SPORTS OF ALL KINDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23955, 2 November 1939, Page 4

SPORTS OF ALL KINDS

"A DISTRESSING VIOLATION.”—DONALD BUDGE ON FOOT-FAULTING

I GREAT deal of controversy raged round the decisions of an American linesman in |*|sf T foot-faulting Adrian Quist LX I in,his match against Donald Budge in the challenge round of the Davis Cup last year. Budge’s own account of what occurred, given in his recently published book, follows some gene-al comments rn this infraction of the rules of the game.

“You can foot-fault whether or not you go to the net,” Budge writes, “but it is generally those players who rush to close quarters behind the service who violate the rule most often. They are the ones who benefit most, since it helps them to get into a volleying position by starting ahead of the ball. This distressing violation should be carefully guarded against. Every game has its rules for the protection of both sides, and it is in the interests of all to see that they are lived up to and enforced.”

"My match with Quist in the challenge round last year furnished a typical example of how foot-faults can spoil the enjoyment of play. The United States was leading by two matches when Quist and I went on the court on the last day. Australia needed to win this match, or else its hopes of lifting the cup were ended. With the score in the opening set at 5—4 in my favour, the first of a number of foot-faults was called on Quist. The gallery immediately expressed its disapproval, and when other foot-faults followed the spectators exploded so noisily in resentment that play had to be interrupted. The umpire pleaded with the crowd to remember that the game was plaj’ed according to rules, explained that the captain of the Australian term acknowledged the foot-faults, and pointed out that the official who called them was only doing his duty. “The gallery still did not like it, 1 was certainly not happy about it. It is not pleasant to win points in a close match of such crucial importance, or in any match, on penalties, even though they are justified. The official on whom the crowd vented its displeasure could not have been very happy in performing a thankless task, and I am sure that Quist was distressed, apart from the fact that he had lost a number of points. From my association with Quist as friend and competitor, there is no question in my mind that there was any intention on _ his part to gain an unfair advantage. As a matter of fact, he was gaining no advantage at all. He was not following his service to the net. nor was he leaping into the air to hit the ball at a higher level. , “His foot-fault was what might be called a technical one, although, nevertheless, it was a violation of the rule. It happened because he had not been able to correct an unfortunate habit of skipping forward on his left foot, and, even though he moved back several feet behind the baseline to serve, he still could not eliminate the illegal motion. Quist and all the other members of the Australian team took the penalties in the right spirit and with good sportsmanship, and I understand that he has since made a successful effort to overcome this tendency.”

