GAMES AND PLAYERS

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25276, 30 August 1947, Page 5

GAMES AND PLAYERS

ATHLETIC SPORTS

(By “MILES.”) The Colts’ Team The Canterouiy Rugby Union showed semi initiative when it decided to select a colts’ team of players under the age of 23, to be specially trained by competent coaches, one a back, the other a forward. It was thought that when the team was moulded into shape it would be lined out in a game that would create some interest. The young men selected are keen to learn the finer points of Rugby, and have attended when asked to train. The first fixture set down for the colts is against a team selected frorh University, Lincoln College, and Training College on September & At present the college men are on holiday and it should be evident to the Union that such a game cannot bring the results expected of a team which will provide Canterbury’s future representatives. Could not a game have been arranged with one- oi the sub-unions? Country players this year have received little enough consideration from the Canterbury selectors. A game against a sub-union would not only give the colts a serious trial. It might bring to light one Or two. good country players the selectors have not yet seen. U.S. Amateur Championships

The United States Golf Association has announced that 1060 players will contest the United States amateur championship on the Pebble Beach course at Del Monte, California, from September 18 to 23. This is the second highest total in the 47 years' history of the event. In 1936, 1118 players entered. The reigning champion is Ted Bishop Two hundred and ten golfers will be eligible for the 36-hole matchplay championship tournament after competition in the 36-hole sectional qualifying rounds at 33 localities in the United States and Hawaii. Of the 210, nine players are exempt from qualifying because of having won the United States or British amateur titles in previous years. Compton’s Centuries

If Denis Compton, England’s most accomplished batsman, maintains the brilliant form he has shown this year, there is every chance that he will beat the record, established by J. B. Hobbs 22 years ago of scoring 16 centuries in a season. Although the county championship in England is nearing its finish, Compton needs only one more century to equal Hobbs’s feat. Hobbs was 42 when he made the record; Compton is now 29. Rather ironically, it was Leslie Compton, Denis Compton’s brother, who scored a century for Middlesex a few days ago. his first good total of the season. After Hobbs, the players who have scored most centuries in a season are W. R. Hammond (15 in 1938) and H. Sutcliffe (14 in 1932). Don Bradman’s bast was 13, scored during the Australians' visit to England in 1938. Courtesy Between Codes

Evidence of the growing cordiality of the relations between the Rugby League and the Rugby Union codes was provided by an interchange of courtesies this' week Members ol the Auckland Rugby seni-»r touring team were the guests of the New Zealand Schoolboys’ Rugby League Council at the second day of the annual schoolboys’ league tournament at Athletic Park on Tuesday. The following day members of the League Council attended the interprovincial Rugby match at Lancaster Park as guests of the Canterbury Rugby Union. Such gestures as these do much to improve the standing of each code in the eyes of the other, and of both in the eyes of the public. When A. McKenzie a previous member of the Albion Union Club, was selected for the New Zealand League team to tour England his old clubmates entertained him at a social evening and presented him with a travelling bag. Whatever difference of opinion may exist among supporters of different codes of football there is certainly no enmity between the young men who play the game they favour.

The Casualty List Major injuries to players in Canterbury senior grade football this year have been frequent, and during the last fortnight the list has been added to. When plaving basketball C. Robson, the mainstay of the Old Boys’ team, and the only possible full-back for the colts’ team, broke a bone in an ankle. In the midweek game between University and Training College, A. D. McKenzie suffered a loose knee cartilage, and in the representative game s gainst Auckland, lan Mitchell cracked a rib. Earlier casualties included W. A. Meates (University). M. Kearney (Marist), and G. Bolton (Technical), each a broken leg. K Davidson and J. G. Mullins, both from Marist. dislocated shoulders, and G. Cullen (Albion) a broken collarbone. W.. G. Argus (Linwood) suffered injuries to one of his eyes in the match against Wellington, and is not likely to play again this season, and another who has retired because of injuries is E. Lucre (University). The Sydenham team, the fittest in the competition, seems to have suffered less than the majority in injuries. In most cases the St. iJohn Ambulance voluntary workers have been on hand to render first-aid. Loss to Boxing

