MISCELLANEOUS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXI, Issue 302, 5 December 1931, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS

POT POURRI OF SPORT PERSONALITIES AND GENERALITIES. A FEW BUGBY PARS. (By "Omni.”) The Springbok scrum formation of 3—4—l is claimed by Bennie Osler as being eminently suitable for quick heeling on a firm ground and there is something in the contention when one studies the formation for there is but two lines for the ball to pass through. Bennie confided to Mr. E. Sewell, an English press critic, that if his men failed to hook the ball they would push their opponents back over the bait Mr. Sewell, who is a staunch admirer of the New Zealand formation, considers that the 2—3—2 formation, composed of forwards who know their job, is superior to the South African idea. In their opening game against a com bined fifteen of Gloucestershire and Somerset at Bristol, although the South Africans won by 14 to 3 there was not a single try registered by either side, the total points being gained by goalkicking. Twickenham, the headquarters of the English Rugby Union is now the last word in magnificence and nowhere in England is there a more impressive and up-to-date sports ground. A new stand erected at a cost of £65,000 has just been completed and there are now 27,000 seats under cover. Then 5000 can be accommodated round the ropes and standing room for 40,000, making a total of 72,000, a record for any Rugby ground in the world, and it is expected that this accommodation will prove insufficient to provide space for all who will wish to witness the international clashes this winter. Albert Falwasser is still playing for the Huddersfield League Rugby first fifteen and he commenced the season in great style, but was later laid aside with an injury. Walker, a Manawatu wing threequarter who appeared against Hawke’s Bay on McLean Park in 1929, is one of the stars in the same team. Bill Cameron, the ex-Napier boy who gained fame in the swimming world and whose aspirations to flourish under the rules of the Marquis of Queens berry were previously mentioned in this column, got no further than the second round of the N.S.W. amateur heavyweight boxing championships. R. J. Walden, a Manly policeman and Rugby footballer, settled Bill’s claims in effective .style and then went on and won the title. Being beaten by the ultimate champion is some consolation for the New Zealander, but it will not bring the coveted trip to the Olympic Games for Bill. It is announced that K. S. Duleepsinhji has decided not to join the Indian cricket team which is to visit England next season, although he had previously promised to do so. This will be a serious blow to the Indian authorities as they were looking to him to be the mainstay of the team on the tour. "Duleep” gives his obligations to Sussex as the reason and says that, while he docs not wish to be considered unpatriotic, ho desires to play in the best cricket available. Having played for England he could not play for India in a test without the consent of the English authorities and if he played for India he could not again play for England for four years. Ho would thus be ineligible for the Australian tour next year. With a trip to Los Angeles in view for next year, Boy Charlton, Australia’s wonder swimmer of a few years back, is making steady progress in his training. Last week he swam 400 yards in 4min. 41sec. in a heavy swell and the pessimistic critics are now beginning to add optimistic colouring to their opinions. Determination is Boy's middle name and he is beginning to be regarded once more as an Olympic hope. E. D. Andrews, better known as "Buster” Andrews, New Zealand teuis player, is to spend a vacation in the Dominion at Christmas. Ho may play in tho Now Zealand championships, according to private advices which have been received in Wellington. Andrews, tho best player that New Zealand has sent abroad since tho late Anthony Wilding’s time, won. tho New Zealand championship in 1926. He preceded this win by being runner up to F. Kalms in tho Australasian singles (as they were then called), in Sydney, and defeating J. Willard, Australian Davis Cup player, on the way to tho final. Andrews also beat J. Crawford and H. Hopman, then playing, in junior tennis in Australia. Since he went to England, Andrews has gained some notable wins, including one over Francis T. Hunter, ranked as second player in the United States, whom he met in the 1928 Wimbledon meeting. His presence in tho New Zealand singles would make the event very interesting.