ATHLETIC SPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18947, 19 February 1925, Page 10

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

CRICKET. SUBURBAN ASSOCIATION. MATCHES FOR SATURDAY. The following matches under the auspices of the Suburban Cricket Association will bo played on Saturday;— Senior Grade.—Ponsonby v. Y.M.C.A., No. 1, Domain; Manurewa v. Harbour Board, No. 2, Domain; United Suburbs v. R.V., No. 3, Domain; Ellfcrslie v. Post and Telegraph, No. 4, Domain, Second Grade.—Power Board v. Takanini, No. 5, Domain; Harbour Board A v. Green Lane, No. 10, Domain; Hellaby's v. Londoners, Victoria Park; Gasworks v. Onchunga, No. 6, Domain; Tramways r. Harbour Board B, Victoria Park; Y.M.C.A. B v. R.V., No. 12, Domain: Unity v. Otahuhu, Otahuhu; Ellerslie v. Ponsonby. Victoria Park; Y.M.C.A. A v. Philomel, Victoria Park. Third Grade.—Ellerslie v. Geo. Court, Victoria Park; Power v. Green Lane, Victoria Park; Unity v. Y.M.C.A., Domain. GOLF. THE PRESIDENT'S PUTTER. MR. GILLIES' GREAT PLAY. [moil OUR OWN' CORRESPONDENT. ] LONDON, Jan. 14. Mr. H. D Gillies (Dunedin and Auckland), now a, well-known West End surgeon, has again oome into prominence for his brilliant golf. Last year he created a sensation by teeing ofE the top of bottles, but this week-end be has created a moro legitimate sensation by wirning the President's Putter of the Oxford and Cambridge Golfing Society. Mr. Gillies accomplished the great feat of defeating two champions in one day—Mr. Cyril Tolley and Sir E. Holderness—in the final, by 4 and 2. The matches took place at Rye, and the achievement was the mpro remarkable because Mr. Gillies, after . a tremendous struggle with Mr. Tolley, which went to the 19th hole,, had only 10 minutes in which to swallow his lunch and prepare for the tussle with Sir Err est Holderness. It is to the credit of Mr. Gillies, says the Daily Telegraph, in its detailed description of the play, that he came through the ordeal with flying colours, although at, tae end of the day's glorious adventure he was naturally weary and footsore. His triumph was also in the nature of a reply to those who had confdetlly predicted that, alter abandoning his pedestal tee, he would not be able to hit a shot Mr. Gillies has an j infinite capacity for taking pains, thinking out each sho r . and playing it as he has visualised it. He played for England against Scotland in 190S, was reserve at St. Andrews last year, and in 1913 won the St. George's Gold Challenge Cup, the chief stroke competition for f.mateur3. , ior so fine a golfer Mr. Gillies has been singularly unsuccessful in big events. After making very full meals of all his previous opponents, Sir Ernest Holderness nibbled very feebly at Mr. Gillies. Sir Ernest hit seveial shots off the toe m the club, half-smothered some wooden club efforts, and was particularly unhappy with the i utter, a club that seldom fails him. j The cause of i o all was faulty timing,, and with it the sr.ap and confidence vanished fiom his game. 'lt was a strange reversal of his customary polished aoid masterly golf. Mr. Gillies, on the other hand, once ho obtained a grip of the enemy, hung on with teeth and claws, and when he did a slip it was only of a minor character. >'or the first nine holes the golf was not particularly good, but from that point Mr.Gillie never once faltered. He won the snort fourth in an unusual way. Both tee shots plunged ever the green into a bunker full of water nnd covered by a sheet of ice, but, while Mr. Gillies' shot disappeared through the ice, Sir Ernest's came to rest on top. Mr. Gillies, of course, had to pick out and lose a stroke, while his opponent, in playing one-handed, overbalanced himself and dug a watery grave for the ball. In this way ha lost a whole which ho looked j like winning, I But the real thrills were in his match 1 with Mr. Tolley, who had only himself to blame for.his defeat. We saw Mr. Tolley in three distinct phases—careless, brilliant, and then, so it seemed, a little nervous. The first phase cr.mo at the start, tho second in the middle of the game, when he was four dov.-n, and the last when he virtually had the match in his pocket. It was one of the most remarkable and dramatic fights I have witnessed for irary a day. It commenced with comedy and ended with tragedy. Mr. Tolley lost the firs; three holes, two of them by hooking hi> drives out of bounds, and the other by putting l is iron, shot into a bunker where there was a foot of water covered by ice. Rather than get his feet wet he played a left-handed shot from the ice, only to see the ball drive into a, clump of rushes on tho other side of the green. Mr. Tolley then gave a flash of his old brilliance, warning the next three holes m perfect 4's. At one of them Mr. Gillies broke the ico in a bunker, walked into the water, which covered his ankles, and played the ball out. Ho gained nothing for his pains, for he lost the hole. Once again the fortunes of tho match oscillated in the most extraordinary manner, Mr. Tolley losing the next four holes. He drove out of hounds, this time at the lOtli, where the hall leapt over a fence into a field. Those who imagined a collapse reckoned without Mr. Tolley, who loves the spectacular The first halved hole of the match came at the 11th, a small respite before tho next amazing stage was encountered. Playing with magnificent courage and elan, Mr. Tolley won tho next four holes in 4, 4, 2, 4, to square the match. He hit a colossal drive, over 300 yards in length, .at the 17th, played a neat little pitch, and won the hole in 3. One up with cne hole to play seemed good enough for all practical purposes. The 18th was a tragedy. Both players pulled their drives over the towering sandsill, but Mr. Tolley's, being much the longer, the hall finished down tho slope, close up aaginst a woodon fence groardirs the players driving from the 10th tee. Prom this spot you are allowed to pick and drop without penalty. Mr. Tolley was then faced with a long ehot over the clubhouse. The ball sailed clean over the chimney-tops and stopped sis yards from the pin. Mr. Gillies was over the green, but played a superb pitch back to within a foot of the hole. However. Mr. Tolley had still two ior a half and the match. He rutted to within about 2ft. of the hole, clicked his heels like the true Guardsman on parade, and, to the amazement of everybody, missed the putt. But tho spectators did not know that the hall was lying in a deep depression. Tho fates were against Mr. Tolley. He pnelied his drive at the 19th. and afterwards was short all the way. while Mr. Gillies played the hole perfectly in a par 4. Exit Mr. Tolley!