SPOTLIGHT ON SPORT

Evening Star, Issue 25716, 13 February 1946, Page 3

SPOTLIGHT ON SPORT

At Carisbrook. ■ Among the visitors at Carisbrook during the recent Plunket Shield match were Messrs E. E. Luttrell, W. Uttley, A. Austin, and W. G. Tweedy. Ernie (or " Sam ") Luttrell is the secretary of the New Zealand Cricket Council nowadays, but is remembered by many of our cricketers who have visited Christchurch in years gone by as a player and a good comrade. " Bill " Uttley is, of course, one of that wellknown cricketing family, a brother of George—who is the better known in the field, and whose sons, Ken and " IBuster," are still prominent, particularly Ken, who has a fine record, not only at cricket, but at (Rugby. Austen is a real " old timer," having played cricket for Carisbrook half a century and more ago. He is a brother of " Gerry " Austen, one of Otago's hest all-rounders in his day, and now lie president of his old club, Carisbrook. Bill Tweedy was one of our neatest and best club batsmen a couple of decades or more ago, playing for Dunedin and later, University. Nearing The Thousand. W. A. Hadlee is nearing his 1,000 runs for the season, his 61 not out on Saturday taking him just over the 900 mark. His first five innings of the season produced 692 runs, but the next fonr yielded only 73. In the last two he again got properly going, and 76 and 61 not out was the result. There is little doubt that, had a closure not •been necessary last Saturday, he would have recorded his fifth century, for he was right.on top of the bowling and scoring freely all round the wicket. Another feature of Saturday's play in this match was a sound innings of 57 by J. O'Sullivan, the Dunedin batsman, who, since his return from overseas, has been displaying quite good all-round form. In this match against the A's he took five wickets for 61, following it with an innings which was chiefly responsible for the side holding the A's to a draw. O'Sullivan was at the wickets for two hours 50 minutes, and although his scoring rate was slow, he hatted confidently and lused his feet nicely to the slows of Harwood and Carter. A share of the credit for the hold-up of the formidable A's must be given. to J. G. Young, who played a real veteran's knock at a critical time and was still there when the game finished, having made 27.

Uneasy Moments. Old Boys had some uneasy moments when, having declared their innings closed at the 226 for eight wickets obtained on the first day, they had failed to dismiss more than four of the Grange-University side before 185 was on the board. Faulty catching and poor fielding had helped the combine's batsmen so far, but when it became the duty of the " tail " to wag, never the semblance of a twitch was there, the last six wickets falling for 7 runs. Young St. John, who has just left the Otago High School, gathered in four of the wickets at a total cost to him of 11 runs, howling less than eight full overs. McCoy captured two without having a run scored off him. When things were going well at the start Freeman hit up a bright 57 in under half an hour, and Donovan, more sedately but no less usefully, gathered 54. Kaikorai's Lean Season. Kaikorai is certainly having a lean season. Once again it has had to admit defeat, this time at the hands of Albion-Y.M.C.A.-North-east Valley, which carried its total from 166 for four to 225 for five before declaring. L. Watson finishing with 63 not out. This was too much for Kaikorai, which, despite two good knocks by McGregor (61) and Watt (45), could muster only 156. What a stalwart McGregor is, and has been, to Kaikorai. Both with hat and ball he has been for years one of the most consistent players in the competition, and now that Cyril Allcott is out of the game, for this season at any rate, " Mac " is expected to carry the extra burden. Ii is not his fault that the hill team is in the depths.

An " Indian, Bradman." Even those cricketers who have not been privileged to see Ranjitsinhji, Headley. Constantino, Pataudi, and other great players of the Indian and West Indies races, are well acquainted with their many fine performances. George Headley, the West Indian wonder, rivals Don Bradman in his record of big scores. At 18 years of age he made 71 in one match and 211 not out in another, against an English team, and since then he has made j his 300's and his 200's in first class cricket. The mercurial Leary Constantino has been a drawoard as batsman, bowler, and fielder whenever he has appeared. Pataudi has not been so brilliant nor so picturesque as that other truly great Indian batsman, Ranjitsinhji, but he made a century in his first test match. Ranji, of course, was a wizard, and those who have witnessed him making a century or thereabout will never forget the experience. And now, it seems, there has arisen an " Indian Bradman " in the person of one Vijay Hazare, who followed a series of heavy scores against the Australian services team and others in the present season by compiling 309 for the Rest against the Hindus. A feature of this match was a five-hour partnership between Vijay Hazare and his brother, Vivak, during which the latter scored only 22 runs, playing all the time to give Vijay the strike and helping him to his huge score. . A further instance of the prowess of West Indian cricketers is recorded in a cable published last week which stated that two members of the Barbadoes team (names not given) on a match against Trinidad, broke the world's record for a partnership by adding 574 for the fourth wicket, their respective contributions being 314 and 255 not out. The previous best partnerships were those between Holmes and Sutcliffe, 555 for Yorkshire v. Essex, in 1932, and the 554 by Brown and Tunnicliffe for Yorkshire against Derbyshire in 1898. Both these were for the first wicket, and the fielding side must have been sick of the sight of those particular batsmen

