Blast from the past: Player bags sixth Major at Oakland Hills

Today in SA sports history: August 6

1910 — The Springboks win the first Test of the three-match series against the British Isles 14-10. Playing in front of 14,000 fans at the Wanderers the home side scored four tries through Dougie Morkel, winger Cocky Hahn, halfback Lammetjie Luyt and centre Dirkie de Villiers. Morkel, a forward, added a conversion. The British Isles responded with two unconverted tries and a dropped goal.

1938 — Legendary winger Dai Williams runs in two tries as the Springboks thrash Britain 26-12 in the first Test at Ellis Park. Flyhalf Tony Harris and prop Fanie Louw scored the other two tries. Fullback Gerry Brand converted all four and added two penalties. The visitors responded with four penalties.

1955 —  The Springboks lose the first match of a home series for the first time since 1896, as they go down 22-23 to the British Lions in a thrilling try-fest at Ellis Park. Winger Theuns Briers gave the hosts a chance to win as he scored his second try in the corner in the dying moments, but fullback Jack van der Schyff missed what would have been the winning conversion. He was blamed for the defeat — apart from failing to convert what could have been the winning kick, he gifted two tries to the opposition, who played a man short for the final 35 minutes after flanker Reg Higgins went off injured. Van der Schyff was dropped from the team after that match, never to play again. The Lions won the try count that day 5-4.

1972 — Gary Player claims his second PGA Championship, shooting an overall one-over-par 281, to beat American runners-up Tommy Aaron and Jim Jamieson by two shots at Oakland Hills in Michigan. The South African pocketed $45,000 (R647,540) for his sixth Major title.

1978 — Kork Ballington wraps up the 350cc world championship as he wins the British motorcycling Grand Prix at Silverstone. It was the Rhodesian-born rider’s fifth 350cc victory in eight outings, giving him an unassailable lead with three races remaining.

1994 — The Springboks fail to win a Test on a Tour of New Zealand as they draw the final third match against the All Blacks in Auckland 18-18. The visitors scored two tries to nil, through wing Gavin Johnson and centre Brendan Venter, but they conceded too many penalties, with fullback Shane Howarth slotting six to give his team a 2-0 series triumph.

1994 — Peter Kirsten scores 104 as SA and England play to a draw in the second Test in Leeds. SA led the series 1-0.

2005 — Jean de Villiers scores a try as the Springboks beat the All Blacks 22-16 in a Tri-Nations clash at Newlands. Fullback Percy Montgomery landed four penalties and flyhalf Andre Pretorius a drop.

2012 — The Proteas maintain their 1-0 lead in the three-match series, after drawing the second Test against England in Leeds. Alviro Petersen produced SA’s highlight of the match, scoring 182 in the first innings.

2013 — Faf du Plessis scores 85 off 65 balls and JP Duminy 51 from 34 as the Proteas make 163/3 in the final and third T20 against Sri Lanka in Hambantota. But it’s not enough as the home side charge to a six-wicket victory with 11 deliveries remaining. The visitors, however, won the series 2-1.