SPORTS AND SPORTSMEN

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20260, 31 July 1937, Page 22 (Supplement)

SPORTS AND SPORTSMEN

By “Spectator.

IMPRESSIONS OF SPRINGBOKS. Their First Two Games '} Two Sets of Backs Seen in District Combined Team s Great Display : Forwards Play Magnificently Crossman Enhances His Prospects ] WynyarcTs Encouraging Form j Cricket in England.

PHILIP UHL AND his TEAM of sportsmen fo&ve played their only two names in this district until the third and vital Test in Auckland on Saturday, September 25, and beoause we, who have had the opportunity of seeing them twice will also have that opportunity again In September we will follow their tour with the greatest interest. We have also been able to gauge to some extent, the capabilities of the mighty Springboks and this will only add to the Interest in the results of their additional matches. Then again several Waikato and King Country men have excellent chanoes of making a Test team this season and this will add zest to the tour. However, although the enthusiasts in this area have had the opportunity of seeing the visitors twice they have not been able to get an absolutely reliable guide as to their capabilities owing to the conditions prevailing in both matohes

In Auckland the ground was heavy but nowhere near as slippery or muddy as in Hamilton and the fast baok team have no.t yet been able to produce their best form. Practically two complete sets of backs were seen out in the two matches and on the whole the baokline seen in Auckland was much more impressive than title one fielded in Hamilton. ie loi*\\ards vvere practically the same In both games and the visitors have had bad luck In this connection owing to injuries. They have not been able to rest their forwards and it must be realised that the players seen badly need a rest *

The outstanding Impression over the two matches is that the Springboks have many really outstanding players and that they will settle down Into a very formidable team with great epeed and penetrative ability in the hacks and heavy, mobile, hard-work-ing forwards. The team has not yet struok a ground to suit them with 'all their players flt and when they do many will have to revise their views of their strength. In Auckland there was no doubt that they were the better team and although they did not win by a very substantial margin, especially when it Is remembered that they were given two tries, their forward's did not work there harder than they needed to. They were tired of playing and they let the backs do all the work. In Hamilton they would have been uulucky to lose as they had the territorial advantage by a slight margin, but all the same they were lucky to win with a free' kick and a try that could have been averted.

Brand, the fullback, played a much better game In Hamilton than he did In Auckland and he saved the day for his side. A feature of his play was the confidence the other members of the team had In him, as when the ball went near him they hardly bothered to baok him up. The best of the three-quarters seen in aotion was undoubtedly Babrow who, with Harris, the' fly half, was the star of the Auckland match. Williams and Bester, the two wingers at Eden Park, were better than the two seen here, but those fielded here we’re at a very great disadvantage owing to the conditions under whloh they had to play. Harris, the inside baok at Auckland, was very impressive, but was on the light side and van de Vyver on Wednesday showe'd distinct promise in this posi-

tlon. Craven was far more Impress! than de Vllliers at scrum half, but course de Vllliers could not ha' struck a harder Job. He was too smi and light and was hampered by tl fast-breaking Combined forwards. I would have to be' seen under bett

conditions before Craven was preferred to him for the Test. The Springbok’s forwards wero perhaps the greatest disappointment of all. Prior to their arrival they were pictured as the huge steamroller tvps and classed as well nigh invincible, bur Auckland held them, and the Combined team’s forwards overshadowed them. They were all fast and had far better feet control than the home forwards, but other than this they were not above the ordinary. They did play as forwards should play and New Zealand will have to get hack to her palmy forward days to have a chance wheii this team develops a little more combination. On both days Strachan, whr scored the winning try in Hamilton was the pick of them, with Berg and Nel outstanding in the line-outs and rucks. Lotz was an excellent hooker when he received the weight (which he did not in Auckland), but taken all round the forwards are good—-as an international side should be—-but they are not unbeatable. The Combined team was expected to give the Springboks a hard tussle for the honours and not the' most optimistic supporter can he anything but delighted with their showing. The Combined team, despite suffering the disadvantage of being drawn from a territory that extends over 100 mile's, played like champions and must be counted unlucky In not dravsing with their formidable opponents. They were three points up for most of the game and the Springboks only managed to draw when they were awarded

a free kick for offside play by Combined near their own goal. Then Springboks secured a try that might have been averted, hut the Combined team came again and Phillips looked to touch down in the' closing stages, but a force was given. All eyes were on Crewman, the captain of the Combined team, who stands a great chance of All Black selection and he enhanced his chances, making; no mistakes. He' opened up his team’s only try by a brilliant break down midfield and besides that defended magnificently all day. He was very smartly on to the Springboks’ backs when they hooked Hie ball and altogether was very impressive. Phillips, on the wing, gave a much better exhibition than Dick did in Auckland, and should have a better chance than the Aucklander for selection. Everest, at. centre, was very sound, his defence especially being good, and he only missed one tackle. He fully Justi-

fled his Inclusion on a day that did ) not suit his speed or style of ploy. Dixon, on the other wing, was ve'ry J eager and the other members from <

King Country, Robinson and Cameron, were also soundness personified. On the day it Is doubtful whether Russell would have done as well as Robinson behind the scrum.

