A SPORTSMAN’S DIARY

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 66, 10 December 1938, Page 10 (Supplement)

A SPORTSMAN’S DIARY

(By

QUIDNDNC.

GLAMOUR LACKING IN WELLINGTON CRICKET

Poor Quality Of Batsmanship

■ The recent Town-Country match and the Past-Present game 'on the occasion.of the special cricket day to raise funds for mote reserves emphasized that there has been a surprising slump i.n the quality of batting in the Wellington province - Bowlers are to be found in abundance, but it is open to question whether their success is not due to the mediocre batting Support can easily be found for this contention when E. D Blundell, one of the best of the present-day length bowlers, who has been bagging wickets' freely in club games,.was clouted all ovet the paddock in the Past-Present match by one of the stars of a decade ago, H. Af. McGirr. . , , , . . A really good crowd was present and relished the dashing exhibition of McGirr. No sooner had the game finished than the crowd vanished into thin air.

The reason is obvious. There is no glamour in-Wellington cricket nowadays. It is in the rut of mediocrity. The giants of the past decade, Hiddleston, McGirr, Kortlang, Dempster, Brice and Co., have no Counterparts. It is not that our cricketers are not triers, nor that any fault' lies with the controlling body, which has been most energetic in its efforts to build up the game and keep it in its proper place as the major of summer attractions. The trouble is the lack of individual inspiration and genius. Our batsmen are of the so near and yet so far variety. The bowling alone is the redeeming feature. '■ Prjtehard. the Manawatn med-ium-fast- bottler; has already established himself as "one'of the finest trun'dlers of his-type the country has had for years. Great- length'bowling and ability to make the-ball ‘talk” are his assets.

Inspiration cannot be defined, but it is a quality inseparable in a sport desiring to /retain its hold ou the public. The stars-are the players, who provide the glamour. . It is in their technique and temperament that geniuslies. Conscious of'the need for applying this talent to the public, managers in all forms of sport the world over arO continually on the look-out'for it. In most professionally eoritrolled organizations; astute judges are continually appraising the form of rising youngsters with a view to placing then} under, the best'coaching. In this manner administrators render the most merited service to a sport. In New Zealand, where most sport is amateur, this searching for the stars is not conducted on such an extensive scale as elsewhere, but it still remains the only means to the desired end. In the past talent has more or less been allowed to force its way to the fore, and it has been only of late that there has been a decline in the golden years, during Which this country produced stars in all forms of sport. The decline is not confined merely to cricket. Who can say that our football, tennis and other forms of sport are as great ns in former years? With the possible exception of athletics, the glamour of which has been maintained by the deeds of such stars as Lovelock, Boot and Matthews, and by the progress of harrier racing, none of our major sports occupy the relatively high position in the esteem of the public that they did a decade ago. . The obvious move must be a continuous search for talent. Youth must be given the opportunity to prove itself. In this respect .judgment must be exercised in the choice of the men who tire to have the say in what is the right talent. Administrators are not always men of such keen perception. Their abilities often lie in the direction of organization and management. without which no sport can be properly conducted. But .among their ranks are .those with genius for ‘‘sighting" talent, men- who know the symptoms. A little thought along these lines might be very beneficial for sport in general in this country. Soccer Honours.

A singular feature of. tbe statistics of Soccer al Home from 1888 to 193 S compiled by Mr. George Patterson, secretary of the Liverpool club, is that three of the original clubs iti the Fnglisli first division championship. Derby County, Bolton Wanderers and Stoke, have never won the championship. Bolton have been compensated by winning the Football Association Cup on three occasions. Derby County is making a bold bid this year to eiirry off the championship, which has chided „them so long.

