THE SPORTING MIRROR

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 94, 21 April 1945, Page 15

THE SPORTING MIRROR

Ponsonby Expects To Field A Solid Rugby Pack

DONSONBY, runners-up in the Auckland Rugby Union's senior championship last year, has the material tor a strong htteen this season. Like most other clubs, some difficulty is being experienced in sorting out a reliable set of backs but, on the other hand, there appears to be a surfeit of better than average forwards. Joe Gunning, the former Marist packman, will be a tower of strength in the tight, while he will receive strong support from E. Gray, who played for Auckland and the Services last season, and D. Masßae and M. Cleary, both of whom also represented Auckland last year. Two other strapping forwards are ij. Burke and R. Taylor, Colts' representatives and emergencies for the A team. Percy Tetzlaff, North Island and New Zealand half, will be at the base of the scrum, and he will have McKay, who played sound football last year, outside him. Some doubt still exists as to whether C. A. Kingstone the former Auckland full-back, will turn out for Ponsonby or University. At the end of last season Ponsonby drew 8-all in the Jubilee Trophy match with University, the championship winners.

Veteran Tjaim Tennis Player ! Competing in the Otago LaAvn Tennis Association's Easter tournament was W. Bray, who played with considerable success in both championship and handicap events. "Bill" Bray represented Waikouaiti against Dunedin in 1897, and has been a competitor in Otago championships since 1903, winning titles on various occasions. After 48 years of competitive play he again proved his playing ability by giving an outstanding exhibition with L. Harvey, of Maniototo, in the men's doubles event against J. Robson and R. G. Sincock, the eventual winners. His courtcraft and experience proved extremely worrying to many of his younger opponents in the handicap events, and one or two who unsuspectingly foresaw an easy victory came off the court disillusioned but much wiser. Wealth Of Athletic Talent Performances at the Auckland Secondary Schools' athletic championships last Saturday clearly indicated that there is a wealth of yohng talent in Auckland. Particularly impressive was J. G. C. Myles (Mount I Albert Grammar), who collected the 1100 yds. 220 yds and 440 yds titles. In 1 addition, he finished a close second in the senior 120 yds hurdles, and the I winner, D. T. Steward (King's) had to equal the record to win the event. I Myles, who was runner-up in the I 100 yds and 220 yds at the New Zealand junior championships this year, cut out the 100 yds in 10 l-ss, equalling the national record. His times for the furlong and the quarter were | also very good.

Rugby Career Ended

Acting on medical advice Leo Connolly, Southland, Otago, South Island and New Zealand forward, will take no active participation in Rugby in future. Connolly was one of the most promising forwards produced in Southland in recent years, and he first represented this province at the early age of 18, states the Southland News.. He played his football for the Marist Club in Invercargill, and in 1940 was selected for a front row position in the Southland pack. He represented Southland again in 1941 and 1942. On being transferred to Dunedin he linked up with the Dunedin Club, and his consistently good play earned for him a place in the Otago team of 1943. That year he was picked for the South Island team and came through his big test with credit. His bustling busy figure was seldom far away from the ball. Last season he played even better football, and after representing South Island was selected for the New Zealand XV. which played the Combined Services' XV. at Wellington. It is most unfortunate that Connolly should have to give the game up as he is young as far as football players are concerned, and his prospects of getting into an even higher standard of Rugby after the war were certainly bright.

Game Young League Half

North Shore Rugby League introduced a young half-back into its senior team last Saturday, and the colt, Russell Green, gave one of the gamest displays ever seen at Carlaw Park The big Manukau forwards tossed Green all over the paddock, but he never once failed to get down to stopping the toughest forward rushes. Round the scrum, Green revealed flashes of initiative and a sound knowledge of half-back play. It is intended that Green will replace J. McArthur, who is now posted to the N.Z.E.F. He was eventually taken off injured, but it was a splendid debut. Green incidentally is the voungest member of the North Shore cricket eleven, and this summer he has shown more than average ability.

B. Nordgren in Form

Brian Nordgren turned out again for Ponsonby League seniors on Saturday, and the speedy amateur sprinter played a high-class game on the wing against Newton. There are few fitter athletes in Auckland than Nordgren, and his speed off the mark is going to make him a prolific scorer once the Ponsonby backs settle down to team work. He switched over to the League code last season and proved a match winner in six successive games for Ponsonby. It would occasion no surprise to see Nordgren gain a place in the Auckland threequarter line this season.

No Ambulance Officer

If »the Auckland Rugby League proposes to carry out its intention of playing games on outside grounds there is need for the presence of a St. John Ambulance official. Some of the grounds are not so level as Carlaw Park and the danger of accidents is thus greatly increased. At Grey Lynn Park last Saturday there were several stoppages in the Pon-sonby-Newton fixture, fortunately no serious injuries were sustained.

