SIDELINES

Press, 26 November 1982, Page 19

SIDELINES

EVEN IN the off-season, Canterbury rugby is. getting plenty of mileage out of the Ranfurly Shield. The chairman of the C.R.F.U. publicity committee, Vic Thomas, said this week that at least 100 organisations had had the shield for varying periods in the last two months, some using it to further charitable causes. The shield has visited 20 schools in the last fortnight and judging by the number of boys who have been having their photographs taken with it, film developers should also be reaping a benefit.

ALREADY well stocked with talented goal-keepers. Canterbury hockev could have another in its fold next season. The New Zealand gbal-keeper. Maurice Marquet. has applied for three teaching positions in the Canterbury district. At present, he is teaching at the Lawrence school in Central Otago.

AUSTRALIA’S REMARKABLE sequence of having won its last 12 rugby league tests is quite decisively an international record. It has not been beaten in a test since its 0-2 series loss in France in 1978 and its only reverse since then was to South Island at the Show Grounds in 1980. Perhaps even more incredible, and also a record, is that the Kangaroos have conceded just one try in their last 10 internationals, that having been scored by Hugues Ratier (France) at Sydney last year. Since then Australia has beaten France in the return game by 17-2, New Zealand by 11-8 and 20-2, Papua New Guinea by 38-2, and Britain by 40-4 and 27-6.

TWO NEW ZEALAND women have been included in the list of umpires to officiate at the first women's World Cup tournament in Kuala Lumpur next April. Corinne Pritchard and Margaret Chappell, both from Auckland, no doubt cemented their claims with consistent umpiring at the international tournament in Palmerston North in May. It was Miss Chappell’s first season as an international umpire.

OUT OF the mouths of babes ... A sporting type is just back from a world trip with a story or two. One of the best dates back to the Brisbane Commonwealth Games but bears repetition. It focused on the few minutes before the start of the men’s 809 m final, Steve Ovett in the 8.8. C. studios as a comments man instead of our on the track, John Walker in Brisbane. The New Zealand hope was interviewed and commented, at one point, how athletics had changed with families now accompanying their more famed members countryside, even worldwide. Walker’s little daughter was at his side. Back in dear bld Blighty, Ovett was asked if he knew the little girl. “Indeed I do,” he responded, “we speak together a lot.” “What does she say?” queried the interviewer. “When are you going to stop beating my Daddy?” quoth Ovett.

ANOTHER QUOTABLE quote from Cockney-land is that ot the London cabbie who tersely insisted his Ocker passengers should clean out the ash-tray when they were disembarking. Why should they perform this task, they demanded to know. “Because they’re* the only ashes you’ll be setting this series.” the cricket-loving patriot hissed at them.