GAMES AND PLAYERS

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25549, 17 July 1948, Page 9

GAMES AND PLAYERS

ATHLETIC SPORTS

(By •MILES”) Petersen v. Cruickshanks With the King Edward Barracks not available and no other hall in which to accommodate the record crowd that could be expected to watch a fight between Laurie Petersen, Queensland champion, and lan Cruickshanks, New Zealand’s champion welter-weight, the Canterbury Boxing Association showed initiative in putting on the fight in the open air at Wilding Park. Petersen is one of the greatest boxer-fighters ever to appear in a New Zealand ring, and his meeting with Cruickshanks will give a line on the form of the Otago man. The Canterbury Tennis Association was willing to grant the use of the park and to assist in arrangements for the fight. The Tennis Association is not likely to lose anything, and if the fight turns out the big financial success it promises to be, it will receive half the profits, an arrangement Which suits both parties. Answer to Correspondent Puzzled: In Laws of the Game as framed by the International Rugby Football Board and under Notes for the Guidance of Referees is the following:—“A player may run up from behind the lineout and take the ball from the throw-in if there be a gap, but should he run into an opponent whilst doing so, a penalty kick for charging must be awarded.” The Knock-on Rule The complaint made by Mr A. Stevenson at a meeting this week of the Westland Rugby Sub-Union against a too-strict interpretation of the knock-on rule could well be supported by the Canterbury Union. At present referees were ruling strictly on knock-ons, and players and spectators were becoming restless when play was stopped for slight knock-ons, said Mr Stevenson. He proposed that play should be allowed to continue “provided the player regained possession of the ball before it reached the ground.” Canterbury referees are also ruling strictly on the knock-on. which is defined by the New Zealand Union as follows:—“A

knock-on occurs when the ball, after striking the hand or arm of the player travels in the direction of his opponents’ dead-ball line.” There are already more than enough stoppages in most Rugby matches for minor infringements, and any move to reduce them without lowering the standard of play is to be welcomed. As the rule stands, a referee is required to call for a scrum for almost any slight fumble, and it seems that some alteration of the definition is needed.

Journal for Sport A. D. McKenzie, one of the keenest supporters of athletics of all kinds, has extended his activities into journalism and he can be commended for his first venture in the publication of “New Zealand’Track and Field,” a 16-page journal devoted to the interests of athletics. In his first editorial, “Mac” expresses the ideals of the true sportsman in the following:—“Every sportsman must strive to excel himself in whatever he does. The important thing in ♦he Olympic Games is not to win but to take part. The important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well. To spread these precepts is to build up a stronger and more valiant and, above all, a more scrupulous and more generous humanity.’ A well-produced issue, the first gives records of New Zealand’s Olympic representatives and world’s best performances with special articles by Jim Belwood, Frank Shapley, and Jim Tyne. “Track and Field” is well worth reading. Rewards for Fielding

After 21 seasons near the bottom of the Counties’ competition ladder, Glamorgan is now at the top and looks like staying there. In the 21 years Glamorgan has won 89 championship matches and has lost 237. It has adhered to a policy of encouraging Welsh players, one of the latest being Willie Jones, whom many consider is worthy of a place in the Test team. Perhaps the fine fielding of the team can be put down to a supporter who has introduced a system of awarding talent money for fielders only. For a run-out as the result of a direct throw £2 is given. For an ordinary catch £l. a good catch £2, and an exceptionally difficult catch £3. For a stumping £1 is given. All awards are pooled ana shared by the team as a whole. The enthusiastic captaincy of W. Woolier, who played for Wales against the All Blacks in 1935, has done much to put Glamorgan on the cricketing map. He is often among the wickets and is an inspiration to the side in the field. w. A. Meates in Form

