AT ATHLETIC PARK

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

AT ATHLETIC PARK

A GREAT CROWD. j NO CONFIDENCE FELT. NOTES ON THE PLAY. (By Telegraph.—Special Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Saturday. The 1500 excursionists from Auckland and the Waikato were greeted with squally weather whijn they arrived in Wellington, but despite continued showers all morning all wended their way to Athletic Park, where the banks were filled with Wellingtonians and visitors from all parts of the Dominion. Just prior to the opening of the match the sun shone fitfully through a clearing sky. The high spirits of the crowd never wavered throughout. One of the most notable things was the pessimism regarding the All Blacks' chances as, although the ground was slippery, it was not in bad condition. Never has a New Zealand side taken the field against any international side with such a feeling of pessimism. Before noon the ground contained more people than for the match against Wellington last week, and hundreds filed in every minute until two p.m. The brightening of the weather was responsible for a last minute rush and the ground was packed to capacity. The atmosphere for a test has never been as tense or electric. Deafening cheers greeted the teams as they trotted briskly on to the field. With the Wind. Winning the toss New Zealand decided to play with the wind. The All Blacks failed to get the ball from the first sp, r um but lack of cohesion between de Villiers and Craven did not give the visitors a chance. Twice in quick succession Trevathan dropped good passes from Simon when it looked as if the All Blacks would show their paces, and

ton. MO' ' the feature of the early play was the fine line kicking of Taylor for New Zealand and Craven for the Sprrag- ( boks. I Hooper was responsible for the first (real thrill when he line-kicked cleverly 'but the All Blacks could not press home their advantage. The First Points. Trevathan again mishandled In a handy position, but retrieved his rr- | putation by kicking a goal from a fairly : handy position. I He Villiers impressed with two fine 1 dashes down the centre of the Held, , and then the visitors commenced to ! open up the play, throwing the ball I I about in tine style. There was always a man there to take his pass but also ! always an All Black to take the man- | Trevathan later settled down and : opened up a nice movement but magnij ficent defence stemmed every movej ment. ) Hooper had not had a chance up to j this stage on the attack, but his sound j tackling was a pleasing feature of his play. The New Zealand forwards were dribbling well and packing tightly. They were holding the Springboks. Williams Hurt. The Springboks resumed the second half without Williams, Van Reenan : playing on the wing. New Zealand had the best of the opening and Hooper picked up a bad | pass brilliantly to open up the move- I ment from which Dick scored after a I determined run. And was the ‘'bank’’ ! j pleased? The sun shone through again as Williams returned to the field and Craven ' raised another prolonged siege by a great kick. McKenzie. Dalton and Reid were always in the picture. The game ' was very hard at this stage and a free kick to the All Blacks saw Taylor kick high but Lyster marked, facing the sun. brilliantly. Williams made j another run over half-way. Taylor was playing magnificently, j and lie found the line well down neid every time. i Ire at credit must go to the All Black forwards who were holding the Springboks with one man ■short. I..unbourn was getting a fair share of the ball, in fact more than bis share. With a New Zealand victory loom- | Ing more certain every minute the . j crowd was frantic. j Trevathan and Taylor were using tho line well. ' Thrill followed thrill as New Zea- | land kicked a splendid goal from near i the side line and within a few minutes. White, who also had been kicking ' well, did the same thing for South • Africa. From the Start. I The All Blanks had gone right into ' their big task from tin- <dart and the crowd was thrilled again and again by boks’ liii". Tim forwards worked* with great vim and after early failures start ed t•. get plenty ~f tin- ball. The banks <piickly settled down. Hooper and Trevathan showing brilllanne. Tim Springboks were throwing finball about better and at every tuuity. but New Zealand's defenne was impregnable. Trevathan. Sinmn and Taylor found tile line lime and turn- | Simon was getting Do- bill now. and was showing up more

brated dashes round the scrum and ! kicked over Tavlor’s head but Sullivan j came back fast. The visitors xvere still trying hard and xvere throwing the hall about as j nmcli as possible. Jackson and Beid xvere toiling hard in 1 lie tight. After the Game. | When the game ended the players were unable to get to the dressingrooms, owing to the crowd mobbing I them. * It was one of the most exciting tests • ever seen in New Zealand. I De Villiers and Craven xvere not the same penetrative combination of j Craven-Harrls. xvhile Turner xvas not nearby as good as Brand. Where Nexv Zealand won was tn the j forxvards, who played xvell up to traditions. With only seven men in the scrum \o\v Zealand xvere able to hold the Springboks who never gaxe the Impression of thoroughly settling down They were bustled throughout by the ! All Blanks \xtio were out to do or die. The pessimism before the match xvas m man\ ways responsible for the All Blacks'plaxing above their form. All Iho lorxxards xvere magnificent, while Huoper gave Hie fie to til** impression that lie xv a- a mediocre tackier. Trexat han and Tax lor kicked D*r the line