THE WORLD OF SPORT

Evening Star, Issue 17850, 22 December 1921, Page 3

THE WORLD OF SPORT

CRICKET. [By Wallaby.] The Otago team as chosen, with the addition of the young High School player, Dickinson, leave for _ Christchurch tomorrow morning, carrying with them the good wishes of their fellow-cricketers and all other supporters of the game. The inclusion of Dickinson was made expedient by, in the first place, Casey’s inability to obtain leave for the full time necessary for the tour, and in the second place by the fact that the same player hue developed a sore foot. I understand Casey will in any event go to Christchurch and be tried out' there, and’ if the foot stands and ho howls np to form he will go on to Auckland, But he will not be available for the Wellington match. Dickinson- is perhaps a little “raw” yet for big cricket but it is quite possible that he may spring a surprise by capturing a lot of wickets if he gets the chance, liven if ho is not particularly successful the experience should do him good if ho is made of the right cricketing stuff; and I think he is.

On paper tho Canterbury team is a good all-round one, Some of the northern critics, however, consider it a bit weak in howling, although well provided with change bowlers, and the batting strength doubtful, though as a fielding side it should shine. Blunt and Worker, who have each made a. century this aro tho leading batsmen. Patrick has made two centuries already, but has not been reliable in between times. Nevertheless, wo know “Billy” to be a dangerous opponent. Brosnahan, Grant, and Evans aro all good batsmen, and Bead can make big scores on occasion. Sandman, too, is always likely to knock up a few quickly. Hayes has been howling at tho top of his form this season, and Read and M'Beth started very well, while Sandman and Blunt as slow bowlers give strength to the side. Evans, Grant, and Patrick are all change howlers. A. C. Fuller is the wicketkeeper, and. though not briliant in stumping and catching, he is a stonewall as regards letting the hall nast. He can also make runs occasionally.

These players, with a twelfth man. will constitute tho Canterbury team to travel north after playing Otago. The twelfth man will bo either- Young (batsman) or M‘Hadrian (bowler). The latter is the erc-G-rango left-hander, and lias been declared by competent critics to Ire the best bowler in Now Zealand at present when fairly on the job. But ho is no bat and a poor field. Young is a good bat and an active field. Tho match against Otago will show whether a bowler or a batsman is needed.

Saturday was a most uncomfortable day for players of any outdoor game, owing t-o the strong, gusty wind that blew all tho afternoon. Umpires were kept busy -cplacing dislodged bails, and fieldsmen were often deceived in the flight of the ball, white bowlers and batsmen alike were irritated by the toe-assertive breeze.

Nevertheless, there wore some big individual efforts, chief amongst which was Galland’s 191 not out against Mornington. The Grange man laid on the wood in great style, and gave one of his brightest displays, hitting four 6’s and thirty 4’s. Of his <lrst 70 runs 60 were mad© in boundaries, so there was no “waiting to get his eve in.” Oitiv mne real chance marred- the display, and that was not till ho had got well past the century. This big innings will give Oalland confidence for the struggles to come up north. Not that this nlayor is troubled with nerves, but a score 'ike this would give additional stiffening to anybody’s backbone. It is a pity that Oalland had not the opportunity of going on with a view to trying to beat the ’■coord club score of 225 which is held by Harry Siedeberg. Another good score, though not by any moans faultlessly made, wa.s Shepherd’s 92 against Dunedin. The Albion man was decidedly lucky in being missed first ball and on subsequent occasions, while his strokes were often verging on the fluky. But in this case also the experience of “ banging them about ” will do the batsman good and benefit Otago during the next two or three weeks. Shepherd’s score towered over those of the rest of the team so enormously that the next best was 12.

