ATHLETIC SPORTS GAMES AND PLAYERS

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26633, 19 January 1952, Page 4

ATHLETIC SPORTS GAMES AND PLAYERS

(By MILES)

Rugby in England A well-known sportsman, Mr Bert Milligan, returned to Christchurch recently after an’ extended trip during which he attended big sporting fixtures, including Rugby matches in England and speedway racing in Ireland, in which New Zealanders took part, and on the way back saw the West Indies Cricket team and the Davis Cup matches in Australia. Mr Milligan saw a Rugby club game between Harlequins and London Scottish, in which K. O’Connor, formerly of Otago, played for Harlequins, with Vic Roberts, who came to New Zealand with the British Isles team. The London Scottish side included D. W. C. Smith, who represented Scotland and broke his arm before coming to New Zealand with the touring team. Mr Milligan was deeply impressed by the style of play adopted in the club fixture, and regarded it as more open and played more in the spirit of the game than Is the case in New Zealand. The international rule which debars replacements in a game also, applies in club football. New Zealanders, who can sec a club game any Saturday during the season for Is or Is 6d, may consider themselves lucky, tor at the Harlequins-Lon-don Scottish game, played at Richmond Athletic ground, the price for admission to the ground was £1 10s, while £3 2s 6d would ensure a seat in the grandstand. Mr Milligan told the writer that when he saw the Hampshire-Sussex team play South Africa there was no scoreboard on the grotind. Spectators had to keep their own records, in a game won by South Africa by 31 points to 6. Mr Milligan met D. Prentice and W. H. Sobey, of the 1930 English team, and the famous Danie Craven, all still interested in the game of Rugby. B. Brewis, the South African stand-off half, he regarded as the outstanding player of the side, while R. van Schoor, a big, crashing Centre three-quar-ters, and P. Johnstone, a wing three-quar-ters, also impressed. Bill Buckhurst, M.B.E.

Wilfred Henry Blyth Buckhurst, awarded the M.B.E. (civil division) in the New Year honours list, who has been director of Lands, Mines and Surveys at Suva since 1944, was well known in athletic circles in New Zealand as a re-

presentatlve of Boys’ High School and Canterbury. Bill Buckhurst played a leading part in the development of amateur athletics and was Instrumental in the formation of the Fiji Amateur Sports Association. In view of the active part taken by him in the encouragement of amateur sport, the new sports ground at Laucala Bay was recently renamed Buckhurst Park. Formerly track and field sports in Fiji were run on a professional basis with the financial help of totalisator permits. Now amateur athletics are firmly established and have produced some notable performers. Promising Cricketer

Mr I. A. Baxter, who managed the Canterbury cricket team at the Brabin Cup tournament at Auckland, warmly praised the East Christchurch player, T. Jones, as a bowler and batsman, when he made Jiis report on the tournament to the Canterbury Cricket Association this week. "Jones was our outstanding bowler and In my opinion the best medium-paced at the tournament,” said Mr Baxter. His figures for the tournament were 113 overs, 38 maidens, 223 runs, 21 wickets, average 10.3. "He left here essentially an inswing bowler," said Mr Baxter, “but in Auckland he also bowled out-swingers, straight ones, moved them off the wicket, and if there was any lift Jones got it." He said that Jones’s figures might have been even better had some catches been Held. Mr Baxter also praised Jones as a batsman. Though he was Canterbury’s No. 11 bat, Jones> actually had the best average in the tournament. He had five innings, tour not-outs, and made 65 runs, giving him an average of 65. "He knew what a bat was tor and used it to good effect. When he went in against Wellington we required nine runs for a first innings lead. Jones’s first three scoring shots were all tours, and finally with Fuller he added 49 runs for the last wicket." Mr Baxter said that other managers had apparently a similar opinion of Jones’s capabilities, as he had been the first man selected for the New Zealand team. West Indies Averages With two more matches to be played, F. M. Worrell is at the top of the firstclass batting averages tor the West Indies team In Australia. Worrell has scored centuries in his last two matches and now has an average of 45.77. He, C. L. Walcott, and G. E. Gomez alone have scored more than 500 runs. Walcott (42.93) is second in the averages and Gomez (34.8) third. A. Valentine has been the outstanding bowler, having taken 45 wickets for 1088 runs, an average of 24.18. S. Ramadhin’s 21 wickets have cost him 39.38 runs apiece. Worrell has taken the next most wickets—l9—at an average of 18.26. Darke Beats Records

