SPOTLIGHT ON SPORT

Evening Star, Issue 25658, 5 December 1945, Page 3

SPOTLIGHT ON SPORT

Otago v. Southland. From the 'players available for the trip to Invercargill this week-end, Mr S. Duncan, the O.C.A. sole selector, has chosen quite a sound side, though there is an obvious lack of variety in * the attack. With judicious handling, however, R. Harwood, R. Silver, L. Milnes, and T. Freeman should dispose of a Southland 6ide for a reasonable total. As for the batting, T. Fraser, J. Caradus, C. Toomey, K. Burke, and Milnes should, on form, be among the rungetters, with practically all the rest of the eleven capable of getting a few. N. Lawson will be the wicketkeeper. The 'match will be played on Friday and Saturday. At It Again. W. A. Hadlee has been at it again. Following his score of 80 in the opening match of the season, and his great .innings of 208 in the recent match, he added another century to his already long list by netting the bare 100 against Old) Boys on Saturday. This gives him. an aggregate of 388 for three innings, an average of 129.33. It looks like a big season lor the ex-Can-terbury with a 1.000 runs total probable. He gave two • chances on Saturday, one before he had scored, and the other when in the 30's. But the first one waa made possible only by the extreme agility of McArley down the gully, and it would have been an exceptionally fine catch had it come off. The. second chance was from a " skier " into the covers. But in between, Hadlee batted in his customary finished style, hitting a couple of 6's, and 13 fours during his stay cf two hours and a-half. During the latter part of the day the wind played tricks with the bowling, Roberts's deliveries moving about in flight in a most disconcerting manner. ■ / Interclub Tennis. A strong cross-court wind last Saturday afternoon created difficult conditions, and many players had trouble in adapting their game. As so many of the matches in Dunedin are played under conditoins similar to last Saturday, all who wish to rise above them -must cultivate strokes which will enable them to keep control against the wind and to make full use of the wind when it is in their favour.

Chief interest last Saturday centred in the match between lloslyn, last season's winners of the A grade mixed, and Kaituna, the runners-up. Roslyn, unfortunately, were without the services of their second lady, Mrs Borthwick, but as the result turned out it is doubtful if her inclusion would have affected the decision. Kaituna broke a long. sequence of victories by the Roslyn team. Kaituna won seven of the eight singles. Miss Warburton registering Roslyn's sole victory when she defeated Mrs Tilbury. , A good match was witnessed between Sincock and Laidlaw. The Kaituna man forced the pace right from the start, and with good tennis gained a 3-1 lead. Playing steadily and forcing his opponent into errors, Sincock took the score to 5-3, but Laidlaw replied by winning the next five games. The score went to 8 all and 30 love in Sincock's favour before Laidlaw, with a final effort, took the odd game and match. Miss Kerr's defeat of Mrs IRawlinsoh was \a well-earned victory, although there was little between them. In the men's doubles Laidlaw and Radford combined well to defeat Sincock and Stevens.

Kaituna No. 2 team placed a good performance to its credit when it defeated Macandrew Bay by 9 matches to 7. ■; Congdon, first man for Macandrew Bay, was down 4-8_ to his opponent, but managed to even the score before the Kaituna man took the deciding game. Bennet did well to defeat Aitken 9-6, and he would do even better if he would put more-life into his play and endeavour to get his feet into position before making his shots. The lack of life in his play was most noticeable in. the combined doubles, when he - played with his coat on and naturally lost. Wittleston played good, hard tennis in all his matches, and is showing improved form. Balmacewen had no difficulty in defeating Roslyn No. 2 team, which was without the services of some of its best players. By winning three of its mixed .doubles matches St. Clair defeated University by 10 matches to 6. Paterson did well to take five games from Robson, and showed that, with more practice, he will do even better. R. McKenzie played consistently good tennis to defeat G'. Laurence, while Miss Pyle placed a good i performance to her credit when she defeated Miss D. Gray. Still Unbeaten.

