SIDELINES

Press, 26 July 1980, Page 12

SIDELINES

• DUNEDIN has suuered another setback. Jhe transfer ■ of the office of the New Zealand Bowling Association . from the southern city to Auckland means that Dunedin is no longer the headquarters for any major national sport, and it is doubtful if any minor ones have their base in the city, either. South Islanders might well wonder what direction bowls is going to take now that the administration is in the hands of the characteristically broader-thinking Aucklanders. CES CLARK, the genial West Coaster who is coaching the South Island rugby league team, is no stranger to experiencing victorv over Auckland. Mr Clark played a role in the defeats Auckland has suffered on its last three visits to Grevmouth, as a player in 1968 (when West Coast won, 16-3), a provincial selector in 1971 (25-14), and West Coast coach in 1975 (20-17).

MR VIC CAVANAGHS death recalled one of the most ceie brated yet succinct of halftime rugby pep talks. It occurrec in a 1947 Ranfurly Shield game at Carisbrook, and the Otago players braced themselves for a Cavanagh blast when they trailed the challenger, Auckland, '3-12, after 40min. The tension built up in the dressing room as the Otago coach paced across the floor. Then Tie walked to the door, opened

'it, and said firmly, “get out there, vou sheilas.” Otago won, 18-12. We seem to recall another Otago coach borrowing that line 32 years later. THE FIRST woman to qualify as an amateur wrestling referee in New Zealand, Mrs Rev Green, of Auckland, officiated in that capacity during the national veterans t r,.. n Christchurch last week. She was also ■ ■- : ->r .and junior events. Although almost an exclusive male snort, quite a number of girls have taken part in the “kid” wrestling competitions for beginners. TENNIS is showing the way to other major sports in its recognition of the importance of leading players. What other sport, for instance, would award life membership to a top competitor still in ’ harness, as the N.Z.L.T.A. did to Onny Parun last week? And Parun, Chris Lewis and Russell Simpson, the Davis Ctm team members, are all on the board of trustees for the new B.P. Tennis Foundation. As tennis boss lan Wells says: ““The game is for the players, not the administrators.” AUCKLAND MIGHT not be favoured, to beat South Island in their inter-districts rugby league clash at the •Show Grounds today, but it has an impressive winning record in Christchurch. It has lost only twice against Canterbury when plaving away from home —by 6-5 in ,1925 and 16-1.3 in. 1962. CHRISTCHURCH will have a new bowls selector next season. Bryan Smith, a member of Morgan Moffat’s New Zealand champion Linwood four two years ago, has •replaced Dave Martin on the selection panel. Mr Martin .'did not seek re-election, while the other two sitting members, Arnold Memory and Frank Cornelius were returned. It is a shade ironic that Smith should get the job, as he has suffered more than most in centre selections over recent years.