ATHLETIC SPORTS GAMES AND PLAYERS

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27676, 4 June 1955, Page 9

ATHLETIC SPORTS GAMES AND PLAYERS

[By

MILES]

“Bill” Cummings Rugby football is the poorer through the death of the Linwood Club's stalwart. Mr W. Cummings, which occurred in Christchurch last Saturday.: He was in his prime between 1912 and | 1921 when Canterbury forward play commanded respect from all New Zealand and overseas teams. Big and loose framed Bill Cummings was a master with the ball at toe. an example to his team-mates with his “come on,” not “go on.” What a problem it was to stop those Linwood forwards with their clever foot-passing! No forward ever thought of picking up the ball. They dribbled it on and the unlucky opponent who fell on the ball was unceremoniously pulled off it while the rush was carried on. Always it was Bill Cummings leading the forwards. The writer played against him many times and behind him in a few games, and there is no record of his ever having kicked a man. He was a silent worker. “Save your breath to cool your porridge” was his advice to the talkative man. He was an inspiration to any team and he imbued every young member with the idea that he was as good as any man in his own team and a whole lot better than any on the other side. Springboks. All Blacks, Wellington. Otago or Auckland players were all the same to Bill Cummings. He enjoyed every game he played in and after the toughest matches was always welcomed as a thorough sportsman who played the game on and off the field. Auckland’s Selection

There are five new caps in the team chosen by the sole selector, Mr M. M. N. Comer, to represent Auckland against Waikato at Hamilton on Monday. Auckland will play Canterbury for the Ranfurly Shield on August 27, and there will be considerable interest in the game against Waikato. The team is as follows:—Backs: P. Bull (Marist), J. M. Tanner (University), N. Langdon (Ponsonby), F. McMullen (Otahuhu), D. F. Menzies (Ponsonby), B. B. J. Fitzpatrick (University), R. Heale (Ponsonby). Forwards: H. L. White (Northcote), G. R. Brown (Grammar), L. Palmer (Grammar), J. R. Skeen (Marist), J. B. S. Hutchinson (University), D. W. Ludbrook (University), H. K. Emery (Navy), D. Cavers (Grammar). Bull played for Waikato last year as a three-quarter. Langdon played six games for Wellington, Ludbrook for Otago last year, and Palmer for New Zealand Services. A surprise omission is H. L. Smith, who played so well for Otago and the South Island last year. He has been chosen to play for the B team against Northern Military District on Monday, and may yet work his way into the challenging Shield team. If Smith is in anything like his last year’s formand can be relegated to the B team. Auckland must have a very speedy back-line. South African Cricketers

Although they began their tour badly with a loss to Worcestershire, the South African cricketers now touring England appear to have settled down well. Of the batsmen, D.-J. McGlew, who set a South African test record with his double century against New Zealand at the Basin Reserve in 1953, has done best. He began with a duck against Worcestershire but scored 46 in the second innings, and since then has been remarkably consistent—23 against Derbyshire, 88 and 23 not out against Nottinghamshire, 85 against Cambridge University, 66 against Oxford University, 53 against Glamorgan, and 118 in the first innings of the Essex match. This gave McGlew, quite the most tenacious and determined of South African batsmen, 502 runs in eight completed innings, and an average of 62.7. The off-spin bowler, Hugh Tayfield, has done particularly well too. He took 5 for 93 and 5 for 81 in the first match, 4 for 84 in the second, 5 for 95 in the third, at least six wickets in the fourth (the complete figures were not cabled from London), 4 for 67 against the M.C.C. and 1 for 56 against Glamorgan, a total of at least 30 wickets for about 550 runs. Helping Sport

French sport benefited by more than £200,000 in subsidies from the French Government during 1954. More than half went to sports associations, and the remainder direct to clubs. Biggest recipients were the French Amateur Athletics and the French Swimming Association, which got about £17,000 each. The “Hay Paddock”

The controlling authorities of Lan-’ caster Park may have some justification for protecting the oval by allowing the grass to grow and refusing to have it cut for hockey or soccer matches, but it seems that it has gone to extremes in allowing such a luxuriant crop to grow unchecked. The absence of severe frosts and the warm weather have encouraged a liberal growth which last Saturday proved embarrassing to more than one player. The sprigs with which football boots are equipped are not long enough to ensure a foothold on such a thick mat and to some the ground was as treacherous as a mudpatch. “Haymaking has started early this year,” said a grandstand patron as Derek Mayo, the Old Boys fullback, tore away handsful of grass before having a shot at goal. K. Stuart, the Marist goal-kicker, raked frantically with his sprigs to clear a path. A run over the ground with a high-set mower would still leave enough protection from frosts and wet weather and give fast moving backs some confidence when dodging or swerving. Jarden in Form