With eight matches of their programme gone, the Kiwi Rugby touring side is still unbeaten. On Saturday they gained a very meritorious victory over a British Army fifteen at. Bristol, finishing with a 25 to 5 margin after being on level terms (5-5) at half-time. There are gratifying reports of improvement in forward play, and there does not appear to be much wrong with the backs. Another pleasing feature of this last match was the goal kicking, Scott converting all five tries. The fifth conversion was evidently a beauty, being right from the side line. The Britishers' only try was also converted. Argus, it would appear, went " eyes out "on three occasions to score that many tries, Smith and Young accounting for the other two. One does not'hear many complimentary remarks regarding the radio commentator who is describing the play in these Kiwi matches. He certainly does appear to think it is necessary to work up excitement in his hearers, who, however, would rather have a clearer and more coherent account of the doings. " The Twins."

New Zealand Army Rugby players refer to two of their members invariably as "the twins." The nickname is apt, for these two, P. K. Rhind and N. J. McPhail, both forwards, have been great friends for years. Wherever one is. there you will find the other (says the Auckland ' Star.' Ever since they returned- to England together from a German prison camp their one obje;-t has been to get on the tour.' Rhihd met McPhail just after his school days ended, when they played football together for Christchurch and Canterbury. They shared football tnumps and disappointments until the war. In 1940, as members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, they went overseas together and saw fighting in Greece and Crete. Here they were parted for the first time since that schoolboy meeting, (Rhind being captured, while (McPhail managed to get away. They met again 10 days before liberation in a German prison camp, McPhail having been captured a few months after Rhind in the Libya fighting. In the camp they tried playing Rugby. " The most we could manage," he says, " was 20 minutes each way, and then we were flat out for a week." At the first scrummage the Germans thought the prisoners were fighting, and rushed up with levelled rifles to separate the " combatants."

Tennis Ranking Matches. Players wishing to take part in ranking singles matches should forward their names through their culb secretary to the secretary of the association. Entries close on December 8. It is to be hoped that the selection of players to represent Otago in interprovincial matches will be made from those players who take part in the ranking matches. ' If sufficient entries are received, a doubles ladder will also be instituted for both ladies and men. Fruitful Partnership. The first innings of Dunedin-Caris-hrook B against Kaikorai to all intents and purposes consisted of one partnership. This was between two busy B's, R. Caradus and H. Hogg, who, while they were together, added 101 to the total. When they were parted, which •was at 147 for five, the remaining five wickets went for another 15 runs. Caradus was playing his first match with the seniors since his return from Air. Force service in the Solomon fslands, where he had quite a lot of cricket and made plenty,of runs. He showed plenty of confidence on Saturday, and his 71 not out was got in attractive style. His score included only four 4's, but the Kaikorai skipper set a ring of deep fielders and boundaries were not easy to get. Hogg was very sound, his driving being cwan and hard. His share of the spoil was 41 runs. No fewer than eight of the side were bowled, the other two being caught. Aquacade. An " aquacade," if the Kiwi Swimming Club's interpretation is correct, obviously means plenty of fun as well as a skilful exposition of the natatorial art. So much was indicated on Saturday and Monday nights at the Municipal Baths, where every available bit of space was packed with delighted spectators laughing at or applauding the' various " stunts " or demonstrations. Ngaire Lane and Agnes Brown were the stars,of the occasion, but there were several other well-known swimmers whose graceful evolutions lent charm to the proceedings. The splendid diving of Jack Stewart was a big feature of this section of. the show. The"re was a touch of sensationalism, too, when Mrs "Tiny" Isaacs dived through a hoop of fire, a gasp of relief coming from the spectators when they saw she had emerged unscorched. On the lighter side there was Arthur Thomas's burlesque diving act, which demonstrated exactly what not to do to become a champion. Also there was a race in which the competitors kept themselves wet and their open umbrellas dry; a competition for ." sleepwalkers," which was reminiscent of the old pirate days, and a potato race. The Bathing Beauty contest resulted in Miss Agnes Brown being proclaimed " Miss Otago, 1945," while in the men's " beauty parade," for the championship of White Island, Don Reid, masquerading as a female of definitely unalluring presence, was awarded the prize. It was all good fun and good entertainment, and Mr D. Forsyth, as director, and Miss Winnie Dunn, as producer, are entitled to hearty congratulations. v More Double Century Scores.