I Promising League Winger 1 Playing on the wing for Marist I League last Saturday, J. Smith took a prominent part in the defeat of City, and his form is in keeping with the best seen in the opening series. Smith scored two fine tries and on i one occasion side-stepped Clarke 'without slackening his speed. Smith returned from the Pacific two seasons ago, and has since been one of Auckland's most impressive wings. Previous to this Smith went back to the Rugby code and played for several seasons in the King Country. However, he played his junior football with the Marist League Club, and looks like proving a good scoring back given reasonable opportunities.

Sound Second Half A two stroke reduction in his handicap did not stop J. Todd from leading the field in the bogey competition at Titirangi last 'Saturday. His card of all square in a stiff southerly and showers was distinguished by a very sound second half, in which he halved seven holes and won two —the 12th and 13th. Todd was in trouble early in hi 3 round and was three down after four holes. Just as quickly he got square again. A 5 and a 6 to follow saw him two down at the turn. The patchiness of his golf ran his medal score up to 44. Home in 39. he finished with a medal card of S3—l2—-71, and the handicappers reduced him another stroke.

The Perfect Retort /

Practising consistently lately with the hope of improving his play, Tom Clarke, junior, ha'd the satisfaction of doing the first one of the season at Titirangi during last Saturday's ,play. It was the perfect retort to a challenge issued by George Marriner, one of the four with whom he was playing. Marriner's tee shot at the short fourth had ended a few feet from the hole. Turning to Clarke, he exultantly exclaimed, "Get inside that one." He was somewhat abashed by the sequel, despite the fact that he holed his putt for two.

Dominion Archery Championships

A feature of the New Zealand archery championships (postal shoots) just concluded was the remarkably good shooting by the champion, W. J. Burton, of Gisborne. In an American roujjd (30 arrows each at 40, 50 and 60" yards) he scored 734, which is only 12 below the National Archery Association's (U.S.A.) record. Miss P. Bryan, of Auckland, won the ladies' championship and also the ladies' clout shoot. In the latter event Mrs. P. Allan (Auckland) was second, and Mrs. P. Graham (Auckland) was fourth. T. G. Bryan was Auckland's most successful competitor, finishing fourth in the open championship and second in the open clout shoot.

A Family Affair

Four members of the Johnson family helped to make the Otahuhu League pack of six for the opening match of the season against Mount Albert. And as the suburban team's victory was largely due to the good play of its forwards, much of the credit must go to the Otahuhu quartet. It was the first time on record that four brothers have played in a League pack in Auckland. It was difficult at times for the average spectator to sort them out. The best known is N. Johnson, who has represented Auckland, a 14-stone player with good hands, pace and anticipation. The other brothers are J. Johnson, M. Johnson and I. Johnson, and all are good, solid forwards.

Record Breaking Season

A. R. P. Eustace capped a brilliant record breaking season at the Auckland Secondary Schools' athletic championships on Saturday when he created fresh national junior figures for the 220 yards hurdles. Placed by schoolboy hurdlers, Eustace cut out the the journey in 265, which bettered by 2-ss, the existing record established at the New Zealand junior championships by J. Holland, Auckland. At the Olympic Stadium last month, Eustace was clocked to cover the journey in 26 1-5 but his time has not yet been officially recognised. At the beginning of the season, the national record stood at 275. Eustace has shown remarkable improvement this season. When he won the 120 yards hurdles at the secondary schools' sports last year, his time was 15 4-5. In February of this year, he reduced the New Zealand junior 120 yards record to 15 2-5s and a week later did it 15s dead. At the New Zealand championships at Napier and on three or four othgr occasions, Eustace returned 15s for the distance and he capped those performances when he clocked 14 1-5 at Hamilton on Easter Saturday. That time has not yet befen recognised by the N.Z.A.A.A.

Splendid All-rounder

It is some years since the League I code has seen such a splendi .1 allrounder as T. Hardwick, who played an outstanding game for Ponsonby against Newton. Although the opposition was not strong, Hardwick, at centre-three-quarter, proved a tricky runner and good handler. Usually a forward, he showed speed and excellent anticipation. Hardwick made an impressive debut in representative football last season, and it looks as though the experience has been beneficial. It is the club's intention to play him as third row forward, a position requiring football brains. Hardwick, who is a returned soldier, played League last season after doing well in Rugby competitions among Army teams. " Gone With the Wind " Schofield Haigh, famous Yorkshire bowler of 30 or 40 years ago, was once invited to present the cup to the premier team in the Huddersfield district. Haigh had never spoken in public before, and, aiming to create a good impression, decided to learn his speech by heart, with the aid of his father. On the fateful evening, he rose and began haltingly: "Air. chairman and gentlemen—er, er"; then stammered: "Before I came on this platform only my father and I knew what I was going to s. v—now only my father knows."