Plunket Shield Games Cricketers will have noted with satisfaction the indications that the Plunket Shield matches will be played as usual this season. In the north it seems to have been taken for granted from the start that the games would go on, but the suggestion was heard locally that it might be wiser to conserve funds by cancelling the matches, and also that all of the games might be played in Wellington. The latter idea represents an undesirable example of centralisation which could not be justified even in the year of the centennial and the Exhibition. A desire to conserve funds at a time when things other than sport have claims upon the generosity of the public in the financial sense is at least understandable, but cricketers generally will probably take the view lhat, so long as the teams remain truly representative arid the games command public interest and support they should be continued. Sprinters in Form Three firsts from short marks in tiis first three open sprints of the season have been registered by E. Hely, the Anglican athlete. At the first open meeting of the season on Saturday he finished strongly to win both the 100 Yard and 220 Yards Handicaps from 5 yards and 10 yards respectively, and at the evening sports on Monday lie again collected the 100 Yards, this time with a reduction of a yard in his handicap. He improved his time for the shorter distance from 10 l-ssec to lOsec, and, considering the heavy condition of the track, both were good performances, even though on the second occasion he was aided by a following wind. Another promising sprinter is J. Strathern, of the Caversham Club, who was narrowly beaten by Hely in the 100 Yards on Saturday, was third in the 220, and also took second place in the Quarter Mile. Carisbrook’s Loss The Carisbrook Cricket Club has a good stock of first grade players on whom to call this season, but it is unfortunate in losing F. B. Kerr, a former Plunket Shield player, who left a few days ago to start in business in Wellington. Kerr had not been very long back in Dunedin after a couple of seasons in Adelaide, and it was expected that he would quickly show some of the form that earned him his Otago cap. It is not known for which club he will play in Wellington, but he should be a most useful man for the club which does secure him. Another non-starter for Carisbrook this season is Ken Cox, the forceful left-hand opening batsman. It is hoped, however, that his retirement will be a temporary one. • Track Season Opened While followers of the gentler sports gazed desparingly at last Saturday afternoon’s rain and soon decided that there was no use going on with their games, amateur athletes gathered at the Caledonian Ground for the first open meeting of the season, conducted by the Caversham and Civil Service Clubs, maintained their long-standing reputation for hardihood by deciding in the opposite direction And they thoroughly deserved the satisfaction they got from that decision, for the conditions could hardly have been more discouraging. Competitors outnumbered spectators by far, and when, after a half-hour’s wait to see what the weather was going to do. the events were started, it took some courage to remove a sweatsuit and emerge in running costume. But it proved well worth while, because, in spite of the day and the heavy state of the track, there were some performances that give promise of good form later in the season. Officials are to be commended on the promptitude with which the programme was run off, for it was not a day for lingering about—out-of-doors. at any rate. Interdub Croquet The season’s croquet matches begin next week, the “ shield" matches on Tuesday and the “ferns”,on Saturday, The entries closed this week, and they are much the same in numbers as those of last season. There ai.> five entries in the A Grade Shield competition, eight in the B Grade, an.-.t eight in the C Grade. There are. however, slight changes in the clubs represented in each, Tainui has droppdd out of the A Grade, making wav for Leith, last year’s B Grade winner. Opoho. Punga. Watea, and Logan Park are the other A Graders. There will be two matches and a bye in each round and to play a round each week with only the association lawns to play on it will be necessary to play one match on Tuesday and one on Wednesday In the B and C Grades all teams will have seven matches, and home and away matches are evened as far as pos : sible by the Match Committee. Tainui and Caversham. which iu-d two teams in the junior grades last year, have only one each this season and have entered in the “ferns” 'c give their extras a game. Flavors will all be pleased to welcome Dalmore into the interclub competition and to wish the club good luck. Another War Effect Owing to wai conditions the Dominion centennial lawn tennis championships. which were to have been played in Auckland early next year, have been abandoned. The Auckland Association will, however, hold a handicap tournament from December 26 to 29, and the provincial championships from January 18 to 30. Whitcornbes for Tennis.'

From Road to Track Port Road Race winners ran into first and second places in the Mile Handicap at the first open track meeting of the season run by the Caversham and Civil Service Clubs at the Caledonian Ground on Saturday. These were A. J. Barr, of Caversham, who won the event off 160yds, and F. Sanders, of the Mornington Club, who was off the front mark, 190yds. and was narrowly beaten by Barr after leading almost the whole of the distance. Conditions were bad, with a heavy ground and frequent rain squalls, and in the circumstances the time of 4min 40sec was fair enough. Sanders’s win in the Port Road Race this year was his first in open competition of any kind during 11 or 12 years in the sport, and it was a popular one, as it is generally realised that, as president, he is largely responsible for the present good position of the Mornington Club.

Australians Keen to Tour Apparently there is still a faint possibility that the Australian cricket team will visit New Zealand this season. The arrangements for the tour had been completed, but a cable message soon after the outbreak of war said that its cancellation was certain, and the annual report of the New Zealand Cricket Council says that “unfortunately, owing to the war. the tour is unlikely to eventuate.” The report adds, however, that the council is still in communication with the Australian Board of Control, and that a decision should be reached before the annual meeting on November 17. If the decision w’ere in the hands of Australian cricketers themselves there would be no doubt that the trip would be made. F. Kerr, the Otago representative, who played for some time in South Australia, discussed the tour with such prominent players as Bradman, Badcock, Tallon, and Hassett, and all of them stated not only that they were prepared to make the trip, but also that they were keenly looking forward to it.