Butterfly Breast Stroke. The butterfly breast stroke style is now permitted in all breast stroke events in Australia. This decision was reached recently by mail vote from all States. This form of breast stroke has been banned in Australia since 1939, in accordance with a resolution of the A.S.U. conference. The records made by J. G. Davies at the Empire Games in 1938 for 110 yards, 200 metres, and 220 yards are now registered as Australian records.

Cleghorn and Walker Tennis Cups. The names of club champions, both men and ladies, must be forwarded to the secretary of the association by Monday, February 18. This is necessary to enable the champion of champions competition to be played off during the next- few weeks.

Falconer Tennis Cups. 'Hie seconu annual men's and ladies' douuies competitions lor tne Stuart falconer tennis cups were piayed at Logan Park last Saturday uiternuon. About 90 pairs took part in the tournament, anu altiiougn rain delayed tiie commencement ok play and caused two short interruptions aunng tlie afteruoon, tne tournament, run under tiie capaule management of Mr F. L. (J. Scrivener, was completed before the liglit failed. Although a strong wind earlier in the atternoon made tne playing of good tennis mipossiDle, the niiais were played under ideal conditions and the spectators witnessed a number tl fast and exciting matches. Tne final of the men's A grade section 6aw the two strongest pairs in the tournament playing for the right to contest the cup final. The players were liobson (University) and Scott (Cosy Dell) and Radford and Laidlaw (Kaituna). Both pairs were on the same mark, owe j. 5, and a good exhibition of doubles play was witnessed. In the early stages there was very little between them, but errors by Radford gave Robson and Scott a substantial lead, and although the Kaituna pair came again later, they could not make up the leeway. The winners played hard, accurate tennis throughout and showed that they were better than their handicap of owe 15. The winners olf the B and C grade, men's double, Holden and Ives (of Port Chalmers), demonstrated how 'determination, accuracy, and steadiness can be the deciding factors in a points system tournament. They beat players far superior in their stroking by their determination and continued concentration. Their opponents in the final of the section did not show the same keenness, although Shaw at times displayed flashes of brilliant play. In the play-off for the Falconer Cup, Robson and Scott failed to show the form they had displayed in their previous matches, while their opponents, Holden and Ives, made full use of their handicap and went for every point, eventually winning out by the time their_ opponents had only reduced their handicap of 35 points by 10 points. The A grade ladies' section was won by Mrs Johnston (Morningtpn) and Mrs Gilkinson (St. Clair), who defeated, in their section final, the Dunedin Tennis Union pair, Mrs Hannan and Miss Blackwood (St. Leonards). This match was closely contested, and it was only Mrs Johnston's and Mrs Gilkinson's greater experience and steadiness which gave, them the c>ecision. The final of the B and C grade section and A grade section Ifor the right to hold the cup produced one of the most exciting matches of the tournament. The winners of the B and O grade section. Miss Lundy and Miss Beard (of N.E. Valley), showed good form in their earlier matches, and in the final they quickly gained a substantial lead on their opponents, jt was not until the Valley pair were within a few points of match that the A grade pair could make up their handicap. The early success of the N.E. Valley pair was gained mainly by Miss Lunley's angled stop volleys, played from right on top of the net, which shot won for them numerous points. Mrs Johnston and Mrs Gilchrist managed to draw level with their opponents for the first time when the score was 29-all. At this stage Mrs Johnston was serving from the forehand court to Miss Beard. Her first service, a hard one, placed well out to the sideline, looked good enough to win, and Mrs Gilchrist moved across to intercept the return, but for the first and only time Miss Beard did not drive across court, but with_ a beautiful ' return down the sideline, won the match and the right to hold the ladies' doubles Falconer Cup for the next twelve months.

