GAMES AND PLAYERS

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25300, 27 September 1947, Page 4

GAMES AND PLAYERS

ATHLETIC SPORTS

(By “MILES.”) Answer to Correspondent Right Cross, Belfast.—Fly-weight, 8-0; bantam, 8-6; feather, 9-0; light, 9-9; welter, 10-7; middle 11-6; light-heavy, 12-7; heavy, any weight. Pupil and Teacher The day before the representative matches last Saturday the Marlborough and Southland teams practised together at Lancaster Park. While the forwards were practising the Southland and All Black full-back, T. R. D. Webster, gave one of the Marlborough players, J. Smith, a few pointers On the art of goalkicking. Webster’s lessons were not wasted on Smith, for the next day the Marlborough five-eighths converted five tries out of six attempts, three of them from difficult angles. On the other hand Webster had left his kicking boots at home and although he had several attempts at the goals* both from tries and penalties, he could not find the uprights. His only scoring effort was a potted goal ifrom straight out in front. It seemed that between the day of the lesson and the examination the pupil had learned something the teacher had forgotten. Sawdust Bowling Green

The Coalgate Club has opened a fullsized, eight-rink "sawdust” bowling green, so the honour goes to Coalgate to be the first in the Dominion to use this type of bowling surface. About 30 visitors from the Darfield, Sheffield, and Shirley Bowling Clubs were present at the opening, and all players spoke well of the bowling surface. The idea originated from Mr Sam Dick (Shirley), who persuaded his club to put down a two-rink surface. "It is a boon to small centres who cannot afford to maintain a grass green,” said Mr A. Nimmo, the president of the club. Another good feature of the surface, said the president, was that it was ready for play 10 months after turning the first sod. Very little equipment was required and play could be started with a few hours of preparation. The first jack on the new green was played by Mrs C. Green, wife of the secretary of the club, end the first bowl by Mrs Nirnmo. Fine Recovery

The race is not over until it is won or lost is the motto of Keith Murfitt, who in winning the feather-weight title claimed the only success for Canterbury at the New Zealand Boxing Championships this week. In his victory Murfitt displayed rare pluck and boxing sense. After two rather tame bouts in the earlier sessions Murfitt met the Hawke’s Bay feather-weight, W. Pattison, in the final and the first round had not been long in progress before he was in difficulties. Twice he was sent to the mat by right

swings and the second time the bell saved him. The second round had only started when Pattison whipped over a right cross and again Murfitt went to the mat. This was a bad luck punch for Pattison, for it impressed on • Murfitt that there was a fight on. The rest of the fight made a different story and Murfitt from this time was the giver and not the receiver. He shot in measured- stinging lefts with unerring aim, his right cross was a matchwinner and he hit without being hit. It was a remarkable come-back and showed Murfitt to have not only a telling punch in in either hand, but gameness and the right temperament for the ring. Murfitt is keen and, living in North Canterbury, has travelled 25 miles three times a week to do his training. The Press and The Police

The annual Rugby match between representatives of police and press, cancelled during the war years because of the absence of men in the armed forces, will be played next Thursday at the Show Grounds. In pre-war days the match between the men of the pen and the baton and blue paper was one of the sporting fixtures of the Rugby season and the battles were fierce and full of incident. The weight of the men in blue sometimes offset the adage that “the pen is mightier ’ but there was no question of the honesty of effort by both sides. The police this year will field a nation il player in “Pat” Callanan, who all would have been pleased to see included in the New Zealand League team, now on tour in England, and a lesser light in S. Allom. The men from the combined newspapers will depend upon speed and quick-thinking to keep them beyond the reach of the law. Snooker Championship

Billiards enthusiasts were treated to a feast when two of New Zealand’s leading snooker players met in the final of the Canterbury amateur snooker championship on Thursday evening at the Pioneer Club Smith won three games to one. The first game (won by Smith) and the third (won by Munro) were very evenly contested, but the second was won easily by Smith. The fourth was, in the opinion of good judges, one of the hardest fought games ever played in a tournament in Christchurch. With the coloured balls only left on the table, and with a deficit of 30 points, Munro fought like a champion to get the required snooker. He played many great shots, which would have borne fruit, had he not been up against a player of Smith’s class. Eventually a snooker was successfully accomplished, and potting yellow, green, brown, and blue, Munro only wanted the last two to Win! Smith then potted the pink, ending the game and winning the championship. Both players will be worthy Canterbury representatives in the New Zealand championships commencing at Dunedin on October 6. Won Bout with Broken Leg

