Charlie Oliver dies

Press, 26 September 1977, Page 32

Charlie Oliver dies

New Zealand gained and lost a double All Black at the week-erfd — Brian McKechnie was selected for the rugby tour of France and C. J. Oliver died in Brisbane. He was 71.

Charlie Oliver was a Canterbury man who became one of New Zealand’s most famous sportsmen. He was one of the select group who played for New Zealand at both rugby and cricket — a group now joined by McKechnie, aged 23, a Southlander who was a national cricket representative in 1975.

As a cricketer, Oliver toured Australia twice and England once with New Zealand sides in the mid-19205. After that rugby took precedence. He played at home for New Zealand in 1928, toured Australia with the teams of 1929 and 1934, and was the vice-captain and star player of the 1935 All Blacks in Britain.

He was a strong-running and imaginative centre, who had a long and distinguished career for Canterbury, extending from 1924 to 1935, and he was a stalwart of the Merivale club. His 33 games for New Zealand included seven tests.

His death will leave orily two survivors of New Zealand’s first team to England, in 1927. They are both Canterbury men — M. L. Page and W. H. Cunningham.

Oliver, an attractive righthand batsman and a change

bowler, played first-class cricket from 1923-24 until 1942-43. He was in the New Zealand team which toured Australia in 1925-26. He scored 218 runs there, to average 31.1. His tour of England was not as successful: In all first-class matches he made 1301 runs, with nine half-centuries, for an average of 23.2. He had a fine record for the Sydenham club in senior championship matches: He made 7852 runs, at an average of 47, with 20 centuries and 46 half-centuries. His best score was 195, in 193839. In addition, he took 129 wickets, at 24.1 runs a wicket.

The surviving double All Blacks are George Dickinson (aged 74), Eric Tindill (66) and “Curly” Page (75). The other. Bill Carson, was killed in World Ward 11.

Tannls. — Christophe RogerVasselin, using a controversial double-strung racket, reached the finals of the SUSSO,OOO Poree international tennis tournament in Paris, beating Jose Higueras (Spain). 3-6. 6-2, 6-0.

Goir.— Mike Hill (United States) birdied the final hole to share the third round lead on 205 with Ben Crenshaw (U.S.) in the $150,000 Ohio Kings Island open golf tournament in Cinclnattl.

Soccer. —Austria and East Germany drew, 1-1, in a World Cup group three qualifying match In Vienna.