J.- Haig for Otago. It is understood that "Jimmy" Haig, the South Otago half-back, will play in the Dunedin Rugby football competition in the coming season. Haig has accepted a position in Dunedin, and will turn out for the Kaikorai Club. Haig was formerly a member of the Crescent (Kaitangata) Club's fifteen, winners of the South Otago championship, and his brilliant play in subunion, interprovincial, and inferisland matches last season stamped him as one of the most promising players of the year. He was one of the outstanding members of Otago's back line, and distinguished himself by his clever play in the South Island team in the interisland match at Auckland, eventually winning a place in the New Zealand team against the Combined Services fifteen at Wellington. Too Old at ?

Though the active life of a player at cricket is longer than that of a footballer, one is inclined to regard even a cricketer as "old" when he is 40 or more. Well, there is still playing for the Epuni team in the Junior B Grade competition in Hutt Valley, " Pop " Faber, who proudly admits to being 71 not out. And Pop is, of all things, a wicket-keeper. He always has been, and on one occasion during his long career he _ caught out three batsmen off successive balls, thus obtaining a hat trick for the bowler. It is told of Pop that, in his first serious game of cricket, when he was 15 years of age, a ball struck his nose and knocked it sideways. But Pop, a born optimist, believes that, given time, everything will straighten itself out, and,, sure enough, 35 years later, another ball struck him on the other side of his nose and knocked it back into place. No, you cannot put this old stager's nose out of joint—not permanently.

Country Tennis. The [Physical Welfare Department officers will, during the next four weeks, carry out in Central Otago a " Learn to play tennis" campaign. Mr Tom Brookes, the association's official coach, will accompany them for part of the time and assist in the teaching of learners. The towns in Central proposed to be visited by this team are Roxburgh, Lawrence, Alexandra, Cromwell, Ranfurly, and their visit will do much to revive interest in tennis in the country districts. The scheme is being worked in conjunction with the Otago Association and the sub-associations in the various country districts. Fisher and Dowries. The name of Arthur Fisher, who on Monday celebrated his seventy-fiftli birthday, will always be associated in the minds of cricketers with that of Alec Downes, for these two, in their day, represented perhaps the finest bowling combination ever known in New Zealand. Fisher was a left-hand medium-pace swinger, and Downes a right-hand slow spinner. They could both bat well too; indeed Fis' ;•, in the first two or three seasons in representative cricket, maintained his place by his batting-rather than by his bowling. The complete averages of these two players arc very much alike. Fisher, in all first-class matches, made 1,327 runs at an average of 14.5, with the bat, 4 and took 274 wickets at 14.7 each. Downes averaged 12.1 with the bat (1,158 runs) and 15.0 with the ball (343 wickets).

Answer to Tate. At the end of Don Bradman's first season in England, Maurice Tate told the Australian that he must learn to play with a straight bat or he would never succeed in future tours on England's more difficult wickets. Bradman's answer to that was to average 84, 98, and 115 respectively on his next three visits to England. And wasn't it the great W. G. Grace who told Vic Trumper that he would never become a batsman? Bradman, by the way, nearly became a tennis instead of a cricket player, and he still thinks it a greater achievement to reach the final at Wimbledon than to appear in a test match.

Umpiring Standard. A proposal to endeavour to have the umpiring standard in New Zealand cricket improved by the formation of a New Zealand Umpires' Association was indicated by receipt by the A.C.A. executive recently of a communication from the Wellington Umpires' Association suggesting that Auckland send umpire delegates to Wellington during the currency of the New Zealand-Australian test match to discuss at an umpires' conference the formation of a Dominion umpires' ruling body. The objective, it was explained, was the standardising of umpires' rulings. Mr A. Postles commented that the experience of Auckland players had indicated that in some cases the umpiring in southern districts had not been of a high standard. Other members agreed that there was need for uniform rulings in the various provinces, and the Wellington proposal was referred to the local Umpires' Association for consideration and report. Professional Mile Event.

