AN EPIC STRUGGLE.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20272, 14 August 1937, Page 8

AN EPIC STRUGGLE.

FIRST TEST MATCH. WON BY NEW ZEALAND. KEEN, EXCITING PLAY. ALL BLACKS IN GREAT FORM. SPRINGBOKS GO DOWN FIGHTING. New Zealand won the first Rugby Test at Wellington this afternoon, defeating the visiting Springboks team by 13 points to 7, in a gruelling encounter which kept the record crowd of over 50,000 at a fever-pitch of excitement throughout the entire course of the encounter. New Zealand’s score was made up of two tries, one field goal and one penalty, while the Springboks crossed the New Zealand line once and potted one field goal. New Zealand played one man short for part of the first half and all of the second, Cobden going off with an injury. The final whistle went amid scenes of unparalleled excitement, the crowds surging on to the field and carrying the teams off shoulder high. It was one of the most keenly-contested games ever seen in the Dominion.

INFLUX OF THOUSANDS. EARLY MORNING CROWDS. ATHLETIC PARK THRONGED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Saturday. The gates at Athletic Park were opened at 9 o’clock this morning by which time there were some 3009 people outside the turnstiles in Rml-jul Street and another crowd at turnst'lea at tiie top of tiie western bank. Some had waited in a queue outside since before midnight and early tins morning the number had grown till at 7 o’clock there were about 150. The Rintoul Street queue increased rapidly after 7 o’clock and from 8 inwards people were arriving in droves by a continuous stream of trams, while hundreds more were passing along the streets on foot laden with rugs, cushions and food. A strong southerly wind set in last night willi sharp rain squalls. The wind is still in Die south but it has lightened. Rain showers still keep corvng up but they are not be.ivy and in the main tiie, overhead conditions are clear. These conditions promise lo continue. The crowd will find it cold but not otherwise very unpleasant. There was a tremendous influx of people from all parts. They have, been arriving by road and rail from ail over the North Island and big complements have come oxer from Hie south by boat from Lyttelton, Picton and Nelson. The air services arc also busy running extra trips. The only material alteration in flic personnel of the teams is the. replacement of Brand, Springboks fullback, by Turner. Brand strained a leg muscle in the match against Wellington last Saturday and has not sufficiently recovered. To-day’s teams are:— SOUTH AFRICA Turner Lyster, Babrow, White, Williams Craven de Villiers van Re'enen Bastard. Bergh, van den Berg, Strachan S. C. Louxv, Lotz, Jennings. O NEW ZEALAND. Jackson, Lambourn, Dalton McKenzie, Reid, King, Ward Parkhill Simon Trevathan, Hooper Dick, Cobden, Sullivan Taylor. There was deafening applause from a record crowd, estimated at over 50,000, as the teams took the field. Africa winning tiie toss, defended the southern goal. Babrow kicked off and the back line handled in a pretty movement which penetrated New Zealand territory. From tiie first scrum. Now Zealand secured, but Trevathan failed to lake Simon's pass and a likely movement broke down. New Zealand were awarded a free kick for an infringement by South Africa. Taylor finding the line inside the Springboks’ 25. From a throxv-in a yard inside tiie New Zealand halfway. the ball was sent out from deYiliiers to Craven. Taylor then secured and kicked to the New Zealand 25 Play then see-sawed to South Africa?: territory and bark again t<» New Zealand's end. From a throw-in. the ball came to Craven and lie sent his backline off again. Whi!°. Babrow and Williams handling in a pretty movement which, however, broke down through the solid tackling of the All Blacks. Up to this stage, the game was a gruelling struggle between the forwards, but there was sufficient movement among the backs to provide the spectacular element loved by the crowd. The first real thrill of the match came when the scene of play shifted rnp’dly In the visitors’ 25, Hooper kicking through a gap for Dick to secure on the wing and nearly got over in the corner. ine scoring opened. Again and again. New Zealand haltered lli#> visiting defence and it appeared on two occasions that the \n Blacks had drawn first blood. The hall. minutes later the .''outli African forwards broke through. relieving the pressure. Again New Zealand swept to deafening applause, and ’ brought play hack to within 10 yards of Hie Spring links’ line \ free kick to New Zealand in a handy position was taken b> ! I'rex a I hail who opened New Zealand's account with a line kick after II minI 11 1 e s of play. I South Africa 0

