The World of Sport

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 10065, 1 August 1925, Page 8

The World of Sport

LAWN TENNIS

RUGBY.

(By “Five-eighths.”)

Fillup to Rugby The visit of the Auckland representative team to Gisborne and the match against Poverty Bay has un*doubtedly given Rugby a fillip from both a financial and playing viewpoint for the Rugby Union has benefited to the extent of £lB6 less boarding expenses of the visitors, and the players and the public had. the advantage of gauging the strength of the Poverty Bay team as compared with tho representative standard in the larger centres of the Dominion. On the teams fielded the home side compares favorably with that of the visiters, but it would not he true to make any further qualification of the Poverty Bay standard, because it must be obvious that the Aucklanders were by no means -at their full representative strength in that there were only about eight of the original Aucklanders in the combination, w'hich for the most part consisted l of players drawn, from the Ponsonby and Grafton Club teams, and among the origr .inals omitted were Cooke and Lucas, of the 1924-2-5 All Blacks, and Wright and Finlayi-on, of the All-BJack team that toured New South Wales, and Righton. The Finlayson that played hooker here for Auckland is a brother of the international forward. The visit, however, has laid the foundation for further matches with the Aucklanders who were impressed with the splendid hospitable treatment they received here from 1 the Rugby Union and other bodies that the manager and captain promised to make representations for a match here next year.' Great FSrwards

Auckland owed their victory to the tactics of their big, fast forwards in breaking through the home_ defence and opening the way for their backs. McWilliams, Batty, Keene and Iveary showed great form in the loose and, picking on the iyeak defence of Tureia and Richardson, they repeatedly j broke through there with dashing dribbling movements and short passr ing bouts that nonplussed the defend- , ers. It was obvious that, with .th^ .. Aucklanders’ knowledge of ball con- .. trol in such movements, _ the only v means of stopping dribbling rushes n was to go down, but Tureia and Richardson disgusted the crowd by standing up and trying to pick up the leather, a measure that was perfectly ridiculous in the face of fast fo.r----q wards. Another point was the “bun■L ny-hug” tackle instead of downing their man and smothering him. The r , Auckland forwards also excelled in u the scrummages because, immediately the ball went in, the back rankers heaved and pushed the hookers over the leather. It was clear also that 2 the Auckland hookers knew _ their game, either one of them placing Ins ll 1? foot in front of the leather when it n *' -was put in to prevent the opposing 13 men fi*om taking possession. _ This at IUC least was one point in hooking that c'i Whaitiri forgot. In the line-outs the Aucklanders hunched round the man 31S ‘ who got possession; the Poverty Bay , 9 forwards waited until ho got away bo- | foi’o attempting to support their man. , The dribbling of the Aucklanders was u , admirable, for r.'ot only did they cona * trol the ball properly, thereby avertu r inrr the chances of their opponents 1 .. picking it up, but their formation m 1° the loose was such that there were always at least two men behind to carpu vy "on in the event of the foremost 01 i P men over-running or missing the ball. On the other hand, the home