TOPICAL SPORTING TATTLE

Dunstan Times, 24 July 1933, Page 6

TOPICAL SPORTING TATTLE

As the result of ;ui alteration in the dates of tlie New Zealand amateur ski championship meeting, which will lie held at Mount Cook this year, clashing of the winter sports events in the North and South islands will he avoided (says a Taranaki paper). The dominion championships are now scheduled to commence on August 29, concluding on September J. The Ruapehu Ski Club, which will make its twenty-first winter excursion to National Park this year, will assemble at the Chateau from August 18 to 28. during which period the club championships will be held. A team will also compete in the championships at .Mount Cook.

Sydnoy has a new indoor game, according to the ‘ Referee.’ It is known as Cricks, fashioned on cricket, which is tiie basis of the game. Six players constitute a team, and the area required is only half the size of an ordinary tennis court enclosure. In the first public exhibition the spectators included the Australian Eleven player, W. .). O’Reilly, who presented a trophy to the highest scorer ol' each team and to the host howler.

T. A. Fletcher, member of the Management Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union, does a lot ol travelling about those days as an inspector of primary schools (says Jic ‘ New Zealand Free Lance ’). Recently be was up the East Coast, and one Saturday he watched the famous Maori full-back. George Nepia, in action. “ And,” said Air Fletcher, “ Nepia played right up to Ids best form, and, if he keeps on playing, will have to be seriously considered when the next New Zealand team is selected. The trip in 1936 may not be beyond him, for be is still young and a brilliant full-back.”

“Second Slip,” in ‘’l lie Cricketer.’ is a bit impatient with timid batsmen Writing on the West Indian-M.C.C game at Lord’s, be states: “On the first evening the spectators during the last hour saw some fast bowling and some hatting which was more than moderately bad—it was definitely bad. Hard words break no bones, but it is time that those who play cricket should be told to stand up to last bowling. The game is supposed to make men of us; let it be so.’

Jack .Steele, famous All Black, whose try against the Springboks in the first test at Dunedin is still recalled as one of the epics of New Zealand Rugby; lias resigned from the Railway Department to take over the license of the Governor’s Bay Hotel He was la rewelled at a large gathering of the ( hrisielmreli goods staff, and the ' Railway Officers’ Advocate ’ stated; “ That tins was the largest gathering of tiie goods staff on record is a tribute to Jack’s |io>.ular:t,v ’

Then' can be little doubt that in James Langridge Sussex possesses the finest all-rounder in English cricket to-day, said a Home critic at the end of May. For some years he lias been one of the mainstays of the side, and, judging by bis work in the early matches, he is to have a brilliant season. Langridge has certainly fulfilled this prophecy, bis recent performance in scoring 159 not out and taking four wickets for 34 runs against Yorkshire, playing an important part in the downfall of the champion county. Langridge was formerly junior coach to the Auckland Cricket Association.

C. C. Dacro, the ex-Auckland and New Zealand representative, who was in Dunedin with the Auckland team at New Year, but could not play against Otago, lias been in run-getting form in recent mutches, but bis performance and that of IV. R. Hammond in each scoring a double century against Worcestershire last week are among the outstanding efforts of the English county season. This was the first time that two men bad achieved double centuries in the one innings since 1899. when, playing for Worcestershire, the Foster brothers registered the performance for the first time in the history of the game.

The four major lawn tennis championships of the world arc; Wimbledon (All England), United States national championships, French championships, and Australian championships. They are recognised as major championships because they are the national meetings of the nations that have been the leading tennis nations for several years. In importance they are usually regarded in the order given.

When the Scottish international Rugby side met England at Murrayfield one of the forwards was •). M. Henderson, who three or four years ago came out from Scotland and played for the Old Boys' Club in Waipnkiiran, gaining a place in the Central Hawke’s Bay team (says an exchange). In Waipnkuraii Ids skilful control of the ball while dribbling commanded much admiration. Henderson, who was farming in Hawke’s Bay, played in all the Scottish trials, but the match against England was bis only international game.

“ We will not develop properly till we can get some of our players as pro-fe-siouals,” stated Mr A. T. Donnelly, at a meeting of the New Zealand Cricket Council last week. “ But, we cannot do without our visits to England, oven though they have proved a drain on our players of recent years. However, we must not let these tours become too big a call on the time and work of our young amateurs. Rather than have that, it would be better to be content with slightly lower status.” A coloured jockey, for the first time iu racing annals, was in the saddle on an English course on .May 27, when Ernest Rorkins, -Jamaica's champion jockey, rode Black Amber in the For-get-me-not Handicap at Windsor. In future South Australian athletic programmes a decathlon championship will be included. Hitherto (he allrounder has been at a disadvantage, but now be will come into bis own in decathlon competitions.