SPORTS ITEMS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 23, 28 January 1928, Page 24

SPORTS ITEMS

Eino Keskinen, the Finnish ■ athlete and holder of two Australian and New Zealand titles, is evidently not of a Buperstitious nature, for he confesses quite a liking for the Devil's number, says the Dunedin "Star." Quite recently he carried No. 13 to victory at a championship meeting in Australia, and when he was victorious at the recent Australian and New Zealand championships 13 was the number on his back. He stuck to the number when he appeared in Dunedin. Keskinen's visit to Dunedin is going to prove of immeasurable benefit to the sport, for he devoted much time to the coaching of the fieldsmen. A more likeable and unassuming athlete it would be hard to meet. Keskinen considers that New Zealand has a wealth of promising material for field games. To achieve success, however, he believes that specialisation is largely necessary, and he also said that for the standard to reach a higher level in the.Dominion it would be necessary to have more implements, more competition in field games, and greater opportunities for practice. In Finland every small centre has its implements, but as far as he could ascertain there was a decided lack in this direction in New Zealand. Implements were certainly very expensive in New Zealand, and the best way would be for the Council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association to import them in large numbers. At a. meeting in South Africa some weeks ago W. B. Legge won the 100 yards in 9 4-ssec and the 220 yards in 21 4-ssec. Willie Eitola, the noted distance runner, is said to be a certain representative of Finland at the Olympic Games. The following is an extract from the report of the Otago touring team's manager (Mr. E. S. Wilson): —"We realised on this tour how essential good fielding is, and the team have come to the conclusion that a good fielding side with moderate bowling and batting will beat sides who are stronger in their bowling and batting but lacking in fielding, and we would recommend to the association that certain nights be set aside for fielding practice' for players selected for representative practice. While our team did exceedingly well in this department of the game, there is still much room for improvement, and the team appears to be keen to perfect itself in this department of the game. I think the association should use every effort to improve as much as possible this very important part of the game. "The fielding of the team throughout the tour, especially the ground fielding, was of a high standard, and I consider that the fielding of the Otago team compared more than favourably with that of any of the other provinces. We were unfortunate in missing chances at critical stages in some of the games, in some instances caused by inexperience on the part of some of the younger members of the team who were playing in their first representative match; but these young players seem anxious to learn, and were showing improvement in every game, and profited by the advice given them by their skipper and Mr. Eastman and the elder members of the team, and I feel sure the tour will do a great deal for these young players, who one and all justified their selection." Tho following item regarding E. D. Blundell, who played for a time with Old Boys' seniors before going to Cambridge, appeared in a recent issue of "The Cricketer":—"The attack of the Bichmond whole-day side has been considerably strengthened in recent matches by the introduction of E. D. Blundell, a New Zealander, who hails from Waitaki. A fast-medium righthand bowler with a graceful action, Blundell bowled very steadily against the New Zealanders when they visited the Kew Eoad ground, but would probably have been more effective on a faster wicket. Against the Sabbatarians on the 4th September, however, he came into his own, and in their second innings met with outstanding success, securing seven wickets for only 9 runs. Blundell is now up at Cambridge, and, it may be remembered, was quite the most successful bowler in the Freshmens' match, taking six wickets for 82 and three for 19. He also assisted the New Zealanders when . they played against the 'Varsity in May, but did not succeed in capturing a wicket." Against Beckenham Blundell took six wickets at small cost.