forwards , in loose movements strayed across the , enU ( whole field, thereby creating excellent 0 opportunities for the fast visiting c , backs to snap up the leather and ,? awing into action. n^e ; Visitors’ Backs dons' . . via in! The back play of the visitors was ir.g ; not impressive, in that the whole dijiicul vision was over-fond of rushing the [■dies ball to the wingers with the utmostybu expediency, thereby crowding their inder three-quarters on to the line. It is Mighi obvious that the Auckland backs de--2 sod pend largely on Cooke and Lucas to 2 sec? do the scoring as well as tb their nitron dividual cleverness to obviate then En I being pushed on to the line. Their ike & passing was short and snappy, but er tl the whole bade line was not going at died full' sneed when they ..received the nt st- ball, and seemed over-anxious to get i for ' the leather out to the wings as quick- ■ his ly as possible. McManus, at half, w as hile h clever on attack and an excellent de>r a s: fensive player, the manner in which Retie he set his backs in action and his nsy vr ground defence being n- ,9 ight h watch, while Hook, at first five, ft.crno wa s the only other player who snowed /hile f much initiative from the machine-like action of the rest of the rearguard. CLOU Goodacre’s defence at full-back was very sound and ho kicked and ian r died with much surety, showing good (judgment and coolness to a degree. r .„ poor Forward Play Moudbi The forward play of the Home team ] SR- was of a poor standard practically ters of throughout, the game and it was only in the last few minutes that Poverty Ray “woke up’’ and started to ginger up their work—hut too late. the scrumming was not by any means good and in the loose over-eagerness and lack of knowledge of dribbling The and following up spoilt their opporGisgasc The game was too fast and bo seh’J so iidly contested in the forwards to on Va permit of badly-trained men being mMcßem 4 ,] u d e d and in this- respect McLaughjin nn d Carrington were passengers; The nhsolutely useless in the tight or the E“sex .] oo , c o wirg to their lack of condu.on wU h%nd ability to last out the .pace. McFad Morrison also was not fit. Lewis was Kay. wandering all over the field, trying to Coe.k-0p] av in the backs instead of keeping •and Gi nn 'with the forward play and putting 'his weight into the serums Admittedly he showed out m the hne-oute. hut the bullocking stunts and wild Ipassing lie indulged in were useless and only assisted the opposing side.. LV“Lofty” w-as one of Wairoa s best forwards last year. Can t he reproduce that form and show Povethe Gisborne .public his Island self ? In . the . loose Matthew s ■ lands Rood out prominently loi his maklnd ashing breakaways m the loose with island he hall at his feet, but on each ocoa uruav. ion he was not supported by lus eolmiiitateagucs, 1 good chances being lost tootba hrough their failure to follow up. tact csleeney and Whaitm were the <M - S vv’rtest of a poor pack on the day j.'rp-i he best of a poor pack on the dav ,'ue'nnsind did their full share and more of,ve-/ '.-he hard rucking work, and Heeney tho Vtarticularlv shone out for his fire • ..nr! h rankling on defence. Harnrpn )dayed the he! fair game uutff he was inpired, but •stead <m opnosing winger, Keene, was too. the ortever for him in the loose;, bit then <w- ( . ie latter had the support of the rest and the Auckland pack, whereas most and U the heme side’s efforts were largely less so: an individual nature. Laugh'd I