Climate a Handicap To be driven to the pavilion by rain when the games were at their most interesting„stage was a disappointment for cricketers on Saturday, but it is by no means an uncommon experience at this time of the year. Those- who have been playing long enough will remember a season during which three successive Saturdays passed without a ball being bowled. Otago cricket has always suffered in representative contests because of the limited amount of play and practice that players are able to obtain before Christmas, and the records support the opinion so often expressed bv old players that if all Otago’s games could be played in the latter portion of the season the province would have held the Plunket Shield more frequently. Participants in any snort will appreciate the effect of a sudden change in conditions, and will be able to sympathise with Otago batsmen, who so often have found on going north that they have to adapt themselves to a change from slow to fast wickets. Quantity, Not Quality

It seems rather a pity that the annual conference of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association should have decided in favour of altering the method of awarding points for the Junior and Intermediate Championship Shield. In former years, one point has ’.een recorded for a win; but in future, the points are to be allotted as in the competition for the Senior Shield — five for first, three for second, and one for third This means that a small team with several good young swimmers will be at a disadvantage with the team that is strong numerically, but is comprised of performers of only mediocre calibre. It appears, in effect, that at future meetings quantity and not quality will be the deciding factor. Saturday Croquet The Otago Croquet Association’s “ Ferns ” competition this season has drawn one entry more than it did last season. The teams are .Caversham, Logan Park. Montecillo, Opoho. Punga and Tainui. This competition, which is played on Saturday afternoons, gives business men and women a chance to take part in match play Also, as the games are played on handicaps, there are no restrictions as to bisques. A valuable feature of this type of match is that it teaches players when and how to use their bisques. In tournaments, many a player has lost a game with unused bisques in hand Therefore handicap play as well as “ level ”should be played time about on their own lawns by those who play in the shield competition only. Competitive play should be with the object of improving one’s game and consequently having one’s bisques reduced, so that it is surprising that some middle-class players should be very keen to retain as many bisques as they can. In all sports the greatest compliment is to be playing off as low a mark as can be achieved. Wampa’s First Race

Wampa. the latest addition to the 14-footer fleet, took part in the Sanders Cup trial on Saturday, but, as was only to be expected, she did not put up an impressive performance. She is a brand new boat, and it will take her crew, skippered by A. Hunter, some time to get the “ feel ” of her. In addition, her sails are also new, and this is against fast sailing. She appeared to be trimmed too far for’ard on Saturday, especially when beating to weather. Wampa is a trim looking craft, painted red, and her future performances will be watched with interest. On her first try-out after her christening, incidentally, she had 74-year-old Alf. Wiseman at the tiller. This veteran of the 14-footers took her along quietly for about half an hour, and showed that he has lost little of the skill that made him a great skipper in the early days.

Hard-fought Goif Final

Golfers are a hardy race. They have to be. C. B. Wight and D. C. Bennie, fortunately, are sturdy specimens, so that they probably suffered no ill-ef-fects from their rain-sodden final for the St. Clair championship 'last weekend. Wight was the winner for the eleventh time, but his victory 3 and 2 was a hard-earned one. Bennie made the better start, and was 1 up after the fifth. The next 12 holes were halved, but a birdie 3 enabled Bennie to finish the first 18 holes 2 up. His round was 73 (bogey for the course), and Wight took 75—very good going. Bennie started well again after lunch, and a win at the 19th with a birdie 4 made him 3 up. From that stage he lost touch with his putter, and he lost five of the next six holes, due mainly to frequent three putts. Wight, therefore, was 2 up after the 25th. Bennie squared the match with a birdie 3 at the 26th hole, and as the result of an easy putt missed by Wight at the next. The next two holes were halved, and trouble for both at the 30th (Boundary) ended favourably for Bennie. A birdie 4 fox Wight squared the match again at the 31st, and he was back to 2 up after the 33rd. Another beautifully hit second at the 34th gave him a birdie 4 at the 34th, and a fine match was over. Bennie, good match player that he is, has yet to win his club title, although this is the fourth time he has been runner-up. His turn will come, and it will be popular.

Ingram Cup Contest

Each year in conjunction with the Sanders Cup trial races a handicap contest is held for the Ingram Cup, presented by the Vauxhall Boating Club. The first trial on Saturday was won by Lynette, last year’s representative in the actual contest, but on handicaps she had to take second place to Val, which came fourth. Val's handicap of 9min was a long one, and Lynette off the scratch mark, found it just too much for her, although on corrected times there was a difference of only 30sec between the two boats Ripple, which came second in the race, had a handicap of 3min, and this gave her third place. The result of the first trial therefore, gives Val four points for the Ingram Cup, Lynette three. Ripple two. and the other starters in the race one each. This system of points will be used in each of the five trials, the cup going to the boat with the highest aggregate. His Second Win Frank Duthie, the St. Clair golfer who showed a splendid recovery of form in reaching the final of his club’s intermediate championship, could not hold his form through the deciding match with A. G. Forbes last weekend. Forbes was too steady, and his win 5 and 3 gave hirr the Dewar Cup for the second term. Duthie was inclined to over-reach himself, and consequently sacrificed direction tor distance. Forbes has beei playing so well that a reduction in handicap was imminent, and he has been brought down from 12 to 10. L. McCormack’s Labour Day performance earned him a reduction from 12 to 9, while A. D. Cormack had come back from 16 to 13 and now to 11. Whitcombes for Golf.*

