MANAWATU OVERWHELMED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 210, 5 August 1937, Page 7

MANAWATU OVERWHELMED

WHAT THE CAPTAINS THOUGHT

SPRINGBOKS TOO CLEVER BOTH PACES BATTLE HARD J RECORD CROWD ATTEND

Pace, weight and clever short passing at top speed gave the Springboks an easy win over the Manawatu representatives by 39 points to 3 in the fourth Rugby match of the South Africans’ tour of New Zealand, which was played at the Showgrounds yesterday before a crowd estimated at about 20,000 people. Though overwhelmed, Manawatu were not wholly outclassed, and put up a good struggle against a very finished team of powerful physique. For the first twenty minutes the Manawatu forwards, rucking fiercely, more than held their own, and the spectacular manner in which they swept down on the Springboks’ line brought roars of excitement from the crowd. They came to their feet with a succession of thrills when Manawatu three times nearly crossed the visitors’ line in this period, and lost two good chances of kicking penalty goals. Excitement died down after this early burst of enthusiasm when the Manawatu forwards appeared to “crack” under the torrid pace, and eased up, with the result that in the last ten minutes before the interval the Springboks were hurling themselves at the line and after Brand had kicked a penalty goal, Lyster made a lightning thrust through the opposing backs to score South Africa’s first try, which was converted. Though they commanded but an eight-point lead at the interval, the Springboks, on resuming, started to cut the defence to ribbons with swift and clever short passing which, for the most part, had their opponents completely baffled. Rallying, the Manawatu forwards played with spirit, and several times stormed the Springbok line, but had not the necessary finish. Sheer speed by the South Africans, with their brilliant short passing, had the Manawatu backs beaten. Brand, the Springboks’ full-back, with the utmost confidence, and remorseless in repulsing attack after attack by the Manawatu forwards, gave the crowd its greatest thrills. Not once, not twice, but three times he steadied up in midfield in perfect balance to drop-kick the ball and send it soaring gracefully in fast swerving flight for the posts. Twice it just missed its objective and then, the third time, from right ,on the half-way line, he succeeded. It was a truly amazed crowd which watched his remarkably powerful kicking, one of the best displays it had ever seen.

Comment by the team captains was as follows to a “Standard” representative after the game:— R. McKENZIE (Manawatu). —They were far too clever. We held them for a while, but after that they developed their short passing and had us beaten. P. NEL (South Africa). —We played against the wind in the first spell, but after that we settled down and played our natural game. Our opponents played a clean and sporting game.