TO-DAY’S GAME

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20260, 31 July 1937, Page 8

TO-DAY’S GAME

AFRICANS’ STRONG SIDE. MATCH WITH TARANAKI. NEW PLYMOUTH THRONGED. (By Telegraph.—Special to Times.) NEW PLYMOUTH. Saturday. Having won four, lost five and drawn two of the li games It has played against touring overseas Rugby teams. Taranaki Is always a very hard province to beat and the Springboks are taking no risk to-day. They have fielded one of their strongest teams, having in mind the drawn game the 1921 Springboks played against Taranaki.

This year’s home team, however is not considered to be the equal of the great Taranaki combinations of the past, although it has several .players in the running for the All Blacks. The showing of Sullivan in the centre three-quarter position will be of particular interest. Length of Bpells. The weather was perfect yesterday and with no rain early this morning the prospects are for a fine day with a fast ground. A record attendance is anticipated as hundreds were at the park very early this morning and all seats are booked out. The vpuestlon of the length of the spells has not yet been decided but the Taranaki Rugby Union officials are endeavouring to ensure 40-minute spells. “I am prepared to fall In line with New’ Zealand's wishes for 40-minute spells when members of the team have recovered from injuries,” said Mr Nel, when Interviewed, but he was very firm that he would not agree to 45-minute spells in any match in New Zealand.

STRONG VIBITING BIDE. RECORD NEW PLYMOUTH CROWD The Springboks fielded a particularly strong side, at New Plymouth, to-day, when they met Taranaki, before a record crowd that fully tested the capacity of Rugby Park. The weather was fine but overcast and the playing surface was In good order. Taranaki. The teams were : Fullback.—Collins. Threequarters.—Wetton, Sullivan, Hunter. Five-eighths.—Smith, Brown. Half-back.—Arnold. Forwards.—Murphy, Fowler, Fast* ier, O’Dowda, Clarke, Coull, Richards, McClenaghan. South Africa. Fullback.—Brand. Threequarters. Turner, Bester, Babrow, Williams. Halves. —Harris, Craven (scrum). Forwards.—Nel. Lotz, Martin. Strachan, van den Berg, Bastard, van Reenan, “ Boy ” Louw. Referee: Mr. A. de Clifton (Wellington). The Springboks kicked off and at once attacked but off-side play brought relief when Taranaki were awarded a free kick practically under the posts. Play had been in progress only five minutes when Brand essayed a field goal but the attempt fell short. Craven was opening up play at every opportunity and, ably supported by Harris, was repeatedly placing the visitors in strong attacking positions. Brand again attempted to open the visitors’ account when, from a free-kick, he unsuccesfully tried a drop-kick at goal. South Africa kept up the pressure and the first points came when Craven cut past a man, transferred to “ Boy ” Louw, who whipped the ball smartly to Bastard, who went across in a handy position. Brand’s kick missed. Springboks * Taranaki 0 A few minutes later Taranaki was In trouble when Babrow Intercepted brilliantly to transfer play from one end of the field to the other, Collins, the home full-back, effectively checking the movement. The Taranaki pack was playing a solid game and there was great excitement as, with the hall at toe, the home forwards swept to attack time and time again. Visitors Nearly Over Again. Bastard, however, changed the venue of play with a fine individual effort and In the following play Craven Hashed out to Harris and Williams was nearly over when he was collared by Collins. The Springboks’ forwards made valiant attempt to pierce the home defence but failed to cap several likely movements. A free-kick to South Africa was taken hv Turner In a good position and he made sure of the kick. Springboks - * Taranaki 0 Half-time came soon after without alteration to the score. WELLINGTON MATCH. DUNEDIN REFEREE TO ACT. DUNEDIN, Friday. Mr L. E. Macassey, of Dunedin, has been appointed referee in the match between the Springboks and Wellington at Wellington to-morrow week. RANFUfcLY SHIELD. SOUTHLAND V. OTAGO. (By Telegraph.—rress Association.) DUNEDIN, Saturday. The weather is calm but threatening for the first Hanfurly Shield match be - tween Southland and (Otago, at Carisbrook this afternoon. The ground should L>e in fair order. Fully 1000 visitors have come by rail stations, with probably an equal number by road. A croud nf 30,M00 is expected.