On the game as it now stands Dunedin look like sustaining their first defeat"; but as nearly all the teams will ho disorganised when club cricket is resumed on .January 7 anything might happen. Albion will be without the services of Siedeberg, Carlton, and Shepherd, while Eckbohl and Torrance will he .wav from the Dunedin side. Dunedin’s display on Saturday was disappointing after their big scoring against Ova nee. Eckhold, Edwards, andStrang all failed badly, and, though Higgins came to light with 32 and Casey continued his recent good work by bitting up 27, the. .side would have only just topped the hundred had- it not been for the consistent Mr Extras, who added’ 31. Shepherd again displayed form as a bowler, and captured five good, wickets for 34. Carlton took the rest of them at a-. cost of 46.

In Grange’s big total of 361 there were some useful scores besides Galjand’s. Conra.dl followed his two 30’s against Dunedin with another; young Sanson got 26, Bunn 24, and Charlie Chadwick 24. Extras, of course, had a, say to the extent of 21. The onlv worthy* effort in Moxnington’s response was Cameron’s 44 not out. Konst, bowling In good style, put up a_ rather remarkable performance by taking six wickets for 16 runs of twenty-four balls.

The two Carisbrook teams met on Saturday, when, in addition to the wretched wind, the players had tn_ contend with a still more wretched wicket, it is a great pity that this old and famous ground should bo allowed to go down the Hill as it has bean doing during the last few seasons, both in regard to wickets and outfield. It seems to me that the wickets want entirely remaking. On Saturday the soil was giving way in large patches, with, tho result that play was positively dangerous. In the circumstances Carichrook's score of 198 was meritorious. Duncan made some lovely shots in compiling 57, and is undoubtedly a batsman. Westbrook showed gratifying; form in getting 41, and Livingstone, hatting really well, was responsible for 37—as also was Mr Extras. Tho Carisbrook-Univorsity opened badly. Dickinson’s fast ones getting amongst them with disastrous effect. Five were down for 48, when the Alloo brothers camo to the rescue, and not only improved matters but defied all tho bowlers,’ and remained unoonquered at tho call of time, Cecil with 41 to his credit and Arthur with 30. Dickinson bagged all five wickets at a cost of 33 runs, and sent down very few loose ones. Another young High School player in Gunn kept wickets for Carisbrook, and hia work was very favorably commented upon. With such a dearth of wicketkeepers as Otago is just now experiencing, Gunn should be encouraged and given every opportunity to improve. Unfortunately Canterbury cannot raise a. second grade rep. team to travel to Dunedin this year, which is n pity, because interest in this grade of cricket is keen. I wonder if tho "trophy” which these teams used to play for in days gone by is still in existence. Old players will remember the wooden cup episode. On Monday night all the members of the rep. team chosen to go north responded to the invitation to meet the O.C.A. Executive. A friendly chat ensued. and good wishes for the success of the tour were showered upon the players. It is a good idea for players and the governing body thus to come into close touch officially. It tends to prove to any who may still be in doubt on the point that oven those members of tho association who are not actively engaged in tho game are right out for its advancement, and for tho sympathetic encouragement of the players. As keen in this direction as any is Mr Crosby Morris, in whom cricketers have a president worthy of tho name.

Mr George Nelson, of the Otago Sports Depot, has donated a bat to be won by the batsman in the Otago rep. team who obtains the highest aggregate of runs during the northern tour. Mr Crosby Morris (president of the 0.C.A.), too,_ is giving a bat to bo won by tho bowler with the beat, average on tom - , the winner to

take at least eight wickets. Mr Nelson has also donated a bat to he awarded to the junior player whom the coach (Mr Carlton) deems to have shown the greatest imnrovement during the year. Speaking at a luncheon to the Australian team during their visit to Durban ('South Africa, Warwick Armstrong, who had only the day before come out of the hospital, eaid—speaking of Ida team —that ho had with him a very fine lot of players, who, as a team, had worked together like clockwork. Tiro present tour was tho only one in which ho had participated where there had been a complete absence of trouble of some sort or a row between members of the team. They bad all polled together in a remarkable manner. They were proud to have beaten England, hut they were bound to admit that the Old Country had not yet wholly recovered from the effects of the Great War, nor settled down to pre-war sporting conditions. It would not bo long before England again got to the top of her form. There were a. number of casualties on ; the first day of tho recent N.S.W. v. j Queensland match, which was played at Brisbane on a wicket damaged by rain. During tho home team’s first innings one of the batsmen (Smith) got a nasty smack on tho finger, and had to retire, resuming Inter. Though the wicket-keeper was taking the faster bowlers head high, nothing else of a serious nature occurred until the Mother State team wont to tho wickets. A few runs only had been scored when ITornibrook sent down a “flyer,” which struck tho wicket-keeper (Farquhar) over the eye. Ho was carried off the field and taken away for hospital treatment. Shortly afterwards Scanes (a batsman) was struck on the body, and lie, too, had to lie carried off. No doubt there was a general feeling of relief when, a few runs later, stumps were drawn for the clay..

