SPOTLIGHT ON LAND AND SEA

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 34, 10 February 1939, Page 13

SPOTLIGHT ON LAND AND SEA

SELECTION OF N.Z. PLAYERS FOR DAVIS CUP. ■ At a recent meeting of the Canterbury association dissatisfaction was expressed in no uncertain terms of the manner in which selection of the Dominion Davis Clip teams is carried out. Previously this has been done by the management committee in Wellington, but recently a motion was put forward by the Canterbury association to the effect that three selectors be appointed in future. The obvious intention of this resolution was that these selectors should come from different provinces. The motion was carried, but immediately afterwards another motion was tabled tc. have the three selectors appointed by the management, committee. The effect of this resolution was, of course, to nullify the previous one. Consequently the old order of things exists in that all selections arc done by the management committee. This is a matter which will probably 'he given attention at the next meeting in Wellington. In the meantime Canterbury officials point out that not one of the'selectors attended the New Zealand championship meeting recently held at Ohristchnrch. If this' is so then it is truly a remarkable state of affairs that a Dominion team can be selected in such a manner. , The Canterbury people suggest, too, that something may have to bo done with regard to Davis Cup players who remain in England. This point is well made as it is almost certain that had D. C. Coombe returned to the Dominion he would not have been selected in the Davis Cup team., Yet by remaining in England lie almost assures himself of selection. It has beerf suggested, too, that in futurp a bond may be required from players making it compulsory to return to- this country. if selected in a Davis., Cup team, Finlayson's Good Season.. Instances of exceptionally consistent and accurate trundling were evident in the City and Suburban championship at the Domain on Saturday. In the remarkable low-scoring contest between Manukau and Ponsonby, Robertshaw, of the latter side, was deadly with; his dows. In six overs, one being a maiden, tie took sb: for 10, while Young, who is a much better bowler than is generally realised, in 10 overs—one a maiden—took four for 22. In his tcntli he hatt three batsmen caught. Against Brixton, C. G. Fialayson was the lion of the attack, for his six for 59 was accomplished in 19 overs that included three maidens. He has taken 42 wickets this season- at an average of 9.4 runs. Rival Swimming Sprinters. Whenever Peter Hanan and Noel Crump, Auckland's star sprint swimmers, who arc at present in Invercargill for the New Zealand championships, take part in any handicap events, keen interest is aroused in their doings and in the possibility of their having a race together. At the North Shore Club's carnival last Tuesday night they were both competitors in the 100 yards open handicap. Crunip, deatj-heated for first place in a heat trial, his time being 56 2-os. In the next heat Hanan just failed to dead-heat with G. Simpson, to whom he gave a start of 10s. The Auckland champion was privately timed at 535. He did not swim in the final, in which Crump, was a close second to 15. Woods. The events served to show that Hanan was still a better sprinter than his rival. ; A consistent, enthusiastic swimmer is Victor Capper, of the Waitemata Club. He competes in harbour races and seldom misses a carnival. He was among the swimmers at the North Shore Clubs carnival last Tuesday night and scored a popular win in the 100 yards open handicap. . Unluckily, he was disqualified for breaking his assessed time by more than the margin permitted. He 'also won a heat of the 220 yards handicap in tht smart time of 2.36 3-5.

Athlete Taking a Spell. The former quarter-mile champion oE New Zealand, A. J. Bayers, does not intend to compete at the New Zealand amateur athletic championships at Napier next March, although he will probably be present to 'witness the various events there. He is spelling for a season and is aiming to reach the peak of his form for the New Zealand centenary games in 1040. A journalist by profession, Bayers is working in Auckland again after a sojourn in Hamilton. Last Saturday he made his I only appearance officially on the track so 'far this year. He could not resist • the temptation to turn out in the relay championships for his former club-Old Grammarians. • He ran a furlong m the 880 yards event, but the pace for him was too hot and he finished in third place after being handily placed on taking over the baton. Had Sayera been in condition the result, would have been a foregone conclusion from the moment he was sent away bv his team-mate. His action in taking a good spell from the track is a wise one, for the young Aucklander has plenty of good running in him yet and the rest from serious- training, will prevent him being prematurely "burnt out* as so many promising young runners have been in the. past. Pullar Slower. In failing at Mastcrton on Wednesday to lower R. A. Rose's 1926 national mile record of 4.13 3-5. W. A. C. Pullar was clocked in his special attempt at 4.20 4-a. This could not be compared with his 4.14 4-a at the Auckland Domain in March, 1937, when he won the.Now Zealand mile championship in a great finish with A. R. Wilson, the ex-Whangarei runner. There were great hopes of Pullar for the Empire Games' mile at Sydney last February, but he finished behind the English representative, J. W. Alford (4.11 3-5), G. Backhouse and .V. E.-Boot (

