GAMES AND PLAYERS

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25240, 19 July 1947, Page 4

GAMES AND PLAYERS

ATHLETIC SPORTS

(By “MILES.”)

To a Correspondent

Rugby Park: (1) Laws of the Game, Law 21, Kick-off, reads:—(a) A place kick from the centre of the half-way line, or after an unconverted try, a drop-kick at or from behind the centre of the halfway line must be taken. . . . Law 22, (a):—A drop-kick must be taken from within the 25 yards line. (2) Did the referee give his ruling after a try or a force down? Grim Battling It has been a grim struggle for Dennis Smith, formerly a notable cricketer, to win his way to the final of the Godby Trophy match, the Christchurch Golf Club’s most difficult handicap knock-out competition. To win his four matches he has had to play eight rounds. In a handicap knock-out, if the players finish square at the end of the round, another round must be played. Smith has had to play one opponent three times, two ethers twice, and one once. If he wins the final it will be a triumph of endurance and determination. Tackling at Its Best

Both sets of backs in the North-South Island University match at Lancaster Park on Wednesday gave brilliant exhibitions of passing, and yet only three tries were scored. The only reason for this was the grand tackling by the backs on each side. Too many spectators imagine that a passing rush is not complete unless a wing-three-quarters flies over at the corner for a brilliant try. Too often good tackling is not given the credit it deserves and too often the work of the inside backs in driving an attack across field is not recognised. Tackling—good, clean, low tackling as was seen in the University match—is an integral part of the game of Rugby football. Coursing opposing backs to the touch-line is a job for the experienced player. The great tackling of the University players was an object lesson even though it robbed the game of some of the spectacular for those who like to see the flying wing-three-quarters streaking over the line for tries the men inside have made possible.

Fantastic Failure Joe Baksi, described as the “one-time beer hall bouncer” and the “coal-mine clouter of Pennsylvania,” dropped from his pedestal with a thud when Ole Tandberg, Sweden, beat him on points in a match at Stockholm early this month. Baksi was thought to be in line for a world’s title fight with Joe Louis, but, according to an American writer, "what remains of the heavy-weight industry is slightly more hay-wire than usual as a result of Joe Baksi’s fantastic failure.” When told of the result Joe Louis laughed. "It looks like I won’t have another fight this year. I can’t see anyone paying more than 15 cents for a title match when the challenger pops out of nowhere like Tandberg.” Reversion to Amateur Status

A ruling by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club provides that a professional golfer may be reinstated as an amateur after a three-year period of grace in the unpaid ranks. A player desiring to return to the amateur fold must have been a professional less than five years. He may change from the paid to the unpaid ranks only once.

Replacement of Togs "A Rugby Supporter for 40 Years” writes as follows:—"It would be a good thing to draw the attention of the management committee of the Canterbury Rugby Union to the criticism from the east stand of delays which occur at every match (except interprovincial) at Lancaster Park through the rule that all clubs should (must) have replacement shorts and jerseys on the side line. This has been continuously a source of just criticism by very many supporters. At times it can be extremely risky for a player to be in a biting wind without jersey, and it has been frequent in occurrence. The Rugby Union has previously stated this is a club responsibility, but the union seemingly is lax or indifferent in enforcing its own made rule.” The correspondent might well have told of an incident in the Inter-Island Universities match when the South Island centre (Moore) had his shorts torn. After a considerable delay he emerged from the huddle of players with black shorts. Not an extra pair of the regulation all white colour was on hand. Hurdles and Javelin

Steve Seymour, 26-year-old javelin thrower, stole the limelight at the sixtieth annual national amateur athletic championships at Lincoln, Nebraska, on July 5, when he threw the javelin 248 ft lOin—a new American record. After running away with the 110 metres high hurdles in Msec Harrison Dillard won the 200 metres low hurdles in 23.35ec. Well-earned Honour

Pat Smith, elected captain of the New Zealand League team to tour England, has received honour well deserved after a long and creditable record. In 1933-34-35 he played in the first fifteen for St. Bede’s College, in 1936 he played Rugby in the Ellesmere Sub-Union, in 1937 he rested from football, in 1938 he played at wing three-quarters for the Dunedin Club, and in 1939-40-41 he played for Marist (Wellington) and for the Wellington Province. In 1942 he returned to Christchurch, joined Athletic, and played for Canterbury. In 1943-44-45-46-47 "he played League football in every representative game for Canterbury. He played for Addington in 1944-45 and for Hornby in 1946. Early in the present year he formed the Prebbleton Club, of which J. S. Haig, also a New Zealand player, is a member. Pat Smith is a rugged forward and well qualified as a skipper. Keep to the White Line

In the 25 miles unpaced time trial held last Saturday by the Canterbury Amateur Cycling Centre, it was noticed that Frank Chapman concentrated on riding where possible along the white line that marks the middle of the road. He kept up a steadier pace than the other riders over the whole journey. When he was announced the winner, he was asked his reasons for what appeared a strange idea. He ieplied: "That’s a secret, but the line was jolly good company.” Officials and former riders discussing the matter afterwards considered there was something in it. By concentrating upon the line along the route Chapman probably occupied his mind so much as to make him forget the monotony and high pressure of an unpaced time trial over 25 miles. Boom in Billiards