The 17-year-old Australian swimmer, Barry Darke, beat his 440 yards New South Wales record by 5.8 seconds when he won the Manly Club championship by 12 yards from Frank O’Neill, with the 14-year-old John Devitt third. Darke’s time was 4min 46sec. Darke also beat the Australian junior record for 110 yards when he recorded 61.1 sec. Tom Penny, who coaches Darke, said his charge would not be available for the Olympic Games because of his youth. Officials, however, are trying to persuade Darke to make himself available for he is needed for the 1650 yards and the relay (4 x 220yds). Mr S. B. Grange, secretary of the New South Wales Association, said: “I will be bitterly disappointed if Darke is not available for the Olympic Games. The view that he is being ’kept’ for 1956 and must not be subject to overstrain does not impress. In four years’ time Darke may not be swimming; there may be no Games in Melbourne; he may not be anything like the swimmer he is to-day. The history of sport shows that most of the greatest swimmers have been champions at 16 and 17 years of age." A Severe Test

The Australian Olympic Games Federation has set Sydney swimming coach, Forbes Carlile, a difficult task to qualify for possible selection as a modern pentathlon competitor in the Olympic Games at Helsinki, says the "Sydney Morning Herald.” In trials which the federation has ordered, Carlile must register performances near the standard attained by the leading competitors in the Olympic Games held at London in 1948. The modern pentathlon is an athletic test requiring stamina lasting for five days in exacting tests of swimming, riding, pistol shooting, fencing, and cross-country running. In the running the competitors cover 4000 metres cross-country: they swim 330 yards, ride over many hurdles, must constantly hit a moving target in the pistol shooting at a 25 yards range, and move with speed and skill in the epee (fencing) to avoid being hit. Carlile’s ambition has been a costly venture, involving an outlay of more than £2OO in purchasing a horse and maintaining it. buying his pistol and cartridges, fencing equipment, athletic shoes, and paying costs in covering more than 20 miles a day to train. His training started 15 months ago. To fit himself for the 4000 metres cross-country event, Carlile has run in 26-mile marathon races and over distances ranging from one to six miles. He rides over hurdles daily, starting before 6 a.m., then, when work permits during the day, swims, fences, and shoots. Officials are not sparing Carlile in the 4000 metres. So that a true comparison of his time can be made with Olympic Games results, they are arranging for Carlile to run 4000 metres across country and 4000 metres on a track.

Unprofitable Tour State cricket association In Australia are being levied for contributions towards the expected loss on the West Indies team's tour of Australia. The Australian Board of Control guaranteed the tour against loss up to £BOOO, and State associations, as constituent members of the board, will have to share any loss. They have already been asked to pay a fair proportion of the guaranteed loss. If a loss of the guaranteed £BOOO Is incurred, the States' approximate contributions will be:—New South Wales, Victoria. and South Australia, each £1845; Queensland, £1230; Western Australia and Tasmania, each £615. The weaker associations are already groaning under the impending forfeiture of revenue. Some Sheffield Shield matches in recent years have been unprofitable. State associations rely mainly on international tours in Australia and abroad for their means of organising and propagating the game. Tour profits are also distributed in accordance with States’ representation on the board of control. It is not known whether the board has guaranteed any possible loss on the South African team’s tour next season. Brabin Tournament

Although Canterbury finished last equal in the Brabin cricket tournament at Auckland recently, the team gave a good account of itself, beating Otago outr ght, the team which beat Auckland, the ultimate winner, on the first innings. G. Wainscott, the captain of the Canterbury team, was the only batsman to score more than one half-century. L. GlanviUe (EMt Christchurch) had the misfortune to be run out twice, but he played some brilliant cricket. The East Christchurch second-grade swing bowler, T. Jones, had a great run of success. He headed both the batting and bowling averages, making 65 for once out, and taking 21 wickets. His full bowling figures were remarkable. In the tournament, he bowled 113 overs, 38 of them maidens, for 223 runs and 21 wickets. G. P. Beadel (Old Collegians) who took seven slip catches, was the outstanding fieldsman. The six days of cricket, and the match atmosphere, will no doubt be of benefit to these young players. Many of New Zealand’s present players have first made their name and their way through Brabin shield and cup matches; the tournament provides a fine training ground and nursery for coming provincial and international players. “They Bred ’em Tough"