■R; J ar den was the principal contributor in University’s total of 28 points scored against Wellington College Old Boys last Saturday. He scored three tries, converted two and kicked three penalty goals. In six matches this season Jarden has scored 66 points and easily leads in the scoring table from D. J. Searle (Athletic) and P. B. Gear (Oriental) each with 41 points. Globetrotters May Tour

. The Harlem Globetrotters, the most brilliant of the American professional indoor basketball teams, may visit New Zealand late next year or early in 1957. Mr J. C. Bonham, Physical Education Director of the Y.M.C A said in Auckland this week that he had received a letter from the team manager,. Mr A. Saperstein, which stated that the team would be touring the South Pacific from September of next year. Representative Rugby

The outstanding Rugby provinces in New Zealand m the last four years .Y® T^ e ?, n Waikato and Canterbury, with Wellington a poor third. In those four seasons Waikato has played 56 matches, for 43 wins and five draws. Canterbury has had 40 wins and five draws in 53 matches. Taking into consideration only the matches played by the Provinces’ A teams, the records show that Waikato has lost 14 per cent of its games, Canterbury 15, Wellington 33, Otago 35 and Auckland 39. In the last two seasons only, Canterbury has the best record—ls per cent $ 4 mal^ es . lost ’ to Waikato’s 18. Wellington 25, Auckland 39, Otago 44. Chinese Soccer Team

Names of the Hong Kong soccer team which will tour New Zealand and play the first test against New Zeeland at Lancaster Park on June 18 have been received as followsManager Chan Nam Chong; assis-tant-managers, Ho Yuen Kwong Kwan Yu Pang; honorary treasurer Kwong Kin On; honorary secretary and coach, Lee Wai Tong; captain, Ko Po Keung; players, Pau King Yin, Lau Kin Chung, Lau Yee, Lau Chi JF ong Sheung, Luk Tat Hay. Chan Chi Kong, Nok Chun Wah, Yiu Cheuk Yin, Lee Yak Tat, Ho Cheung Yau, Chu Wing Wah, ChuWing Keung, Szeto Man, Szeto Yiu. Lee Chun Fat, Tang Sum. The party will arrive at Auckland on June 9.

The “B” Team Canterbury has a wealth of young material bordering on Ranfurly Shield class if a line can be taken through the selection of the B team to play Ashburton at Lancaster Park on Monday. This is a team of distinct possibilities and capable of playing a bright brand of football if a very competent front-row can give the backs a fair share of the ball. K. Fincham. (Ellesmere), was understudy to the Canterbury hooker. D. Young, last year and J. Staines (Christchurch) and J. Stew-art (University) know the run of the ropes and have been showing first class form this season. I. Rathgen (Technical). G. Roberts. M. Hern and R. Cockrane (Old Boys) are just coming to their best and G. Fechney (Belfast) and J. Purdie (Marist) make up a back which should combine well with young, enterprising backs. A good deal of interest will be taken in the appearance in a representative team of B. Malloy whom many regard as Canterbury’s No. 1 half-back. R. Wilson (Old Boys) may be his partner, and on his latest showing he should ( have no difficulty in working with Malloy and P. Moir (Christchurch) who may fill the second five-eighths position in preference to M. Farrington (Marist). D. Taylor (Technical) has been chosen as centre with the two Christchurch players H. Vernon and J. Osborne on the wings. J. Croucher (University) is a full-back of great possibilities and besides being a reliable goal-kicker he is always prepared to join in attacking moves.