From Poverty Bay. Sc.iiolliim, the ex-Poverty Bay cricketer., who- inside lus. debut last' .Saturday with Brixton ./■'at the .Domain; batted aggressively ;for liis 26, but it must be confessed that lie'gave'several chances' before having his' ■■wicket., .skittled by Wildman, ...His escape- can be attributed .to. lethargic 'fielding, fls. Hi.il, Kanibiny, Simpson and Wildman' i'n-turir-,riiiss,e'd. catches* Wellington's Colts. T,w.Q-,of the colts in. the. WcTlington representative cricket team, J, A.. Ongley ami \V; (i. Rninbird, each got centuries fn theiihinki'K Sliii'li! match, against.-Can': torb'iiry',. : a,nd fcliftirybfttiitife against .Atickland",,streii!g'thc:iicid the opinion, .that t'li'cy are.twbjpf tlic iiipsb nrpinising, batsmen in. the Both '.. ...have .great_ confidence : "'and ■"■..'the "/temperament ..for, 'big cricket. : Q'ngiey. is the: more, ■fiiiished.bats-' man of the pan and is clevei at deflecting a ball on the leg side. Rainbird's best Bhots'V'are'on ;thc-:;i)ff-sid<! and his- cpver, driving is marked ivitli plend.id timingahd'power.".His g'« <l 'finer straight bat and ;;watchful dcfi n u est that he might"make a -

AUSTRALIAN j, TEST VHOPE.'^f-', G,'Christ, the Queensland left-arm. spin'bowler,; who 'was considered, to be the ;. "find',' , oE the ■ game .in . December between Australia f-'and 1 . The Rest at the Melbourne Cricket ■Club's' Centenary.. He. did not: meet '} ... with further success until_■ ..Queens-V" ..land's innings victory over yictoria ; this week, his five wickets 1 "in; the / .match having an important bearing r ,v ! P n the result. '...;.-,'; £';•■';"::;,., Umpire Still Spedntnr. -. J ■" Mr:- J. Abbott, , City and. Suburban Association;'veteran umpire, '.watched with interest-the;:, second■'■'. round- .'play-/at; the; week-end.. Since:'early."'December, when .he ln'et-.-'with -'a.'severe.': accident at ...his employment, ■'- he -.-lias' ■ been .much. ..misled' around the: Domain .wickets,;.;'':'■';,•'/:'.;'.'''';•:"' yersatility of Sale; The versatility of-V S -Sale was.shown in' : the .'Plunket: Shield:-r:niateli','.between Auckland' and Wellingtohr;;';. A; 'century; against Otago made'his place '.in the team certain and-in ; .Auckland's"first 'innings lieplayed brightly for -of .38; runs. He fielded well and. ■ when in the Wellington second innings Skeet;":.' the' wicket-keeper, was injured Sale "was'called; on to keep wickets;. He gave- a ve'ry' : g'o6'd; : exhibition with ■ the!''gloves and'.'.'topic Cowie, the fast bowler, particularly, well. This was not surprising, as Sale -was a good wicketkeeper. when at the Takapuna Grammar School.. When Skeet returned Sale was tried as a change bowler and-in his first over lie clean-bowled Lamason, the Wellington captain. Altogether, the match was, for Sale, quite an eventful one. ■ Another generation of Auckland cricketers will recall that his father, the late Ned Sale, was a first-class 'keeper, though, he did not don the gloves regularly. A dentist-by profession, his first | thought was necessarily the care of his hands. . ?? yi

