RUGBY FOOTBALL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 204, 29 July 1937, Page 7

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SPRINGBOK VICTORY. A KEEN, HARD STRUGGLE. MATCH AT HAMILTON. Per Press Association. HAMILTON, July 28. On a ground which soon turned into a quagmire, the Springboks beat the combined Waikato, King Country and Thames Valley team at Rugby Park to-day in a hard, keen tussle which kept a record crowd of oyer 13,000 at a high pitch of excitement throughout. As was only to be expected, under conditions which made handling of the greasy ball well-nigh impossible, the game was mostly confined to the forwards, and the only two tries scored were the culmination of movements among the forward division.

The Combined forwards covered themselves with great credit, and it was only sterling defence that kept the Springboks’ tally down. Again and again they hammered the home defence and faulty handling nullified several likely scoring movements, one of wcihh was right under the posts. In the closing stages of the second half the visiting and home players were covered with mud from head to foot, and different players were sorted out only with the greatest difficulty. The home team’s try came after 18 minutes’ play and they led at halftime with only the try scored. Enthusiasm ran high in the second half when it appeared likely that tho home side would earthy the day. but a freekick awarded the visitors in a handy position allowed them to draw level. Strachan then scored, putting the Africans ahead with only a few minutes to go. The crowd was in a fever of • excitement in the closing stages as the Combined team made a valiant attempt to make up the leeway, and when time was called the home forwards were battering away at a stubborn African defence. DEAFENING ROAR.

There was a deafening roar as the teams made their appearance, Combined kicking off and Brand finding the line inside the home half-way line. From play in African territory Waikato secured from a melee, but Crossman was caught in possession and play see-sawed in midfield. The Springboks back line sprang into action, but offside play nullified the movement. The home line was in danger, but Everest saved. The slippery nature of the ground was causing the visitors trouble, players slithering everywhere.

It was apparent early that the game would resolve itself into a stern forward duel, the greasy ball militating against anything in the nature of open tactics. The ball went right through Van der Yyver’s hands as it came out from a scrum, but shortly afterward the Springboks were awarded a free kick with which Brand failed to open the visitors’ tally. Combined retaliated with forceful forward tactics wlioich penetrated to they visitors’ twenty-five. Childs stabkicked for the lin'e to repulse an African attack in the home twenty-five, and the Combined defence was sorely tried when a persistent attack was launched. Hofmey.er-liad an unsuccessful attenipt at a field goal from just in front of the posts. FIRST BIG THRILL.

The first big thrill of the'match came 18 minutes after tlie start, when the Waikato forwards, with Best as instigator, broke down the field. Trustunr finally diving on the ball over the line to score. Best’s kick failed. The African.vJhen-stirged to tho attack, keeping up the pressure until the home forwards broke through the defence and transferred play to the Springbok twenty-fiver From halfway Combined-burst through'with the ball at toe, and there was great enthusiasm as the.home side kept the' Springboks hemmed in their twenty-five. Margan took an unsuccessful shot at gaol from a, free-kick.' Turner provided a spectacular interlude with a flash flown the sideline,' but he was grassed in the home twenty-five with four opponents on top of him. A speculator by Crossman relieved the severity of the attack, and a further movement was abortive when the back'line broke down twenty yards out. DETERMINED TACKLING.

Determined on evening, the score, Africa maintained the pressure and they were nearly over on several occasions, only determined tackling keeping them at hay. Jennings started a movement which sent Hofmeyr racing

to the Combined line, but the hall went over the dead-ball line, and halftime came with the score Combined 3, Springboks 0. The Springboks broke through on opening the second half, but the home forwards, toiling hard, repulsed thrust after thrust and Grossman had the crowd on its feet when, with a determined run up the far side of the field, he transferred defence to attack. A free kick to the home side was sent high up by Crossman and the Combined forwards swept into the breach again, Childs kicking for the corner. Africa cleared from a scrum 10 yards out, but Combined still kept the pressure up, Crossman attempting to open up a likely movement when he flashed the ball to Cameron, who, however, fell a victim to the fast opposing forwards, who took play to home territory. A free kick brought relief, but the kick gained little ground and from the resultant throw-in Van De Vyver crosskicked to concentrate the attack in the opposite corner. The Waikato forwards were prominen again in bringing play into the African half. Childs speculated to save a nasty situation. Infringements were frequent, and a further free kick to Combined transferred play further upfield. The home forwards were playing a fine game, and they were holding the visitors' well. Lyster knocked on to nullify an African back-line movement. SPECTACULAR PLAY.

Then one of the most spectacular movements came when the visiting rearguard swung into an attacking position and Turner zig-zagged his way past three defenders, only to be collared within several feet of Jiis objective. Keeping U" a battling attack, Africa concentrated in the right corner near the home line, and they lacked only the necessav- luck to crown their efforts.

By this time it was becoming increasingly difficult to differentiate between the jerseys of the visiting and home teams. Rain fell midway through the second half to dampen enthusiasm somewhat, but thrills aplenty made the crowd oblivious of the soaking. TEN MINUTES TO GO.

With 10 minutes to go tho visitors were awarded a free kick about 10 yards out, and Turner, with a welljudged kick, brought Africa level. The home defence was now being sorely tried again and again, but it held subliornly. The visitors were making little attempt to bring their backs into action, the slippery ball making this fruitless. Their continued forward attack bore fruit a few minutes later when Strachan fell over to put the visitors in the lead. Turner’s kick failed.