A big loss to boxing in Christchurch Yl in . be ~ the Ransfer of Mr M. J. Christie to Dunedin. One of the oldest members of the Boxing Association, Mr Christie has been a prominent figure in boxing for many years, and in recent times has been one of the most trusted judges in matches decided in Christchurch. At different periods he has filled nearly all the executive positions, including that of president of the governing body in Canterbury for several years. Mr Christie has been nominated by the Christchurch Boxing Association as one °£ the judges of the New Zealand boxing championships to be held in Christchurch next month. The Babe Although she is reported to have been offered 50,000 dollars to make movie shorts. Mts Zaharias (Babe Didrikson) has refused to turn professional again and will defend her title at the United States women’s amateur golf championship tournament at Detroit from September 22 to September 27. Mr Zaharias said that although his wife had received big offers, "the Babe is getting too much fun out of playing in the tournaments.” Wrestling for Schoolboys Competitive wrestling—which must not be confused with the showmanship and vaudeville of the American professionals —was introduced to Christchurch by secondary schoolboys last week when West High School held a tourney. A good °J weU .-“t-uP youngsters com--1 /?■? Possibly the successful ’results of the first tournament may encourage other boys of the school to take-ad-vantage of the tuition offered by the Can-, terbury Wrestling Association, 'The boys who were not competing displayed little of 1 j enthusiasm usually shown when s s hoo! b °ys watch athletic conlliJh olfhSj 11 ? 8 M sh ?wn by the West High School boys would probably provide good exercise and back-lawn entertainment on a Sunday morning As part of the sports, programme it is not likely to find "“average youn s New Zealander, nor with sports masters of secondary schools. Boxing In Australia Englishmen, Americans, Cubans Malaa h d Flllplnos h ave all fought 'in Australia boxing rings this year and. with the exception of Willie Jones, who won , e matches on end and completely outclassed anyone he met, the Australians have had a long list of wins and a feast pro ( ess A ona ' boxing Vic Patrick, who hn?V£h N a"'i-^ ea!an ,2 ,uU 01 confidence the m>Mie d a b i efOr a B OS Mur P hy . is still the public idol and has high hones of a bout Dave Rurn<J gh w h eavy-weight champion, Tommy Burns, welter-weight title-holder. Ken Bailey, and Eddie Miller are other Australian hopes against the best any other country can pit against them. The Cuban 9 rest es Dingo, who had been matched to meet Patrick, is out of commission with a broken hand and a substife® n 4 ound m the American negro, Freddie Dawson, the fight to take place on Monday. Interpretation of Rules

N.B. writes as follows:—“Any complaints that Auckland footballers, officials, and sports writers may have to make on the standard of refereeing in Southland and other parts of the South Island is probably because of a too liberal interpretation of the rules in the northern provinces. For some years, because oi competition from the more attractive Rugby League game, Auckland players have been allowed much latitude in an endeavour to make the game brighter. The advantage rule is applied freely Auckland forwards frequently avoid tight rucking work, endeavouring to make the game open, and consequently they are allowed at times to get away with offside play, charging tn the line-out, and lifting in the scrum. In the south the referees interpret the rules strictly, playing. the advantage rule at the right time. This is not the first time a visiting team has complained of the standard of refereeing in Southland, but it cannot for a moment be said that the Southland referees are biased. Auckland players should learn the rules, for Rugby, even with plenty of hard and tight scrums, can still be made an attractive game, as proved by the Otago team in winning the Ranfurly Shield from Southland and in its two games in defence of it.”

An Overseas Ski-ing Technique J. N. Hamilton, ot Christchurch, who • won the Christchurch Ski Club’s championships at Temple Basin, Arthur’s Pass, last week-end, was an unknown quantity to most of the spectators and many of the competitors. He had never raced in a championship meeting in New Zealand before. His rebust ski-ing technique was acquired overseas in a tour of Switzerland, Austria, and North Italy. When Hamilton left Nrvr Zealand to serve in •he 2nd N.Z.E.F. he was an experienced mount? ineer, so that after the war in Italy had ended, he was selected to take charge of the climbing school for Kiwis that was established at Madonna di Campigiic in the northern Dolomites. Here he studied rock climbing and became keenly interested in ski-ing. Later, on an extensive tour, he visited famous schools at Breuil. Rosenlaui, Arosa, Davos, and St Moritz, as well as undertaking many ski-mountaineering trips in some of the most picturesque country in the world. Puffing and Football “Smoking w’hen leaning on the scrum is frowned upon in fifth grade football under the control of the South Canterbury Rugby Union,” says a writer in the Timaru “Herald,” who considers it good form for a forward to “stub out” his cigarette for a scrum and place it in the care of the half-back. On a recent Saturday a scrum was called and the forward smartly stubbed out the cigarette and handed it to his half-back for safekeeping. Neither the team’s coach nor the referee appeared perturbed. The average forward does plenty of puffing without introducing a cigarette. Rugby Points With the last round of matches to be played to-day, the leading scorers in the senior Rugby competition are:—J. W. Kelly (University) 114, E. Jackson (Albion) 107, T. Jackson (Technical) 106, L. Moran (Sunnyside) 81, D. Spencer (Linwood) 72. R. Shaw (Sydenham) 71, D. Gibson (New Brighton) 71, G. Eggleton (Christchurch) 68, and C. Steel (Christchurch) 48. Moran’s points account for almost half of the 170 points scored by Sunnyside, and E. Jackson’s tally is just more than half of his side’s total. Most tries, have been scored by Steel (16) and R. S. Thompson, of Old Boys (12). Another Leyland? When Lancashire and Yorkshire meet in their “roses” match in the county •cricket championship, spectators have learned, by years of experience, to expect as bitter a battle as any fought on n playing field. The most i ecent of the series was no exception, but it was notable for an unusually brisk display by G. A. Smithson, a young Yorkshire lefthander. who at one stage hit 19 runs off five consecutive balls. Such behaviour is. hardly in the best traditions of the contests, but it was thoroughly appreciated. Smithson, who learned his cricket in the Bradford league, had already scored one century for Yorkshire, and against Lancashire he made &8 by beautiful cricket. Commenting on the match, the “Sunday Times” said that Smithson promised to be another Leyland—a lefthanded batsman who would attack bowlers and knock them off their length. His forcing strokes against fast and mediumpaced bowlers were magnificent. If the prophecy If a correct one, Smithson should soon help Yorkshire to regain the leading position in county cricket it held for so long. The match was drawn, Yorkshire scoring 310 for eight wickets (declared), and Lancashire 160 and 180 for seven wickets.