GAMES AND PLAYERS

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26123, 27 May 1950, Page 4

GAMES AND PLAYERS

ATHLETIC SPORTS

(By "MILES") The Ranfurly Shield To win the Ranfurly Shield from Otago this year, any union will have to produce an outstanding team. The Otago team is a match-winning combination of players, physically fit and well drilled in matchwinning tactics. The Ranfurly Shield has brought to the Otago Rugby Union finance to make considerable improvements at Carisbrook. The dull, dour game played by Otago against the British Isles’ team last Saturday was not tire brand of football enjoyed by players or spectators. Otago supporters are earning the reputation of being less appreciative of the merits of a visiting team than they should be. Here is an extract from the Dunedin "Star Sports” of last Saturday: “The crowd’s enthusiasm was ready to bubble over, and a full-throated cheer burst out almost as soon as the first Otago man touched the ball. From the start the crowd was notably partisan, mildly cheering every successful Otago move. Applause for the British side came seldom, but occasionally there were small outbursts of .clapping. A most unsportsmanlike burst of cheering (or jeering) came when a British player missed a kick from a penalty.” Defensive and Obstructive Following are some extracts from the editorial column of the 1950 Rugby Almanack of New Zealand: “The year 1949 was a momentous one for New Zealand Rugby, for not only did the All Blacks suffer defeat in all four tests in South Africa, but at home, too, we had to bow the knee to our Australian visitors. It is not the defeats that are so vital . . . but the revelation of the low state of New Zealand Rugby. . . . There waS evident an absence of individuality about our play . . . which was often defensive and obstructive. . . . Over the last 20 years we have displayed too great an eagerness to give way and sacrifice our methods of play and innovations in order to placate and please. ... It is estimated that under the South African hooking methods the side putting the ball into the scrum is certain to win at least 90 per cent, possession. . . . By developing the spoiling game to a fine art. the clever penetrative inside back play which has been such a feature of our Rugby will be rendered well-nigh impossible.” Late Boxing “Show me the way to go home, I’m tired and I want to go to bed,” was the appropriate refrain played over the loudspeaker system as the patrons of the Canterbury Boxing Association’s opening night for amateurs left the Civic Theatre at 11.20 p.m. on Mondav. They had sat through about 105 minutes of boxing and 95 minutes of waiting, including an interval which was unnecessarily long considering that the programme was already well behind schedule at that stage. That last-minute defections upset the arrangements can be inferred from a comparison of the bouts staged with bouts announced in the programme: four scheduled bouts did not come off. and three new ones were substituted and two new opponents had to be found for boxers in other scheduled bouts. While the difficulty of getting some 30 boxers matched well in advance of the meeting is appreciated by patrons, their continued support cannot be expected by the association if subsequent meetings this season do not finish in time for them to catch the last tram home. Chapter of Accidents The British Isles team is having its fair share of the injuries that must be expected in a touring side. The team to play New Zealand to-day includes several players who would not be considered if all the members were fit and well. Out of a party of 30, 29 have taken the field the sole exception being the Scottish wing three-quarters. Douglas Smith, who broke an arm before the tour commenced, and has not yet recovered. Bleddyn Williams, who played four matches against the New Zealand Army team and was looked to to provide a very sound link at centre, strained a ligament in his thigh and has not been able to do the necessary training. When T. R. O’Callaghan, a bright prospect for the South African tour, broke a small bone in his foot before the Al] Black trials in 1948, he was discarded as a possible selection. Apparently the same degree of fitness was not demanded of the British players. In the first match of the tour, against Nelson combined. M. F. Lane had to leave the field early in the game. J. W. McKay (Ireland), a number 8 forward, retired at half-time against Buller; N. J. Henderson (Ireland), whom the writer considers the best centre in the party, left the field at Greymouth with a recurring knee injury; Malcolm Thomas (Wales) retired at Dunedin with an injury to his back; and against Southland, the team lost its ace full-back, George Norton. The party has been left with only one centre of class in Jack Matthews (Wales), and to-day Ivan Preece (England), a stand-off half, will partner Matthews at centre. Of the five ► games played, Matthews has appeared in four. Tennis Fashions Until the sensation of “Gorgeous Gussie's” tennis outfit last June, the dress creations of 6ft sin Colonel Teddy Tinling were no more than moderately wellknown. Now they are famous. Recently, he demonstrated his suggestions foi' the smart tennis girl of 1950—strapless tops, bare midriffs, transparent nylon dresses to show off coloured underwear beneath, flower-topped socks, and. of course, lace trimmed panties. Though acclaimed as frilly and feminine, it will be a big surprise if they are seen at conservative Wimbledon—even on pert Gertrude Moran.