Phillips figured in a spectacular dash down the line, and the home side maintained a determined attack till the final whistle ended the game with the score Springboks 6, Combined 3.

CAPTAINS’ COMMENTS. Per Press Association. HAMILTON, July 28. After the match, P. Nel, the Springboks’ captain, said: “It was a hard game, played in the best of spirit, and I would like to pay a tribute to the Combined team for the manner in which* they adapted themselves to the very heavy conditions and the clean game they played. We never experience such mild in our own country, and we learnt a lesson from the Combined team.”

Several playing members of the visiting team agreed that the game was .a hard and keenly-contested struggle, one remarking that the New Zealanders had a real Rugby tradition. Like the Africans, they played a hard game all the time, even minor teams, and fought to .the bitter end in a manner seldom seen in. Australia, whore teams were tiiot so hard to beat once a lead was gained over them. ~ Grossman. captain of the Combined team,-, said the. home team was delighted with the game, considering the conditions. They were pleased thev lwd given the Springboks a hard fight for it. It Was possession that won the game for the visitors.

KAN FUR] A -SHIELD. MITCHELL TO LEAD. SOUTHLAND, Per Press Association. ' INVERCARGILL: Julv 28. * v It was announced to-night that N. A.. Mitchell’s leg injury had responded-to treatment and it is definite that he will lead Southland against Otago in the Ranfurly Shield match at Dunedin on Saturday. . Mitchell stated that his-legdiad. pram tically recovered from the strain of the pulled muscle and he would be fit by Saturday.

SECONDARY SCHOOLS. WIN FOR PALMERSTON NORTH. Played on the Showgrounds yesterday, the Rugby match between the first fifteens of the Palmerston North Boys’ High School and the Wanganui Technical College was not productive of the spectacular display expected, due no doubt to the persistent inclination of the ball to play tricks in the exceptionally strong wind which blew throughout. On one occasion the wind took control of the leather in 'ts short flight from the hands of the Wanganui full-back to his boot, and his kick went into space, while the usual “up-and-unders” were out of the question for the team playing against the wind as the ball invariably refused to go forward. Even passes, if they were a little on the slow side, went astray, and consequently the players had to adapt themselves to unusual circumstances.

The High School team won by 9 points to 3, scoring two of their tries when playing with the wind and the third against the wind. At half-time the score was 6—3. Wanganui were heavier in the forwards, but the High School vanguard showed much more dash, every member of the team working hard to give the backs opportunities. Palmerston North had the more resourceful backs. The teams were: — Palmerston North High School.— Downs, Wycherley, Howell, Jarrett, Shields, Beard (captain), Scott, Campbell, Barrett, Whibley, Baigent, Andrews, Smith, Snelling, Nash. Wanganui Technical College.—Guy, McKenzie, Ryan, Dovi, Grogan, A. McPhail (captain), J. McPhail, Turner, Jones,. Weller, Taylor, Clark, Parker, Deihl, Mita.

Wanganui kicked off into the wind, but in less than a. minute Scott secured and sent his backs away, Beard in particular putting'in a good run. Palmerston North pressed until Guy sent them back; then the white forwards came again and Wanganui were really in danger when Guy miskicked. There wore two scrums on the line and then Beard essayed a potted goal, the ball going wide. The clearing kick was smothered and Wycherley went over for a try. Beard failed to convert. Wanganui were getting the ball from the scrums at this stage, , but could gain little ground due to the force of the wind against them. High kicks, to them, invariably meant lost ground. High School were opening up the game at every opportunity, but the passing bouts lacked penetration. Jarrett made one good run up the side-line, but lie was well tackled by Dovi. Ryan was caught in possession and an exciting tussle took place on the Wanganui line, resulting in a force down. High School were at it again and there was another force-down, the Wanganui de-

fence standing up to the strain. Palmerston North, however, were soon to he rewarded when Scott broke away, passing to Howell, to Jarrett, who crossed at the corner. Beard again failed with the kick.

The visitors were really dangerous for the first time when J. McPhail and A. McPhail produced penetrating dashes. There was a spirited forward battle until A. McPhail secured again to go over for a good try. Grogan failed to convert.

High School livened up considerably, realising that a three-points lead with the wind was not sufficient. Howell was seen in a dazzling run, being collared by the full-back within a few feet of the line. The pressure was kept up and Scott was nearly over from a scrum at the corner. A passing bout saw Wycherley lose possession as he crossed and half-time brought much needed relief to Wanganui. THE SECOND SPELL.

With the wind at their backs Wanganui were much more • aggressive and the two McPhails and Grogan were seen in a dashing run. High School had a turn on attack and Beard tried unsuccessfully to goal from a free kick. Play was fairly even for a time, but High School were making better use of their opportunities and soon settled down to a sustained attack. The back movements showed much more penetration than was the case in the first spell, Beard, Shields, and Howell showing good form. At length there was a scrum on the line and Scott, Beard, and Wycherley handled for the latter to show a fine turn of speed and score. Beard failed to add the extra points. The blues had a turn on attack, Grogan showing up in particular. On several occasions they went within an ace of scoring, and play was definitely in their favour when the final whistle sounded with the score :

High School 9 Technical College 3 Mr A. Gordon rerereed.