SPORTS OF ALL KINDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23991, 14 December 1939, Page 4

SPORTS OF ALL KINDS

THE 14-CLUBS RULE The first disqualification of a New Zealand golfer for a breach of the recently amended 14-clubs rule is recorded in the minutes of the last meeting of the Council of the New Zealand Golf Association. It was reported by an affiliated club that a player had been found to have carried more than 14 clubs in a club championship match, And th« club. was advised that the correct procedure was to disqualify the player in accordance with the amendment to the rules notified to the association by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club about the middle of this year, and immediately passed on to all affiliated clubs. It is only an odd player who finds fault with the new restriction, and there is much to be said in its favour. Gradations in clubs have become so numerous that bags of as many as 30 were not rare among some professionals, and the game for them had developed largely into the ability to select the right club at the ' expense of reliance upon expert use of clubs for delicate shots. There will probably be plenty of sympathy for players in this particular case; but a rule is a rule. Incidentally, a reminder that this rule provides that once a round has been started, it is not permissible to replace any of the 14 clubs that might be lost or broken, might not be out of place. It may be a curb on irascible club-breakers; but otherwise there appears to, be little to commend this provision on the score of fairness.

J. G. Barnes in Form Like the well-known Johnny Walker. J. G. Barnes, the veteran Civil Service distance runner, is “ still going strong ” on the track, and at the meeting at Milton and at last Monday’s meeting put up good performances to secure second place on each occasion. At Milton, Barnes ran well off 75yds in the Mile Handicap and managed to get into second place. The event was won by M. Collins (Civil Service), off 140yds in 4min 27 2-ssec. On Monday night, in the Two Miles. Barnes put up a good performance to take second place off 100yds. He seemed to think the race wag his in the straight, but L. Dickison (St, Kilda) came up brilliantly from the scratch mark to snatch victory from hint in the excellent time of 9min 33 4-ssec. Nevertheless, it was a good performance by Barnes. It is his intention to run in the Three Miles at the Civil Service meeting at Wellington this summer, and he is training hard in the effort to take the title. He certainly should be a difficult man to beat, notwithstanding the fact that this is his fourteenth season on the track. Cricket or Bowls? Dry surfaces were the order of the day on Saturday for the first time since the opening games of the interclub championship series, and provided a very welcome and much-appreciated, change. There were the usual one-sided and closely-contested games where a big series of contests is in progress at the same, time, but for high scoring the section game between Caversham and Outram will take some beating. Each of the three Caversham fours was successful, Scott beating Adams by 24 points to 11, McDougall defeating Thomson by 28 points to 7, and MacKay amassing, the huge total of 50 to 3 notched by Cameron. Caversham’s total was 102 points to 21, Wm tlie Ball Dead ? An incident in the Albibh-Old Boys’ match at Logan Park on Saturday provided an example of sportsmanship as well, as a topic of discussion among those who like to debate the rules of the game. When Old Boys were batting the striker played a ball, which was thrown to the wicket-keeper. The ’keeper tossed it back in leisurely fashion to Silver, the bowler, who noticed that Leader, who had backed up, had not returned to the crease. Silver lifted the bails, appealed, and received an affirmative answer from the umpire. , Duncan, Albion’s , captain, however, asked that Leader should be allowed to return. His contention that the ball was dead before the bails were lifted was not supported by the umpire, but the latter agreed to allow Leader to continue his innings. ■ Duncan’s generous action was typical of the player. His contention was that if the ’keeper had thrown the ball back quickly with the obvious intention of running Leader out, the position, would have been different. The fact remains, however, that the rules state that “after the ball shall have been finally settled in the wicketkeeper's or bowler’s hand, it shall be ‘dead,’” and that “ whether the, ball is ‘finally settled’ is a question of fact for the umpire only to decide.” H follows that the umpire was entitled to insist on Leader’s return to the pavilion had he desired to do so. for the matter was one for him. alone to decide, . Doughty Fighters The' story 'of match play between Dr Ken. Ross and Alex Same, two very well-known Otago Club golfers, is becoming almost a classic. They have met fairly often at various tournaments over a- long period, and so far the doctor has had to lower his colours only twice—and then in one instance it was in a President’s v. Captain’s teams match, and Sime was on the losing side, so that he still had to pay for his friendly rival’s dinner. Their match in the second round of the club championship" last week-end was in their best traditions. Dr Ross won it at the twenty-first, and only after a glorious fight, Sime was 3 down with five to play, and when Ross missed an eight-footer for the match at the eighteenth, ho finished the 18 holes square in 73 to Ross’s 74. The nineteenth was a thrilling hole. Ross was short all the way, but pushed his third up to about a foot from the cup. Sime’s second stopped about 30 yards in front of the flag, but he took out a No. 6 and sank his chip. It was unfortunate that such a grand battle should have ended as it did. Sime teed his ball too- close to the trees when they came to the twenty-first and tipped a branch in his swing. The result was that the ball trickled into a ditch and the match went to Ross. The match serves to recall that this same pair went to the fortieth hole in the New Zealand championships at Heretaunga. when Sime finished the first 18 in 72 and was. 2 down; to the twenty-second hole in their KirkWindeyer Cup match at Miramar in 1926; and to the nineteenth at Wanganui in 1923. They are two doughty fighters, and although Ross has all the honours of the results so far, the honours of the matches are very evenly shared. Close Finishes The Opoho Intermediate team made a good recovery in its recent match against St. Clair. When the weathercaused a postponement St. Clair was leading by four matches to nil. but when the match was resumed the Opoho players addressed themselves to their task with such determination that eventually they ran out winners by nine matches to seven; One of the St. Clair teams also figured in a close finish in a junior grade match last Saturday. At one stage it was leading the Caversham team by seven matches to two, but Caversham made it 7 all. There remained two mixed doubles matches. Caversham won the first of these 7 —3 apd led by eightmatches to seven, with'games even. In the last rubbber of the day the Caver - sham pair fan to a lead of 6—o, but St, Clair won the next seven games, adn the side emerged victorious by one game. Whitcombes for Tennis*