Natal papers handed to me by a cricketing friend are full of the doings of tho Australian team then touring South Africa. Of “Marvellous (Macartney’ the sporting paper, ‘Tho Latest,’ says: “Those who saw the whole of (Macartney’s century in Australia’s second innings received the full value of (heir entry foe many times over. A wonderful batsman, this. A short, compactly-built figure, his peso at tho wicket typifies his Gyle, for it spells aggression. The bat, arms, and shoulders a;.pear to bo one piece of tense mechanism denoting dominance, and the power pul into those glorious drives and strokes past point and cover is phenomenal. A picturesque batsman to watch, he takes a, chance, and who would begrudge him a bit of luck on the way? He monopolised the batting, and scored 68 out of 83 in 50min. Most of us have had to waft many a long year before seeing Macartney, and the writer, for one, is quite satisfied he is IT—and then some.”

Same curious points, not directly covered by the rules of cricket, occurred during play on the third day of the match between the Australians and Natal (says a Durban paper). When Field was hit by the ball from Gregory he fell to the ground apparently unconscious and broke the wicket with his bat. The question arose as to whether he was out under tho hit-wicket mle Various theories were advanced to account for his being allowed to resume his innings after having satisfied himself that his face had not been entirely carried away by the shell. One was to the effect that, being unconscious at Ibe time of breaking his wicket, lie was not responsible for bis actions. Another was that the Australians, out of •rood nature, had allowed the injured batsman to continue his innings as a solatium for the pain inflicted; whilst a i-iiird was that it v as a diplomatic move in order to prevent tho crowd from barracking the Australian fast express who had caused the distressing disturbance of the serenity and symmetry of Fields' features. Of course, (he correct position was that under the rules Field was out, but, not knowing what happened when (he “shell” struck him, he on recovery stuck to bis ground. No one had the heart to appeal to tho umpire, and so Field icntiimed to bat, AMATEUR ATHLETICS, [By Spike.] —Fixtures.—• December 31-January 2.—Australasian Championships at Adelaide. January 21.—-Visit Springbok athletes.

.Arriving at Adelaide on Saturday, the South African athletes will have seven days’ trail-ling before being called upon to compote in the Australasian championships. Each member of the team ranks as a first-class athlete, mid some of the times recorded by them are, to use a common expression, ‘’hot." The following will give our runners sc me idea, wh it can be expected from the members of the visiting team: J. K. Avre.s-Oosterlaak was a member of the 1923 South African Olympic team, and also a member of the British Empire team against; .America, He is the prerent holder or the 100, 220, and 410 Transvaal championships and the 100 yards South Airman championship. Sure ret lining from the Games, Oosterlaak has been credited with and recorded with 100yds Sf?cc, 220vds Z2scc. _ Owing to an accident sustained whilst in Gape Town, Oristcrhak could not compete in the rjuari er-niilo. in the Transvaal championships Oonstcrlnak was given 49lsec for the quarter, but. two official watches ami .moiiici il wat.-hes made the, time ns loijsec. Tiro chief timekeeper madi it 491,-e.-, and this was accepted. ■ A few days before sailing he put up bis most brilliant performance, finishing his 220 in 21‘iss . Ho was pressed to the tape by one of the oilier members of the team, Kinsman, who finished Ift behind him. This rime is oue-hi'tb of a second faster ilmn hew Zealand record. J, V.’. Biilces was a mem he- of the 1920 South African Olympic, teem, and is the ex-South African 100 and 220 yards champion. He les*- his title this year to Oostorlaak, and ran second in both the 100 and 220 yards championships. On several occasions this year Babes has clocked lOsec for the ,100. and on one mrasicn did Ofscc, for which lie Ins been officially credited. Bukes aho did 22scj- for the 220yds. Ho is n powerful runner and a typical fighter.

