Blast from the past: Fairy lights the way to Bok draw with Britain

Today in SA sports history: August 26

1903 — The SA rugby team plays to a draw for the first time, ending 10-10 against Britain in the opening Test at the Wanderers ground in Johannesburg. Halfback Uncle Dobbin and captain Alex Frew scored tries for the home side, with forward Fairy Heatlie converting both.

1933 — The Springboks take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series against Australia, winning the fourth Test at Crusader’s in Port Elizabeth 11-0. Prop Fanie Louw and winger Jimmy White scored tries.

1978 — Norman “Pangaman” Sekgapane becomes the first black South African to challenge for a world title, but he is stopped in the ninth round by WBA junior-welterweight champion Antonio Cervantes of Colombia in Mmabatho.

1989 — The Springboks survive a late comeback by a World XV to win the first Test 20-19 at a cold and wet Newlands. Both sides scored three tries. Flyhalf Naas Botha posted 12 points with an intercept try, one conversion and two penalties. Centre Faffa Knoetze and flanker Gert Smal also dotted down. Andre Joubert made his debut, coming on to replace injured fullback Johan Heunis early in the match.

1995 — Gary Murray, a fighter who possessed more heart than skill, outpoints American Buck Smith to win the marginal WBU’s vacant welterweight title in Durban.

2000 — The Springboks suffer heartbreak as Australian winger Stirling Mortlock slots a late penalty for a 19-18 victory in Durban to give the Wallabies their first-ever Tri-Nations crown. Flyhalf Braam van Straaten kicked six penalties for tryless SA.

2005 — A tiring Sebastiaan Rothmann, level on the scorecards with IBF cruiserweight champion O’Neil Bell, is knocked out in the 11th round in Hollywood, California. Bell became the undisputed world champion in his next bout.

2006 — The Springboks concede four second-half tries as the All Blacks sweep them aside 45-26 in a Tri-Nations match in Pretoria. Centre Jaque Fourie scored two tries for SA and scrumhalf Fourie du Preez one.

2007 — AB de Villiers scores a match-winning 107 from 89 balls as the Proteas total 323/9 in the final third ODI against Zimbabwe in Harare. Albie Morkel made 97, but only two other batsmen reached double figures for the visitors. Tatenda Taibu struck an unbeaten 107 as the hosts were restricted to 295/7 in their 50 overs. SA won the series 3-0.

2008 — Fast bowler Andre Nel scores 13 to post the highest score for the Proteas who are bowled out for 83 by England in the second ODI in Nottingham. Only two others made double figures as Stuart Board took 5/23 in his 10 overs. The hosts, who reached the winning target inside 15 overs, took a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

2015 — Wayde van Niekerk wins the 400m world title as he clocks a 43.48 sec African record to beat reigning champion LaShawn Merritt of the US and Olympic champion Kirani James of Grenada. Exhausted by his effort, Van Niekerk lay down on the track and was stretchered off to hospital for observation before being released later that night.

2015 — AB de Villiers hits 64 off 48 balls as the Proteas beat New Zealand by 62 runs in the final third ODI in Durban to take the series 2-1. SA posted 283/7 before bowling them out in the final over, David Wiese taking 3/58.

2017 — Flank Siya Kolisi scores two tries as the Springboks thump Argentina 41-23 in a Rugby Championship match in Salta. Replacement loose forward Jean-Luc du Preez and flyhalf Elton Jantjies also dotted down, with SA being awarded a penalty try.