iny; y/tpAttvg‘c®_AXl> STGPort-:;!'.' GESTIONS. had. n < > ;■ ; ~ . cd, of the of tH ,in.sr line was the worst fcpiß Hnv,y 0 f tl ie licoio lrwks’ disp av. .It point t j, s tbo w”’ter c'urue.sted he- *>\°*•• K tT>e' • match. tlTai Tnreia ' vroidd t'jr*’ v rushes “Tatt-U . work, ns woll bnll ,r ff»’l.T-u n r,' ; jr ; be-;did attempt: to st"+ pp ?* :, n : t \rns n .' “hm'nv-huK.’\ enofv t i,V> • rxijmer to : break awav rnd tiV leatlm- on to a,f>!'ca?n? : bfjck'-far- 1 on merrily for fore^Te;:ke'..sam^ ; s^ }cli v f<lM - Vas Jitte n,t. ’on SSIiVS S ,prf.t r^acthe; post . , .“On-s ■ Southlaii

tically the other chances that Povertv Bay had of scoring, by wild passing. After their display, it was no wonder that both men - were dropped from the team to meet Wairoa, although Richardson has again been incluled_ as full-back to fill Wood’s position, w r lio ,is suffering from a bad knee. The home backs missed the splendid defensive qualities of Langlands in last Saturday’s match. However, if Arkle does not prove satisfactory to-d'ay in the match against Wairoa the writer would again urge the selectors to consider the selection of Sullivan, the .cleverest little back in'the Y.M.P. team. Lot the selectors consider how many games they havo seen thi§ x>layer in action, how many times he has failed to field the leather, wet or fine, when he has failed to take his man low, or, if his cut-in attack is not good enough to come to any of the present backs, barring Langlands. Had it not been for the handling and tackling of Piki Smith, of Bennett and Murland, although the latter was a little nervous at first, the liome hacks would have been ih a sorry mess. All three men had a lot of hard defensive work to do, and they did it well, Smith playing one of the mast brilliant games this season behind a losing pack that was giving him no assistance. Harrison was not ' getting on to the opposing half as he should havo done, with the result- that McManus was getting the leather clean away. Roth wings were,starved but what, little Whaitiri did have to do he did not make nruch of his opportunities, and the writer contends that it is high time that McFarlane was given a chance. Whaitiri has already had) ample opportunities to prove his capabilities, hut has not shown up to much advantage as yet. The exhibition given by Wood at fu’l-back was brilliant, and he fully lived up to the expectations of the public. In the last quarter of an hour he was the soul of the home’s defence, his handling, fielding and line kicking arousing enthusiastic admirat’on from the spectators. He also instilled much life into the. home hacks by following to his kicking, tackling liis man and smarting passing bouts, setting an examp’e that might well have Own followed by the otßcrs.

GOSSIP—HERE AND THERE

The Poverty Bay Ru<*by Union is discussing eliminating the Ranfurly Shield challcngo of district against Hawke’s Bay, which match is to bo played on September 26 ao Nap’er and merely having the Hawke’s Bay team visit this districtIt is pointed out in support of the proposal that the Hawke’s Bay Union does not care whether Poverty Bay returns the visit owing them this year or not, seeing that the southern representatives have so many fixtures ahead of them, but on the other hand, there seems no doubt that the Poverty Bay Rugby Union is endeavouring to accumulate a big credit balance at the expense of the Hawke’s Bay Union to whom this district’s representatives owe a visit. It is further pointed out that it will be October 3 before Hawke’s Bay will be able to make the return visit here this season and that it is not likely that there is much chance of seeing their full representative team in action then after so many Ranfurly Shield matches, but is it not just as likely that if the Hawke’s Bay Union see this district is enthou : ast c enough to send a team to play for the Ranfurly Shield, they will use their best endeavours to send their Ranfurlv Shield combination to Gisborne for the return trip? Hawke’s Bay have done a lot for Poverty Bay in the past; why net treat them liketp lee ?

P’tv it is that Baldwin, the exTaranaki representnt’ve forward and now of Celtic, wi’l not he seen in action against Wairoa to-dav., owing to his having been called +o Pnlv'atua through his mother’s sickness. He would have been a great asset in the Povertv Bav forward divis on and they w'll need all their best forwards for" this match. It’s not often that the writer suggests a representative player on seeing him in action on’y onr\ hut his exhibition for Coßic amvnst Y.M v . was sufficient to show ho -s “the goods.”

Mon'ison. tho Poverty Bay representative forward, was too prominent w’th h's adv'~e to other men to “get into it” on the dav of the Auckland match and was not dounr sufficient himself, with +he result that he was dropped from tho home team for the Wairoa ma+ch. However. . Bald-v.-'n ho : ng called away, gives h : m another chance md 't \s to he hoped that he is fit this time and will “get stnel c into : t.” Wairoa, have a splendid forward v-ck for the Barrv Cup match with Povertv Bav to-dav. consisting of beryv fa st men who are particularly vood in the loose Olid tllO 1 1110-011 ts, hut in the hacks the vis't ng s’de will probably he superior. It- : s practically the same forward cemh'nation as last year, w'th thv execution of Tewis, now of Poverty Bav, while Scott,’ the Poverty Bay wing forward last year, is playing in the back rank.

THE PREMIERSHIP.

