GENERAL SPORTS NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20854, 22 April 1931, Page 16

GENERAL SPORTS NEWS.

LEAGUE FORWARD'S DESIRE. RECORD OF BASKETBALL TEAM. WATER POLO CHAMPIONSHIP. Mr. V. R. Meredith, who was sole selector for the Auckland Rugby Union for some seasons, but who retired at the end of the 1929 season, intends taking an active part in the game once more. He will coach the Grammar Old Boys' junior team during the coming season. " Wager," North Auckland, asks for the heights and weights of J. Carlton and G. Simpson, the Australian and American champion sprinters. —Carlton weighs 12st. 71b. and Simpson, 12st. 41b. Their respective heights are:—Carlton, sft. llgin.; Simpson, sft. llin. Primo Camera and Paolino Uzcudun each got a shock in New York recently. Both were refused admittance to Madison Square Garden to watch boxing contests because they were under suspension by the Now York State Boxing Commission, which rules that its edicts apply to them as spectators as well as contestants. Alan Campbell, heavy-weight champion of New Zealand, has been matched by the Timaru Boxing Association with Jack O'Malley, an ex-New Zealander, who has been boxing with much success in Australia lately. Campbell, who formerly resided in Oamaru, is now living in Timaru.

It is probable that L. Mason, the exAuckland and Wigan forward, will return to New Zealand at the conclusion of the present English Ilugby League season. Mason stands out as one of the finest forwards in England and has been a prolific scorer in club matches. Should Mason return and remain in Auckland ho will play for the City Club. It is reported that. W. Wiggins, a prominent Sydney forward, and a member of the Balmain District Ilugby League Club, has opened negotiations with an Auckland Club for his services this season. Wiggins is a hooker, fast in the loose, and a splendid all-round forward. The matter of permanent employment is at present the only hitch in his coming to Auckland. Argentina is sending a team of four golfers to England and America to compete in the open championships and other big events. They are Tomas Genta, Jose .Turado, M. Churrio and H. Some of these men have won important titles, and some good judges in South America regard them as golfers of the highest class. They are very keen on the game in the Argentine, and the primary objoct of sending these players over is to raise the standard of golf in their own country. The Parks Committee of the Auckland City Council has allocated the following grounds for football during the coming season:—Domain: Rugby, 2; League, 2; Soccer, 2. Outer Domain: Rugby, 1; League, 1; Y.M.C.A., 2. Victoria Park: Rugby, 1; League, 1; Soccer, 2; hockey, 1. Walker Road: Rugby, 2; League, 2; Soccer, 1; hockey, 2. Western Springs: Rugby, 1; League, 1; Soccer, 1. Grey Lynn Park: Rugby, 1; League, 1; and one ground to be shared alternately by Rugby and League. Arrangements for the new English putting and approaching championship, for prizes of £SOO, have been completed. Play will be over 72 holes on Mav 26, 27, 28 and 29 on tho Arbroath links, Forfarshire, one round being played each day. A committee of leading British amateurs is to be formed for the purpose of designing the approach shots and they will have entire control over the hazards. The full course will be played in the usual way, but the scoring will not begin until the approaching and putting clubs coiuo into use.

The Victorian one-mile medley relay championship provided a thrilling race this year, and was won by the University No. 1 team comprising Triado, Davidson, Gabriel and Horsfall, in the record time of 3m 345. Davidson ran a magnificent quarter-mile. Ho started over five yards behind Bascombe, present holder of the Australian 440 yds. title, and was right up with him at, the finish. Bascombe, however, missed his mate with the baton, throw it, to him and thus disqualified his team. The University sprinters more tlftm held their own and won easily.

The Auckland University Basketball team has a very fine record. It, has won the University championship and the Auckland championship for the past, five years. Bix out, of the nine players were selected for a New Zealand team a few years ago, this in itself being a great, honour. The University players are coached by Mr. R. B. Hardy, who also finds time to coach fhe University senior Rugby team, as well as being president of the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association, and taking an active interest, in swimming, athletics—in fact, almost every branch of sport.

In tho final of the water, polo firstgrado championship at, the Tepid Baths last week Tonsonby scored a convincing victory by four goals to one over last, year's champion team, Waitemata I. Apart from this defeat Waitemata had lost the championship only once before, this being to Mount Eden in 1929. Ponsonby has proved itself to be one of the strongest combinations that has ever been assembled in Auckland, and from all appearances it may occupy its leading position for some time. Its success is due to intensive training and sound coaching, and in this respect it has set an example that could be followed by other teams.

Several boys, applicants for a position, were being interviewed by a Sydney business man, noted for his keen interest in cricket. "What's your name?" ho asked the first- "Don Brad man, sir!" "Any relation?" "Cousin, sir!" "Well, wait till I interview the other lads, and I'll give my decision." As the lad took his place outside, he said to the other boys, "It's all right blokes! Dpn Bradman gels tho job." The next three apparently got little satisfaction from the interview, and the last boy went in. "What's your name?" "Jack 'Obbs, sir." "Is that so ? How do you spell your name ?" "J-a-c-o-b-s," said the boy. Ho got the position.

Fourteen countries were represented at Davos, Switzerland, for the international ice speed skating championships, in February. W. G. Broomhall was England's sole representative, competing in the 500, 1500, 5000 and 10,000 metres events. Broomhall, although but 18, is the only ice skater in England who has accomplished the speed standards required to take part in the championships. He took to ice skating threfe years ago, when the Richmond Rink was opened. Last year he secured the all-England indoor one-mile championship in 3m 265. Ho also holds the lap record of every London rink, while his fastest timo of 3m 16s for the mile stands as the English record. Tho following tribute to th& late Victor Trumper by C. B. Fry, gives some idea of the genius of the famous Australian batsman of former years:—Victor Trumper is, perhaps, the m6st difficult batsman in the world to reduce to words. Ho has no style, and yet he is all style. He has no fixed canonical method of play; he defies all the orthodox rules, yet every stroke he plays satisfies the ultimate criterion of styleminimum of effort, maximum of 6ffect. Tho gracefulness and the vigour of his strokes are due to an. almost perfect natural balance and to his remarkable wrisfc power.;