In the Family

The Mitchell Cup, the trophy for an annual foursome bogey handicap, was the bone of friendly contention among Otago Club members last Saturday, and. as was the case in ail competitions in and around Dunedin, those who got away to an early start were the fortunate ones. Among them were the winners. A, Gill and J. H, McDougall. who finished 1 down off the 6 mark They were lucky in that most of the field had to make the best they could of the worst of the rain but the win was apt and popular in that the cup was already in 'the Gil] household It was Pat Gill, son of this year’s winner, who took it home last year after he and S E Field had led the field.

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Quarter-mile Champion

H. J. Tyrie, the New Zealand quarter-mile champion and Empire Games representative, who was laid aside during the winter by injuries received on the Rugby field, made his first appearance of the season on the track at the sports meeting at the Caledonian Ground on Saturday. He has been training for the past six weeks, and the smart 220 yards run he did in the relay on Saturday showed that he is much more forward in condition than might have been expected. Judging by appearances, he should not find it difficult to reach top form by the time the important events of the track season come round.

A Great Golfing Record

A record of nine provincial championship titles, eleven club championships, a New Zealand foursome championship, and a New Zealand amateur semi-final is one that very few golfers in this country can challenge. It is the record of C. B. Wight, who won his eleventh St. Clair Club championship by beating D. C. Bennie 3 and 2 last Saturday. Chris Wight, a member of a family notable in Otago golf, has not played serious tournament golf for some years now; but he pops up every odd year to claim another St. Clair championship, and there is no doubt that he could still hold a proud place among the best of the Dominion. He started his titlegathering in New Zealand in 1919.

when he won the. St. Clair championship for the first time, and also the Otago championship. His further successes at St. Clair have been in 1920-22-24-26-27-28-31-33-37 and this year. He was the Southland champion in 1919, 1921, and 1922, and held the Otago title in 1920-21, 1922-23, 1923-24, and again in 1930-31, his last big tournament. The South Canterbury title was his in 1925 and 1926, and in 1928, at Christchurch, he and Dr Ken Ross won the New Zealand amateur foursome championship. His best performance for the New Zealand amateur title was in 1920, at Dunedin, when he reached the semifinals. That was the year that A. G. Sime won the title. To round off the list, there is the fact that C. B. Wight has holed in one no fewer than six times—four times at St. Clair, once at Hamilton, and once in Scotland before he set sail for the Dominion. There are not many more modest or likeable golfers than the St. Clair champion, and his latest successes will have brought in many congratulations.

Air Force Athletes

, The fact that over 200 trainees of the Royal Air Force will be stationed at the North Taieri Airport in the near future is expected to give athletics in Dunedin a decided fillip this summer, and the Otago Centre intends to do everything possible to encourage the men to take part in sports meetings. It is intended to hold special meetings at Mosgiel at regular intervals and to stage events for the aviators as well as to arrange contests between them and clubs. Air Force teams in Christchurch have been prominent in various sports, and it is highly probable that teams from North Taieri will take an important place in Dunedin sporting circles. The Otago Centre intends inviting any trainees interested in athletics to attend its evening and Saturday afternoon meetings.