POSITIONS CF THE TEAMS

tc • *r3 « o -jj g 4 o t, '*-> 3 • a v ■ • g os g 5 U] CS M CC '• g, ;£ P fLi O Old Bcvs 8 5 2 1 125 49 11 Celtic "... 8 5 3 0 105 99 10 Y.M.P. 9 4 4 1 74 86 9 Hovers 9 1 6 2 43 113 4

NEW SOUTH WALES IN NEW

ZEALAND

Aug. 22—v. Wcllington-Horowhen-ua-Manawntu. at Palmerston North. Aug. 26—v. West Coast and Buffer, , at Grey mouth. Aug. 29—v. Otago and Southland, at Dunedin. Sept. 2—v. Canterbury and South Canterbury, at Christchurch. Sept. s—v. Wanganui and Taranaki, at Hawera. Sept. 9—v. Wairarrpa and Bush Districts, at Mnsterton. Sept. 12—y. Poverty Bay and East Coast, at Gisborne’. Sept 16—v. King Country and Waikato, in the Jv : ng Country. Sept. -.l9—v. New Zealand (Test), at ■ Auckland. Sept. 23—v. North Auckland, at Whangarei.

POVERTY BAY’S ENGAGEMENTS

August I—Vniron,at Wairoa. September s— East Coast at G;s- ---■ borne. , . ' ; ’ September 12—New South Wales, at Gisborne. September 19—AVatroa., at Gisborne (tent't Ye).. September 26—Hawke’s Bay, at Napier. October .3—Hawke’s 'Bay, at Gj.sborne. \ ' . - RANFXJBLY SHIELD MATCHES.

■ s —v. at Napier. B—v a ••'utblr.’.rl. at Napier. : ".op _... r / w-j-jvnnlciat Hastings. Rept o —7 ' Ot-n-o. at Hastings. ~ Sept. 9—v. Wellington, at Wellington. ■ ' _ ‘ Sept 26—v. Poverty Bay, at Nap’er.

I CAN CANTERBURY WIN THE I RANFURLY SHIELD 1 !*

The main topic of the footbalf world at the present time is the question— Can Canterbury lift the Ranfurly Shield from the holders, Hawke’s Bay. in the match. of the season to bo played at Napier on Saturday. In a special article in the Christchurch Star, a rugby critic sums up: Canterbury has the backs, but are the forwards here? If so the Shield may leave its present resting place. Reviewing Canterbury’s prospects the writer points out that the standard of Rugby in the South Island has improved wonderfully during the past three years and may he said to be now hack to pre-war level. Recall- ; ing the great match in 1923, when ; Hawke’s Bay just won by 9 points/ to 8, ho says:— A COMPARISON.

“Of that Canterbury team only Harris and Dailey (backs), and Hooper, Burrows, Masters and. Turpin (forwards) are available. On the other hand Hawke’s Bay has tho services of almost all of the players who took the field for them two years ago. The only ones missing next month will be' Yates, Kirwan, Kivell and McNab. Nepia will take the place of Yates. Blake will p'ay centre instead of Kirwan, Corkill (liow injured) will no doubt play half, thereby allowing Paewai and Mill to be associated at five-eighths, while McNab, who. underwent an operation for appendicitis in Australia, recently, will he replaced by Mahoney. It will thus be seen *.hat the Hawke’s Bay team will be stronger, if anything, than it was in 1.923. All hut four of them— Grenside, Falwasser, Mahoney and Walker —have gained New Zealand honors, so that will give some indication of what Canterbury are going to bo up against. SUGGESTED BACK-LINE.

The back line suggested is as fol•ows: —r

Harris Elvy Oliver Robilliard Hay McGregor Dailey ' _ Of course the Canterbury selectors may have different ideas, but there doe's not appear to be much question about the abi’ity of this back team behind a good set of forwards. Both attacking and defending qualities are there. There can bo no argument about the five New Zealand representatives, and my reason for including Hay and Oliver in preference to the other backs available is because both the players mentioned were nominated for the New. Zealand team to go to Australia a little earlier in the season. Jt naturally follows that, the selectors must hold high opinions of their ability. THE FORWARDS.

