TOPICAL TATTLE

Evening Star, Issue 23147, 22 December 1938, Page 4

TOPICAL TATTLE

NEWSY NOTES OH SPORT Cotton to the Fore. Henry Cotton is the most-talked-of golf professional in the world. He is the perfect example of the saying that you can’t keep a good man down. Hardly a day passes without Cotton’s name figuring in some item of golf news, and, of it is all fine publicity (says the Edinburgh ‘ Evening News The big majority of his brother professionals would give their ears to get half the free advertisement that is given Cotton. In recent weeks the ex-open champion’s name has been associated with a challenge from an archer—a challenge which Cotton very properly turned down; he played the best ball of three former women champions: he has been invited to go to America to play Sam Snead for the championship of the world; and he is going to appear as a stage turn at a London music hall. Envy is understandable. We all envy the man who can make £5,000 a year in any walk of life, but when it is made from playing a game, well . But Cotton has never asked for favours. _ Indeed', he has reached the top of his profession by sheer determination, and often in the face of bitter criticism. Golf Administrator. Twenty-five years’ service in the national administration of golf will be completed by Sir Alexander Roberts, chairman of the New Zealand Golf Council, in February. It is difficult to think of him as other than a remarkable enthusiast, says a Wellington writer. In other sports his interests are almost as profound. Active Rugby players - have found him an erudite and keen follower of the game, with a particular interest in the activities of the Hutt Club. His son George, now one of the finest golfers in Wellington, delighted the paternal eye for a few seasons as a capable and honest forward with the club’s senior team. “ Solar Plexus ” Passes. Well-known Australian boxing critic, Mr William Lawless, died at his home in Sydney recently. Mr Lawless was known to boxing readers as “ Solar Plexus.” He was a world authority on the old-timers. One of his publications, the life story of Les Darcy, is still regarded as a boxing classic. Cobden’s Success. D. T. Cobden, the former New Zealand Rugby international, is referred to by an English paper as having been an outstanding factor in the Catford Bridge Rugby League team’s success by 18 points to 12 against Westminster Bank. His running, side-stepping, and kicking were too much for the Bank defence, which neglected the wings in marking this_ elusive centre. Cobden scored two tries, made the openings for Mackrell and Ross James to score two more, and converted three of them.

*' Ball Sense ” Developed. Some men specialise in sport, but there are others in whom the “ ball sense” is strongly developed, says an Australian writer. Don Bradman is specially gifted in this respect. Cricket tennis, golf, squash, billiards, deck games on board ship all afford him an opportunity of athletic expression. Norman Brookes, the famous lawn tennis player, 1 also;, a golf champion, arid in crick'qt', had* he not deserted that game /for tennis, his left-hand bowling mignt hafe won him international honours. Melbourne Cricket Secretaryship. The Melbourne Cricket Club has called for applications for the secretaryship, rendered vacant by the death of Mr Hugh Trumble. The salary is £I,OOO per annum. In the early years the position was honorary. But. from the time Major Wardill became secretary in the late ’seventies it has been a very important and onerous position. With the; exception of a few months, Major Wardill and Hugh Trumble were the only paid secretaries in about 50 years. Six Professionals Enough. After winning the American amateur golf championship at Oakmont, Willie Turnesa said he never would turn professional. “ Six professionals in the family are enough,” asserted the youngest member of the nation’s greatest golfing family. “ I get too much pleasure out of the game to make a business out of it.” /

Mud Wrestling. Mud wrestling was to be introduced at the Sydney Sports: Ground recently. A Sydney writer commented:—Wrestling in mud is merely a travesty of the sport. The idea was tried in America several years ago, but quickly died out. The latest stunt by American promoters was to stage a match in ice cream. The spectators will not be anxious to sit in the near ringside seats when the contestants wallow in their mud bath.

Versatile Empire Athlete. One of South Africa’s most outstanding swimmers is Terry Collard, who was a prominent performer at the Empire Games in Sydney, and in a letter received from Jack Gibson, the wellknown South African Marathon runner, Mr B. R. M'Kernan, the athletic coach to the New Zealand team at the Empire Games, is given proof of Collard’s amazing versatility as an athlete. In the Police athletic championships Collard recently won the 120yds hurdles in losec, which is high-class time, and he also cleared 6ft jn the high jump.

Remarkable Bowling. A remarkable performance for a bowler in a cricket match was that’ of Vartha (Nprthcote), who on a recent Saturday afternoon took all the wickets in the second innings of Cyclone in a third grade B match of the Christchurch Suburban Cricket Association’s competitions. One , after another Cyclone’s wickets fell cheaply till Vartha had the excellent bowling average of 10 wickets for 22 runs. Vartha also bowled well for Northcote _in Cyclone’s first innings, his figures being five for 20.

Difficult Customer: “Is the girl who usually serves at this counter available? Perhaps she’s got more sense.” Assistant: “She has, madam. She went aw’ay just as you came in.”