Previously a centre-three-quarters, Croucher is a very effective No. 7 in any team. The form shown against Ashburton may have some influence on the s»-lectors in their choice of Ranfurly Shield teams, for there is no certainty that all players on the West Coast tour will be included. Australian Golf Championship A Sydney player. Ted Rigney, had the easiest win of the day in the first round of the Australian amateur golf championship at Royal Queensland course last Monday, says the “Sydney Morning Herald.” Rigney chipped and putted brilliantly to beat Jack Barkel (Bonnie Doon) 10 and 9. Another outstanding performance was that of the former international Rugby League footballer, Vic Bulgin, who defeated Tasmanian Reg Ashbarry, 4 and 3. Bulgin, a great footballer of a few years ago, toured England with the Australian Rugby League team in 1948 and New Zealand in 1949. There were two upsets when Peter Brown (Tasmania) beat Barry West (Victoria), 1 up, and young Queenslander. Jp<"Rayner beat South Australian and fprmer Australian champion Lo > Stevens, 5 and 4. Boxing Fixtures The Canterbury Boxing Association is making a serious attempt to rehabilitate the sport in public favour and has in view the importation of several men to meet local champions. On June 13 a team of amateurs will compete in a programme organised in the Ellesmere Boxing Association and the following week a strong team will compete against Otago at Dunedin. After this there will be tournaments in Christchurch on June 28 and July 4 and the final trials before the Canterbury and New Zealand Championships. Jones Cup Match Today at English Park Canterbury will play Otago in the first of the home and away matches for the Jones Cup. All Black as Critic

J. W. Stead, vice-captain of New Zealand’s famous All Blacks Rugby team of 1905, has some pertinent comments to make about present-day Rugby. Writing to the “Southland Times” he deplores the number of scrummages ordered before referees are satisfied the ball has been heeled correctly; and he criticises the ability of some players claiming senior status. His observations shpw that he has kept well abreast of a game which, he has many times said, once could get along very well with a set of rules occupying no more than four sides of a folder circular. He says: “I am very much puzzled and perturbed over many of the happenings in our present-day Rugby, which I think can be avoided to the benefit of the game. Firstly, why do referees consistently allow more than one scrum for an infringement when a free kick against somebody would be the commonsfense decision? Why persist in the short lateral kick-off in the hope that a battering ram attack may catch" the defenders on the hop? Why do so many attackers avoid tackles in booting the ball to any place on the chance of regaining possession for their side? There is no end to the why and wherefore where 30 men are engaged, and I don’t want to be a spoil sport. All sorts of excuses are made for mistakes, and I know that coaches come in for more than their share of criticism, but a player who cannot catch, kick and pass a ball, or refuses to put an opponent out of the attack with a knee and shoulder crouched tackle, has no right to be fin incubus to a coach and his side. Have you noticed how hard and determined the tackling is near the goal-line? The players can do it when desperate, but the methods of many are quite unpredictable outside the twenty-fives. Now I know that the pattern of our New Zealand Rugby has entirely s changed over the last 50 years. When = we lost our 2-3-2 scrum (if it had been’ ri less efficient the British Rugby Union,/, or should I say International Board, qi would not have muzzled it and then i : legislated it out of the game), our acceptance of Craven’s dive-pass took away our distinctive game-penetra-tion straight down the centre with ample room for the three-quarter line to show its paces. I’m only breaking the ice here to lead me up to suggest that with the quicker heeling of the ball our five-eighths could, I think, nlay quite close to the half. Flat-footed first five-eighths would disappear and chain passing, speedier and straighter, would give our wings the always welcome overlap.” Music with Football

Used to the blare of brass-bands and gramophone records, England’s footballers are due for a change of tunc on their visit to the West Indies. It looks like being the most “musical” tour yet, says “World Sports.” Calypsos will be sung at half-time, and steel bands, including biscuit tins and oil drums, will serenade the players after the games. West Indians hope that the innovation of the third-back game, brought to the Islands by the Trinidad team after their tour of England three years ago, will help them to win at least one of the nine games—but few people really expect this to happen.

Empire Champion Disqualified The British Empire and Australian light-weight champion, Pat Ford, was disqualified for butting in the eighth round of his match against the Algerian, Lahouari Godih, at Sydney Stadium last Monday. The referee, Vic Patrick, stopped the fight and crowned Godih after Ford had deliberately butted—and missed—2rfiin 30sec after the start of the round. Sections of the crowd of about 6000 hooted—some were angry at Ford for butting, and some at Patrick’s action in stopping the fight so quickly. It was a return match and Godih’s second win over the champion. When Patrick disqualified Ford, the Algerian held a strong points lead. After the fight Sydney Stadiums, Ltd., withheld Ford’s share of the purse, about £6OO, pending a report from the referee. Ford threatens to take legal action to enforce payment but according to a statement made by Mr Harry Miller, manager of Stadiums, Ltd., the company has the power to withhold all or part of any boxer’s purse for several reasons.. Each boxer signs a contract to this effect.