SPOTLIGHT ON SPORT

Evening Star, Issue 25473, 2 May 1945, Page 3

SPOTLIGHT ON SPORT

Kick-off Delayed. After all, the Rugby season in DunecHn was not begun on Saturday, for the heavy rain which fell on the previous two days made the fields quite unfit for play. All other sporting fixtures were similarly interfered with, so that Saturday was a blank day. Playing grounds. Carisbrook included, have had so little opportunity to dry out since last winter that those responsible for their care are a little apprehensive as to how the turf will now stand up to the wear and tear of another football season. So far as Carisbrooik is concerned, however, .it has been proved to possess wonderful powers of recuperation. Hard on Peeti.

To the ordinary outsider, the refusal of the Otago (Rugby Union Committee to grant J. L. Peeti a transfer from University to Kaikorai appears, in the circumstances stated, to be a bit hard on that player, who, being denied the position of half-back (which he covets and which he had on previous occasions filled) in either of the University sides, wished to change to another senior cltih which would have been glad of his services. The mistake Peeti made was in not giving the prescribed six months' notice of bis .intention to apply for a transfer, so that he was precluded from obtaining it unless under the " hardship " clause. The committee did not consider that it was a case of hardship, so, although the University Club was quite willing to grant him his clearance, Peeti w.ill perforce have to continue as a full-time scrummager with the Blues or become an onlooker. No Colour Bar. Evidently the Wellington Rugby Union does not recognise any colour bar when it comes to jerseys, though there were some anxious moments at a recent meeting of the committee when the newly-formed Woburn Club applied for the registration of its colours—black jersey, pants, and stockings, with the monogram W.R.F.C. on the jersey. Would this be an infringement of the All Black copyright? was the question, but when it was pointed out that Pirates teams in the various centres wore this sombre rig-out, it was agreed that there could be no objection. The committee were reminded, too, that it was common for club teams to wear provincial colours.

Test Match Query. A correspondent asks whether Denis Smith, the ex-Carisbrook all-rounder, ever played for New Zealand in a test match. Yes, D. Smith was chosen in the eleven which met Jardine's English team when.it appeared in Christchurch in March, 1933. He opened the bowling with Badcock and clean bowled Paynter first ball. This, however, was his only success, and he finished with one for 113. He in turn was bowled by Tate for 4. England's score was 560 for eight, declared (Hammond 227. Ames 103) and New Zealand's 223 (Weir 56, Kerr 59) and 35 for no wickets. It was in a second test at Auckland a week "later that Hammond made 336 not out, passing Bradman's record test match score. England's total on this occasion was 548 for seven against New Zealand's 158 (Dempster 83 not out) and 16 for no wickets.

Otago's Boxing Boom. Whatever complaints may have been made regarding the inactivity olf the Otago Boxing Association in the recent past, there can be no doubt as to that body's energetic attitude ■ at present. Indeed, the position is regarded as approaching that of the Doom days of 10 years or so ago, and it was reported to the association executive meeting recently that the membership list was now full. To follow the bouts already staged, arrangements have been made for a match between Murphy, of Lower Hutt, and Tommy Hansen, of Wellington, to be fought in the Dunedin Town Hall on May 14. Preliminaries on that occasion will consist of six-round bouts between amateurs from various South Island centres. - The prospect before Dunedin boxing fans for this season is certainly a bright one. Days of the " Penny-Farthings.". There are not many folk living now who will remember the days when cycle racing was done on high bikes, known as- " penny-farthings," because of their make-up—a very big wheel, behind which was a wee wheel. Some of the older folk may possibly have a dim recollection of these quaint machines. There recently died in Christchurch, at the age of 85, Mr John A. Oliver, who won many races in the days of the high bike. These included a 10-mile handicap, which was run under the auspices of the Otago Amateur Cycling Club. This was in 1883, and the victory brought him a handsome silver cup. A report o!f the race states that a strong head wind made riding difficult, and the first mile took 4min 27sec (which is a fair average for a first-class runner nowadays), and the full distance 47min 50sec. Oliver also won the throe-mile event at the same meeting in 13min 47scc, as well as many other races about that time. Referees Vote " No."