Masters, McCormick, and possib.j Burrows, appear to be the only certainties. The trouble confronting the selectors is to get players to till up the remaining positions in the forwards. Melvin has been playing consistent football aim miry ft is stature is aganist him. Clark has also' been doing good work for the Old Boys, not only in the matter of hooking the ball hut as an all round forward. Hooper, too, would be useful if he were omy sound. Either Scrimshaw, Dennehy or J. Turpin would make a good wing forward. *

Scrimshaw, on his latest form, appears to be tho nearest approach lo Parker. Baird is unlucky m having to play second! fiddle to Masters. Both have been playing well _ all through the season. Jeffries is a good, solid type of forward, and he may prove useful against powerful opposition 0. Turpin, Skipworth, Montgomery, Wylie and Rowlands are all honest,'’hard working forwards. Though they may not have the physique of the opposition they probably have more pace and would worry the bigger men in a game on a hard and fast ground.

HAWKE’S BAY VIEWPOINT

Just how Hawke’s Bay views the match is indicated in the following item from the Napier Telegraph:— “Of the Shield game to come none stands out so fuil of interest as that between Hawke’s Bay and Canterbury at Napier. Even the most biased supporter must admit tTiat Canterbury is the most formidable province on the list this year, and they certainly have a fair chance of victory. At the same time, the writer expects to see the Bay retain, the Shield against this southern invasion, hut to do so tbe’r best w : ll he needed. No doubt Selector McKenzie lias his eye open to all possibilities, but it would be interestng to know if any step is to he taken m regard to the train'ng of the team. It will be remembered that the team went into training against Auckland, and if this was thought advisable against the Northern team, how much more necessary will be be against Canterbury, a combination which, it must be agreed, on paper, at least, looks a much harder proposition than the Auckland team d'id. Against Wairarapa _ (first match) Hawke’s Bay was not impres sive. and the team will need to play with much more understand’ng and combination if they are to hold the Shield against the Southerners.’'

THE WRONG STYLE

N.Z. MANAGER, TALKS

ANTIQUATED N.S.W. STYLE

The N.Z. Union team, having completed its engagements, returns with only one defeat against it. Although not so impressive as their predecessors of 1924, they got there just the same, and there is a lesson behind their victories that may hear fruit, in N.S.W.

The team was the guest of tho N.S.W. Rugby Union at, a dinner dance at the Hotel Pacific, Manly, at the conclusion of its last match, writes K.C.W. in the “Sydney Sun” of July 4.

During the speech-making some very eraight and interesting talk was indulged in by Mr. Mackenzie, the Neiv Zealand manager, and Mr. H. Whiddon, the N.S.W. Rugby Union treasurer.

Mr. McKenzie, whilst paying tribute to the undoubted ability of the N.S.W. Union players, intimated that we were the victims of an ar/tiquated style of play, and that while we adhered to it, N.Z. would always win. Mr. McKenzie considers that the N.Z. 2-3-2 scrum formation with the wing-forward is the best style, as the ball is more quickly brought into action, whereas with our old-time 3-2-3 scrum he contends that too many are concentrated in a small area, and tho ball comes very tardilv into play.