Encouraged by this success, the New Zealand forwards were not to be denied, and breaking through they again took the play to Soutli African territory. Williams broke away, however, but was brought doxvn after a brief run. Lifting in the scrum gave the Springboks a free kick from about 10 yards outside New Zealand's 25, but Turner’s kick failed. South Africa rallied and pressed to the attack, de Villiers breaking away with Lyster in support, but the latter failed to take a pass and the movement broke down. A free kick from right In front was awarded to the Springboks for an infringement by Dalton but Turner again failed to lake advantage. South Africa once more broke through very fast, smothering Trevathan In possession, but the Nex*. Zealand rearguard swung into action with Hooper. Sullivan and Trevathan prominent, and took play again well

into South African territory. A fro* kick by Craven gained ground and. play I swayed in mid-Held until Hooper too., the ball through at his feet. Anothei free kick to Africa followed and Crave: enco more gained valuable ground Parkhill then snapped the ball to Trevathan and the crowd was on its fee. as, with Hooper in support, he made for the visitors' line. The movement broke down, however, and a free kick to South Africa for lifting in the ensuing scrum followed.. Nevertheless, New Zealand kept up the pressure and the home, forwards, charging Craven, had the Springboks in trouble. Just, failing to cross the line. Lifting by South Africa gave Trevathan another chance from the visitors’ 25 but the kick was wide. Visiting Backs In Action. A light shower fell at this stage, and the slightly greasy nature of the ball was not assisting the hacks in opening up the play. Turner earned applause when he found touch just inside his own halfway line. The Springboks back line opened tip a sparkling movement. Craven flashing the ball to White, who sent on to Bn brow, but Williams, who I was in support, was grassed near the t home 25. a New Zealand retaliated with Hooper 1 breaking through with Sullivan in sup- 1 port, the latter transferring to Cobden i who. however, was well tackled by * Lyster. I-n the ensuing play. Cobden I was injured and bad to retire. South I 1 Africa attacked but Taylor repulsed the ' ' thrust with a fine kick that found Hie I - half-way line. Trevathan and Hooper smothered v another South African attack, but the * visitors kept at it and Lyster figured in a a movement dangerous for New Zea- * land when he cut in and sent an infield pass to Babrow. The movement was again checked by New Zealand's solid defence. Van dor Bere broke % through near New Zealand's line and p there was a scramble almost on the . line. Play swayed back sliehlly. then - r’e Villlers starlpd a movement which „ Williams capped with a brilliant burst , that took him across at the corner, j | Turner's attempt, at goal was unsue- i cessful. New Zealand .1 f South Africa t [ New Zealand Leads. The Now Zealand forwards took 111* { ball to half-way. South MTiea secur | | ing from the ensuing .-crum and Craven N finding the line inshje the Ml Black |-| lerrilory. New Zealand look piny to | j awarded acainst the visitors was nicely j ' N pnt over by Trevalh.m. making the , half lime score: | «. South Africa | New Zealand attacked from lh« whistle and the ball vs cut into touch j