Too much praise cannot be lavished on the Combined forwards, who played magnificently throughout. It is most awkward to single any out, but the principal honours must go to Trusttum and “Wynyard. Trusttum fully lived up to his reputation and If he had a little more weight would be a ceTtatnty for the Test. Wynyard came right back to form and the fact that the Springboks, usually so dominant in the line-outs, elected to have scrums Instead was a tribute to his work In this department. With another hard game or two he will be one of the' best forwards in the Dominion. Best was a very willing worker and it was he that carried on the movement initiated by Grossman, that, led to Trusttum scoring. Margan, from King Country, was another outstanding, forward, though a bit apt to get offside. However, the entire pack worked splendidly and it is doubtful whether the Springboks will have a harder game on the tour. Tt was a great pltv that the day was not. fine, but then a different story may have been told. The Springboks certainly like the dry, hard grounds and fast as the Combined was, it would have been difficult for them to withhold the better combination of the visitors. Then again the Springboks received the majority of the ball and the home side would have been chasing them all day. However, it was a grand game' played in a grand spirit and the team deserves every congratulation for their fine showing. The bulJbark Childs did very well considering this was the first time he had ever played in this position, as conditions were against him as well as lack of experenee. The selectors.*!<v» should be congratulated on the tine team they picked for. the match.

New Zealand Cricketers, It vas a great disappointment to supporters to hear that tile New Zealand cricketers could not press borre

I their advantage In the second Test | when they seemed to have every chance of victory, if not an honourable draw. The howlers did exceptionally well on a wicket that helped them and : although England won she cannot be i *o° satisfied with her second innincs. ; The New Zealand batsmen again foiled : at a critical moment and once the' dropping of Whitelaw from the team as a reliable opening batsman ' was lamented. Vivian played a much better innings than in the first Test, but Donnelly, who had been shaping so well, could not get started, although next day he made' a brilliant, j 144 against .just as good bowling. It j was the lack of experience in a tight situation that was against the team. iYlore Like Boxing Match. When asked why the Springboks did not score in the second half of the second Test against Australia at Sydney, a member of the touring Springbok team stated that in the first half football was played and his team were vastly superior, scoring some fine tries, in the second half, however, the Springboks had to defend themselves and could not play football al all. The' game at this stage developed into a boxing match instead of a football match.

Hamilton Harrier Overseas. News has been received In Hamilton of the success In the London atli- j letlo world of Mr K. Slmcock, who ! last year was deputy-captain of the Hamilton Harrier Club, and who sailed for England some 12 months ago. ! “ Mick” is in the employ of Messrp. j Jones and Higgins, a departmental I store of such proportions as to con- j duct a large staff sports meeting of j its own each year. Elected secretary j of this organisation’s sports committee, be' not only annexed their mile title.

but also led his team to victory jn the Inter-departmental relay. It 1* J very pleasing to note that Mick, who I figured prominently In the sports world ! of Hamilton for so many years, is i keeping alive his active interest In the : world of running.—“ Stamina/’

Very High Standard. “ I can say without hesitation that the Combined team, on the way they Played to-day, would have easily accounted for the best Test side' in Australia,” commented one of the Springboks, who spoke to an enthusiast after the match. He asked whether the forwards had played “a game out ! of the' box,” but when told that the Waikato and King, Country fo wards always played like that he expressed concern and stated that the standard of play was very high indeed. “We were certainly shown how to play wet weather Rugby to-day," he added, in commenting on the ground he stated that it was not as bad as in Sydney, when they lost to New South Wales, but, was worse than any ground th* v had ever seen in South Africa.

A Great Shock. The opinion that the Combined team gave the Springboks a great shock is endorsed by the' Springboks themselves. many of whom stated that they were afraid for some time that they would have beaten. One of the mem hers of Hie team stated that it was the penalty goal that they secured. Placing them level, that \vas the turning, point of the match. A few ! minutes prior to that the ’Boks were 1 a beaten team, hut this gave' them fresh hope and they came again to puli the match out of the fire. The Springboks who were not playins- were on tenterhooks throughout and they slated Hint tho'y were surprised al the high standard of play considering the , ' ground.

Fine Sportsmen. One of 1 lie greatest impression grained of the touring Springboks during their stay in Hamilton was their line sense of sportsnianship and they ' appealed as the finest overseas team Ibat has ever \(sited Him !t• *n. The j appeal of the captain. Mr P. J. Xcl. at tire dinner in Hamilton, for the teams i to observe the true spirit of Rugby and play hard, but clean football, was warmly applauded b\ the members .if both teams. Mr Net stated that his team would rather lose than indulge' in unfair tactics and he and hi? men were very sincere in their remarks. A particularly pleasing feature of the dinner was the tribute paid to the Combined team by all the Springboks oil tlie clean game played that d.iv^g Auckland, where some of the best forwards for Auckland ruined their play by paying too much attention to their lists and feet, and not enough attention to football.