GENERAL SPORTS NEWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22353, 26 February 1936, Page 21

GENERAL SPORTS NEWS

CRICKETERS IN INDIA FULLBACK TRANSFERRED BOWLING AT WHANGAREI An innovation so far as women's athletics in New Zealand are concerned will lie the introduction of a putting the shot contest at the next scratch meeting to be decided at the Ellerslie Domain on Saturday. A regulation 121b. shot will be used. Without its two famous batsmen, Bradman and Ponsford, Australia has decisively beaten South Africa in the tests. "Wo may well have occasion to reflect," comments an English critic, " that, if the South Africans could beat us in the test rubber last year, and if the Australians without Bradman and Ponsford can beat them, either Australian cricket must be astonishingly good or English cricket unusually poor. Our pride will favour tho first explanation.." Discussing the tour of India by Frank Tarrant's Australian cricket team, a Melbourne writer states that what promised to he an exceptionally enjoyable trip has not proved the success anticipated, principally because of illness and accidents to tlie tourists. From letters received from India it is stated that the Australians are anxiously looking forward to their return, as the dread of contracting enteric fever and j other things is spoiling the trip. To commemorate the holding of the , New Zealand senior championships in j Dunedin last week the Otago Centre of ! the New Zealand Amateur Swimming j Association presented a trophy named the Otago Cup for an annual interpro- \ vincial relay among teams of four men. The first contest was won by Auckland, j the team comprising 1?. B. Frankham, j P. Hanan, N. Crump, and W. G. Smith, i The stipulation is that the races | should be of four laps, owing to the varying length of the baths where the national championships are decided. In order to keep himself in form, J. ! Ferrier, the New South A\ ales amateur I golfer, who recently left for England i to compete in the British open chainpionship, lias made arrangements with ; the captain of the Largs Bay, 011 which j boat he is travelling, for the provision i of good practising facilities. A large ; canvas screen has been erected on thej ship on the after well deck, against 1 which Ferrier can practice his power- 1 ful drives. Matting is to be laid down, I and the champion will drive from for- j ward aft, so that any balls which dodge j the screen will shoot harmlessly into j the sea astern. J. Vartan, the Hawke's Bay Rugby I fullback, left Hastings last week on i transfer to Wellington, where he will j probably join up with the Poneke Club, i The departure of Vartan will leave a \ big gap in the. ranks of Hawke's Bay j and Hastings football, for he was one j of the most valued members of the ! Hastings High School Old Boys' Club, and for several seasons past has played j as the last line of defence in the Hawke's Bay team. He will also be j greatly missed in athletic circles, as he was one of the star performers of the ] district in field events. It was at St. James' Palace, Lon- 1 don. The All Black Rugby team was being introduced to the Prince of Wales, now King Edward VIII., by the man- : ager, Mr. V. R. Meredith. " This is Mitchell of Southland. . . Gilbert, West j Coast. . . Caughey, Auckland," and so j on, and as the players were introduced j the Prince of Wales showed a good j knowledge of the town or province as j he conversed with each man. But j Petone beat liim. "This is Lambourne, j of Petone," said Mr. Meredith, j "Where's Petone?" asked the Prince. Lambourne was asked the question a thousand times afterward. His team mates saw to that. The golden jubilee of tho Canterbury j University College Rugby Football Club will be celebrated during the May ; vacation this year. The present proposal is that the celebrations, which will extend over several days, shall commence with the annual Rugby match with ; Otago University, the first of such I matches having been played in 1886. j Other functions will follow, including j a dinner, a ball, a smoke concert, and 1 a church parade. A souvenir programme j will also be published. Although the committee has already traced the addresses of some hundreds of old players, it will heartily welcome word from all old students who may be residing in the Auckland province. It has been suggested that Henri Cochet, the French lawn tennis star, at present touring New Zealand, might be invited to referee the Association! football match to be played in Well- | ington early next month between a j team chosen from the members of the I M.C.C. side and a local combination. Cochet has played the game in France, j having been associated with the leading club in Paris, and his appearance as a j referee, it is felt, would add considerably to fhe interest likcl.v to be taken in the match. When Cochet was approached on the matter, he expressed his willingness to assist provided the date arranged for the game did not interfere with his itinerary. A victory warmly applauded at the New Zealand swimming championship meeting in Dunedir. last week was that of the Southland girl, Miss Nancy Basstian, in the ]OO yards ladies' backstroke. She thus derived some consolation for numerous disappointments, Tn five of the remaining six New Zealand championships, free-style and backstroke, in which she lias participated j j during the last three years. Miss Basstian has been a close second, never being beaten by more than a foot. She should have been awarded tho backstroke title at Auckland last year, the winner, Miss Mona Leydon, allegedly infringing the rules in turning. It is now certain that 110 wrestlers will be included in the New Zealand Olympic team. The Dominion Wrestling Association is quite willing to make nominations, but it is not prepared to assist financially and under the circumstances it can hardly be expected that the Olympic Council will consider the inclusion of any representatives of the sport. The promotion of amateur wrestling has already cost tho national body several hundreds of pounds, and it is its intention to concentrate upon the Empire Games to be held in Sydney in 19:18. If the New Zealanders prove their worth there then consideration will be given the question of representation at the 1940 Games. The North Auckland Bowling Centre's annual full rink tournament held last week was most successful. Although heavy showers fell late 011 the afternoon of the first day's play, holding up the games for half an hour, the tournament was voted the best yet held by the centre. The presence of four teams from the Dargaville Club and one each from Kaitaia and Helensville added considerably to the keenness! of the competition. Orr's Whangarei team, which won the tournament, had a unique experience inasmuch as 011 the first head of the two games played in section play 011 the second day the opposing teams each scored seven. This in 110 way perturbed Orr, whi- lost the first game, but won the second. The team played consistent bowls throughout the tournament, and considerable credit is due tc J. Cleverly, the lead, for his accuracy, This is his second season as a player and he has made remarkable progress.