Watching the All-Blacke in action one could not help being impressed with the ssundness of Mr. MoKer> v.ie’s contentions. . In the final game, for instance, wing forward Donald frequently received the ball, from the half, and away the hacks would race with an extra man. If. as often ha ripened, one of the centres cut through, the N.S.W. winger was.frequently left with three men to tackle. It is a football axiom that the nearer the serum the defence is penetrated the better—it is no use rushing the nasees out to the winger, as often bv the time the hall reaches him he is either well marked o>- crowded out. N.Z.-,centres invariably run straight and right- up to thmr ' man before transferring the hall, and with the wing forward as an extra back their style, qf play is unquestionably superio»’ to ours. >-

. Mr. McKenzie strongly urges New South Wales to acb’nt the N.Z. methods and stvln of plar,-, and assure? us that out-of-date methods are keeping 'us;back ...'vY .. . '■ '. ; SY''YG%''Y :, Y SUCCESS OF METHOD..' •

"On 'actual, plaw;he ■ contends. ; that 'there.-is little difference between - tho tennis, but the' N 7 style a.lwavs j«t victorious. He finally urges N.S.W.

to try it out for a season at least, and he is of the opinion that our dub games and “tests” against New Zealand will bo more spectacular. Mr. Whiddon, N.S.W. treasurer, is a strong advocate of the N.Z. style, and' thinks that Rugby Union would prosper under it. At present there is no gainsaying tho fact that tho Union is not attracting the public patronage it should, and the X.S.W. Union should get into the ring with gloves off and reorganise the game to enable it to beat its rivals. ADOPTION OF N.Z. FORMATION. Reporting on the All-Black visit to New South Waleis, Mr. E. McKenzie (the manager) said that although the game was in a good position in the State, much had yet to be done to place it where it was in former years, and the New Zealand Rugby Union must continue to give all the assistance possible. Tho New South Wales Union officials were optimistic as to the future of the game, and spoke with confidence of a team again visiting Queensland before long. An important advance in 1926 would be the adoption of the New Zealand back formation, which would be followed up by the adoption of the Now Zealand back formation. When those advantages were properly realised the games between the Dominion and New South Wales would he more spectacular and the result more doubtful.

ATHLETICS.

The next Australasian track and field championships will be held at Brisbane, in August, 1926. The date is against New Zealand’s intorosts, as the season here does not really open until October, but it has been selected on account of the heat in Brisbane being too oppressive for track competitions in February, the usual month for the meeting. In his final appearance in America Nurmi went out of his class. lie agreed to compete in a mile-mile race at New York on May 26 against J. Baines', of New York, and Alan Helffrich, of Pennsylvania, the latter one of the best half-milers in the country. Barnes made the pace for the first half of the distance and then pulled out leaving Nurmi in the lead, which lie held into the straight, when Helffrich came with a great finishing dash and defeated the Finn by ten yards in lmin 56 4-ssec. The New Zealand cross-country will he decided at Wingatui, Otago, on August 15, and the Australasian cross-country championships at We!lii.gton on August 29. For the latter event teams are expected from Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania, and New South Wales.

Negotiations are well forward for the visit to New Zealand of a. team of American athletes. J. V. Seholz (sprinter) and H. M. Osborne (high jumper), both Olympic champions, are regarded ,as certainties, but the final selection' will he deferred until after the American championship meeting. The New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, in its negotiations, sought to secure the presence of the great Nurmi, and is waiting to hear the result of its efforts. Should Nurmi not be available, it would be preferable to secure a middle distance runner, for instance, Llayd Hahn, who has shown splendid form against the flying Finn. Mention lias been made of the possible inclusion of Hartranft, the Stanford University captain, and inter-collegiato discus and shot champion. Hartranft is also a fine sprinter. As discus and shot events have no particular interest for the New. Zealand public that patronises amateur athletics, .champion as Hartranft undoubtedly is in them, from the public interest point of‘view he should not be considered if a crack mile and half-miler is available. But Nurmi really is the man we want to see.