REVELRY, M, KAWAU . Ij THE WEEMW; Kawau •will bo a bright spot tin's weekend, for the Royal. .JveAV .Zealaii'ci' Yacht; Si].ua<lrb'n is holding its. annual .gathering. there. Tonight .yachts..and, launches;,.will race to. Mansion.. Hpusp Bay; 'tp&jorrbiy.' a. regatta wilt $>e Jield in. Bon Accord*! liaibour,. and there will 'be''.a. dance :ih..'the I evening. .'....■■ V' -V-> .. The .first, race-tiiis evening will; be',: if or', j motor, 'the. K ing's'..wjiarf. j a.t f.i.30..p.m; The entries, are: Raira.Rotd:j j'n'ali'anii,.Tcrimoana. Men-Mies, liady.'Maisi garet, Lady 1 11a,. Slum,..Amaryllis,'.Aotca. i • The iCLonil in I <hu<l di imoii jachts will start .'off the /'King's". wharf-' : at'7-'p:m.;. .fiiifiihiiig of!' '■■Jiom.oii.a .'. : : : P6iiit'i i-'atV-.thc--'entrance '''to" . Boii -iccoi'H "Hai]>p,iir.:-.. The-j .entries-are': ' Windward, Taimii, Taii'g'u'rba, i ' : Koti'ri," " Arampaha,,, .;Mahaki,' ■, Janet.'; fipi'o'thy,, Peri, ■■Ghost,. G.lpriana,. Medina/ 1 Revel;. Minerva, Kotiitu, lona, ..Qreti.- '" 'Jhe fiisl i'n iii I ,i in cnei the same coin o I'he.. en trips ire; Ranger, Ariki.-.fTawera,-. Macai, , I crania,,* .Tnmntea,'. ! i in I ii lii I h ! in, '•*:£■ : .: ; ■'■'■■ ■■":■ ''^"■■' :V -"- : ?) Chips From the Suburban Cricket. at,Hhe'start:;and. ap)ie;in;(l'ii(, times '.overcautious;'; the -Green; Lane batsman, \ Roy Robinson.i-later played' withi'' zest ".to"compile 79 .of : liiti team's .IS3' against rDilworfch. Old Boys on Saturday at the Domain On the pavilidn'wicket, which was iri;.bettcr coridition/iGpldsworthj' came 'to light, late in'.,the..'afternoon -;jvitlr a. ".sparkling performance, foe. R;Yt against Brixton. ,■ In less than: aii; hour lie rattled 'up..73; (which included 'eight ; boundaries) and two "sixes. Longville-S (Bmt6n) M,? Turner (JManukali) .44;.. and ■ Imies' JPonsonby) 34 were other. batsmen. ':who ;;didv; well.; on, ,'a day ■ 'wliicK. rather ...favoured.-the'. ''bowlers.;, ",',.„■'.