A PROBLEM FOR BOWLING UMPIRES

Bowlers waited patiently, or perhaps more correctly in the majority of cases, impatiently on Saturday afternoon to see whether the rain would cease in time to enable the first round of the inter-club championship to be played, and it frequently happens that when bowlers have to endure an enforced stay in a pavilion, the talk turns to incidents, humorous and otherwise, in games in which well-known players have taken part. One such was related in a pavilion in which the writer was present to ascertain whether the verdict was to be play or no play, and it was suggested that it was a fitting one to place before the Umpires’ Association, The incident occurred in a game on the Dunedin Club's green in the New Zealand pairs championship in 1922. The ultimate winners of the championship were J. Brackenridge and J. M. Brackenridge (father and son, of Newton Club, Wellington) and incidentally these two players were participants in the game to which reference is being made. The game was all square when the last head was commenced, and Brackenridge’s opponent with his second last bowl, with the shots against him, trailed the jack with a forehand draw to the dividing line between the rinks, his bowl curling round the jack to lie a toucher on the opposite side. The green it may be said, was at the time very keen. Each skip then had one bowl to play, and the Newton skip’s only hope appeared to lie in a drive. This he elected to do, but his attempt was unsuccessful, and his opponent with, as he thought, the game won, wisely decided to take no risks and therefore drew wide. Brackenridge then questioned whether the jack was inside or outside the boundary of the rink and called for the umpire and string. The string revealed that portion of the jack was within the confines of the rink, but that the bowl, which was lying touching the jack, was wholly outside the rink. The umpire then declared the jack alive and the toucher dead. A measure then became necessary between Brackenridge’s nearest wood and his opponent’s last bowl, which had been carefully played to keep off the head, and again the fates were kind to the Newton players. This leaves two questions for the local Umpires’ Association. Should not the Newton skip have challenged the head before playing his last bowl, and was not his act in playing this bowl an admission on his part that both jack and bowl, which were the object of his drive, were alive? Secondly, seeing the jack was alive, was not the bow) which was touching it, although outside the rink, also automatically alive? The writer does not know whether there is any rule that can decide the latter question, hut the common sense view appears to bo that the toucher bowl was part and parcel of the head and therefore the ruling that the jack was alive automatically applied to the toucher also. The Umpires’ Association will no doubt be glad of an opportunity to discuss questions of this nature. —Jack. Whitcombes for Bowls/

Championship Golfers

Otago will be fairly well represented at the New Zealand Golf Championship tournament at Wellington, but it is unfortunate that Anthony Gibbs, Balfour Ferguson and T. W. Wight are not able to spare the time this year. Gibbs, of course, won the Jellicoe Cup at Balmacewen last November, and he' has been playing such outstanding golf so consistently this year that he must have been one of the most prominent amateurs in the tournament. He should have a splendid future in competitive golf. Ferguson and Tom Wight, the youthful Otago champion, are two more who could have been expected to bring honour to the province. B. V. Wright is another formidable player who will not be a starter this year, and the veteran Dr Ken Ross also will be missing a tournament. The Otago contingent will include A. G. Sime, J. H. McDougall, A. H. Boyd and, from the St. Clair Club, D, C, Bennie and F. W. Dixon. Then there will be F. B. Kerr, who got down to the 6 mark before he left Dunedin last week to take up residence in Wellington. Most of them are experienced tournament golfers, and they will not disgrace Otago. E. S. Douglas, who has been playing grand golf lately, and youn,; A, C. Sheriff, the dark horse among the professionals last year, will complete the group. Lawn Tennis Ranking Matches It is proposed to play lawn tennis ranking matches for men and women on the same system as that adopted last year, and entries from eligible players have been requested. These lists are used as a guide by the sole selector (Mr A. T. Jensen) in choosing Otago teams. In view of the new method that has been instituted this season of playing the A Grade matches, there is a possibility that players may not support the rankingsystem as freely as they have done in the past.

“For the Duration”

The appeals which have been made to oarsmen by older mem- • hers at the club openings to pull together to maintain the sport at as high a level as possible during the war period take an added significance when the experience during the Great War is recalled. In 1915 the clubs closed through lack of support. On the return to peace the problem of reviving interest in the sport had to be faced, and old oarsmen and supporters learnt a lesson then which has not been forgotten.

W. Smith in Form

W. Smith, the University lawn tennis player, who had to default to Bryan in the final of the Otago Singles Championship last Easter owing to a knee injury, appears to have struck his form bright and early this year. In the match against Cosy Dell, played at the week-end, Smith beat Falconer, a doughty opponent, in straight sets 6—4, 6—2. The University man led 5 —4 in the first set, but in the next game

Falconer ran to 40-0 on his own service, only to see the score evened and the deciding points taken by his opponent, A player who - created a favourable impression ir this match and should be heard of again is Liddell, a new member of the University team, whose style suggests that he will advance rapidly. University won the day by four matches to two.