GAMES AND PLAYERS

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27404, 17 July 1954, Page 9

GAMES AND PLAYERS

ATHLETIC SPORTS

(By

MILES)

Likely Empire Games Winners The following selection of likely winners in athletic events at the British Commonwealth and Empire Games, which open at Vancouver on Friday, July 30, with the Empire Games record in parenthesis, is made by A. Q., Ashburton. Men: 100 yards. H. Hogan (Australia), 9.3 sec (9.6 sec 220 yards, L. Laing (Jamaica), 21.2 sec or Hogan, 2l.3sec (21.2 sec 440 yards, Derek Johnson (England), 48sec, or J. Carroll (Canada), 47.95ec (47.95ec); 880 yards, D. Johnson, Imin 50.2 sec (Imin 51.4 sec): Mile, J. Landy (Australia), 3fhin 58sec, or R. G. Bannister

(England), 3min 59.45ec (4min llsec); 3 miles, C. J. Chataway (England), 13min 32.25ec, or F. Green (England), 13min 32.25ec (13min 59.65ec); 6 miles, F. Sando (England), 28min 47.25ec (30min 14.5 sec); 120 yards hurdles, K. J. Doubleday (Australia), 14.2 sec (14.3 sec 440 yards hurdles, David Gracie (Scotland), 52.55ec, or D. Lean (Australia), 52.55ec (52.55ec); marathon, J. H. Peters (England), 2hr 17min 39.45ec (2hr 30min 49.8 sec); high jump, J. H. Vernon (Australia), 6ft 7£in (6ft 6in); broad jump, N. G. Price (South Africa), 25ft 2in, or H. Hogan (Australia), 25ft l|in (24ft 4?in); pole vault, G. H. Elliott (England), 13ft 9in, or A. S. Burger (South Africa), 13ft 9in (13ft s’in); hop, step and jump, B. Oliver (Australia), 50ft OJin, or P. Eseri (Nigeria), 50ft OJin (51ft 3Jin); shot put, J. A. Savidge (England), 55ft 2 : ;in (48ft IJin); discus. R. Pella (Canada), 171 ft 6in (156 ft 7in); Hammer, J. Dreyer (South Africa), 184 ft 4in (163 ft 10}in): Javelin, R. Miller (Northern Ireland), 220 ft Bin, or J. Achurch (Australia), 216 ft 4Ain (207 ft lUn). Women: 100 yards. M. Nelson (Jackson) (Australia), 10.5 sec, or M. Mathews (Australia), 10.5 sec (10.8 sec 220 yards, M. Nelson (Australia), 24sec (24.35ec); 80 metres hurdles, G. Wallace (Australia). 11.2 sec (11.6 sec high jump, S. Lerwill (England), sft s£in, or H. Geyser (South Africa), sft 4gin (sft 3in); broad jump, Y. W. Williams (New Zealand), 20ft 7 J in, or J. Desforges (England), 20ft 2in (19ft 4gin); shot put, Y. W. Williams (New Zealand), 43ft 9in (new event); discus, Y. W. Williams (New Zealand), 151 ft 6in (new event); javelin, D. Coates (England), 133 ft 7in (127 ft s]in). A New Golf Book

Although the title of the latest golf book, “How to Play Your Best Golf All The Time,” by Tommy Armour (Hodder and Stoughton Ltd.) will raise the eyebrows of the cognoscents, Mr Armour, a very famous player and teacher, has produced a document which, if carefully read, can solve many problems for plavers of this exasperating and wholly fascinating game. The book is beautifully produced and contains many illustrations in line drawings, which will be useful to the seasoned player in correcting his faults and a basic guide of real value to the tyro embarking on a hazardous career. Mr Armour writes simply, plainly and concisely; and only the person who is congenitally unfitted for the game, physically and mentally, can fail to benefit from the sound, practical advice that the book contains. It should be on the shelves of every player and potential golfer. No Terrors for Hitchcock

R. E. Hitchcock, formerly a member of the Lancaster Park Club, while batting for Warwickshire in a recent county cricket match, had the distinction of hitting two fours and a six off successive balls from F. Trueman, the fiery England and Yorkshire fast bowler. Trueman took seven wickets for 67, but Hitchcock was not overawed by the aggressive bowling and scored an exhilarating 58. The Way to Tackle Dr. J. W. McKay, a member of the i 1950 British Isles team which toured New Zealand, believes the reason for tight football in New Zealand is the Ranfurly Shield “defensive play at all costs.” During the British tour of New Zealand the players played “touch Rugby” in their practices. As soon as a player was touched he had to drop the ball and a scrummage was held where he was touched. Dr. McKay said that this helped to increase the mobility of players and enabled the team to try out new moves without risk of injury. On the question of tackling, Dr. McKay said that at his university in Belfast a sack, stuffed with straw and bagging, was hung on a wire and pulley between two poles and the bag was allowed to run downhill, thus enabling the players to practice tackling a moving target. If the poles were erected on level ground the coach, or another player, could swing the bag. Dr. McKay does not advocate any forms of tackling other than the orthodox type round the, thighs. Free-for-all

