HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MATCH

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

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MATCH

SPRINGBOK TEAM CHANGES. LYSTER’S AMAZING SPEED. . Consequent on the greasy condition of the field following the overnight rain, two changes were made in the Springbok team originally selected. Usually scrum half, D. A. Craven, replaced S. R. Hofmeyr as a centre three-quarter, and L. C. Strachnn went into the forwards instead of van Keenan. Manawatu were without the services of C. Le Quesne who, suffering from a knee injury;'.Aims unable to pass the medical examination. Though of huge dimensions, and packed ten deep round the oval fence, with a great array of boxes and other facilities to elevate, their view, the crowd were most orderly and restrained. Many of them had had a long i wait, but showed no impatience as they cheerily and expectantly awaited the' start of the match. There _ were 5000 on the stands and 3000 children inside the oval. Bursts of sunshine were encouraging after the dull and unpromising nature of the morning. Both teams were applauded on their arrival. Prim- to the match the Manawatu Scottish Society’s Pipe Band enlivened proceedings with a selection; of marches and gave a display of marching and counter-marching, under Pipe-

Major y. J. Nicholson and DrumMajor J. Peterana, which was much appreciated by the large crowd. The bandsmen made a brave- showing in their bright uniforms. Further selections were played at the interval. Referring, to the match as a "glamorous event,” "Rusty” Westcontt, the American wrestler, donned a Manuwatu jersey before the match and, matching on to the field ns the team’s mascot, showed how Americans throw a football about. FIRST OUTING CELEBRATED. Two members of the Springbok sido were having their first game in New Zealand, owing to having just recovered from injuries received in Australia, and each celebrated liis outing with a try. They were "Fanie” Loinv and H. H. Watt, and they made then presence felt. Lomv played a groat game, bursting out of the rucks with the ball tucked under his arm, or getting in swiftly among the opposition backs. Struggling to the last, he several times disappeared beneath a heap of Manawatu forwards. Watt showed exceptional speed in the loose, and nearly made more than one crossing, handling well and participating in movements with the backs. COST OF INFRINGEMENTS.

Infringements cost Manawatu dearly, causing them to concede hard won ground, when in strong attacking positions, while Brand, taking three penalty kicks, turned each ope to account, contributing nine points in this manner to the Springboks’ score.

Whenever he had the chance for a shot at goal, the result was almost a foregone conclusion. His kicks were taken from all angles, and lie converted four of South Africa’s six tries, liis share of their scoring being 21 points. South Africa were awarded seven genalty kicks and Manawatu four. outli Africa gained the advantage in 14 of the set serums that were decisive and Manawatu eight, while the honours in tlio line-outs were almost even. CRAVEN’S DIVE PASS.

Finding that it was not functioning too well, the South Africans changed the formation of their back-line after play had been in progress for fifteen minutes. Craven came in from a centre-three-quarter position to his natural place as scrum half, and Lochner was moved out. The difference sopn made itself apparent. Those who imagined they saw Lochner exploiting the famous South African dive/ pass were mistaken. It was Craven Imitself who was in action and when he executed this manoeuvre, he shot the ball out at express speed. Lyster’s first try, when he cut through by the side-line, was a neat piece of old South African strategy. Taking up his position as wing on the blind side, he led the defence to believe that he would make a bid for the corner but, when the ball came out of the scrum, he whipped round to the other side, accepted a dive pass beautifully from Craven, and went over, catching all the Manawatu backs on the wrong foot, and he was at the posts by the time they had recovered, l't was pretty work, and even if Lyster hnd not succeeded in cutting through, tlio South Africans would have had an additional back on that side of the scrum.

Battling hard, the Manawatu forwards held their own for twenty minutes, but then appeared to burn themselves out, and Brand opened South Africa’s account with a penalty goal 28 minutes after the start of the game, which was pla3 r ed in 40-minute spells. For a long time the Springboks adopted a “safety first” policy, kicking for the line while their opponents tired themselves out hotly contesting every inch of territory. It is hard to assess the real worth of Brand to his side, but he repulsed, with remarkable sangfroid, attack after attack, never once losing his poise, even when the Manawatu forwards kicked past him. He was absolutely safe, and the essence of confidence. His kicking from all angles was tlio exhibition of a lifetime—and lie used either foot with equal facility. Manawatu lost two early chances of kicking penalty goals, while J. Finlay, in an attempt to convert the only try, struck the cross-bar with the ball. However, his line kicking was exceptionally sound and, whenever Manawatu had no chance of opening up play with their backs, he adopted the same tactics as the Springboks and found the line. It was not until towards the close of the first spell that the Springbok forwards began to show their dash and get the upper hand. CHANGE OF TACTICS.