Rugby enthusiasts in Canterbury will be pleased to learn that after a somewhat shaky start, the former Canterbury centre. W A. Meates, has reached top form in tne first flight of players in Otago. Meates has been playing chiefly on the wing since he was transferred to Ranfurly earlier in the season, and last Saturday for the Otago sub-unions against Nortn Otago he scored three tries with typically determined dashes down the line, and again against Metropolitan on Wednesday he scored anotlier great try. His form so impressed the selectors that he has now been chosen among 22 to train for Otago s representative programme, and it appears certain that he will take the field in the first Ranfurly Shield game against South Canterbury next Saturday. Football in Australia

Members c£ the Australian Rugby League team which will leave Sydney on August 3 on a tour of England and France will receive £6 a week until they reach England, and after that £7 10s a week until the return. The 28 players on tour and two managers will divide 50 per cen.. ol the profits rf the tour. These men are being treated much better than were vie Kiwi League team, each member of which received 10s a day when on tour and a cheque for something like £lBO from the profits of the tour. The Australian amateur cricketers play on a better wicket. Each man has been guaranteed a sum ot between £950 and £lOOO.. A Champion Retires

"Famous boxers, like famous actors, are much tempted to make more than one •positively last appearance in public, ana with that note of caution an appreciative farewell can be said to Joe Louis, fourteenth in a dynasty of world’s champions which began in 1892, when Jim Corbett knocked out John L. Sullivan, the last of the prize ring kings,” says a writer in “The Times.” “Opinions will always differ on the relative power of champions as they come and go. Those with long memories insist that the first three, Corbett, Fitasimmons, and Jeffries, belong to the real golden period. Jeffries retired unbeaten, but tried unhappily to come back after six idle years to beat Jack Johnson, who in turn went down to Jess Willard. Dempsey followed until beaten by the self-disciplined Tunney, who retired unbeaten. Next came Louis, who took the title 11 years ago. Louis has proved a master of the art, no matter what detractors might say, and a credit to his race in and out of the ring.” League Team Selection

Rugby League is taken seriously in New South Wales. Recently the Newtown Rugby League Club decided to press its demand for an inquiry into the non-selec-tion of the test and State captain, Len Smith, in the team to tour England. Other clubs did not support the request for an inquiry. The New South Wales selectors have been accused of disloyalty to their own players. A “Character”

Von Nida, one of the world’s- most colourful golfers, grew up in a tough world. He was only 11 when he deter-mine-1 to be a "big Shot" in golf He became a caddie and carried clubs for Walter Hagen and other champions who visited Australia. Sharp'-eyed and quickwitted, he studied them at play and made many a mental note that he later transcribed in winning the Queensland caddies’ championship five times in succession. At 15 he was Queensland’s amateur champion. That thrusting chin of his developed earlv. He was a tempestuous youth. But to his friends Von Nida is a “character,” and a lovable one. They say that to know him is to understand his temperament. They were not surprised even when he was involved in a fight with Henry Ransom, the Illinois professional, during the Lower Rio Grande Valley open tournament early this year, the result of which was that Ransom was suspended. Olympic Prospects Too many races have been left on the track in trial gallops, and this applies as much in athletics as it does in horse racing. It is not disturbing to learn that Doug Harris was beaten by John Parlett in the 880 yards Amateur Athletic Association’s championship race at the White City in Imin 52.25ec. Apparently Harris was more intent on finding out what he wanted to know about the Jamaican runner. A. S. Wint. one of the favourites for the Games, than he was on winning the race. Apparently he “found” Wint. for according to a cable message he “pulled up smiling. ’ The average runner cannot raise much of a smile at the end of a gruelling half-mile. John Treloar. who had been beaten in three races in America, won the Amateur Athletic open 100 metres in 10.6 in a photo-finish from Clyde Scott (Kansas) at Minneapolis. Treloar was later beaten by Dick Houden by half a yard in the 200 metres in 215 sec. Treloar eased up in the last few yards after he and Houden had distanced -the field. Treloar’s coach, Jim Kelly,’said: “Don’t worry, Treloar will be ready for the Olympics. He is coming on, but needs imore work for the 200 metres. He is unconsciously failing to push himself out all the way. It is only a matter of condition.”