Bernie Fanning, Linwood Club, Canterbury, and New Zealand Rugby representative, and noted in his trade of farrier as having shod more New Zealand Trotting Cup winners than any other man, was not only one of the hardest and fittest men ever to play football —he could strike matches on his calloused hands—but he was also a born humorist. In his later years he thought most of the forwards playing were "pansy” boys, and as he told the writer, were more noted tor their “Marcel waves and hair-oil” than for virile play. Bernie Fanning was always looking for good material for the noted Linwood forward pack, and when a big loose-limbed youth from the country approached him, Bernie could see the makings of a real All Black, and gave him a job as a striker. The big youth did not prove a success at his new-found job. and with one of his ill-directed blows badly jarred the hands of his boss, who was holding a pair of tongs. With feelings of disgust and anger, Fanning threw the tongs away—unluckily through a window of the forge. Wringing his hands in pain, he was surprised when the rawboned youth picked up the anvil and threw it after the tongs. “Why did you do that?" asked Fanning, amazed at the feat of strength. “I thought we might want to work outside,” was the calm reply. They bred them tough in the Bernie Fanning period.

Athletic Talent The Australian amateur athletic championships will be held at Brisbane on January 26 and 28, after which the team to compete at the Olympic Games will be chosen. Australian champions expected to take part include W. de Guchy, J. Bartram, R. Weinberg, D. MacMillan, L. Gregory, John Treloar, Edwin Carr, J. Plummer, and Erica Willis. Answers to Correspondents

Leaguer.—The first general meeting of the Canterbury Rugby League was held on July 13, 1912. In the All Golds tour 1907-8, the Canterbury players were D. McGregor, H. S. Turtlll, J. Lauery, C. J, Pearce, and O. Tyne. Old-timer.—Canterbury won the PlunKet Shield with 26 points, three outright wins, and two points tor a loss on the first innings. Auckland, with two matches to play, has 8 points, and Central Districts with 16 points has one game to play. Results of other games cannot depose Canterbury from first place. Speed Fan, Wainoni.—Prize money is allocated on a points basis. Junior scratch races 10s a point, intermediate 20s, senior 25s Starting monsy: juniors 10s, intermediate 20s, senior 30s a start. All riders are paid not less than the equivalent of two starts. £6 a Day!

Hamilton Richardson, 18-year-old "baby" of the United States Davis Cup team, came under heavy fire at the Lawn Tennis Association of Australia council meeting when it was discovered that he had booked a plane passage to America two days before the end of the Australian tennis championships in Adelaide next month. Unless he changes his mind the association will immediately stop his allowance of £6 a day. The president of the association, Sir Norman Brookes, said he had been told by the Davis Cup captain. Frank Shields, that both Richardson and Savitt would remain in Australia to the end of the national championships. The council decided to tell Richardson, who is in Adelaide, that he would receive no payment until he fulfilled his obligation to the association as agreed to by Frank Shields on behalf of the United ■States Tennis Association. Later Richardson and Wimbledon champion Dick Savitt were questioned for allegedly appearing in tournaments in Newcastle and at Ashfield against the wishes of the authorities. Youth Has Its Chance

Seven girls, whose ages average 15 years, will represent New South Wales at the Australian swimming championships in Melbourne from February 16 to 23. They are Janet Johnson (Newcastle). Jan Duggan (Manly), June Legge (Port Kembla), Judy Forsyth (Bondi), Astrid Ainsworth (Bankstown), Pam Singleton (Bondi), and Lorraine Crapp (Cabarita). The veteran of the team is Janet Johnston, who is 17. Lorraine Crapp and Astrid Ainsworth are 13. Pastor Richards tor Australia

The Victorian Amateur Athletic Association has decided to bring to Australia the United States “athelte of the year." Pastor Bob Richards, for the Victorian championships. Many delegates regarded the move as a “dangerous gamble." The council by-passed the executive decision to abandon negotiations for bringing out either Richards or the middle distance runner, M. G. Whitfield. Other State athletic bodies had decided not to obtain Richards’s services, as the costs for him and an accompanying trainer were prohibitive. Richards is the present American decathlon champion, and the world’s best pole vaulter—the second man ever to clear 15 feet in this event. 321 Average In the Wellington senior cricket competition, T. C. Larkin (University) now has the imposing average of 321. Larkin, in three not-out Innings before the holidays, made a total of 241 runs, and last Saturday was out for 80 against Institute.