According to Mr. Patterson’s statistics, which are styled the jubilee list of honours, Sunderland, with 1851 first division points, and Aston Villa with 1832, .have scored the highest number of points during the 50'years. Sunderland overtook Aston'Villa in the past two years, when the latter were in the second division! Both have appeared in the first division an equal number of seasons, 44, and have both wchi the championship on six occasions. Arseiial lias won the championship on.five occasions in the 28 seasons this-club has appeared in the ■first division,'but it is well down in. the number of first division points gained during the'past,so years. ' The honours ’list, compiled ou aggrega it-. uqiu ts. •is as follows: — I’Sunderland 2 Aston Villa bmh mh 3 Everton srdl mh mh 4 Blackburn R. 5 Liverpool ' bm bmmb 6 Bolton W.'. 7 Sheffield U.' 8 Newcastle U. ’ • ’ crdl mhm h '9 Sheffield W. ' mh mh lO"Manchester C. ' shrdl mh mh IT Derby County sbrdlu mh 12 West Brom. A. mh mhh 13 Stoke '■ ■' shrdlu mh mb 14 'l’l-estdii N.E. ’ slir dumlh 15' Arsenal '• ' shrdlu mh mhh 10 Middlesbrough mh mh h : Birmingham is next with 920 points.

Fast Goal.. One of the fastest goals scored in the history of English Soever was registered •by Aston Villa- ill its mutch against -‘Charlton Athletic -last Saturday. Villa ' kicked off. The ball'went to the inside forward, oiit to-the wing and back to the wing half.- who goaled with a magnificent ' long’ range drive at the net. without a Charlton player touching the ball. The time taken was 10 seconds, and so amazed -the crowd that it stood in stupefaetjpn for a, moment and then burst into sustained apolause. Aston Villa played inspired football and inflicted the first defeat Charlton Athletic have had in the past. 10 matches'.

No .Effects of Injury. .Don Bradman lias early demomdrated that the Injury in Lhe'Oval Test match han »(>t affected hitr play; . In hi<? first chib ganie in South Australia he scored h fast 49.' run odt. -

Going in tirwt wicket down for Kensington against .L’niyepsity recently be ran tb 140 in 112 minutes,-and then threw his -wicket-aivay'.' 'Sultry, conditions did not-affect him.,.. He unfolded, all his shots and picked tip boundaries with ease. At one period lit l -hit six. stmeswive_balls _to the fence. He scored his first ,>O in o 7 minutes, the second 50 in 32 minutes and his last 4(> in 23 minutes. He picked up 14 off one over from University’s best bowler. Morrison, and 1.7 from an over from White, and hit ’22 fours. His century in 89 minutes is the fastest scored in Adelaide this season.

. Loclio’s Observations. J... "Bobby” Locke, famous South African .professional, believes that D. J. Darier' would be Australia’s outslamlug gplfei if he were able to play more frequently —He made ibis'statement before leaving for Melbourne on the first stage of hi,trip home"! Ili tlie'afternoon he had ben! en Davies, 1 up, with u round of OS in a ~ line' match"arflie ‘Ryde-l'arramalla '.-bib's

course, after leading 3 up at the turn. In rite second nine Davieo holed three twos. "Davies i« a - magnificent goiter, said Lucke. “It is a great pity that circumstances only allow him to play at the weekends. With more play he would be outstanding here—-he is not far from that nOw.” , , . . Locke said that the standard in Australia and in New Zealand was surprisingly high. “Von Nida and Cremin are in the top flight and will do well oversea. Bill Bolger, too, is a fine golfer and a tighter.” “I lost 121 b. in weight during my illness in New Zealand, but have now regained it. I am playing better golf non than earlier in the tour. Naturally 1 hope to come back. It has been a marve.lous trip. Perhaps I can do it all over again in a year or two." Invitation to Boot.

British Empire' half-mile champion \ P. Boot has been invited to run in the New South Wales championships in February (says the Sydney “Labor Dail.' IThe New South Wales A.A.A. wants the New Zealand ace to stay in Sydney tor three weeks. The title events will be decided on February 4 and 11. If Boot goes he may race at Newcastle on February IS. There is a chance that Boot also may go to Victoria for a few weeks, it the southern association decides to co-operate with the New South Wales body. Boot ran sensational times at the Empiad meet last February, eslabl.shtng Australian records for the hall-mile. Officials are to be congratulated on the move to popularize the sport by raising the standard of competition. Interest in the February meeting should be the greatest for years Australian star hiill-milcr Gerald Backhouse will probably make the trip to Sydney to oppose Boot. ... In addition, Miss Decima Norman will be in Sydney for the championships. Queensland sprint star W. Burgciu is to compete. '