when Turner failed to take it. Keeping the ball in tiie Soutli African 25. the All Blacks attempted to open up the play, Parkhill sending out to Tre- j vathan, who was collared by van den Berg and in the ensuing melee Turner | cleared with a well-judged placement, j Dalton opened up New Zealand's J first scoring movement, snapping up • the greasy ball. He sent It on to j Hooper, who cut in and with Reid and j Lambourn in support they penetrated the Springboks’ defence. Ward and Sullivan then carried on and Dick, finished off with a brilliant run that took him over at the corner. The kick went Just outside. New Zealand 9 South Africa 3 South Africa's defence was again sorely tried, almost immediately, as New Zealand rushed downfleld again, taking play to the Springboks’ 25. Trevathan kicked high but White to stop the rush. De Villiers was caught in possession on his own 25 and the All Black vanguard, sweeping to the attack again, placed New Zealand in a good position. The half-time whistle found New . Zealand still attacking with the score: New Zealand 9 South Africa 3 I The Second Half. From the line-out, Parkhill sent to ; Simon and Trevathan, who was in support, and passed out to Hooper, , who in attempting to cut through lost the ball. The pace was killing and the New Zealand forwards were more than holding their own against the heavier visiting pack. While marked to stop a Nexv Zealand forward rush. . Taylor marked in turn and side-step- j ping Van Reenan, he took play upfleld ! again. New Zealand rushed the South , African defence and Lyster, in attempt- j ing to break through, was pulled doxvn . inside his own 25. White, Babrow and I Lyster next figured in Africa's attack j and the last-named carried play to < New Zealand’s territory. De Villiers came round the blind side of an ensuing scrum and supported by Craven ! attempted to penetrate the All Black , defence, without success. The New Zealand forwards broke 1 through with the ball at their toe but Crax-en and de Villiers again turned defence to attack when they were as- , I sociated in a penetrating thrust that 1 transferred play once more to Nexv Zealand's 25. Craven again sent White away with Babrow and New Zealand was placed in a precarious position. Taylor, however, with a splendid kick, found touch a few yards inside half- | way. Folloxving a scrummage. Soutli j Africa was axvarded a free kick, but it I failed to rise. Simon attempted to 1 take the ball out of a ruck and anI other kick went to South Africa, the 1 ! hall being kicked high and making little ! ground. j From a scrum Ifi yards outside New j Zealand's 25. Simon sent out to Trej vat,ban and 117 e lafler found touch near j the half-way line. Turner speculated to find touch and check a New Zealand forward rush practically on Soutli ; Africa’s line. McKenzie broke away ; hut a had pass nullified a likely moveI ment. Trevathan. hoxvcvcr, immedi- ; alelv mile amends xvhen he brought ! off a brilliant field goal, from pi’aetij rally in front of t lie posts. ! New Zealand 13 | South Africa 3 White’s Fine Goal. i The crowd was frantic with excitement as South Africa desperately fought hack and it xvas only a matter of moments before White emulated Trevathan and polled a beautiful goal. Nexv Zealand 13 South Africa 7 Trevathan opened up play In Nexv Zealand’s folloxving attack lull the | movement did not go far and play soei sawed near half-way. A loose kick I by Bastard look play to xvilhin striking distance of Hie Nexv Zealand line. Babroxv xvas caught xvitli Hie bull and McKenzie cleared with an opportune speculator to touch. Lifting in the scrum by New Zealand gave the visit - ; ors a free kick near half-way, but

ttle ground xvas gained. Simon handed ) Trevathan from a subsequent scrum nd Hooper cleared to place Nexv Zeamd on the attack once more. Africa Malinted and a bouncing ball, beatig Taylor, resulted in Babroxv placing outh Africa in a strong attacking osition well doxvn on New Zealand's ne. Simon marked in spectacular tx le and relieved the position. The exv Zealand defenders were now irely pressed hut responded xvell and hen Turner toook the ball cleanly the ustftng Nexv Zealand forwards were hie to push the attack to tiie visitors’ South Africa's Fine Struggle. De Villiers broke through, and. lien lie kicked. Sullivan failed to take and the knock-on resulted In a scrum 0 yards from Nexv Zealand's line. New ealand were awarded a free kirk for scrum infringement which brought, lomenlary relief. With five minutes i go Smith Africa xvas making herru •an efforts In make up the leeway. De Villiers. xxlm was playing an xeellent game for the visitors, set is attacking line in motion and Graven nd Williams handled in turn. The liter found touch and gained valuable ic ball flashed to * White xxln*. oxvever. hesitated and Hie movement as los I. Willi Ixvo minutes to go, urner essaxed h. land a free kick, but was wide, and New Zealand forced own. Tre vat ban Mien beaded a rush Inch took Hie New Zealanders into IP visitors' half and the final wliislb* omded will, pin\ bard down on Hu pringboks' line. South Africa ’ ! 7