Sporting Solicitor

NZ Truth, Issue 1168, 19 April 1928, Page 4

Sporting Solicitor

•"THE outstanding figure m sporting 1 circles m the Manawatu to-day is

undoubtedly A. M. ("Joe") Ongley, who has just completed his term as president of the Manawhenua Rugby Union, which last season won the Ranfurly Shield for the first time. The off-season for Rugby finds A.M.O. happiest, for then he is not confined to taking part m tho game from the bank, but can take bat and ball and play the best with the rest. President of the Manawatu Cricket Association, "Joe" is also the sole selector, the captain and a slow bowler of considerable ability. We hear of him as a cricketer of note as far back as 25 years ago, when he played for the South Island against Lord Hawke's eleven, while the following year he was also m the team which played the North Island m the first inter - island match. In those days Ongley was regarded as one of the best slow bowlers m the Dominion. He captained tho Palmerston North cricket club, the Manawatu senior champions, this season, and m all save the final Hawke Cup match was at the helm of the association's representatives. Surely the above record is enough for one man. But no! A.M.O. has to head off the younger cricketers m the Manawatu senior competitions and win the Justice and Edmund's Cup for the best batting average, with an average, of 51.50. Inclusive of representative matches, he also sent 51 batsmen away to join the spectators at an average cost of 15.25 runs