Yotlii'.r I'iilb"- j-'iu <•£ =-. ' ■ A.pleasing featurc.."of..:tlie.'rclay>'atliletic lncieting.-atXarhtt Park last Saturday was .tli : e'.'goo'd : '6.tiiii(lar(l of [lie,'performances in l tlia,'. : .neld..' events u rid the ---iinc showing in tlii.s-'uQpartmcnt '.by the junior members; of the /Pap'nkura,;Club, s :..Papakm'a,..which.-is and :oi] i he -youngest; club.-s in : 'the.-fAucklaiiU'v l 4istH£t^^wasV.represciited; : i'n ' each'-of,tile three divisions—senior, 1 junior ■ 'aiid.yjaiiies— and;; ..-i'iieribrally;,'; speaking iits l-eprcsentiitivps' performed;; with .jeonspicu-ousV-'-.s'iiccess. /The;; juniors:. were /.runner's: 'upiin^thoir'section.^\vitlr 10 points, : ,win!iing' .tlieii.wrQ.'.niiics,' high." 'jtimp;,and shot' put' events,; ,and.'securing'' thirdi-in-the broad jUrii'p::'.V.Tiu; in .the.;'shot, put—A; Dreadori;.' .K.-. Patefson : and;"'R;' '■ Kcat— aggregated l()9ft.O'/iin,'.which, was 9ft BViin ;bottcr';than;''.the ■ effort- of .the'winning senior, team.•■ The high jumpers,',,R.'Kcat,' ' i: M:.Middlct6ri'and;B., Clarke, also.did well with combined, .leaps of loft 2m to their credit, -This - also'-.conipared ivory favour- , ably/.with the standard set by; the seniors to ?'tliis : -'event;':.'as:'the'■latter aggregated ' Armstrong and Carroll. ''■;.■ One ■ questiou'- ; tiiafc of ten crops'-up.rwlien ■ ■'the;/capabilities, of Henry/Armstrong;'-'.the 'hard-hitting negro/tight;.and;'welter-weight .wp.i'!d:..bpxing ';:.c]iainpidii',^ : arC':'' being. "dis: .ci;|Ssed''is iivhetlfer; Jack Carroll," the; Aus-' : tralian; wel.l.eiv.cojild..have/, .beaten.--him. '.Mauy-.-are; 'of the "'s opinion' that',.' Carroll, with his superior; height;:and. reach,"'.could have^keptr.''Hurricane, Hank''...,at arm's '.length' arid him: "with, a'';longrange-, attack. ■■"''.ltVjs.' t,ho;.;,belief; of ..Merv. :Willis,ytlie;.Victorian welter, who'saw Car;;roll 'fight'on■'■severah Carfon'could.ntftlijive kept :tlip:negro.wonder '■d.lf,'.:b',ut'. : tluilr 14i'iristi'ong;wo,iild ; havc' won|i;by.'.at £p.. Mcrv. /has ; never,.' seen ■ Armhs'trp',nß:in,action;.'.bu,t judges'from, what-he ihas,-.liear.il aiulicail tiiat-tho'iiegro, would' have'V'heen : able ;to ■ wc'ayo.'.'.in ."under Car-j,oll-s-giiard;-...y..Tlieii jit would, not bo' hard ■fpr'liiiii'i.to.etop.-.tlio'.Australian; for it has been.- pvoved.i'ih.tliQ: -past; tliat Carroll \cpiild :'iiot; take/much;; punishment, on the .jaw,;';-:S.cy,e'i ;, al'.. boxers" have'floored him in, ; tlic' : .''past,"'-..l)'ut."lia re.'.b.'cnivunable' to finish ljini; off ''owing '.both to inability to get inside', his '-'guard again, and also, to a large. extent toa-sense of inferiority engendered'' ; l).v;.; Carroll's.,, almost .legendary." reputation df-V inyincibilit}'.'.."l< think," 'says. [ .Merv., -''that;.'' Armstrong;: could?;have-; put'y. lii.ni down/ and kept him-, down."- .; ■:,;;..'::<;. Consistent Distance Runner. ;, : ; The big Auckland distance runner Lv:R.'. ■Watters. -who has jumped into; the .shoes 'of i'J.-j'.W^: Savidan,-'is-perhai)s.: ; the;finost consistent performer in Auckland; to-day, ' and invariably'- when- he .turns out he suct' ceeds.iu'filling fii-st, second or'-tliird.place;, no.!riiatte'r,:what-'handieaps he- lias to pick. : ''up;,' He ■; commenced the; season-- well/by; winning- the , Harry Holland'■•' Memorial Trophy for tbe three, miles' steeplechase : ievent conducted 'by the"Aucklaiid'' Athletic Club: and-; since ;.then he, .has,; made his;' appearance at the majority, of club, meet-ings;.,-Last Saturday, he was in good.fettle . once -more. .He ,:finished first for. the, i Auckland .Club' in .the four -miles' -event, J-;".'S.'-''Wade,' the \New Zealand niile chain-'; pion, gaining very little on him over the: final mile. In, this event Wade started off ■with-,300 yards'to pick up on Walters—. a hopeless task—and when ho had completed the'journey (here was:-still".about the salhe distance separating.the. two men. Watters also cantered' home an easy winner in the throe miles' event, in which his club, secured first', second'.and'third places.!>-Watters, a big man,, with a long raking stride, will be a serious contender 'for championship honours at Napier next .month. He has. a good style and' can maintain!...an even pace from start to fmiah; ...,,..;..