THE SPORTING WORLD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 21 December 1938, Page 11

THE SPORTING WORLD

Variety of Pars from Here and There j By 'ERA"

THE “FRIENDLY MATCH” AN INCREASING POTI’LAR SPORT CRICKET IN THE EVENINGS When one gets in touch with those j phases of cricket which attract little j attention from the public and- are j given little space in the newspapers, j one gains the impression that the fun] |of the game is by no means confined to ‘•big cricket" or to grade competitions, j and wonders whether the participants !in the aptly-named “friendly games” j do not get more enjoyment out of play ! than do their more serious brethren of the bat and ball who have to maintain their averages in order to keep their places in the team. The wicket? Not always the best but the caretaker lias run the mower over. One of the teams may be shorthanded. “Can you lend us a man?” ‘'Sure!" This is a “friendly match." Maybe the man on “loan" may save runs, catch his opponents out 1o win the match for the other side. What of it? The "three cheers for the Post Office." or "three cheers for the P.W.D.” at the end of the game is just as hearty, and the refreshments put the finishing touches on the evening’s fun. Winning the toss doesn’t matter much, the game is soon over and it is always more or less a bowler’s match. | Shooters—the real kind, not those foot-high things which class batsmen ! declare “never rose an inch.” when they 'are skittled by one; short pitched l fizzers up near the ears; a “lifter” into the region of the waistband —all in one over, but all in the game. A score of 40 or 50 is a Bradman contribution, and when it occurs is invariably the result of lusty boundary-hitting. •'Fielding?” Well, not so good. “Lob” catches are dropped, and the ball will skid between the legs of the most eager fieldsman like a greasy pig. But what would you do when many of those fieldsmen “haven’t played cricket since 1 was at school." Yet how everyone enjoys it! There I arc beaming faces and hearty hand- ! shakes when the game is over, and anxious inquiries of the captain as to [ when and where the next match takes i place. Yes. There is a lot to be said for the j “friendly match.” It is a pty that more are not played here in Nelson. It is a wonderful opportunity for those engaged in other sports on Saturdays to enjoy a game of cricket during the ] week. Boot May Win i V. P. Boot stands a good chance of ] winning the 800 metres title at the next ; Olympic Games in Finland, according to the American coach. A. L. Fitch. Rei cently Fitch said that if Boot could get i away to England or America well in ! advance of the actual Games, he would i be a contender with really good prosi peels. | Off the Beaten Track Don Bradman told this one on his Let uni from England. [ The Australian cricketers were hav- ! ing a round on Royal St. George’s i course, where this year’s Open was 1 played. i The rough was fierce—long, thick, 1 over knee-high grass. One Australian said to his caddy, as j he searched for his ball in the luxuriant herbage: “Are there any snakes in this 1 grass, lad?” ■ “I don’t know, lad.” said the caddy. "I am not usually out here. I carry ! for Cotton.” Will be Hard to Beat J. E. Walsh, left hand spin bowler, who has played with Sir Julien Cahn’s | eleven for the past two seasons, returned to Sydney in the Orama recent- ! ly. He will join Sir Julien’s team for New Zealand when it passes through Australia in January. , The tourists will include four Ausi tralians, H. Mudge, J. G. Lush, V. E. ; Jackson and Walsh, all of New South Wales. Walsh said that the side would be [Strong as HardstafT, Dempster, Phillip-] son, Oldfield, of Lancashire, Peter Smith and Watts would be included. Sir Julien considered that Lush was] the finest field he had seen. Last season Lush secured the bowling honours in the team, taking 219 wickets at an average of about 10 runs. Jackson headed the batting list with more than 1800 runs.

Nagurski Beaten The world’s heavy-weight wrestling championship, as recognised in Pennsylvania and several other States, was won at Philadelphia on 18th November by Jim Londos, 42-year-old Greek-born grappler. Londos. a 242-pounder, gained the title when he threw Bronko Nagurski, of Chicago, in 47 minutes 11 seconds with an aeroplane spin and body press before 10.000 applauding fans.

] Coming to an End. ! In view of the proposed lour of South Africa in 1940 by a New Zealand Rugby team, it is interesting to note some of the observations in a letter i from Mr Phil Weber, a Cape Town [journalist, to a Domniion friend. "The British team we had here was not a great team—far too much chopping and changing as the tour progressed. “In the first test, the Springboks (including fourteen of the New Zealand louring side) played as though they were continuing their third test against the All Blacks. I did not see the match and what I am telling you 1 have from the fellows themselves. They say they j almost played as well as in Auckland, j and the British were unfortunate that j the Springboks struck their best 1937 ! form. Dc Wet, the only newcomer, is not a Babrow. but is a promising, hard- ! running centre, who will improve with ! more experience. 1 ‘'According to people who should ; know, the match provided perhaps the best exposition of Springbok play we i have seen in this country, and that also 1 goes to prove that the Springboks i played Rugby in New Zealand which j we do not see here on every football i field. “I am inclined to think that our | series of victories is coming to an end. We started building the Springboks of ] last year and this year in 1928, and the beggars have had a long lease of life, j And the team, as a team, is finished. Johnnie Lotz. Tony Harris, Lochner. I and Sheriff have several years of footI ball left, and then there is also De Wet j But I can’t think of any more. And j if you look at this year’s reserves you | find they are all old, seasoned players. I I suppose there are promising young- | sters, but I can’t think of many. “Gerry Brand played in one one of j the tests and he was superb. Dai Williams also struck form in the tests, and you will be amused Ho hear that he is I only a mediocre club centre. Johnnie ' Bester has still a little of the harlequin in him. He does the most amazing i things. In the match against Western Province he followed up a drop-out, caught the ball and put it behind the Britons’ posts without a hand being put on him. In the last test he stopped a very dangerous attack by intercepting and scoring a try. Only Johnnie would have dared do it.”