Personalities In Sport

Evening Star, Issue 21013, 29 January 1932, Page 4

Personalities In Sport

No. XXXVIII: R. W. COUPLAND, Although he has been in Dunedin a comparatively short time, R. W. Coupland has already made his mark in Otago sport, and his geniality and sportsmanship have made him a general favourite in cricket circles, where he is best known. Dub to his association with the Government Tourist Department, Bob Coupland is a much-travelled sportsman, and his wide experience makes him a very valuable man both in club and representative cricket. Ho is a product of the West Christchurch District High School, which he attended from 1917 to 1919, being a member of the first eleven at cricket and the first fifteen at Rugby. He captained the school eleven, and as an all-rounder gained a place in the Canterbury Boys’ Association eleven agairist Wellington. Then, as now, he was a consistent right-hand medium-pace bowler; but cricket and football were not his only activities at school, as ho won the mile running championship, was third in the 100yds swimming championship, and won the Old Boys’ Cup for being the best all-round athlete in the school. In school cricket he was associated

with M. Boon, the Canterbury wicketkeeper, who subsequently played foi New Zealand.

After leaving school he linked up with, the East Christchurch Cricket Club, and in his first year in the junioi grade played for the Canterbury juniors against Wellington. In senior cricket the following year he soon began to develop, both as a batsman and a bowler, and in 1923 played for the Canterbury B team against South Canterbury, taking four wickets for 2 runs in the second innings. As a fiveeighth he found a place in the Linwood Club’s fifteen, and going to Melbourne in 1924 played cricket for the Richmond second eleven for a season, and for the Richmond first eleven for the next season. He did not register anj really outstanding performances, but as a sound batsman managed to retain his place, the fast Australian wickets being quite to his liking.' Included in the Richmond team were E. M‘Cor-

Pen Sketches

[By H.P.S.]

mick and L. O’Brien, both members of the Victorian team at the present time.

He played Rugby for the Kiwi Club, a side that was composed of New Zealanders living in Melbourne, and for three seasons he represented Victoria in the interstate games, taking part also in matches against the All Blacks and the Maori team in 1926. He returned to Wellington in 1927 and played cricket for the Y.M.C.A. Club, taking thirty-sdven wickets for the season and averaging 25 with the bat. The following year found him in Wanganui, and with the Wanganui Club’s eleven ho had a good season with bat and ball, also doing well in representative cricket for Wanganui. Ho was picked for the annual Town-Country match at Wellington, but was not available for the Country team. He played Rugby for the Kaierau Club in the 1928 and 1929 seasons, and also represented the Wanganui Metropolitan Sub-union twice.

Transferred to Invercargill, Coupland soon made his presence felt in Southland cricket, being a member of the Invercargill Club’s eleven. He captained the Southland team against Air E. C. Beale’s Auckland touring team, and took four wickets for 23 and three for 36. With the bat he made 15 not out and 3. it was in the match against Gilligan’s English team, however, that he put up one of the most impressive bowling performances of his career, taking seven wickets for 86 rims, while he scored 17 and 5. His bowling in that game was very favourably commented upon by the visitors, and had he been available would probably have gained selection for Otago in the final Plunket Shield match of the season. He played a couple of games of Rugby with the Pirates Club at the end of the 1929 season, and then dropped out of football. Last season, with the Dunedin Cricket Club, he was second on the batting list with an average of 39, and second in the bowling averages, taking seventeen wickets at a cost of 19 rims apiece. He gained a place in the Otago side against Canterbury, scored 6 and 0, and took none for 8 and two for 8. This season he has been the mainstay of the Dunedin Club’s attack, and has frequently had to bowl very long stretches at a time, the team being rather lacking in good trundlers. Ho fully justified his .inclusion in the Otago team, putting together 8 and 13 against Canterbury and taking three for 72 and two for 15 against Canterbury, and against Auckland he scored 25 and 21 and took two for 34 and none for 16. Coupland has shown himself to be one of the most useful all-' rounders in Otago cricket, a good, solid, and not unattractive bat and a steady and accurate bowler, who swings tho ball effectively at times, is able to turn the ball from the off, and maintains a consistently good length. With one match yet to play he occupies first place in tho Otago bowling averages. Bob Coupland has had experience on the administrative side, having been secretary of the Kaierau Football Club in Wanganui and secretary of the Kiwi Football Club in Melbourne, while he is at present a member of the committee of the Dunedin Cricket Club. A thorough sportsman, ho is one of those who play cricket for the game’s sake, and one who can always be depended on to do his best.