H. P. Kinsman is the youngest of flic team, and i.s (lip “surprise" packet. He was unkno.vn a few months ago, but on !n's first• onling won the ICO yards Xatai championship, and capped this performance by winning (ho 220 yards S.A. charnpinnship in 22Xee on a very dead and had track. Mick Tc; tv, tho Australian professional coach, lead Kinsman in hand, and, io use his own words, is of (he opinion that this hoy wiil he the driest sprinter South Afii-a. has yet produced. D. A 1!. Leathern H the present holder of the half and om-mi!o Xatal and S.A. championships. He won the half-mile in Xatai in LoSt-scc and'tho mile in 4.475 cc (both on the same day), and the half-mile in Urn S.A. championships in 2.2|sec, and mile in 4.o6sec. The track was extremely bad, and militated against fast times. Leathern is a tine type, of middle distance runner, and wil', it i.s expected be the best performer over these distances South Africa, has yet sent out of the country, ife has not yet been thoroughly extended, and on the occasion of the recent S.A. championship he brat 'he lioldtr with ap parent ease. Leathern is also a fine 600 yards runner, , nd will pei iorrt veil • ver any distance from the. 600 to Hip mile. R. Johnston, the second middle-distance runner, :a perhaps the most versatile runner in the team. Ho runs | articnWly veil over , ny distances inclusive from !ho 220yds io the BSovds. In tho recent Transvaal championships he was beaten by lyd by Oosterlaak, when the phenomenal time of 49t was registered, and won the 880yds in 2mii 2sec. In the South African championships Johnston ran second in the quartcr-milo in 50,-sec,, and third in the 220yds in, He ran well on both occasions, and ran a quarter under 50sec in tho relay. He, did not compete in the half-mile at the championships at Cape Town. Johnston is a decided favorite with the public, as he has a -vo-iderfally fine and cheery disposition. Johnston recently ran the 300yds in a shade outside 31 sec, and will attempt any distances for record over the 309 to 500 yards. He will also be the 880yds runner with Leathery

American papers report that in all probability tho world’s champion sprinter, C. W, Paddock, will shortly retire from active participation on the track. This ia to be regretted, as Paddock was in the height of a successful running career, and tho holder of several world’s sprint records. Up to March, 1920, he had competed in 160 races, winning 152, was placed second in five and thi;d in two, while he failed in only one race. He was then twenty years of ago and stood 6ft 9in.

The Caledonian Society is making every attempt to improve the condition of the cinder track at Kensington, It ia understood that the surface is to be removed and a quantity of clay laid between two dressings of cinders. Tins should bind tbe snriaee of the track, and when heavily rolled our runners will find a vast improvement in the condition of the track. It is anticipated that the work will be completed well before January 21. Some of our amateurs are not aware of the stringent rules covering the amateur definition. Entering or competing in any event for which a money prize is offered will cause an, amateur to forfeit his status and become a professional. Competing in an amateur event at an -unregistered sports meeting will likewise I affect the amateur’s status. While on this subject the following rule might well he brought to light:—“An amateur will forfeit his status by being in any way interested in a bet or money transaction made on any amateur competition, whether he be a competitor or not.” _ The following were the winners, with times appended, at the 1921 American track and field championships i lOOvds, C. W. Paddock, 9%eea; 220yds, C, *W. Paddock, 21-(ssec; 440yds, W. Stephenson, 48|seo; 880yds, A. B. Helffrich, Imin 54|scc- mile, Joie Bay. 4min 16|sec; five miles, B. E. Johnson, 25min 53|seo; three mile walk, W. Plant, 22min 42scc; 120yds hurdles. Karl J. Thomson, 15sec; 220yds low hurdles, Earl J. Thomson, 24|seo; 440yds hurdles, A. C. Desch, 53{jsec; running high jump, a tie between D. Albert and J. Murphy at 6ft 4in (Albert won the jump-off) ; running broad jump, N. G. Gourdin, 23ft ll|inj pole vault, E. E. Knnurck, 12ft -7jin; running hop, step, and jump, A. C. Geist, 46ft Ofin; putting 161 b shot, C. Houser, 46ft 11-)in; throwing 561 b for distance, P. M'Donald, 37ft Bin) throwing the discus, A. B. Rope, 144 ft; and throwing the javelin, M, S, Amncr 189 ft 3iin. ° ’

