IN THE SPORTLIGHT

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 152, 30 June 1939, Page 13

IN THE SPORTLIGHT

Waikato's Loss.

The absence from the Waikato representative team to meet Auckland at Eden Park next Saturday of J. G. Wynyard, the All Black forward, is due to an attack of quinsy. He is making good progress towards recovery, but felt he could not do justice to himself and his team mates, and therefore he notified the selector that he was not available. Still a Fine Forward. The crowd at Carlaw Park last Saturday were delighted at the fine form revealed by a former favourite with them, the dashing F. Piekrang. The forward distinguished himself a few seasons back tor his tireless play for Ponsonby and Manukau, and he proved on Saturday that he is still a man to be reckoned with in any company. He was one of the best forwards on the ground, grafting hard in tight and loose, and being conspicuous for fine breakaways. Several of his openings went begging for lack of support, but Piekrang was there on one occasion to force his way across for a tine try. It would not be surprising to se him lining up in further trials. Alex. Brown Playing Again. Now fully recovered from a severe knee injury suffered in a fall in Wellington several months ago, Alex Brown, the former Auckland representative and Grammar Old Boys' forward, played his first game of the 1939 season in Christtliurch last Saturday. Brown, who is in the police force in Cluistclwirch. has linked up with the Athletic" Club, which for several seasons now has attracted policemen to its ranks. That ho has lost little of his old form was revealed by the fact that he scored a try for his side, dashing across following a line-out. Another newcomer to Clnistehureh football also made a successful debut. He was R. W. Roberts, West ('oast and South Island five-eighths, who figured on the scoring list for the Southern Club. Form in League Trial. The first Rugby League trial between Taranaki and Northland at Carlaw Park last Saturday produced only a few men who have any chance of making the team to tour England in the near future. One of the most impressive men was the Taranaki full-back, G. Cronin. A fine stamp of player, he rarely put a foot wrong all day. He fielded the ball cleanly both in the air and on the ground, was not afraid to go down to stop Northland rushes when the occasion demanded, kicked with judgment with both foot, and had a good idea of running his backs into position. He seems due for another trial, as also do several of the Taranaki forwards, notably L. Clarke, A. Mitchell and R. Hickland.

Brady Brothers Cover Well. For those who watched carefully, the outstanding feature of the main Rugby game at Eden Park last week was the individual performance of D. Brady, the Suburbs and Auckland second five-eighths, whose display was a model for all aspiring representatives. It was not that the Suburbs man made any particularly dazzling solo runs; rather it was his consistent backing up of the other backs, for whom he often opened the way, and his careful covering up of his team-mates on defence. Careful observers' saw that Brady is a real footballer, for he was quite content to cover the rest of the team before he tried anything on his own. His brother, C. Brady, the half-back, showed «vidence of the same generous spirit. The brothers are the sons of a former Auckland representative. Another Caltaux Boxing. The all-amateur boxing carnival at the Leys Institute on Tuesday night was an unqualified success, and revealed a lot of new talent. Among the successful boxers was H. Caltaux, whose brother Vic is cne of the leading professional welterweights in the country. The younger Caltaux has another h«ht on Monday at the Town Hall, when he meets J. Wallace. Bruce Dreaver, who iflso impressed onlookers at the Leys Institute carnival, will meet L. Pennington on Monday, D. Munro is matched with H. Roberts, a promising young welter-weight. However, the star bout among the amateur supports should be the return between Corporal Sayers, of H.M.S. Achilles, and Bob Lyall, Auckland welter-weight champion. Boxing Dandy. Mike Jacobs, famous American boxing entrepreneur, is a dandy—and he can afford to be. He pays £1 each for his ties, £30 each for his suits, and wears button brown boots. You've got to be a star to get away with foot ornaments like his. It is said of Mike that he is always buying new false teeth.

Selector Criticised.

No selector ever won full approval of the crowds, and Mr. F. W. Lucas, who chooses the Auckland team, is no exception judging from the tenor of a letter received by the "Star"' sports editor. The letter reads:—'Tt was confidently expected that Mr. Lucas would make some changes in the Auckland side to meet Waikato. Xot Mr. Lucas— ability and form do not interest him! Just fancy! Hare is in neither of the teams. Xow. on the score of age, Hare is younger than quite a number in the Colts team, so that Mr. Lucas has no square off on this count. According to two recent Otago visitors—one an All Black—Hare is a better full-back than any they have seen in either Island, including J, M. Taylor. He cannot be faulted on his place or line-kicking— with both feet, mark you! His positional play is superb and his handling, to all unprejudiced observers, leaves nothing to be desired. Xow, exactly what superhuman efforts has this player to perform before he catches the sole selector's eye (sorry, eyes) ? It is up to the Rugby public to "see that worthy players receive a fair deal, especially in view of the All Blacks' visit to Africa next year. If Mr. Lucas exhibits the same traits in his selection of players for the North Island trials I, for "one, will remain DI.VfURBHD."

Youthful Waikato Full-back.

D. ("Jock") Ensor, who lias been selected as full-back for Wnikato against A ink land to-morrow, is a 20-year-old player, and earned a reputation as a fullback when playing for Morrinsville against Wainku for the Peace Cup last September. In club football Ensor has played at second five-eighth, alongside A. J. Aitken. captain of the Old Boys' team and centre three-quarter for Waikato. Good full-backs were scarce in Morrinsville last year, and Ensor was played in that position-in several sub-union representative; matches with success. He played in the Waikato trial match in May. but was passed over in favour of J. Ward, whose display against Auckland on June ."> did not come up to expectations. Ensor learned his football at the Morrinsville District High School, where he played half-back, but since moving up to senior grade three seasons ago he has been played at five-eighth or full-back, where length of kicking and sound tackling have been a feature of his play. A month ago Ensor injured a knee in a club game, and has not played in club games since. Basketball Team's Tour. An Australian women's basketball team will visit New Zealand in April of next year. The visiting players will be required to pay their own expenses, estimated at about £30 each.

Forward from the North. ! One of the most promising forwards in the Northland team which met Taranaki at Carlaw Park last Saturday, was Leonard Payne, a member of the City Club at Whangarei. Payne is 20 years of age, 14.0 in weight and 6ft in height. He was educated at the Maunu School, near Whangarei, and then went on to* the Whangarei High School, where he took up football keenly. He i 6 regarded as a young player of great promise, and had he an opportunity of being coached would probably develop into a forward of the type that the game needs. Also in the Northland team was an elder brother, Vincent Payne. The father of the two Northland players is Mr. D, Payne, formerly a well-known middledistance runner. He has eight sons. The eldest, Albert Payne, played football in the North Auckland and South Auckland districts, for the Ponsonby League senior team and the Auckland League representatives. Injuries to Goalkeeper. One of the unluckiest players in senior Soccer this year is Bob Morris, the capable Onehunga goalie. Morris was playing senior football when most of those playing now were still at school, and in his day. his supporters considered him one of the best custodians in the country. He is turning out this year purely to help his club along, and so it is all the more unfortunate that he should have sustained two painful and rather dangerous injuries. Early in the season, he suffered a kick •on the nose, which caused internal bleeding for several days afterwards. He recovered, and played one game—a brilliant one, incidentally—against Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys, and then, the week before last, ho sustained another hard kick on the face when, playing aeainst the same team. The blow was high over the left cheek-bone, and, although it did not cut deeply, it caused a large swelling, and Bob had difficulty in movinsr his jaws for some time. He showed high courage, in this game, by coming back to the field after he had been doctored up, and carrying on gamely despite determined attacks toy the Old Boys forwards.