Highlights of the opening match of the 1937 Springbok tour against Auckland.
A crowd-packed Eden Park, some of whom are seen throwing pies at each other.
This is the first match of a seventeen match tour of NZ and has attracted huge public interest.
Persons identified:
SA: Brand, Williams, Babrow, White, Bester, Harris, Craven, Nel.
Auckland: Bush, Prentice, Byerley, Killeen, Frank Solomon, Frankham.
General Description:
Commences with curtainraiser game in progress.
The first game of the tour is played in overcast conditions with a N.E wind blowing. Ground is heavy from recent rain. Outline of what appears to be a cricket pitch area from the summer is still evident in the centre of the field . Crowd of 50,000 watches firstly Killeen, Auckland Captain lead his team onto the field followed by Nel the South African Captain. Auckland are in black and white hoop jerseys in the film.
Play commences and first scoring movement is a try to Babrow (SA) under the posts Williams also scores a try for SA in the right hand corner. Auckland finally score a try to Frankham after a scrum close to the South African goal line. And the crowd celebrates.
RUGBY REFERENCE INFORMATION:
South Africa v Auckland played at Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand on 24th July 1937.
The referee was A.Thompson (King Country), the crowd attendance was 40,000 and the weather was dull, overcast with cold NE wind while the ground was heavy.
South Africa lead 5- 0 at half time.
Final score: South Africa 19 - Auckland 5.
Scorers for South Africa were: Tries - L. Babrow (Western Pronince), D.O. Williams (Western Province), H.J. Martin (Transvaal), J.L.A. Bester (Western Province), Conversions - G.H. Brand (Western Province) (2).
Scorers for Auckland were : Tries - J.R. Frankham (Ponsonby), Conversion - R.G. Bush (University).