Other instances of double-century scoring in Dunedin club cricket have been brought to light since the matter was first referred to in these columns. In addition to H. G. Siedeberg's 221 there is T. McFarlane's 211 for Albion v. Opoho.*-<D;' Moloney's (total uncertain) for Carisbrook against Old Boys; Rupert Worker's 207 for Carisbrook against Albion; A. Galland's 208 for Grange v. Albion; A. R. Knight's 227 not out for Grange v. Albion; and. of course, W. A. Hadlee's 208 for Carisbrook against the Albion combine., It IK interesting, to note how frequently these great efforts have been made against Albion bowling. If these figures are correct, by the way, it is Knight, and not Siedeberg, who holds the record. And the question arises: Would Hadlee have voluntarily retired at 208 had he known that he had so few more runs to get in order to beat Knight's 227?

Hitting the Nail. Periodicallv the question of exposed metal in boot studs has come before the Otago Rugby Union where cases of this carelessness on the part of playeTS have been reported. And, just so often, the referees have been requested to make an inspection of soles prior to the start of play to see if there was anything ' fishy" about them. And now the Otago Swimming Centre is taking a hand in hitting the nail on the head, so to speak. This has followed complaints that certain members of water polo teams wear their finger nails too long, one complainant displaying a rich, fruity black eye in support of the allegation. So, following the lead of the Rugby Committee, the centre has directed referees in polo matches to order a lineup _ each game for the. purpose of inspecting not only finger nails, but toe nails. Veteran Cricketer. Mr Sydney Rundle Walford, 88, one of the oldest—if not the oldest;—interstate cricketer living, has just celebrated his diamond wedding (says the ' Sydney Morning Herald 'J. Sydney Walford was one of the originators of district cricket, and captained Central Cumberland for many years. He held the record of 307 for some time. His 122 with a N.S.W. team in New Zealand was not exceeded by a visitor; for years. Mr Walford was also a foundation member of the I. Zingari Club, which held its fifty-seventh annual meeting recently. For more than 25 years he was president of the City and Suburban Cricket Association. " Old Timers." Old soldiers, they say, never die. And some old cricketers never say die. Moreover, there are two or three in Dunedin who are so very much alive that they go on scoring runs in a fashion aggravating to young bowlers who are prone to scoff at age and experience One of the old 'uns alluded to is J. H. Don Miller, who must have at least 40 years of cricketing behind him. Don. in years gone by. was a Poverty Bay rep. cricketer and, footballer; played senior cricket in Auckland. Coming to Dunedin as general secretary of the Y.M.C.A., he set to work to make the members of that institution cricket-minded, and was one of the main movers in the amalgamation project which linked the junior Y.M.C.A. club with the oldest club in New Zealand, namely, Albion And. Don, all down the years, has gone on wielding the willow, and, to show that co-ordination of eye and arm has not deteriorated to any extent, he. on Saturday last, knocked tup a score of 89 for Albion-Y.M.O.A. against Kaikorai . second grade A. Then there is A. Rayner, a Carisbrook " junior" of the Peter Pan class, who still goes on " showing them how " after goodness knows how many years of it, while Roy Spackman continues to wield the bat as effectively as he wields the baton. Stout fellows these; especially Don.

Davis Cup. * The tact that the New Zealand Association has decided to challenge in the Pacific zone for the Davis Cup will add interest to the New Zealand tennis championships to be played at Auckland in January. As New Zealand wilt probably be the only challenger in tlin Pacific zone, our team will meet the winners of either . the European or American zone, and the eventual winners will play the challenge round against Australia, the present holder of the Davis Cup. Caddying " Racket." " Rackets," we are told, are rife in war time, and some of them are being extended into what.is regarded, technically, as peace time. One of these reported is associated with the royal and ancient game of golf in England, and has been engineered by the caddies, who, it appears, demand £1 a, day for their services, whereas a golf professional who takes a club member once round the course for coaching purposes is entitled to 10s. Yet this action by the caddies does not appear to have aroused even a storm in a tea cup, for these bag-carriers are so scarce that wealthy members pay the increased fee willingly. Will Bradman Come? With a visit to New Zealand by an Australian cricket team this season and the resumption of England-Aus-tralia tests as an early prospect, one question which arises is. as to whether D6n Bradman has finished with cricket The,answer is' " Nol" He is again a test" selector, and he is also a member of the Australian Cricket Board, of Control,. '' so," as one . leading' Australian administrator remarked, " his heart is still in test cricket." However, it is another matter as to, whether Don will play again in test" cricket. That's foi the champion himself to decide. The odds at present look rather against his playing. It would be a great thing for New Zealand cricket if he could be induced to come with the Australian cricket team this season—or, seeing that he has a say in the selection, if he would choose to come. It was one of Don's expressed wishes some years ago to bring a team to New Zealand. He felt, keenly,, the disappointment, of those who expected to see him at the Basin Reserve- when an Australian _ team passed through Wellington, on its- return from Canada. It was then that he indicated that he would be pleased to return with a team, and named some of those whom he would like to have in a side for a tour of New Zealand. . The matter was taken further, but, . unfortunately, plans did not materialise, though Don appeared to be bent on .coming.- Maybe there is yet a chance.. New Zealand is still -(keen: to see Don Bradman. What, then, of his coming with this season's Australian team?.

