FIELD OF SPORT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 54, Issue 194, 30 May 1934, Page 2

FIELD OF SPORT.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

(By “Onlooker”). In the brightest Rugby football match seen at the Showgrounds this season, Old Boys defeated Technical Old Boys by 13 points to 11 on Saturday afternoon. Old Boys had a full team in the held and it is stated' that this club, has now fairly good prospects of fulfilling all its engagements. A number of juniors have stated their willingness to play senior if this is in the interests of the club. • . The result of the fixture was m doubt right until the end of the second spell. At half-time the score stood, at 8 all and on the merits of the second half the final result might easily have been a draw. Both teams were working well and the spectators showed their interest in the match by considerable “barrack,” something that has been lacking so far this season. The last 20 minutes of the play was particularly good and both sets of hacks were seen to advantage on several occasions. The need foil 1 having rule books brought up-to-date when revisions aie carried out was clearly demonstrated when the Ashburton Rugby Union s Management Committee recently put a rule into operation which had been deleted in 1930. When the Old Boys seniors defaulted: 1 on May 19,. it was decided that under the rules the junior and third grade teams automatically lest their points for. the day. It was subsequently found that tins particular rule was no longer in the book and the forfeited points were restored. This should remind all sports bodies and other organisations of the necessity of keeping their rules and regulations up-to-date to avoid any injustices being unwittingly inflicted. •

owing to the absence of _ some referees on holiday, the Ashburton Basketball Referees’ Association had a little difficulty in arranging strong referees for the double-banked senioi games on Saturday, but eventually all the games were in the hands or competent controllers. . , , , Followers of the game had plenty to interest them in both junior and senior matches, and even the third grade matches provided a few tlmlls. Many barrackers in the big match must have had sore throats before the finish ol the game. „ Next Saturday equally interesting games will he staged. St. Stephen s, with an unbeaten record, will meet Technical Old Girls A: Technical will play High School, and each of the other games in this draw will Jeveiy even. In the second round of the day the match between Convent Old Girls and Tinwald, and Lyndhurst and S . Stephen’s should be worth watching. Technical Old Girls, Timvald and Convent Old Girls are each sending teams to compete in the competition in Timaru on June 4. , , ■ With over 300 girl players taking part in matches each Saturday, tneie is some difficulty in keeping the grounds tidy. If it were possible fo two rubbish containers to be placed do so to the courts, it would be an inducement for the girls to keep tii grounds clear of litter. . Speaking of the grounds, basketball is apparently being unduly crowded by the new croquet courts. Apparently,, too, tho croquet courts will also be cramped for room unless they are extended toward the street. At present several basketball posts are m dangerous proximity to the public path, crossing the west ground. “Onlooker” notices that valuable time is often wasted at a “throw m by the side waiting for the guard ot the offender to take the throw. The nearest girl entitled to _ the throw should take it and get it into play before her opponents have time! to get into position. “Tie-ball” Inside 12-foot Line. — Referees have tried to find a. reason for so many gilds moving outside Die 12-foot line for the throw-up. The

throw-up is given where the tie-ball occurs, except when it is within three feet of a boundary line, in which case it is taken three feet from the poundary line. If in a tie-ball throw-up a player knocks the ball up, she may not catch it or touen it again until it has been touched by another player.

There were about 39 member's present at the opening night of the Ashburton Badminton Club’s season last week and it is anticipated that the club’s membership will reach 40 before long. Although only two nights’ play have been enjoyed so far this season, a number of the new members are already showing decided promise. Wita the commencement of a club at Methven and the possibility of one being established at Chertsey, it will be seen, that the! game is not only taking a hold in the town hut also in. the country. It is hoped that interclub matches will be arranged during the season. :. .v '

The club will play its first inter-club match within the next few weeks when a team will travel to Christchurch to meet the Devonshire Club, It has been decided to institute a ladder competition, which will stimulate interest and no doubt improve the standard of play. ... .

Max Baer, one-time Californian butcher, conqueror of Schmeling in ten rounds, and now idol of Hollywood, is hot favourite to beat Primo Camera for the world’s heavy-weight title next month. The. fight is attracting more attention in America than any since! Tunney took the title from Jack Dempsey. Three promoters have an interest in the bout. Madison Square Garden will stage it and Jack Dempsey, who has a financial interest in Baer, will be part promoter.

The French tennis authorities, now that the Davis Cup is no longer in their possession, and as they are thus deprived of the tremendous and necessary revenue, which a challenge round produces, have taken steps to try and make up tlie deficiency by leasing the famous Stade Roland- Garros in Paris for five years to a boxing promoter, ‘who will thus turn the Stade into a stadium in fact, and not merely one in name. A championship boxing match was held there in June, 1932, so that precedent is. available for the change.

With the Russian wrestler Tom Lurich and the Australian exponent Billy Meeske both laying claim to the heavy-weight title of Australia., considerable interest has been aroused by, the endeavours of a leading Australian bookmaker and the Brisbane Stadium authorities to arrange a championship bout between these two mat-men. The bookmaker has offered to back Lurich. for £SOO in a championship match, against Meeske, while the Brisbane Stadium authorities have offered- a purse of £3OO for the boiib. Walter Browning, the New Zealand wrestler, is also- an active contender for a match against Meeske.. whom he offers to meet on any terms. .

By 398 votes to 27 the Lawn Tennis Association of England ratified . its agreement with the All-England Club, bv which it now assumes full financial responsibility for the Wimbledon championships. and becomes joint owner or the world-famous lawn tennis ground. The All-England club will still continue to run the championship meeting as ot old under the management of a joint; committee, but the Lawn Tennis Association will now gain the fullest financial benefits with the minimum of risk and loss. A Scottish delegate described., the new agreement as a good financial bargain,” hut there was some opposition from the Midlands. claimed that the chances of .getting more money out of the championships were not sufficient’to warrant. entering into a long and that tfieie had been no good reason for scrapping the old one.