Members' of the New Zealand Rugby Referees' Association have decided against an Auckland proposal that referees should put the ball in the scrum. At a conference at Wellington, delegates voted against the proposal by a .substantial majority. The main arguments advanced by opponents were: That referees should not take any part in the game, that referees could keep the half-back under control with the whistle, and that the referee's vision of the serum would be affected if lie had to put the ball in the scrum. Wired Knee-cap. Cyril Pyle, South Sydney Rugby League five-eighth, plays with a wired knee-cap. The knee was broken three seasons ago. Pyle has shown in trial matches that the injury has not affected his speed and trickiness. He can sidestep off the wired leg, and has a deceptive change of pace. Like the other South Sydney backs, Pyle is light, but if he escapes further injury he will be one of the most entertaining fiveeighths in the competition.

Tunney in Australia. Former world's heavy-weight boxing champion, Commander Gene Tunney, U.S.N.. was given an ovation reminiscent of his fighting days when he entered the ring at Rushcutter Bay Stadium recently. It was his first public appearance in Sydney. Tunney, who was to have refereed one of the boxing contests, had been delayed at an earlier engagement, and arrived too late to officiate. Tunney entertained the crowd recounting his fight with Jack Dempsey, and particularly with the " inside " story of the " longcount incident. He said Dempsey had sent him to the canvas with a series of solid blows, and when ho looked to his seconds he was signalled to stay down for a spell. " When I looiked across as Dempsey's corner I saw a fine specimen of humanity hanging on to the ropes in an exhausted condition, so 1 thought it only fair to give him a rest." said Tunney, amid roars of laughter.

Amazing Goalkeeper. Described as the m/)st amazing soccer goalkeeper to visit Australia, J. Ravencroft upset all logical theories of goalkeeping in a recent match in Sydney between his British service unit and Wallsend, prominent northern club. A Sydney club has invited him to appear with its senior team. Although only sft 3in tall —an acknowideged handicap in the position he occupies— Ravenscroft takes the highest deliveries with ease. Showing uncanny anticipation he has a delayed action in moving to save shots which to all appearances seem to be passing out of his reach. His repeated interception of such shots amazed the crowd. Another feature of his play was the phenomenal distances reached by him when taking goal kicks. After the game a leading soccer official described Ravenscroft as the best goalkeeper seen in Australia for 30 years. " Queen of Lady Wrestlers." Milded Burke, " the queen of the lady wrestlers " who claims that she, like her fellow girl grapplers, is "as feminine as a bubble bath and as domestic as a house cat," declares that there are 150 women wrestlers in the United States, and that there will be lots more after the war. Mildred has wrestled all-comers at her weight, which is 9st 101 b, and has never been defeated in a professional bout, cither by a woman or a man. Some of the men she had held to a draw. Mildred adds that she has but one rule for combat in; the ring, and thinks that more of the prominent men in the profession would do well to adopt it. The rule is: " Always wrestle clean." Evidently Mildred does not favour the popular " all-in " style. Money in Greyhounds. The breeding of greyhounds is proving more profitable than the breeding of fat cattle for small farmers in Eire. Most of the dogs are sent to Britain, but some are taken to Northern Ireland by buyers, who thus avoid Customs duty. Greyhound exports to Britain in January realised more than £22,000, and about £IOO more than fat cattle Greyhound exports for 1944 were worth £435,000, which was an increase of 100 per cent, on 1943. Golfer Outwits Crow.

It is not often that a golfer succeeds in beating a crow. A. H. Hunter did this at the North Ryde golf course rewhen he succeeded in retrieving a filched ball. The crow secured the ball from a tee shot. It flew across the field to leave the ball at the top of a telegraph pole. Hunter's opponent jokingly demanded that the ball should be played from the pole. Hunter, however, had other ideas. He lurched heavily against the pole, and the ball Jell to the ground.