Rugby League is not the only game which provides fireworks in Australia for at a North Shore-Newtown Australian Rules game at Trumper Park a brawl between players and supporters started after North Shore won by 60 points to 37. The referee, Mr W. Wagener was given, police protection as he left the ground. High Praise

The Italian light-weight Bruno Visintin lOst OJlb gave one of the most brilliant boxing displays ever seen in Melbourne when he outpointed Frank Flannery lOst 11b over 12 rounds at Melbourne Stadium says an Australian exchange.. His mastery was so marked that Flannery was able to win only one round. Settlement

it may be argued that team games are more enjoyable and beneficial than those requiring more personal combat, games such as tennis and golf have the satisfying quality of being easily and quickly arranged. When Russley A had finished its Woodward Cup golf match with Waitikiri at Kaiapoi on Sunday, a discussion arose about the relative merits of two well-known Russley players, D. C. Watson, who had played second in the team, and F. Williamson, who had played sixth. The discussion reached the stage where one of the orators said he .was prepared to put up a trophy for competition between Watson and Williamson, and when the players themselves were acquainted with the arrangement they were quite happy to fall in with them. Another prominent Russley player, M. W. Stanley, nominated the Burwood course as the battleground, and if golfers’ memories last a week, there will be a good crowd at ify? match tomorrow. Out-of-pocket Expenses

“The most vexing part of the tour was the question of out-of-pocket expenses, and it was unfortunate that there was a deep division of opinion over the matter among the countries affiliated to the International Rugby Board. .The All Blacks, like the i 950 British Lions, received £2 10s a week in cash. This, in Europe, was inadequate. I do not think the amateurism inherent in the game would be harmed by a payment of £3 10s a week. Individually, the All Blacks took more money on tour than any other New Zealand team in history, but to my mind, the players were entitled to ‘reasonable’ out-of-pocked expenses, and I would find it hard to be persuaded that 10s a day was unreasonable.” —Terry McLean in “Bob Stuart’s All Blacks.” Germany’s Goalie •

Germany’s surprise 3-2 win over Hungary in the final of the World Cup soccer competition was largely due to their goalkeeper, Turek, according to the association football correspondent of “The Times.” The correspondent said Turek made four saves that bordered on the miraculous and altogether gave a “fantastic exhibition.” The correspondent considered Hungary should have won. “So easily could they have scored five or six goals in all.” The Hungarians were generous in defeat and their deportment was all that, it should have Ibeen, said the correspondent

The Tongan Punch The power of the Tongan punch was demonstrated at Auckland, on Monday night when the light-heavy-weight champion of the islands, Johnny Halafihi, knocked out the New Australian, Rudy Crivic, in the third round of a 10-round contest. In the professional preliminary, Peter Day. an English immigrant, scored a close points decision over Peter Schmidt of Auckland. The end of the main bout came suddenly. For three rounds Crivic had lashed out wildly, but with a low percentage of success when Halafihi stopped him with a right, which appeared to hit just below the heart. He then attacked to the chin and Crivic went down for the count of 10. Crivic often bore in but usually missed by yards, while Halafihi occasionally came to close quarters to deal out some good rips to the body. Halafihi’s defence did not look particularly safe and he appeared to be an easy man to hit but Crivic rarely succeeded. Crivic weighed 12st 111 b and Hatefihi was five pounds lighter. Jottings

Art Larsen. U.S.A, tennis star, is well known for the late hours he keeps—even during vital stages of important tournaments. In Paris recently, where his tennis in the French Championships was better than ever before—and his hours later—he was heard to say in all seriousness: “If I go to bed before 3 a.m. I play the next day’s match three times —twice in bed and once on the court. If I go to bed after 3 a.m. I only have time to play it once—on the court!” There was a real old-time look about a tennis match in Paris recently, when the 1925-vintage combination of Henri Cochet (52) and Jean Borotra (55) easily beat the 1930-vintage pair, Harry Hopman and Pat Hughes. When congratulated on this success, Cochet observed: “But, of course, the others haven’t got quite the experience!” R. G. Bowers, the Wellington and All Black five-eighths, is shortly going to Motueka where he will work for his uncle, Mr B. F. Fry, a tobacco farmer. Bowers said he was taking a rest from Rugby. Brighter Cricket