Billiards is booming in Christchurch at present, and with interesting matches in progress, local enthusiasts are being well catered for. In the opinion of one of £;, ew Zealand’s leading billiards experts. Christchurch has more first-class players than any other leading city. The interclub competition run by the Canterbury Billiards Association will finish next week, and the result is still in doubt, with R.S.A. holding a slight lead over Lyttelton. The L. B. Hart Cup, competed for annually between teams of eight players representing the Canterbury Automobile Association, Commercial Travellers’ Association, the R.S.A., and Pioneer Clubs commenced on Wednesday, the first game being between C.T.A. and R.S.A., with the last-named winning by 7 games to 1. The Canterbury amateur championship will commence at the Pioneer Club on Monday evening on a table specially fitted U P ? or , e occasi on. The present holder of the championship. W. Smith, is strongly favoured, but he will meet with strong opposition from A. Albertson, J. Munro Zealan d snooker champion), R. Whitford, and V. Choate. The New Zealand amateur billiards championships will commence in Auckland on August 25, and Canterbury will have four representatives —W. Smith. A. Albertson, V. Choate, and A. Innes. The present champion. R. Carrick (Auckland), is an exceptional player and will take a lot of beating in his home town. Too Many Stoppages

. The number of stoppages for trifling injuries that a good tough player would never stop for, have marred games at Lancaster Park during the season, and Mr J. N. Clarke did the correct thing when he introduced the question at a meetmg of the management committee of the Canterbury Rugby Union last Tuesday. Too many of the stoppages have been for trifling discomforts, have put unnecessary work on the ambulance men, and have possibly given a team a muchneeded spell. The spell also gives the tired, thirsty men a chance to have a swig at the water-bottle, always forgetting that the water might be wanted for more serious cases. The ambulance workera have plenty to do without worrying ♦u Ut scratches and minor bruises and they should have more support such as - fl by ambulance brigade at the Christchurch Boys’ High School. There « en * d mat ches played by the school first fifteen and injury to friend °F. foe *J s P r °mptly attended to. It is a pity other secondary schools cannot prot{?e sam , e servic e for games in which their boys play. At the St. Andrew’s-St. Bedes game on Wednesday one bov suffered a compound fracture of a thumb HA d n rt anOt t er in cut artery "which spurted «? c H y a ,spectator (a woman) had sufficient knowledge to give first aid to the two injured boys. There are enough non-playing members in every club m the town to form groups that could render the aid ambulance men are at present asked to give. Each club should have its own first aid detachment the formation of which would give many keen non-playing members a chance to do something practical to help the men who provide the sport.

I Amateur Rules in Golf Further details are now to hand of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club’s revision of the rules defining an amateur. Amateurs are warned against playing for money prizes, teaching for payment, apprenticeship to a professional after the age of 21, accepting payment for expenses except when representing a country, county, or club in a team event when certain expenses are allowed, allowing the use of an amateur’s name as an advertising medium because of golfing skill (whether the advertisement appertains to golf or not), being photographed for monetary reward, or receiving payment for books or articles on golf of which they are not the true authors. A final clause refers to men employed by companies or individuals who play in golf tournaments, competitions or exhibitions to further their employers’ interest. There are other definitions which should be obvious enough to the amateur. Sunday Football

The submission that a ruling by a former Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout), that a local body had no right to forbid its citizens to play games on municipal sports grounds on Sundays, made the by-laws of the Palmerston North City -Council prohibiting Sunday play ultra vires, was made to the Manawatu Rugby Union. The legal position was explained this week by the Town Clerk of Christchurch (Mr H. S. Feast), who said a section of the Municipal Corporations Act stated: “No by-law shall be valid if a breach therefore would involve a breach only of some religious or moral rule.” Permission for the playing of Sunday football in Christchurch had been restricted to teams from organisations the nature of whose employment—such as shifts—precluded them from playing on Saturdays. The matches have been limited to reserves which are not closely adjacent to residential areas. The council has declined to grant permission for the playing of matches on Sundays on an organised competition basis. “A local body cannot refuse to grant permission for the playing of games on reserves on Sundays solely on religious grounds,” explained Mr Feast. A further point in selecting grounds upon which Sunday football could be played was that games on successive days would affect the turf.

Cricket Coaches Canterbury cricket made considerable progress last year when J. H. Parks held a coaching engagement with the Lancaster Park Club. This advance Is not likely to be lost in the next few years if present plans for coaching are fulfilled, and the Canterbury Cricket Association maintains the realistic attitude to its problems it has shown recently. Parks, who has been scoring heavily in Lancashire League cricket, will return to Christchurch this summer, and in August, 1948, L. Townsend, the well-known Derbyshire and England all rounder, is due to arrive here. He will make his home in Christchurch and, it is reported, will be offered a coaching job. Another county player who intends to live in Christchurch is Frank Dennis, the Yorkshire all rounder. He, too, will be offered a coaching position, it is stated. As Parks is likely to return to Christchurch each summer for several years, the game in Canterbury should be well served. The association has only to improve its playing facilities and to grade its teams Carefully to be well on the way to raising the standard of Christchurch cricket to heights it has not reached for years. A Knotty Problem

A problem of more than passing interest was discussed at the last meeting of the executive of the New Zealand Rugby Union when an appeal was made by the Taradale Football Club against the action of the Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union in upholding the action of the referee in awarding a match to High School Old Boys although full time had not been played. Briefly the facts are as follows: a Taradale player was ordered-off the field and a few minutes later another player of the same team was asked to leave the field. The second player refused to leave as directed and, as it was a matter of the referee or the player having the last say, the referee called the game off and awarded the match to High School Old Boys with 12 minutes left for play. The Taradale Club has been penalised for the action of one its players, but the New Zealand Rugby Union is not prepared to give a decision until it gets further particulars. Did the Taradale captain make any effort to see that the referee’s instructions were carried out, and should the whole team be penalised for the action of one player? Is there a rule which gives the referee power to award a game to either side when full-time has not been played? These are questions which are still exercising the minds of the union executive.