AUSTRALIAN SPORTS LETTER.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 75, 29 March 1928, Page 15

AUSTRALIAN SPORTS LETTER.

PURDY'S LIGHT-WEIGHT TITLE

HINKLER AND CHARLTON,

OLYMPIC GAMES PREPARATIONS

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

SYDNEY, March 20.

Charles Purdy paid a visit to his bank this week to deposit the earnings of his victory over Billy Jones, Australian lightweight champion, at Sydney Stadium, on Saturday evening. The bout was for the "Australasian championship," and Purdy won on points over 15 rounds. He deserved the verdict, although Newcastle supporters of the Australian nooea and hooted even after Bert Hinkler. the famous airman, had stepped into the ring to receive a cheque for £100.

Excessive clinching marred the display, but it was a good light when the men separated. Purdy was not altogether blameless, and will have to stand off and do more hard hitting before thinking of going further afield. However, he proved that he is quite the cleverest light-weight in these parts. He has shown better form in previous fights, whereas Jones excelled on past performances. But there is no doubt that the Aucklander has created a great record since he made his debut in the amateur championships, a rakish, but wiry will-o'-the-wisp. When he returns to Auckland in what appears to bo the far and distant future, he will startle the natives of the Town Hall, no matter liow good is his opponent.

The first round opened with a clinch and ended witha clinch. When Purdy caught his man with a stinging right on the jaw, Jones came to close quarters and remained there for the rest of the second round. Purdy aimed for the body in the third round, but Jones scored too. The next two sessions saw Purdy still on the attack, but he eased up in the sixth and proved how good is his defence. Jones' face was bleeding badly. The eighth round was heralded by the L-rowd counting the boxers out, and they livened up. Jones set to his task of reducing the margin with great gu9to, and had the better of the rounds up to the thirteenth. Hinkler arrived then and all eyes were on him as he stood in the front stalls. Even the boxers had a look. Next moment they made up for it by going at each other like Kilkenny cats. An accidental bump of heads and Purdy a left eye poured blood. Joe Wall is. the re/eree, had his immaculately white flannels splashed with "claret." Purely made Jones miss throughout the fifteenth, and won deservedly. Giants of Air and Water.

Two sun-tanned men shook hands on Manly Beach last Sundaj. One, short of stature, but solidly built, was in mufti, the other, of magnificent physique, was clad in bathing suit and encircled by the cork belt of a life saver. It was the meeting of Hinkler, "King of the Air," and "Boy" Charltop, world's champion swimmer. Both have made history and burnished the name of Australia on the scroll of fame.

Hinkler was the guest of honour at a life-saving display by the Manly LifeSaving Club. Charlton made his first public appearance of the season. He arrived in Sydney last week from the outback to train for the Olympic Games and prove himself in a special trial race at the Domain Baths on March 31. Charlton daily disports in the Manly swimming pool and is rapidly regaining his invincible form. He is a remarkable swimmer. In no time he is in form equal to the best in Australia. As an example he loatVd over 440 yds the other day in 5.30, and then had a lung-op«ner over 1000 yds. When he swims on March 31 he should reap a golden harvest for the Olympic fund and approach, if not better, the world's 440 yds record. He is being coached by Harry Hay, the exOlympic representative, who has turned out such champion juniors as Noel Ryan and Phyllis Wells. Hay intends to accompany Charlton to the Games. Olympic Athletes Win State Titles.

As if to justify their inclusion in the Australian Olympic team James Carlton and C. S. Stuart ran excellently at Manly Oval on Saturday in the New South Wales championships. Carlton, who did not start in the 100 yds State event a week ago owing to a strained knee, cleared away from the field and won the 220 yd« hv tive yards in 22 3-ss. Carlton won from the outside lane and bad no one to extend him.

Likewise, Stuart carried off the 880 yds title by 14yds in 1.57 3-5. He beat a big field and his time on the perfectlycircular track of five laps to the mile was distinctly attractive.

Miss Edie Robinson, a third Olympic prospect, won the ladies' 100 yds championship by the narrowest of margins through getting off the mark slowly. Miss Robinson has never been beaten in a 100 yds scratch race, but her slowness off the mark in the last two races would have spoiled her record but for her great I finish. Her time was 12s.

A personality of the day was "Nick" Winter, world's hop, step and jump record holder, who propoped to prove to the Olympic selectors hat he is fit for another trip abroad. Winter jumped well, but he was beaten by C. M. Ebert, holder of the Australian board jump championship, and was palpably disappointed with his 4oft 3£in, a3 compared with his world's best of 51ft odd, and Ebert's 46ft 4£in. Winter's cousins won the ladies' jumping events. E. H. Scott won the 440 yds hurdles in tiOs.

"Johnny" Taylor 111 Again,

Members of the Australian cricket

;im now in the Dominion, and cricketers - nerally, will regret to hear that J. j M. Taylor, the famous Australian bats- : »n. is suffering from a recurrence of s old war trouble. He has not been "I'll for some months, and has been i.'iwble to play cricket this season. Now his ailment has taken a turn "Inch necessitated his removal to the o of Wales Hospital, Ranuwic.; If. was hoped that Taylor would recover ; health in time i,o help stem the Knglish invasion next season. But it 'pins that it will not be so. Under ■spital treatment he has already made ogress, and his followers in sport do iL-h to cheer him up on visiting days. Harold Baker Injured in Fall. Another popular sportsman who is iu present incapacitated through the indirect result of war injuries is Harold Baker, brother of R. L. "Snowy" Baker

and manager of the New South Wales Rugby team which toured New Zealand a few years ago. Harold Baker, who is lame following his war service, slipped and fell on a broken glass ornament and was severely cut about the body, necessitating the insertion of many stitches. At first his condition v. as somewhat serious, but splendid progress is now reported. He will be compelled to rest for some time.

Baker is an ardent Rugby enthusiast, and one of those battlers who have seen the code gradually gain favour until the State was able to hold its own in international competition against the Home teams and the All Blacks. He made many friends in Auckland. While in the "Queen City" he made the tepid baths a daily rendezvous, and there trudgeoned his tift 2in of height and bulk through the water at a pace fully proving that he was once an Australian champion. In the ring he was equally at ease in pre-war days, and even now he can get pace out of a horse when it seems impossible. He is a fine allrounder.