CHAMPIONSHIP TENNIS. THRILLING SINGLES FINAL. Gerald Patterson, who in his triumph abroad gained the highest honors the game of lawn tennis lias to offer, strengthened his claim to rank as Australia's premier singles player by again winning the State championship of Victoria last week, registering his third consecutive success hr this event. Played in bright sunshine on the historic court on which the first international match staged in Australia was played in 1908—the match with its superlative tennis and with its thrilling episodes that roused the huge crowd In tho closelypacked stands to tho highest pitch of enthusiasm—had all the essentials of a Davis Cup drama. All tho best traditions of international tennis were produced in characters large and legible in the match that was the thriller of the carnival. Both players started off full l steam ahead and kept going at high pressure all through the four brilliantly-played seta, which readied the highest level of Davis Cup tennis.

Patterson, who opened ids first service game with a double fault, had the larger percentage of errors in the first set—he was forced to make them by the incomparable pace and placing of his high-met-tled opponent.

O’Hara Wood bn-d three games on the score sheet before Patterson broke his duck with four straight-out service aces that 1 followed a double fault in the fourth game. Four paralysing service deliveries also won Patterson the sixth game, but double faulting at the outset of his next service game, he lost his grip of tho set. which O’Hara Wood captured in the eighth game. The crowd was bubbling over with excitement at the bad start of the odds-on favorite, and awaited a repetition of O’Hara. Wood’s great performance in the second set with tense interest. The ex-world's champion was, however, allowing no encores. He introduced a j new tempo, and with his racket as a, baton i quickened the beat and the, swing of the game info nrosto movement. Losing a 40-15 panic on his first service, O’Hara Wood was carried off his feet and forced into errors that gave his tentative resistance to Patterson’s onslaught a jerky, uncertain appearance ns if lie was picking games put away in a time lock safe of . which he had forgotten the combinn tion, ; He double faulted in all three of his service games, and failing tn save a- game only scored 11 points in the ret Patterson won to love, scoring the last game with , four absolutely l nntakable services, two of which O’Hara Wood could not, even get near enough to touch with his racket. Patterson’s service was also his ace of trumps in the two following sets, the winning of which gave him a. marked triumph, i Ho led at 2-0. 3-1. and 4-?. in- tho third set. but. dropping his service in the eighth, game, had In play out, ten games (o clench the iS !-f—;ho last game being fccived to

O’Hara AVood made a. fine recovery from 1-3 and 2-1 in the fourth and final set, capturing two of Patterson’s service games in levelling (he scare, and then getting in front at 3-4, He failed, however, in hi? two foßnwing •-.i-iwkv games, and. though Patterson double faulted and lost- his ser-

ri(c in file twelfth game, the champion finished olf (lie set, with a. lo'-e game in Hi? final service game, in which he threw all his weight* into four terrific deliveries unsurpassed in effeclivenow; and as conclusive in results as (hey were spcctacnlav in execution.

The first to congratulate the rccrowncd champion was his aunt. Dame Melba, who, witii the. Governor-General and the State Governor, was an interested spectator of the whole of the thrilling match that- set. il'-’ seal on I’atlm'soii’s world-embracing list of champion?!)ip achievements.