Cricket this season, up to the moment of writing, has been played with excellent enterprise by all the counties; in the first 20 matches only one draw occurred, writes Neville Cardus in “World Sports.” A few years ago most games seemed to make plans for a draw from the first overs of the first day. The bowlers, as soon as the shine went from the ball, pitched a negative length outside the leg stump. It is not always the batsman who is responsible for slow cricket. Now, in 1954, we seem to have gone to the extreme, apparently we are to have “results” at any price. Already one or two county captains have risked defeat on the closing afternoon in order to pull off an odds-against chance of winning—and have lost in the end! All this may have provided fun for the spectators; but was it cricket? If, at a pinch, a game cannot possibly be won. the losing side should strive might and main to save it. We live in the age of exaggerated entertainment value; an age so bored and rendered witless by mechanical invention -that it is unable to amuse itself imaginatively. So even a cricket match will soon be expected to take its place in the universal circus and television set. But I fancy a sense of proportion will prevail; first-class cricketers as a rule take too much of a pride in their craft and skill to abuse their hard-won ability. Gaining Experience

Six members of the Australian Empire Games team have been gaining experience in Canada for some time and will join the main team at Vancouver. They are K. Gosper, H. Hogan, J. Landy, D. Stuart, R. Aubrey and D. Hawkins, Gosper, Stuart, Aubrey and Hawkins are studying at American Universities. Landy and Hogan went overseas earlier this year to gain experience. Australian athletes and swimmers will have a fortnight to acclimatise themselves und reach peak form before the Games. Many of the athletes have had difficulty reaching top form because they are training out of season. But Australia's main ( swimming hopes have undergone a rigorous schedule at Townsville to bring them to their peak. Australian Hopes Jack Crump, English athletic authority thinks Australia will again win most titles at the Empire Games. Four years ago and in 1938 Australia and New Zealand were at an advantage because the games were held on their grounds and in their season, but this time their athletes must make the long journey and compete in their own close season, he says. However, Jack Crump does not think the Australians will be greatly handicapped. They found no difference in Helsinki in August, 1952, so why should they not reproduce their true form in Canada. Approach to Test Cricket Writing in “World Sports” Neville Cardus criticises the approach to test cricket, and deplores the win-at-any-price and safety-first methods which characterise the game today. His opinions might well be applied to test matches aside from cricket. He writes: “The most deplorable of all contemporary cricket’s troubles is the tendency of a fielding side to resort to negative tactics as soon as the batsmen seem to be getting masterful and wellset on a turf unhelpful to the bowlers. If it were not for the artificial respiration supplied by the money obtained from the recent rubbers played between England and Australia, most of the English county clubs would now be in bankruptcy. The authorities controlling the game are well aware that something is wrong somewhere. No game is in such bad odour as first- . class cricket today. Either crowds are ! bored or inflamed to bad temper. Um- . pires’ decisions are openly challenged . in all parts of the world, black looks are exchanged, while the atmosphere [ gets more and more unpleasant. I > am all for encouraging mettlesome i temper in a cricketer, so long as he » remembers that ho is playing under [ laws and rules as fair as the next best ) sporting code in existence. And I > feel uneasy as I remember that sevI era!'great cricketers of character and > talent have recently seemed to diar appear, or find themselves overlooked . in test cricket—Amarnath. Eric Rowan 1 and Sidney Barnes, for example. Now _ Trueman is receiving censure for 2 shows of impatience. . . . Last summer ” an old England player, while watching a test match, was heard to ask: ‘Why don’t they drive the half-volley r hard? How can they resist the temp- _ tation to enjoy the ‘feel’ of a good t stroke?’ There you have it—the ‘feel* of it! Enjoyment and relish! It is s time to abandon any activity in this z life as soon as we cease to enjoy the 0 ‘feel’ of it.” - An Appreciation n An appreciation of the late Mr d Robert Beattie has been sent in by a - woman correspondent. In 1929, while e she was at the Y.W.C.A.. she says, she v asked Mr Beattie for advice, in reviving y the girls’ sports meetings. Although she o was quite unknown to him, he not 5, only arranged to coach teams of girls •- but interested two equally busy coli- leagues to do so also. For some time s all three gave valuable help several evenings a w’eek. practical support which the correspondent says, was the main reason for the success of the > r annual meetings in following years.