WRESTLING

When the herculean Munn threw “Strangler” Lewis off tho stage and claimed the wrestling championship of tho world, Lewis raised a cry that he had been fouled, and that, he wPind appeal against the championship going to Murm. The sporting writers got to work on the question and then it was discovered that there was no organisation in existence to decide the ’matter. Apparently the wrestlers fixed matters themselves, the custom seemingly being for the individual who was recognised by the professors of the game as the champion, to seek engagements wherever offering, and hold the title until he “struck a snag” or, in other words, until lie was beaten. This, appears to he what happened to Lewis. There is one State, however, that has announced its attitude with respect to wrestling. No' more will the “mat grapplers” be permitted to tour within its boundaries, and throw out challenges to all and sundry, fix up a match and then travel on to some other State. California recently passed an Act providing for a State Athletic Commission, and that commission, acting on a legal ruling lias decided that not only boxing but wrestling c-omes under its jurisdiction, and that henceforth if the “rastlers” desire to perform in public the promoter of the match must have a State license, a leased building, physicians present and give” the State 5 per cent of the proceeds. CYCLING.

HINTS TO RIDERS. (By “Cinder.”) Now that the weather has_ taken up, the riders wiL be able to' make good use of the roads for training, or at least should do so, as it is necessary for a rider to have tho actual riding to improve his condition either fur track or road, whichever the case may he. Although training is alright to keep one in condition, you must do the actual riding to improve in condition. ■;•■',

| . TRAINING DON’TS. i Don’t race each time you ride when training. j i,uu t tune yourself by the clock at iioine when you ,eave and by the ! town clock. .when you finish when havj lug a try out.' .Y xJun’c cry and rub yourself; get a tr.arier wild knows. Riding is qinte sufficient tor you. j i/on't always expect to get carted l around by “tne mag” or some mex- ' penenceu rider. .Learn to r.do unpaced. You can judge the pace better on your own and more honor if you won. Don’t alter your position every tune you r.de. Get n pos.tion and stick to it; it becomes, second nature, j Don’t diets yourself; eat good solid ! food when training. Don’t try running for training; it’s no good. Cycling for cycusts and running for runners. l Two d.fferent 'sets or muscles are used. Don’t think you are a six-cylinder eng'no and try and push big gears; ; 84 is a sane mail’s gear. ! Don’t rider behind motor cars dnv- 1 ' cn by strangers until you have had j some experience of following the motors It's very rr'ce we know, but it often proves foolish'to the novice. . Don’t race the approaching motor car or buggy to that bridge or culvert; you are likely to get jammed in the middle.,'.; Don’t dodge about tho road. Learn to ride straight. It is quite possible to believe that.; You could save 10(3 yards in 20 mile's if .you ride stra ght and 1,00 yards is worth having especi- .- ally at the finish. ■ 1 ' Don’t, .race avmmd new: laid metal, Better to go straight over it; there is . less chaTice of cutting the tyres.lt you ride, over it the. pietal will give." but if you. race around the side and : h it, oneyor • more sharp, p'eces you arc? suro Ito puncture! -"-'l Don’t go out :without an outfit and pump. It is better to carry -itand not want it,, than want it and not carry it.

Don’t start training the day you' nominate. That’s the day you should' finish and spell up ; that is for local races.

Don’t have yourself rubbed with all the patent stuffs in the world; some use anyth’ng from vaseline to axle grease. There are several real good “go fasts.” One is pure olive oil and hazeline, say a 6oz. bottle, 4 of pure olive oil and 2 of hazeline.

Don’t he afraid if •there is any question any cyclist would like to know regards training or actual racing. “Cinder” will only he too pleased to answer through these columns.