A mile event for professional runners will be included in the programme for the Victory Games to be held at the Invercargill Show Grounds on March 9. Numerous requests have been received by the Caledonian Society, and the decision to hold the event was made by the directors of the society. Entries will close on March. 2, and the directors expressed the wish that distance runners would respond to make this a keenly-con-tested event. A further addition to the programme will be a demonstration of hammer throwing by the New Zealand amateur champion, J. G. Leckie. Leckie was appointed supervisor of the field events at the games. Wilding Shield and Nunneley Casket. The Otago Association has decided to issue challenges for both the Wilding Shield and Nunneley Casket. The Wilding Shield is at present held by Lower Hutt. and the Nunneley Casket by Wellington. If the challenges are accepted they will be played in Lower Hutt and Wellington respectively towards tire end of March. Shield Profit.

Auckland cricketers this year have had a touring season in the matter of Plunket Shield matches, but, despite the abnormal difficulties of travelling and accommodation the A.C.A. has managed, with the ready co-opera-tion of the southern centres, to come out with a profit (says the Auckland ' Star '). This is due largely to mutual arrangements made by the several centres for the billeting of players. At this week's meeting of the A.C.A. the secretary estimated that the profit on the Auckland representative team's tour and the home game against Wellington would run out at about £3OO. There would be little profit, if any at all, for the association froin the forthcoming visit of the Australian eleven, he said, as the New Zealand Council would earmark all the profit from the Australian team's visit with a view to financing the New Zealand team's 1949. tour to Great Britain. Reverting to the Auckland team's southern tour, he reported that the Auckland association's share from the gate at the extra match played in Wellington was £l2O.

Soccer's " Black Prince." Huddersfield and Chelsea Soccer Clubs are bidding (reputedly up to £10,000) for Sudanese Mohammed El Guindy, known as the "black prince " of Soccer in the Middle East. French clubs are also trying to secure him. No barefoot genius,'he is a sixfooter, fast, and kicks with either foot. He has a university background, speaks good English and fluent French, and dresses with a Saville Row nattiness. Record Broken. Running in light rain on a holding track, Dr Brian Dunn broke Jimmy Carlton's 17-year-old 100yds University record at University Oval last month. Dunn ran the 100yds in lOsec, clipping one-fifth off the record, which was first established by Jimmy Carlton in 1929. The old record had been equalled by R. 0. Smith (1931), Bob Higham (1941 and 1942), and Bruce Noake (1945). Dunn's record was established in the 100yds handicap. The winner and Bruce Noake were on scratch. Jack Mumford on H.vds, and George Mumford on 2-iyds. Dunn easily won the event, with Noake second. The event was timed by four A.A.A. timekeepers, with two officials as judges. Three watches showed lOsec and the other one '.) 9-10 sec.

That " Off Side Stuff." One rather wishes that some of our present day bowlers could have heard the remarks of such famous cricketers of former times as Arthur Fisher, Dan Reese, Tom Reese, and Cliff Ridley, who were among the guests at Mr Fisher's birthday " at home '' on Monday afternoon. They spoke with regret at the dullness of much of the cricket in representative matches nowadays, and also commented upon the practice modern bowlers have adopted of keeping the ball well outside the off stump. Fisher and Downes, in those paling days certainly angled now and again for a slip catch when they saw a batsman " nibbling," but most of the time they were attacking the stumps and compelling the batsman to play them. Their consistently good length, of course, was also a big factor in their success, and this virtue also is not as much in evidence with our presentday bowlers as it should be. Representative Tennis. The first representative match for the season will be played against South Otago at Milton on February 23, Other suggested dates for representative matches are:—Versus South Canterbury, at Dunedin, March 2; v. Vincent, at Clyde or Alexandra, March 2; v. North Otago, at Oamaru, March 9; v. Maniototo, at Dunedin, April 13. In addition, Canterbury has been invited to send a team to Dunedin. Picking Them. A local correspondent, " Interested," suggests the following as a New Zealand cricket team to meet the Australians in the test match at Wellington : —Whitelaw, Tindall, Wallace, Hadlee, V. J. Scott, Emery, Mills, Butterfield, Burke, Cowie, Mcßae, with L. D. Smith as twelfth man. A correspondent in the Christchurch ' Star-Sun ' is a little more generous to Otago. His choice is : Wallace, V. J. Scott, Cowie, Burke (Auckland), Butterfield, Shand, IR. H. Scott (Canterbury), Hadlee, Smith,-Mills (Otago), with Roberts (Otagol twelfth man.