Sports Log

NZ Truth, Issue 1200, 29 November 1928, Page 14

Sports Log

No Boat QONSTERNATION is being felt by the North Club, Dunedin, over the undue delay m the delivery of its new racing four. This club has suffered v wiioio hatful of reverses and it soetus that fho climax will be m ie not having a boat available i'oi* a crew to adapt itself to before the Christmas regattas. •* * w Very Correct TACK NEWMAN, the Hampshire pro.. .' drew quite a crowd when he made his first appearance for "Wests recently m the Caristehurch cricket competition. But Jack's. customary brightness was missing. He should not have been out of form, .for he had only tne boat journey from England to New Zealand to interrupt his activities, but he played with extreme caution and restraint, though all his strokes were, made correctly and v.ith that finished stylo which marks the play of most of trio English professionals. After passing thirty he opened out a bit, and got fairly behind a long hop from which he was safely «eld u.i cue leg boundary. So far, the Cnristchurc-h pro. has been favored with glorious weather, and Christchurch cricketers are hopeful that his coaching will nave a marked effect on the standard of the game m Canterbury this season. * # # Consistent Bat

When Stuart Dempster settles down to make runs, he becomes machine - like m his 'method. The sausage - machine is quite capable of stopping at any time, but not so brother Dempster; like the babbling brook he simply goes on for ever. Not so impetuous as of yore, once he got going on Saturday, Demp-

ster gave a masterly display of driving, cutting and hooking, his strokes havingr the hall mark of the master batsman. With but five competition Saturdays gone, Stuart has placed over 300 runs against his name and. the big j problem seems to be whether there are any bowlers m Wellington capable of stopping the little fellow scoring well over 1000 runs m club cricket alone. His form is being followed with keen interest all over New Zealand. * * * Will Not Compete THE Auckland Rowing Association has decided not to enter a crew for the inter- provincial eights this season. This confirms the view expressed last week that probably only three crews would compete — Wellington, Canterbury and Otago. It is practically certain Wanganui will not be represented, owing principally to lack of funds, and also to tlie fact that little interest is taken m the event. It was different last year, when there was a chance of a crew being sent to the Olympic Games. > i ■ It looks as if it is- going to be a very difficult matter to keep the interprovincial eights going. The idea of mixed crews from two or three differ-' ent sheds does not appeal to many oarsmen; they would prefer a contest into which club' spirit would enter. **• . * Maj' Challenge TT is said that Alf. Stevenson, the Waitemata sculler, intends preparing to make an attempt again to win the New Zealand championship. He will be up against a tough proposition m Jackson. * « * Avon's Four •THE Avon Club (Christchurch) will be represented at the Akaroa Regatta by the following senior four; C. Stiles, G.: Stiles, F. Thompson and W. Palmer. If the form shown is. up to expectations, this crew will, no doubt, represent the club at the championship regatta. . ■ The Stiles brothers are two very fine oarsmen, and with two others' of equal calibre would make up a crew that would take a power of beating.. « # * After Wangaiiiii THERE is every indication of this season, bringing together the crack crew which pulled itself to victory m the 1926 Melbourne Stewards' on the sluggish Yarra. The crew was comprised of oarsmen Brough, Werges, McArra and Andreson,. and the. Otago Rowing Club is anxiously awaiting Werges' arrival from the country after Christmas to complete the four, w * * A Busy "Week TENNIS will be booming m Auckland over the Christmas holidays,- and already the • association is scratching its, head over- the allocation of courts. With the New Zealand championships extending over six days, considerable strategy will be required, to stage the minor championships, and other courts will probably be used. Aucklanders will be provided with plenty of the sport, however, and it is left to' the association .to provide the best possible facilities for both public and players.