Barry in America John Joe Barry, the 23-year-old Irish miler, who is now attending an American university, won the mile at the New York Knights of Columbus Games in 4min 11.6 sec recently. John Twomey, of Illinois, Was second. He finished 10 yards behind Barry. This was Barry’s fifth win in 10 starts during the indoor season. His opponents, besides Twomey, were Fred Wilt, the F. 8.1. agent, and Ted Kirwan, of Pennsylvania. The Americans, notably Wilt, made the pace fast and even. The first quarter took 61.2 sec, the half 2min 7sec, and the three-quarter mile mark was passed in 3min 7.BSec. Barry, running smoothly and shrewdly, moved to the front in th«e last lap. He simply flew past the tiring Wilt, and steadily opened a gap on the others. The previous evening, at Boston, he ran two miles in Bmin 57.95ec.

The Rugby Almanack The Rugby Almanack of New Zealand, which 1 includes in its 186 pages the record of all first-class matches for 1949, is to the keen follower o’f football well worth the price of ss. A very complete job has been ♦i? ne recording the progress made by the unions, and in compiling a complete record of players in representative football, details of the New* Zealand team in South Africa, and records of overseas teams that have visited New Zealand. The opinions expressed by the three editors (Messrs R. R. Masters, A. H. Carman, and i SY an) in naming the ideal New Zealand team of 1949, the five plavers of the year, and the five most promising players do not add much- of real value, but. will no doubt form the basis for many discussions. The Hotspurs Tottenham Hotspurs, famous North London football team, are back in the Dl y. lslon of the English Football League after an absence of many seasons After disappointing their very loyal supporters by getting within striking distance of promotion, only to fall away, the vh?SSjiv mad n n 2 mistake this season, and virtually walked away with the Second Division championship. Football lovers throughout the world will welcome the re turn to the highest company of a club wiii* Presses a magnificent ground— Ha mt Lane—and a magnificent past leir su s cess ls also a welcome proof that promotion can be won without J?hirh X k r o Va if ant bu -Y ing of star Players which has been such a feature of postwar English football. Although 'an extremely wealthy club, Tottenham has remarket° be stampedcd into the transfer Rugby Jottings Top place to Rugby unions in the production of programmes for the first five }l iatc hcs of the British tour must go to the West Coast Union, which published a real souvenir programme, including records of British and West Coast plavers and a tay-out of the teams which do credit to any union in New Zealand. Published by the Greymouth Evening Star Company, Ltd., this souvenir programme is one of the best of its kind letes - "Do y° u know what is wrong with Canterbury football?” was the question put to the writer at Dunedin last week Yes,” was the reply, “but can you tell me the difference between representative lootball in Canterbury and Otago?” ..T^ that is easy,” said the questioner. in Otago it does not matter whether a man belongs to Varsity, Taieri. Alnambra, or Dunedin, whether he comes from the plains or the bush. If he is the best man in he goes.” Food for thought. ° F. Bennett, a former Buller and Marlborough representative forward, has lost the sight of an eye as the result of an accident in a friendly match at the start of the season at Inangahua Junction. He now intends to referee at Blenheim this season. Six penalty goals to the Britsih Isles team in the first game of the tour, three penalties to Buller in the second game, two to British Isles and three to Otago last Saturday, five goals to Wellington Marist against Poneke, and four penalty goals in Christchurch Technical’s game against Marist—no need to mention Okev Geffin and South Africa. Rugby Championships in Other Centres Marist with its line still uncrossed in five games, is leading the Wellington semor Rugby competition. Last week, T. R. O'Callaghan scored all Marist's points when he kicked five penalty goals out of seven attempts. The following are the championship points in the senior competitions in the Wellington and Otago centres:— Wellington.—Marist 10. Wellington 8, St. Patricks Old Boys 6, Oriental 6. Hutt 5 Petone 5, Athletic 4, Wellington College Old Boys 4. Poneke 4, Onslow 4, Taita 2, University 2. Otago.—Taieri 10. University A 8, Training College 8, Pirates 8, Southern 7. Zingari 6, Kaikorai 6. Union 2, Alhambra 2. Dunedin 1, University B 0. Port Chalmers 0 Taieri, which is leading this competition, has played five games and University A four. Both teams are unbeaten. The following is the position of the first five teams in the Auckland centre* Ponsonby 1. Otahuhu 2. Marist 3, Northcote and Grammar (equal) 4. At Invercargill, Bluff lead with eight points from Collegiate 7, Pirates 6. Mar- .?•. Old Boys 5, Invercargill 4, Star 4, Waikiwi 0. At Ashburton, Celtic lead with five points from Allenton 4, and Methven 31. Australian League Players Injured Four of the Australian Rugby League team which toured New Zealand last year are in doubt, through injuries, for the matches against the English team. Nat McCoy, the big test centre three-quarters and Ron Roberts, of the St. George New South Wales, have been out of action with knee injuries, but have resumed light training. K. Schubert. Kangaroo hooker, who missed selection for the Possibles v Probables trial for the first test, is out with an ear infectiorf. It is likely that he will replace T. Dawson in the Possibles team. Dawson having withdrawn. Billy Thompson, of Queensland, second string half-back on the English and New Zealand tour, had to retire in the first half of the New South Wales—Queensland match at Sydney last Saturday with a dislocated shoulder-blade, and will miss some representative fixtures. Melbourne Cup and Olympics Clash News that the dates chosen for the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne clash with the Melbourne Cup racing carnival has caused consternation in Melbourne. Th~ Games programme during the Idst week in October and the first week in November covers a period when accommodation is fully booked, and Melbourne weather is uncertain. Amateur sport officials think the Gajnes Organising Committee will be forced to ask the International Olympic Congress to find another venue for the Games. An early meeting of the organising committee will probably be held to discuss the position. The first Tuesday in November is the traditional date for the Melbourne Cup. which was first run in 1861. In 1870 it was postponed until the following Saturday because of rain. From 1942 to 1944 it was held on Saturday because of the war-time ban on mid-week meetings. Cricket in England

