SPORTING PARS

Grey River Argus, 11 February 1938, Page 9

SPORTING PARS

ANOTHER TITLE. . % There is one event which, if ‘it were included on the Empire Games track and field programme, New Zealand would assuredly win. This is the four-mile relay. With W. A. C. Pullar, V. P. Boot, C. H. Matthews and T. Allen, New Zealand could field a quartet probably at least as good as that which could be produced by any other unit, of the Empire, and certainly better than any other national four competing in Sydney.. When Farr last met Baer (former world champion, who lost the title to Braddock) at Harringay Stadium on April 15, the Welshman got the decision on points over 12 rounds. A month earlier, at the same A*ena. Farr had beaten Foord for the'British and Empire titles —on points over 15 rounds. • „ , Playing against Warwickshire at Birmingham in 1922, Hampshire scored only 15 runs in their first innings—but won the match by hitting 521 in the second innings.* Roger Spong Again: Roger Spong, great fly-half of the British Rugby team in New Zealand in 1930, keeps going better than the brook. The London “'Sunday Times” records recently that Old Millhlllians defeat of Old Leysians by 16 to 5, was entirely due to Spong, IJbr it was his match. At times he completely bewildered the Leysians’ defence and in all he scored three tries.” Spong dropped odt of the game for a while after returning from New Zealand. But he keeps on playing these days with all his famous zest and even now there are critics who reckon him among the best stand-off halves in the country. Girl Champion: For three years, Major Ruttie, an English company director, played golf with his schoolgirl daughter every week-end, and when her handicap was five he realised that her skill at the game was phenomenal. When she was 14—a year ago—■ he took her to Archie Compston,. the professional, who said: “Why didn’t you bring this child to me before?” Now he coaches her very hard for about two hours every week-end. Maureen is a strapping girl of sft Sin. and can stand hard work. Although she will go to school for, at least another two years, it is Archie Compston’s plan to enter her for the British Ladies’ Chamnionsh’n tbi<year if she continues to make progress. Last September sne and her father played in the Fathers’ and Daughters’ Tournament at Pulborough, Sussex, and were beaten in the final. *»** * * , Craven Still Tired: Danie Craven, vice-captain of the successful Springbok Rugby team which toured Australia and New Zealand last season, was in Johannesburg recently on a short holiday. “I am taking this opportunity,” he said, “of renewing contacts with the Rand members of the side and at the same time doing a certain amount of research work in connection with my studies.” Craven said that the tour had proved far more strenuous than most people would credit, and he was still feeling a cer tain amount of tiredness. He is. looking forward, to turning out again next season, and: he is as anxious as other members. of the team that the South African public should have the opportunity of witnessing the same open style of play that was so successfully exploited by the Springboks during their tour. A, many members of the touring side are likely to be included in the international sides which will play against the British team next season. Craven is looking forward once again to playing side by side with many of his team mates who helped to make Rugby football history last year. ******* Wrestlers Arriving: Cabled advice was received last week by the Dominion Wrestling Union regarding the advance guard for the 1938 mat season. The names of ten wrestlers were mentioned and they will leave the States next month, arriving in time to commence activities before the end of March. The names received all relate to well known wrestlers, several of them being among the most prominent campaigners in America at. the present time, and there is no doubt that this, together with the fact that the first arrivals will be much stronger numerically than has generally been the case in the past, will mean that the season will get away to a decidedly more vigorous start than usual. Diver Misses Games: There* is no likelihood now of C. Corcoran, Canadian diver, getting to Sydney in time for the Empire Games. Thinking he might miss selection in the team in Canada, he decided two months ago to make sure of seeing the Games by working his passage on a timber freighter. So he went to Vancouver, to seek a job on the Tacoma City, telling his mates he would see them in Sydney. The Tacoma City arrived in Australia without him, and .it transpired that the master of the ship had been unable to fit him into the crew. “Only to-day,” said the team manager (Mr. Robinson), one of our chaps got a note from Corcoran saying he had missed the job. It’s just too bad that he did not get It. I know exactly how he would feel. If only he had waited a few days he could have travelled with the team. We all admired his spirit.”