Disaster came early to Manawatu in the second spell when the Springboks; having secured a lead, changed their tactics and opened up the play, Brand securing the opportunity to show the public a succession of three splendid drop-kicks. Standing up unflinchingly to tlio battering and pounding lie received from the visiting forwards, the Manawatu lialf-baek, Edlin, the smallest player in the team, showed remarkable stamina and courage. He gave excellent service behind the scrum, played a heady game, made some nice openings, and paved the way for Newman’s try. There was admiration for his grit and determination in frisking the ball away from the Springbok forwards, who tackled surely and hard. Edlin once went down sandwiched cleanly between two big men in Watt and Straclian, and-did not emerge crumpled. He was shaken, but went straight into the fray again,' with terrier-like pertinacity at the heels of the Manawatu pack. Sturdily built, and just the type of player required for the match, Finlay played a great game throughout for Manawatu, and was so active early in the game that he played a prominent part in crippling the South African attack. He came through very fast to disorganise their inside backs, and was very disconcerting to them when he got the ball at his toe. McKenzie magnificent.

Producing his best always when the fight is thickest, Manawatu’s captain, McKenzie, shone as one of the most rugged and liard-working forwards on the field. Crashing his heavy bulk through in the loose rushes, lie would drag down with him several Springbok forwards, and they did not handle him tenderly. They respected his bullocking rushes, and gave him no latitude but, despite the bestowal of all this attention he emerged head and shoulders above the remainder of the Manawatu team as a rucker, and was playing right up to All Black standard. McKenzie worked tirelessly in the scrums, and was always where the forward struggle raged fiercest. He led Manawatu magnificently.

Waldin was patchy and not quite as solid as usual, ns the Manawatu fullback, but lie made some splendid recoveries from tight situations. Terry, Williams, Fell, Sullivan and Newman all showed out at times iii the Manawatu pack. Probably the most popular Springbok with the crowd was the dark, handsome and youthful J. Pester, who showed great pace as a wing threequarter. His style at times appeared to be effortless; he pleased the public with his sporting gestures and smiling demeanour, and once he got clear with the ball it semed almost futile to chase him.

Lyster, on the other wing, showed an even faster turn of speed, his first try, when lie received a dive pass from Craven close to the Manawatu line, being a gem. Accepting a ball which appeared to be catapulted at him, he shot between the opposing backs like a flash and went at top speed straight for the , .goalposts, where he grounded the ball. It was

all over in a matter of a few seconds.

FLY-HALF’S DAZZLING RUNS. Harris, as fly-half, was slow to settle down, and his handling for a period uncertain, though the Springboks indulged in little back play until towards tlio end of the first spell. When they qpened up the game, lie made some dazzling runs which had the opposition guessing, as, swerving ;and feinting, he seemed to glide through the Manawatu team to throw a long pass to his speedy wingers, who had their opponents badly beaten for pace. Nel, the Springbok captain, was a giant in the rucks, and it took some strong tackling to bring him down as he charged through. He was pominent throughout, as were Louw, Bastard and Watt.

SOUTH AFRICAN METHODS. Scrum tactics by the Springoks were interesting, and they used the wheeling movement at every opportunity. When they closed with the Manawatu pack they came in low, with heads down, and to the urge of the guttural "Drtik!” heaved as one man. Manawatu, on the run of the play, were not disgraced. They met a fast and powerful international team, whose aces were their superior pace, finish, and accurate, high-speed short passing. Different interpretations of the rules of tackling have given rise to possible "incidents’’ during the tour. New Zealand practice, in the past, when a player lias been tackled, -has been to go down and attempt to cover up the ball. South Africans, taught to drop the leather immediately, regard this as obstruction and have been misunderstood when they have hooted heavily to clear the ball. It is not intentional rough play, but their only method of overcoming this passive form of reWaug'h, the Manawatu wing-three-quarter, had the misfortune to sprain an ankle fifteen minutes after the start of the game, but the Springboks, having well and truly got the measure of the home side, had eased up, allowing Brand to indulge in liis spectacular kicking extravaganza.