The teams chosen for the cricket test trial at Bradford next Wednesday give an indication of what a formidable batting side England should be able to send to Australia at the end of the year With Hutton, Edrich, Compton, Yardley, Simpson, Washbrook, Bailey, Evans, Bedser, and Laker in one team, there should be some confidence in England on the score of run making. In the team chosen to oppose England there are also fine batsmen in Doggart, Dewes, Shepoard, May, and Kenyon. The bowling problem, which has been the chief cause of England’s lack of success in post-war cricket, seems no nearer solution, however. Laker and Hollies might not meet with much success in Australia and there are doubts whether Bailey has the physique for an Australian test series. Berry, a left-hand spinner, has done well this season in England, and Jenkins, the Worcestershire spinner, has many admirers, but good bowlers are needed badly if the most is to be made of Alec Bedser.

Antique Cricket Cricket enthusiasts will find a special corner at the Antique Dealers’ Fair, which the Duchess of Kent will open next month, of unusual interest, says a writer in the “Scotsman.” A bat believed to date from the early years of the nineteenth century, or the last years of the eighteenth, ‘has been found by a dealer, himself an Olympic and Empire Games representative of Britain in another sport. The bat is not the same shape as that used to-day—it is longer, and curves towards the base, where it is much thicker than near the handle, which is bound with black thread, as are modern bats. Ihe wood has not been identified, but the bat. the curve of which shows that it was made for a left-handed player, bears the name of a maker in Kent. At the time the bat is believed to have been produced, cricket matches were frequently played for 500 or 1000 guineas a side. With this old bat will be shown a cricketer's snuff box of the eighteenth century, which bears on the lid a picture of a player using a bat of the same shape. Another cricket curiosity will be a copy of an early nineteenth century Cape Town journal, containing what must be the earliest existing cricket announcement in a South African newspaper. It tells of "A grand match at cricket” to be played for 1000 dollars a side, between the officers of the Artillery mess and. the officers of the colony. . There is no record of the result. A Dangerous Sport What is probably the world's most dangerous sport was described by Mr L. Jacoby, of Sweden, who arrived in S.ydney recently. It is motor-cycle ice racing, which is the current rage in Sweden. The specially-tuned motor-cycles race on tracks slightly longer than English and Australian dirt tracks, cleared from the snow-covered ice of frozen lakes. The tracks are oval in shape, with steeplybanked turns. The tyres of the machines are fitted with special chains to make them grip the slippery surface, and each machine is fitted with a small piece of metal on which it literally "skates" when cornering. Contestants wear heavily-pad-ded clothing to protect thei¥i from injury in the frequent spills which are a feature of the sport. Soccer Replacements The Auckland Football Association recently received notice from the New Zealand Football Association that, as from to-day, no replacements will be allowed after the signal for the start of the second spell. Mr J. E. Jones, president of the Canterbury Football Association, commenting on this report, said that the rule had been adopted by his association some years ago, and the ruling given to the Auckland Association would therefore not affect Canterbury. "Previously replacements had been allowed by the start of the second spell, and players had been given reasonable time to appear.” said the Auckland report. “However, the Auckland Association had never been able to define 'reasonable time’ on occasions, and some replacements had taken the field late in the second spell.” Ossie Pickworth's Caddie Harry Waring, 43-year-old caddie from Hoylake, has a fondness for Australians. He travelled all night by train 250 miles to London, and was waiting on the steps of Ossie Pickworth’s hotel when Pickworth arrived from America. Waring had written a letter addressed to “Australia’s champion golfer," before Ossie left Australia, offering his services, and Pickworth accepted. Waring, who has caddied for Walte'r Hagen. Gene Sarazen, and Henry Cotton, carried von Nida’s bags for two rounds in a tournament last year, and is still speaking of the Australian’s generosity. When Waring and Pickworth discussed terms, Waring’s opinion of Australians soared. Ossie doubled Waring’s usual fee.