MODERN DIANAS

SUZANNE LENGLEN AND HELEN WILTS

There are just two women in the world who can compete* with the best of men when it conies to playing tennis. They are Suzanne Lenglen and Helen Wills (declares Aileen Riggin in the New York Evening Post). When these two girls are at the top of their .game there are few men stars who can allow them 15 points in each game and beat them. More than once they have, in exhibition matches, beaten expert men p'ayers. Both started p’aying tennis at enrlv ages. Suzanne was eleven and Helen was twelve. Suzanne started the game when she noticed her mother and father, both expert tennis players, enjoying it so much. The two were in the habit of playing together a great deal. It chanced that the girl's mother was ill for a long period and the elder Lenglen impressed young Suzanne into servee as his opponent. "When she was 14, after having 4 been playing hut a scant three years, she won the doubles at Cannes paired with the redoubtable Mr Anthony Wilding. Then indeed did her father sit tip and take notice. He marked the family court off into fifty squares, and, making the gin strnd on the serving line, ho won o call: “Put the ball’ into squaro fifteen.” If Suzanne, missed the square which lie had called for he would make her practice until she did hit it. Needless to say, this drastic practice succeeded in making of Suzanne n. marksman of no mean ability. She was soon ah’e to place the hall just where she wanted it. She. practised for hours a day and for days and days, simply trying to nick the hack line with the ball. Then, and then only, did the father-instructor allow her to rout, nue her tournament play. In 1919, when she flashed across a startled ten res world by winning the world’s championship from the hitherto unbeatable Mrs Lambert Chalmers, of England., seven times winner of the clnssc, she was a • far more finished porkirmer than others who had , been playing tournaments for years. , Like Mile. Lenglen. Miss Wd s wus brought up on tennis. As a child, comparatively epeakng, she had. in common with all Oaliforn ans. worshipped the great tennis pin vers of her McLonghKn. May Sutton,; Merv Tv. Browne and B 9v .Tollmen. being the heroes. Tennis lias ever been the i uni : onnl spqrt. of +he.“nat’ve sans.” Lit,t!o ,d : d. site think that there would come 'a free when she mould lie’ ranged with the host of them, yy;!: ■ yy- '■ '.v ; “ played- dyily w’llj hither n h ■ expert; a n d. wh i 1 p. a, chS d lea nmd thp correct wav to • stroke. - whlch/ob-: yiated the neeessitv of unlearning a lot in'otter years. "He* 4 father tap edit her all he knew, and that, was plenty. Then when she was eirrhto'm she astounded the world, just as Miss Leng-

len did some years before, by coming from nowhere and landing with both feet right on top of the heap. And there she lias stayed. There she is hkelv to say for many nnd many a clay.”

BOXING

The Napier Boxing Association is* making efforts to match Hugliie Dwyer, the well-known Australian boxer, with the best in his class in the American fleet, which is now on its way to New Zealand. The association is to communicate with Admiral R. B. Coontz, the officer commanding the fleet so as to arrange a challenge on Dwyer’s behalf. The Americans have twenty thousand men from which to pick, and as many of these men aro already in training for other athletic contests, there is a great possibility that the challenge will he promptly accepted. If the Americans accept the offer doubtless Napier will rise to the occasion with a substantial purse for the fight, which will be staged in Napier. It was expected that Lachie McDonald and Eddie Parker would fight their fourrh battle at Christchurch this month, but so far Parker lias not been advised that the match lias been, arranged. This week the Napier Association received a cable from Max Gornilc stating that he was anxious to come* back to Napier (presumably on his way to Europe) ancl would iike a match with Parker. The association immediately got busy and there is every prospect of the two meeting at Napier again at an early date. Those who saw the last fight still retain it vividly in their memories, and are likelv to do so for a long time to come. Those who missed it are still “kicking themselves.” Ho if the chance of a. return match occurs, it should he jumped at., 1 An unusual Bill was passed by the : Pennsylvania Legislature on May 8. 1 It. is known as the Wilkins Bill,; which makes, it. a. misdemeanor to bribe professional baseball and foot- . ball players, boxers and wrestlers. : A fine of 5000 dollars and imprisonment for live,years is provided as a penalty. There is a separate penalty of 2009 dol. and imprisonment for three years for any person convicted of attempting to bribe a professional athlete. Other penalty is applicable onlv to the athlete. The Bill is the aftermath of the alleged attempt to bribe some prominent baseballera. ;