GOOD LEAD

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20266, 7 August 1937, Page 8

GOOD LEAD

BRILLIANT SPRINGBOKS MATCH IN WELLINGTON. ANOTHER HEAVY GROUND. HALF-TIME SCORE 16—0. (By Telegraph.—rreas Association.) WELLINGTON, Saturday. A fierce southerly, which came up yesterday afternoon and raged throughout the night, threatening the •success of the match, Springboks v. Wellington, brought little rain and the ground remains in good condition. Prospects are that the afternoon will continue fine but with a stiff southerly breeze along the playing area. Heavy clouds still show from the south, however, and there is some uncertainty whether squalls may not still come over. The gates were to open at 10 o’clock, and a quarter of an hour before that a thousand or more people were queued up waiting. Some hundred or more members of clubs make up a body of voluntary workers to handle the crowd inside, and there are also over 40 paid commissionaires. The police force inside and outside the ground also exceeds 40 in number. There is a huge Influx of visitors to the city, all roads literally leading to Athletic Park. Adopting their customary policy, the Springboks team left the city to spend the morning out of town. It is doubtful If S. C. Louw will be playing to-day owing to knee injury. The teams were:— WELLINGTON Fullback.—J. Vartan. Threequarters.—A. G. Hansen, J. Fleming, A. Wright. Five-eighths.—J. L. Griffiths (captain), L. Veltch (first). Halfback.—G. O’Halloran. Forwards.—G. Ongley, A. Lambourn, J. Wells, Fraser-Smlth, C. Pringle, A. H. Andrews, J. Butler, K. Guy. SPRINGBOKS Fullback.—G. H. Brand. Threequarters.—F. G. Turner, S. R. Hofmeyr, J. White, D. O. Williams. Halves.—D. F. Van der Vyver, P. de Villiers (scrum). Forwards.—H. Martin, J. W. Lotz, C. B. Jennings, G. L. Van Reenan, M. A. Van den Berg, F. Bergh, L. G. Strac'han, H. H. Watt. The teams were introduced to the Governor-General, Lord Galway, and the Springboks kicked off against the wind but were early on the defensive when Veitch cut through and kicked, Hansen catching Brand in possession. The ball went behind the dead-ball line from another advance and then the Springbok forwards rushed the ball to the other end where Watt, following up fast, snapped up the ball and dived over near the post. Brand’s kick hit the post. South Africa ........ 3 Wellington .; 0 After play had see-sawed from one end of the field .) the other, with South Africa frequently bustled, Brand had an attempt to increase the lead from a free kick, but just failed. The Springboks then combined beautifully, Turner commencing the movement in his own twenty-five. He pushed Hansen off, cut inside the fullback and handed out to Hofmeyr, White and Williams, the latter racing over for a fine try, Brand converting. South Africa 8 Wellington 0 Another Good Score. The Springboks were getting the ball from the scrums and line-outs and were making the game very open. After several efforts the visitors scored again. Short passing between the forwards In which Jennings, Watt and van Reenan were prominent saw the last named cross in the corner, Brand’s kick hitting the post and bouncing inside. South Africa 13 Wellington 0 The visitors, despite playing against the strong breeze, were making the pace very hot and had Wellington well bustled with their speed and superb defence. Brand then ran smartly down the line and started his backs moving all handling for Williams to score another fine try in the corner, Brand failing to convert this. The half-time score was: South Africa 16 Wellington 0 WELLINGTON INVADED. GREAT INFLUX OF PEOPLE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Saturday. Augmented rail and bus services ran from the suburbs since early morning, and special trains from further afield Included two from Palmerston North, two from Paekakariki, and one from Masterlon. All were full. The Limited express had four extra cars attached carrying enthusiasts from Auckland, who evidently thought it worth while making the trip, and more came from the south by the Maori and from Nelson by the Matangi. Marlborough enthusiasts have the opportunity of coming over by air. A great many people arrived by car from Manawatu, Walrarapa, and further afield. RAPID PRESS DESPATCHES. TELEPRINTERS AT GROUND. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Saturday. For the first time in New Zealand teleprinters are being used at a sports ground to despatch press reporfs of the Rugby game, Springboks v. Wellington. One plant is in direct contact wilh Auckland for the main North Island service and another is connected with the telegraph division, Wellington, for South Island centres. Provision is made for hand Morse in the case of a power failure. it is .(Continued In next column.)

expected that the time saved will be an hour and a-half. THAMES VALLEY PROTEST. WAIKATO’S COMBINED TEAM. (Special to Times). PAEROA, Friday. Dissatisfaction at the method of selection of the Combined WaikatoKing Country-Thames Valley team j that played the Springboks in Hamiljton, was expressed by Mr D. G. Moj Millan, Thames Valley selector, at a meeting of the Rugby Union last evening. Mr McMillan stated that the other two selectors had chosen 14 of the 15 men required before they had even seen the Thames Valley players. Eventually they allowed one Thames ; Valley man to be selected as an emergency and when they wanted a fulllback they picked a man, on the day, i who had never played in that position , before. Other members of the union agreed with Mr McMillan that the selection j was unfair and his action In writing to Vaq New Zealand Rugby Union protesting at the selection was confirmed. MATTER FOR SELECTORS. WAIKATO UNION’S VIEWS. At a special meeting of the Waikato Rugby Union Management Committee last evening when the chairman, Mr W. Fraser presided, a letter of protest from the Thames Valley Union on the method of selection of the Combined Team was received and it was decided to reply that the selection was in the hands of the selectors and that it had nothing to do with the unions except . through the selectors, j It was pointed out at the meeting that each union appointed its own sele'ctor and these three were reponsible for the choosing of the team. The first trial match between Waikato and King Country was at Taumarunui l and the Thames Valley selector did not attend. The team was picked after the' game between Waikato and Thames Valley but owing to a replacement being necessary the selectors had to be consulted again. The selectors could not agree as to the' fullback so it was eventually decided that the only thing to do was to play the emergency approved by the selectors previously. It was stated that if the Waikato officials had had any say a promising young Hamilton fullback would have been given the position. TOO MANY FUNCTIONS. SPRINGBOKS’ REQUEST. “ TREATED HERE LIKE KINGS.” (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Friday. “ Civic functions are coming fast and furious. Because we travel so quickly between them, we hope that other cities will realise it is not an act of discourtesy on our part if we ask that there be no further receptions,” said Mr. Percy Day, manager of the Springboks, during his speech at the civic reception to the team at Wellington this afternoon. “We have a duty to perform here, and it necessitates rest and care between the matches so that we may fight the fight on the battlefield of Rugby. ! “We cannot hope for fine weather I suppose, when there are only 29 of us praying for a brilliant day to-mor-row, and there are 10.000 or more of you praying for rain,” said D. Graven, ihe vice-captain. “New Zealand is Rugby stricken. In South Africa we are regarded as ordinary human beings, but here we are treated like kings.”