A Poor Fight—But. • "It was a poor sort.of fight, that in Sydney in which the New Zealander, Vic. Caltaux, knocked out Jackie Daniels in the tenth round recently. The fighters, it seems, were hooted and counted out in the sixth round because " Daniels's punches, lacked power and Caltaux seemed content to just tap Daniels on the head.after,he had driven him to the ropes." But—"Caltaux looked smart as he entered the ring wearing a hew black dressing gown with ' Vic. Caltaux, N.Z.' embroidered in white letters on the,back and ' Welter-weight champion ' and a fern frond worked on the'pocket." Allcott Untiring.

Have a look at Wisden and you will find that Cyril Allcott was born; in October, 1896. Then go out and watch him bowl unchanged for close on three hours, as he did against DuriedinCarisbrook B on Saturday, and you will wonder anew at those young bowlers who quickly become "exhausted" if they are asked to bowl eight-ball overs. Allcott had the batsmen badly in trouble at the outset on Saturday, and he took the first four wickets, all bowled, at a cost of 22 runs. Hogg and R. Oaradus then managed to keep him out ', and he was eventually given a spell, only to return at the other, (north) end and capture two more wickets. In all, he bowled 31 overs for 58 runs and six wickets. Most of the batsmen found his leftarm in-swinger, coming in from a tantalising length, pretty difficult to play. Rennick was not brought on until fairly late, but he' broke the Oaradus-Hogg partnership . and got, altogether, four for the low cost of 17 runs. Neither McGregor nor Cameron succeeded in bagging ■ a wicket. ' The latter has yet to learn better control of the ball and of his. feet. , He was no-balled three times on Saturday/ but there were many other occasions upon* which he might justifiably have been " called?' ■- ■ Australian Football. The " heads " controlling the Aus-tralian-Rules game of football have never been averse to altering the rules when they were convinced that such alterations would improve the play, and there is a movement afoot in Melbourne to reduce the, number of players on a side. At present, in the Victorian League competitions, teams consist of 18 players each (originally it was 20), and the question of a reduction, is to be considered; at the next' annual meeting of the Australian National Football Council, which is to be.held in February, 1946. Players in ' this, code ■ are, of course, professionals; and another proposal is that' the premier. team; of the League should each year, be given the sumof £SOO. As many' thousands of. pounds are taken at the gates during the final series of matches, this seems reasonable enough. ' Women's Cricket. The Council of : the New Zealand Women's Cricket Association has communicated with both England and Australia regarding the resumption of international tours. According to ,information received in it has been suggested: that an Australian team should visit New, Zealand at the earliest possible date. Arrangements had been made for an English women's team to tour Australia and New Zealand, in 1939-40, but the outbreak. of war caused the plan' to be abandoned. In' addition to discussing overseas tours, the ■ New Zealand Women's Cricket Council, at its .last meeting, fixed the following, dates for the Hal-liburton-Johnstone Shield matches between the provinces.:—Canterbury (the holders) will play Otago (challengers) in Christchurch, on December 21, 22, and 24.. The winners are to play Auckland in their home centre on December 31, January 1, and 2. Wellington will come into the picture with a match on January 21, 22, and 23.

Promising Junior. W. Berry, of the Grange second grade A team, who made 162 not out against a Carisbrook side on Saturday, is one of that club's most promising young juniors. He is 17 years of age. a right-hander with command of a number of strokes, and is also quite a good bowler. Last year he played in the Boys' Association competition, and was a member of that association's representative team;