IN THE THIRD RUGBY TEST AGAINST THE BRITISH LIONS, IN CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA, AUGUST 4, SOUTH AFRICA SCORED A 8-3 WIN ASSURING THEM OF VICTORY IN THE SERIES. THEY ARE TWO UP WITH ONLY ONE MORE GAME TO BE PLAYED. THE MATCH TRILLED THE RECORD CROWD OF MORE THAN 50,000. THE SECTION FOR NON-EUROPEANS WAS PARTICULARLY CROWDED WHO A LARGE NUMBER OF LATE ARRIVALS FORCED THEIR WAY IN AFTER THE GATES HAD BEEN CLOSED.

THE BRITISH SIDE OPENED THE SCORING AFTER 27 MINUTES, WHEN RICHARD SHARP FROM 30 YARDS, SENT THE BALL SOARING 70 FEET HIGH BETWEEN THE POSTS FOR A DROP GOAL THAT BROUGHT THE CROWD TO ITS FEET. WITHIN MINUTES, SOUTH AFRICA DREW LEVEL WITH A PENALTY KICK BY FLY-HALF KEITH OXLEE FROM 40 YARDS.

OXLEE STARTED THE SECOND HALF WITH TWO PENALTY ATTEMPTS THAT THREATENED TO PUT THE HOME TEAM IN THE LEAD, BUT THE BRITISH PLAYERS ADVANCED STEADILY DOWN THE RIGHT TOUCHLINE AND FOR THAN 15 MINUTES THEIR FORWARDS WERE DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO THE SOUTH AFRICAN LINE.

TEN MINUTES FORM THE END OF THE GAME, THE LIONS STARTED A MOVEMENT OF THEIR OWN LINE WITH A BREAK BY SHARP WHO DECIDED TO CARRY OUT A PASSING ATTACK INSTEAD OF A MORE PRUDENT KICK. HE PASSED TO WESTON WHO JERKED THE BALL TO K.D. JONES BEFORE HE WAS TACKLED. AS JONES WAS CRASH TACKLED OXLEE PICKED THE BALL UP AND WENT OVER THE LINE. HE CONVERTED THE TRY AND ENDED THE BRITISH TEAM'S CHANCES OF VICTORY IN THE MATCH AND THE SERIES.

FOLLOWING OXLEE'S TRY THE LION'S LAUNCHED A COUNTER ATTACK. IN THEIR DRIVE FORWARD PASK WAS DRIVEN INTO THE CROWD WHICH OVERFLOWED NEAR THE TOUCHLINE AND HE BROKE A RIB. HE WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AND IS UNLIKELY TO PLAY AGAIN DURING THE TOUR.

SOUTH AFRICA: L.G. WILSON; J.P. ENGELBRECHT; J.L. GAINSFORD; M. WYNESS; F. ROUX; K. OXLEE; D. DE VILLIERS; S.P. KUHN; G.F. MALAN; C. BEZUIDENHOUT; J.T. CLAASSEN (CAPTAIN); F.C. DU PREEZ; G.H VAN ZYL; D.J. HOPWOOD; J.P.F. BOTHA.

BRITISH ISLES: T.J. KIERNAN; A.R. SMITH; (CAPTAIN); D.. JONES; M.P. WESTON; D.I.E. BEBB; R.A.W. SHARP; R.E.G. JEEPS; S. MILLAR; B.V. MEREDITH; K.D. JONES; W.A. MULCAHY; W.J. McBRIDE; A. PASK; M.J. CAMPBELL-LAMERTON; H.J. MORGAN;
REFEREE: DR. E.A. STRASSHEIM.