LUCKY SPRINGBOKS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 13092, 13 February 1937, Page 11

LUCKY SPRINGBOKS

No Rugby team .which lias toured New Zealand, .apart from Australian sides, has been favoured to the degree that the .Springboks will he in the matter of physical condition when they open their campaign of this country next season. They will engegd in trial matches in Cape Town and then, following ,a journey of two and :a: half weeks, they will play probably nine games ,in Australia before coming on to New Zealand. This will give, the South Africans time to get right into their stride physically, besides, allowing them to develop combination and remedy any marked weaknesses.

Far different was the New Zealand tour of the Union in 1928. The All Blacks arrived without having had a game since the previous year. This, coupled will the fact that travelling iu South. Africa is travelling, made the eonditionng 'process a slow one. Even in Australia tho going for the Springboks, will not, initially, he very hard. The teams, Victoria, and West, to oppose thorn in the early games will not compel them to turn on their full battery. AH this should- be remembered when assessing their prospects of a successful] tour next, winter. Golf

At the Top

STRONG FORWARDS

SOUTH AFRICA’S “STEAM

ROLLERS”

Keen observers of the South African Rugby Union trials for selection of their team for Australia and New Zealand this year were impressed by the big, .strong, .and in some cases, fast forwards available. They pack low, and -push with might and main until the hall is heeled back from tho scrums. They also uso short-passing among tho forwards to good Affect. The forwards, however, are reported to have very few tricks, just steamroller tactics, and honest scrum woik. Five"of the men likely to go. on tour are giants, all over 6 feet and weighing between 15 and 16J stone. The back play in the trials was sadly disappointing, mainly because of the absence of fast straight-running centres. It seemed to ho thtiir object to (get rid of tho hall as -soon n« possible and trust to their forwards to -got possession again. There was not one hack in tho tv r o trial matches who could bo called even a good connecting link, according to Press reports, and South Africa will cither have to test out nev r material or rely solely on the forwards. Now and again a man tried to straighten up a passing rush, hut most of tins backs kicked for the line when .they should have passed, or else gave a badly directed stab kick. Scissors movements were-never attempted. Even th« handling of the wings .was mostly indifferent. A notable exception .was P. J. Lyst-cr, a wing threequarter from Natal. This player has sturdy physique, plenty of speed and determination, can handle wdll, and is a deadly tackier. Of the full-hacks, Turner of Transvaal, impressed as quicker on his feet and a better rush-stopper than Gerry ■ Brand, who is tho idol of Rugby follows in South Africa. At the same) " time Turner gave the impression that he can he hustled. But as he is

solid three-quarter as well, he seems a certainty for the trip. Brand showed better direction with his kicking although he seemed to kick too much. Summed up, it seems '< that once again the South African forwards will cause most concern. They are fiery as wall as weighty.

TURF

“ROOKIES” REFUSE TO PAY ASCOT MEETING SENSATION Payment of over £IO,OOO winnings on huts placed at Ascot, is being refused by some of the biggest bookmakers in the country, pending investigation by Post Office and Scotland Yard detectives, says a London paper.

Suspicion of those bets, which were made by telegram, were aroused by the fact that they were all on very' long-priced winners, and were on telegrams timed a minute or so before the start of the race, concerned. Investigations by the Turf Guardian Society, Post Offioo detectives, and Scotland Yard officers have been going on ever since tha close of the Ascot meeting, and it is understood that proceedings may' be instituted in the near future.

It is alleged that a number of belts made at the Epsom summer meeting were irregular, but were settled at the time*. The bookmakers then he.d no suspicions. “There arc at least four and probably five of tho largest firms involved.’ a, prominent bookmaker stated. “They are all firms of the soundest’ standing and \ would hold up payment only on she gravest suspicion of irregularity. “All the bets concerned were made by telegram, and it is claimed that they wore; all timed within a minute or so of the ‘off.’ “Thh investigation has involved the scrutiny of many thousands of telegrams. “It may he, of course, that the bets were genuinely ma.do, but enough lias been discovered to justify the bookmakers in their refusal to pay out for the present. “It is likely that investigations will have to he continued for several days before it is discovered whether they were irregular or not.”

WALLACE AND AMBER LTTE EvtVryono conversant with the thoroughbred family recognises how very easy it is to go astray in summing up horses on their looks, even when they are by the same sire. In tho course) of an interesting article on Australianbied stallions a Sydney writer, in referring to Wallace and Amherlitc, two sons of Carbine, says“ The strange thing about Wallace was that he never looked the part lie was to ploy in making turf history. As a racehorse he was a washy' chestnut and Pad nothing to recommend him hut his bulldog courage. Had studmasters their choice on appearance between Wallace and Ambcrite, it is safe to say that the latter would have been unanimously chosen, for lie was a splendidly-built horse, besides having a better record on tho turf than Wallace; yet one climbed to the highest pinnacle as a sire, while the other w r as only moderate. ’ ,

NOTES AND NEWS

When Bougal ran third in the sprint event- on the first day of ‘the Thames meeting lie gave evidence of an early return to the winning list, -and he almost accomplished the feat- in the Walia-roa- Handicap at Matamata, Lor nacre being the only one to. finish in front of him. He took tho lead when the field had settled, down and was clear of the opposition when they swung round the home turn. However ha was unable to sustain his run and had to bo content with second place. Boughal is thriving on his racing, and. it may not be long before he again collects the thick end of tho stake.

The hurdler Calcutta came into furthen prominence as the. result of his effortless win in the Tira-u Hurdles at Matamata-. He took the first fence, in front of the field, and with -the exception of one faulty jump his fencing was first-class. In four starts the chestnut has registered two. wins, a second -and a- third ’placing, and it is- a pity that- he was not put to this department- of: racing earlier in lys ea-reef. Caleutoa is entered for both hurcl]© events a-t- the Waikato meeting and. although he will be meet'ng ", r.t-rorigef class than lie has yet encountered his prospects of ridding to hip, record appear good.

Many English: starting bookmakers were hard hit la-st- year by telegrams handed in only a- few, minutes before the running’ of races, and which- did not reach 'them -until after the. events were decided. Naturally, this occasion ally left them liabilities they had not contemplated. Last month this was touched upon the Bookmakers’ Association dinner at Manchester, and it, was stated that, after much pressure, tho Postmaster General was investigating the matter, and that the suggestion was for , hots by , telegram tioi bo handed in with sufficient! time for the starting price bookmaker to re ceive them before the race, and make the time l of a- race was suggested.

Heritage, who .while racing in, the interests of Mr. W. LI. Galsford, of O'ringi, proved a substantial winner, and who .some time hack was sold to go to India, was recently .successful in his new location, creating a fa.v-

curable 'impression by his look's 1 and the excellent manner in which, he achieved his, task. He is a. halfbrother' by Posterity , to Episode, Homage, Courtesy, Prestige and Worship, and on the female side of descent i® related to Commendation, who proved 'a great financial investment for Mr. Gaisford.