The Auckland youth, P. Cockrane, who beat S. Butterworth (Westport) in the first series of bouts for the New Zealand middle-weight championship, had the distinction of winning after fighting the greater part of the second round and right through the third when he had broken a bone in his leg. Luckily for Cockrane he had established a good lead at the end of the first round, but the second had not been' started a minute before he fell to the ground and got up with a bad limp. He was jeered by a very small section of the crowd for what was considered feigning an injury, but as the match went on it was quite plain to even the very ignorant section that Cockrane was badly hurt. He came up for the third round a proper casualty, limped after his opponent, and with welltimed punches gained a comfortable win. Butterworth, a really good boxer, was unlucky to meet such a good, game fighter. On what little was seen of Cockrane at his best he seemed to be the only boxer in the whole tournament who could confidently be recommended as a candidate for Olympic honours. Cockrane had only one fight. For the next few weeks he will carry a broken leg and armament of plaster. Fine Forward Pack

Tlie exhibition given by the Southland forwards in the match against Canterbury last Saturday was the best seen at Lancaster this season. Southland taught the Canterbury packmen lessons in every department except in taking the ball in the line -out. Here Canterbury had two talk men in Chandler and Duff who were able to take the ball cleanly and get it away to the half-back in one movement. When the ball was not taken cleanly Southland secured possession from the ensuing ruck.. The Southland forwards packed much lower than the opposing scrum with each man driving his weight towards the hooker, J. A. Mcßae. When a scrum is packed as compactly as that of Southland, the forwards can afford to give away a few stone, as Southland has done in every gtme this season. Southland’s rucking, short-passing, dribbling, and backing-up were eye-openers, and the eight men played as one. When Southland’s young set of backs develops, the province will have a team in the field equal to anything fielded in the past. English Cup Final Western, which will meet Technical in the final of the English Cup knock-out competition to-day, has been more consistent than its rival. Technical has had a mixed season, losing points in the championship to much weaker teams. For the second year in succession the side has gone down by the narrowest margins in the final of the Chatham Cup competition on both occasions without revealing its

best form. Last Saturday the side was outplayed by Thistle, and this meant the loss of the Championship. The English Cup is now the only trophy that the side can win to show at least some result for the season’s work. , County Championship

The success of Middlesex in the English County cricket championship was the fifth gained by the county since the series began in 1873, and the first since 1921. The leading county, Yorkshire, did not win until 1893, but has won 22 of the last 45 contests. Other winning counties are; Surrey (9 wins and one tie), Nottinghamshire (8 wins and 4 ties); Lancashire (8 wins and 3 ties), Kent (4 wins), Gloucestershire (2 wins and 1 tie), Derbyshire (2 wins) and Warwickshire (1 win).

G. P. Aldridge Memorial Trophy Reference to the outstanding service rendered to the New Zealand Association and boxing generally throughout the country, by the late Mr G. P. Aldridge secretary of the New Zealand Boxing Association. was made by several speakers at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Boxing Association this week. Mr Aldridge died on June 24 after giving a life-time of service to sport and its administration, said Mr J. R. Simpson, chairman of the New Zealand Council’. Right up to the time of his death his interest in boxing was as active as ever. Considerable discussion took place on the question of providing a memorial for Mr Aldridge, and it was suggested that the council make a grant to provide memorial trophy to be called the G. P. Aldridge Memorial Trophy. Associations would have the opportunity of contributing to the cost of this trophy, it was stated. Popular Golf Tourney

The twelfth annual tournament of the South Island Licensed Victuallers’ Golf Association will be held at Timaru on October 7 and 8. and last year’s record entry of more than 100 players, when the tournament was held at Westport, is likely to be exceeded. In all 27 events, championship and handicap, comprise the programme, and provide a' big variety for visitors and players associated with the trade. The present holders of major championships are as follows:—Trade: J. Caldwell (senior); A. Pain (junior). Visitors: D. L. Woon (senior), F. D. Jones (junior). Wholesalers: A. C. Keel. Retailers: A H. Stevenson. Riding Club for Children

To encourage horse-riding among young people, especially children, an organisation was formed recently in Christchurch called the Christchurch Light Horse and Pony Club. The objects of this club are to give children ‘nstruction in the proper care and attention of the horse, and to bring together for organised instruction those children who ride on alone <SY in small groups. When the club is fully organised competitive meetings will be arranged, and pnperchases and gymkhanas will be organised. The first rally of the club will take place at the Show Grounds .on Sunday afternoon. The officers of the club pre:—patron. Major G. F. Hutton; president, Mr. D. M. Lamb; secretary, Mrs D. M. Crowther; committee, Mesdames C. L. Austin and Cooper. Misses H. Rich, Josephine Smith. Lots Holland, and M. Harris. Messrs T. W. Stephenson and F. W. Withell.