free kick near the home 25, but a left-footed kick at goal failed and Killeen forced, Frankham marked to stop an African rush.

Further points came to South Africa through the good following-up of Martin. Williams kicked high over the goal line and Solomon and Bush, in attempting to gather in the ball, were beaten <by the bounce and Martin fell on it for a try. Brand made sure of the kick. South Africa 13 Auckland 0 Auokland Over. Auckland carried the ball through at their toe to the visitors’ line and Frankham sent, out to Solomon who attempted to dive over. Auckland kept up the pressure and from a scrum two yards outside the visitors’ line the home team hooked the ball, but it was knocked on. The, ball came through to Hull after the scrums and as he was collared he sent out to Frankham who flashed through fast to gather the ball and dive over the line under the posts. The kick was successful. South Africa 13 Auckland 5 From the drop out Williams found the line near half-way. Auckland surged to the attack when the backs were associated in spectacular style. Byerley capping off the movement by dashing down the line to the African 25. The forwards then took a hand for Solomon to handle last, but his pass was intercepted by Jennings who

knocked the 'ball on. Hadlee broUe through but was pulled down by Strachan at half-way and in the scrum Auckland pushed South Africa off the ball. Babrow Scores Again. The ball came to Frankham who transferred to Solomon who found the line. Hadlee, was continuing io get possession from the scrum and he was mainly responsible for the home backs being so generously fed. Africa’s back line surged to the* attack to take play to Auckland's 25, the visitors gaining possession from the scrum, for Babrow to cut the defence to ribbons and go across for the visitors’ fourth try. Brand’s kick failed. South Africa 16 Auckland 5 Solomon cleared with a well-judged kick to half-way, Frankham finding the line again, Then Auckland’s back line operated and a fine movement was broken down only through Prentice knocking on when within striking distance of Africa's base. Play soon seesawed bacl» to home territory anil a long kick by Harris was forced by Bush. Brand essayed a field goal from near half-way, but his attempt failed. Bester’s Easy Try. Williams cut through the defence and Auckland were again in trouble to vards out from the line. Graven threw out a long pass to Williams, who sent to Babrow, who found the line. Dick relieved the pressure by carrying play to half-way, finding the line with a high kick. Babrow flashed into the limelight again when after Graven. Harris, and White had handled, he cuf through the defence to transfer to Bester who went over for an easy try. Brand again failed with the kick. South Africa 19 Auckland 5 Led by Hadley, the Auckland pack

carried play to Africa’s goal-line, but Brand was a safe custodian and he cleared to the twenty five. Not to be denied, the Auckland pack strove strenuously to pierce the defence and Lockington and Pearce in turn attempted to dive over. The defence held, however, but then the home backs came into the picture and there was great excitement as attack after attack was launched, Byerley being forced out of bounds 2 yards from his abjective. The game ended without alteration in the score. South Africa 19 ♦ Auckland 5