TOPICAL TATTLE

Evening Star, Issue 23496, 9 February 1940, Page 4

TOPICAL TATTLE

NOTES FROM THE PLAYING FIELDS

[By H.P.S.J

Wrestling in Australia. Frank Prendergast, former amateur light-heavy-weight boxing champion of Southland and later a successful professional in Australia, has returned home after two years in Australia (says the Southland ‘ Daily News ). _ trank thought of taking up wrestling in Australia, hut an accident in the gym. put the idea out of his head. He says that professional wrestling has a great hold on “the other side,” and at 6 o’clock it is practically impossible to get past the crowd at Rushcutters’ Bay when there is a bout on there. “ And about 80 per cent, of them are women,” he added. “ There are no heg pardons about the game in Australia. The crowd like action, and the wrestlers give it them; On my "w&y home X travelled ou the same boat as King Kong Cox, and he was suffering from a fractured jaw! lam glad now that I did not take up the game seriously 1’ ’ Star Golfer Joins Up. Otago golfers will always recall with pleasure the spectacular game of the Poverty Bay golf professional, A. E. Guy, who participated in the New Zealand championship tournament here in 1938, and whose long and powerful was one of the highlights of the meeting. One of the most popular golfers in the Dominion, Guy has enlisted and is to go into camp at Ngaruawahia for training as an -n.c.o. in the third echelon. Footballer’s Aquatic Success. One of the most promising of the younger senior Rugby players last winter was Brennie Wilkins, the Taieri full-back, who turned on some line displays for the suburban club. During the summer months Wilkins is a very keen member of the Taieri Amateur Swimming Club, and when the: club championship series was completed last week he had the distinction of winning the Feather Cup by a margin of 5 points. A good club man, Wilkins is also a capable all-round swimmer and diver. War-time Cricket. There is almost sure to he an announcement concerning a scheme for war-time competitive cricket early this year, states an English writer. It will cause no surprise if the county clubs put over a scheme for Saturday matches (one day only) on the lines of League cricket in the North. Meanwhile there must he some anxiety over the county cricket finances. Worcestershire has written to all its members asking them not to abandon the club during this difficult time. The balance sheet shows a loss of £B2 on last season, and it is regarded as a hopeful sign that, to date, only nine members have resigned. Unofficial Rowing Contests. Oxford and Cambridge Boat Clubs are considering a suggestion that, following the Rugby example, crews should meet unofficially and not over the usual course, states an English writer. • The Rugby match is to be Oxford Greyhounds v. Cambridge LX. Club, in grey and green jerseys respectively, apd at Cambridge, not Twickenham I .' ' TJ, B. Sanford, last year’s Cambridge stroke and now president, says the chief objection at present is that of expense, but next term, when they know who will be in residence and how much time they have, the question will be gone into. _ If old boats were used, both crews going to Henley on the day cf the race only, the expense of the meeting would not be appreciable. Basketball Official Honoured. One of the most enthusiastic officials associated with womens’ basketball, Mrs M. S. McAughtrie has been honoured by appointment as one of the referees at the New, Zealand basketball Centennial tournament at Wellington at Easter. Mrs McAughtrie represented Otago at basketball for six seasons and nowadays is a vice-presi-dent of the Otago Basketball Association, besides being a leading referee. She is also, president of the Dunedin Ladies’ Athletic Club, and one of those who have done_ a great deal to put women’s athletics in Otago on its present sound basis. • Air Force Recreational Requirements. Every effort is being made to give members of the Air Force station at Taieri opportunities for indulging in various branches of sport, and while facilities exist for a number of them, some essential equipment is still lacking, and any individuals or organisations able and willing to supply the need will be doing a worth-while service. A concrete cricket wicket has been laid down, but a strip of matting is still required. A Rugby team is to be fielded, but a set of jerseys is still required. A _ badminton court is available, but gifts of rackets would be much appreciated by the would-be players.

That Element of Luck. lan Cromb’s recent Plunket Shield batting efforts were no hash in the pan (says an exchange). He has played some useful innings for Lancaster Park in Christchurch club cricket both before and since the shield series, one of the finest being his recent 165 against Boys’ High School Old Boys. Cromb was not out when stumps were drawn. A curious feature about his knocks is the element of luck. He may make 0 or he may make 60, but the suggestion of “ iffinoss ” is usually there. His 171 against Wellington at the Basin Reserve recently was a classic. Yet, despite his half a dozen chances, the merit of his knock was appreciated. A Full Team. It will come as good news to wrestling fans that the Auckland Association, which is affiliated to the New Zealand Wrestling Union, has already signed up a full team of overseas matmen to come to New Zealand next season (says the New Zealand ‘ Observer’). In many quarters it was at first thought that as a result of the war wrestling in New Zealand would suffer a severe set-back. The chances of bringing American wrestlers over here did not look over-bright, although hostilities were not generally expected to spread to the Pacific. Among the men now signed up in America are Bronco Nagurski. cx-world champion and American football star; Jim Londos, present world’s champion, who got as far as Honolulu last season in a planned trip to Australia just as war broke out, and that old favourite, Earl M’Cready. League International in Khaki. Another notable footballer to have exchanged an international jersey for khaki is Jack J. Campbell (says the 1 New Zealand Observer ’). He has joined up in the South Island, where he has been farming at Rakaia, about 40 miles from Christchurch. Jack Campbell wore the “ Kiwi ” colours with last year’s League team, the initial stages of whose English tour was curtailed by the war. At the beginning of last "season Jack Campbell turned out for Ponsonby, but transferred early to Christchurch and made his way into the South Island team while playing for Rakaia. He came originally from Hikurangi, North Auckland, and besides his football ho took up running. His speed on the track marked him down as a wing three-quarter, a position in which he put up a good showing among the backs against St. Helens while in England. In Good Part. As might perhaps have been expected, Lofty BTomfield, New Zealand’s No. 1 wrestler, has had to put up with a certain amount of chaff since he joined the Army (says the 1 New Zealand Ob-

server’). By all accounts, however, that doesn’t worry Lofty in the least, and he is proving a most popular n.c.o. Furthermore, army life has done nothing to lessen his sense of humour. When an unwary brother in arms sought to take a rise out of him recently with the remark, “You won’t be quite such a big noise now you’re here in camp,” Lofty is reported to have come back with, “ Oh, dear me. Now my whole day is ruined!” Lofty, by the way, may be seen in the ring again before so very long. It is stated by an official of the Auckland Wrestling Association that there is every chance of permission_ being given by the military authorities for him to wrestle in Auckland during the coming season. At the same time it is gathered that he will not bo available for bouts elsewhere in New Zealand. Welter-weight Title Bout. The New Zealand Boxing Council has given its approval to the welterweight contest at Petone on March 4 being listed as a title event. It is felt that the sooner a holder of the vacant title is found the better, and certainly Stan Jonkin and Vic Caltaux might just as well contest the issue as anyone else, says a Wellington writer. Jenkin has strong claims to being regarded as the outstanding welter in the country, providing he can keep to the weight, and Caltaux can upset calculations at any time. Jenkin already holds the New Zealand middle and light-heavy-weight championships. Springbok Serves, Another loss to Cape Town sport is D. 0. Williams, the Springbok Rugby three-quarter, who by dint of some fine batting and bowling performances in the Cape Town second team has just been promoted to the senior side, where he has acquitted himself with credit. Williams is in camp at Rosebank, where he is learning the finer points about anti-aircraft practice. | Williams made a fine impression on the 1937 Springbok tour of New Zealand.