Fred Perry Shows Promise as Golfer. Everybody knows by now how well Ellsworth Vines, the champion teunis star, has taken to golf. He has become one of Southern California’s best amateur golfers, just as he is one of the world’s best tennis professionals, says an American sports commentator. It is we., known that Maury McLoughlin, once the greatest tennis player in the world, l.as become one of the best putters in goll anywhere in America. He has won many club honours. . , , Mary K. Browne was a national tennis leader and later a national womens golf champion. Mrs. Gregg Lifur, many times State golf champion, was a star tenuis player. Miss Marion M illiams wa o a Southern Californian women’s tennin champion. She became one ol the best goiters.in San Diego County. All of which leads up to the fact that Fred Perry, former world’s tennis champion, haw become a fine golfer ill the last few weeks. Recently he broke SO for the first time when he ehot a 79 at Fox Hills while practising for the Fox Hills invitation tourney. Chick Cobleigh, who has been giving Perry announced that he had received an entry from Vines as well, as from Perry, but the pair did not meet on the links. Speedway Racing Popular.

According to an Australian competitor. Bill Longley, speedway racing has developed into a «port which takes second place only to football in England. . takings at speedways last year reached the large total of £900,000, Powerful clubs were trafficking in rjder<s. and huge crowds attended well-equip-ped ovals night after night. former football coaches were engaged to train riders for the hard work of riding five ana six nights a week nt high speeds round small tracks. Some coaches collected up to £l2O a week, and they earned it. American "dare-devil” riders were invading England. , , , ' Longley went to England last year <ttter only 12 months’ experience. He rode at New Cross, the London speedway, with a team which included'Jack Miltie, the 1937 world champion. At West Ham be rode against "Bluey” Wilkinson, Winner of the 1938 world title in England, Longley won by a. length, giving the: teams a draw. Two nights later Wilkinson won the British championship. Wilkinson also recently returned to Australia accompanied by three front-rank American riders, including. J. Milne, tlie former world champion. Wilkinson said that the world’s championship next yenr was arousing interest before be left London. The authorities had decided ■to limit the attendance to 100,009 at the Wemblev Stadium, and only persons bolding tickets issued in advance would be admitted. Tribute to Richards.

American Imxers now in Australia pay a high tribute to Ron Richards, .tlie Queensland light-heavyweight. ■ Says Johnny Hutchinson, U.S.A. ’ featherweight, referring to Richards's victory over Sabatino: "He's a magnificent fighting machine, and is equal to the best of his weight in the world. I could not fault bis exhibition Obviously he was lighting well within himself anil .not taking any-risks. I admired Richards's beautiful defence. He’s-a heavy . ptilieher .and r»l.'i( : es his blows with uncanny acetiracy, “Have you got anything better out here?’’ inquired the .dapper little coloured boy of W. J. Ahearne. a noted boxing critic.

"Palniei knocked him out six mootlingo." "Knocked hint out. Incredible.- How? ‘‘With a left hoidt.” replied Ahearne.

“I didn’t think yon had such good fighters in this country." said Hutchinson. and I spotted him. ey eing me suspiciously after I had left him; "He probably thought I -was • nulling liis leg,” ‘concluded .Alienfile

j Caiilerbur.v’s Hopes. ; Canterbury 'intends to make a strong ' effort to regain the Anthony Wilding i Memorial Shield, symbol of provincial , supremacy in men's tennis, from Auckland this season, -says (.lie "Cbfisti-hitreli Star-Sun.” The management committee decided last evening..to ent.er’-:i challenge for the trophy.. The selectors were given aiith- ■ oritv to submit a suggested dale to ' Am-kland after -onsiillation with Hie players. ' It is possible that an effort will be made to secure a date late in January, just prior to the Auckland championships. A. D. Brown. Dominion singles chainoion. who was a- member of the ■ Auckland team which won the shield last season, is’How residing in Christchiirch and he will be eligible to piny, lor < an ■ lerlmry It is possible, that he will l>< le.-iving the Dominion a’ tlie end ,ol I'eli ' rtiary to represent tin Doniinion in th- | Davis Cup competition