Plunket Shield Team The Otago cricket selectors, who, in their efforts to put a balanced side in the field in the last few seasons, have had a worrying time, cannot have found their task simplified by the inability of at least four players to travel this year. This season’s team will not lack experience, but it is unnecessary to pretend that it is as strong as most cricket enthusiasts hoped it would be. The newcomers to representative cricket will be N. Begg, the University bowler, and A. P. Monteath, the former Wellington player, who now keeps wickets for Grange but presumably has been selected as an opening batsman. In the search for bowlers Begg is the only new player whom the selectors have felt justified in calling to the service of the province. He is the hope of the side, and it will be surprising if he disappoints his admirers. The match against Canterbury will be commenced on December 23, and December 30 will be the first day of the match against Auckland. The dates on which Otago will play Wellington at Dunedin later in the season have yet to be fixed.

A Successful Quartet Four members of the Caversham Club have shone at sports meetings this summer. They are J. Strathern, R. Emmerson, G. Byers and the junior R. Morrison, all of whom have collected more than 20 points in the competition for the Emmerson Cup, which was given by the centre’s popular announcer (Mr H. Emmerson) for the Caversham athlete gaining the most points each season at centre sports meetings. Last year the cup was won with a tally of 26 points, but so successful have the four athletes been this summer that already they have scored around this total. Morrison heads the contest with 27 points, and he is closely followed by Strathern with 25 points, Emmerson with 23 points, and Byers with 22 points. It is quite on the cards that they will double the score of last year’s winner before the season draws to a close. All of them are keen and consistent athletes who deserve encouragement and reward. The Flat-footed Fieldsman Old-time cricketers are shaking their heads over the efforts of many young players in the field. Their principal complaint concerns the flat-footed fieldsman, who never seems to be expecting the ball to come his way, and whose reaction to its approach is so slow that he is seldom in a position to take a catch unless the batsman obligingly hits it straight to him. Some batsmen who have made good scores this season must be chuckling -A. over their good fortune in being missed t in the field two, J *hree, and even I { four

times, and they have also made many runs that they did not deserve because the fieldsmen stood so flat-footed that they could not get to the ball. A lack of enthusiasm for an important—and also enjoyable—part of the game seems to be at the root of the trouble, and, in fact, the impression is created that some players regard the procedure of chasing the ball as undignified. How strange it is that they will not profit by the example of good fieldsmen whom they can see in their own teams every Saturday! The Reward of Gameness If ever a diver deserved success, it is Doug. Freeman, who at the Otago swimming championships last week won the men’s provincial diving title for the fourth year in succession. A fine gymnast. Freeman has all the attributes that a first-class diver should have, including more than an average share of pluck. When he first began to try himself out on the boards he took many a bad knock; but, far from deterring him, these only made him all the more determined to master the difficult numbers, so, until he felt reasonably certain of getting round in his Mollbergs and Islanders, he turned out in a crash helmet and let the board do its worst.

Will it be Ripple? : The decision of the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association to defer until after a further tryout over the weekend the suggestion of R. Todd that he should sail in either his own boat (Evelyn) or Lynette in the Sanders Cup contest indicates the possibility of still a further change in the 14footer to be sent to represent Otago at Wellington. It was hardly to be expected that Ripple, which did not figure prominently in the trials when handled by a crew which is familiar with her, should suddenly turn into the speediest boat on the Harbour when taken out for a trial with the representative crew, which, after all, is not fully acquainted with her peculiarities. Todd has stated his preference for Evelyn in the contest; or, failing that, Lynette, in both qf which he has done better than in Ripple. If the association adheres to its decision to send away Ripple, then the crew will sail in the contest knowing that it could be putting up better performances in another boat—a set of circumstances not likely to encourage them to give of their best. Ripple will be fully tested next Sunday with Lynette’s sails and gear, and, if she goes better, Todd may change his mind and decide to take her; but, if she does not and he asks for another boat, then, considering all the circumstances surrounding the trials this season, probably the best thing would be to let him have a free hand. Omakau Bowling Green

Members of the Omakau Bowling Club had their first roll-up on Saturday and general satisfaction was expressed with the state of the green. Formed in October last year, the club now possesses a splendid green and a commodious pavilion is nearing completion. The green, which fills a long-felt want in the district, will be officially opened on Saturday next by Mr W. A, Bodkin, M.P. Following the opening at 2.30 p.m. the president of the Central Otago Bowling Centre. Dr Austin, will roll the first bowl. For some time past energetic committees have been combining in their efforts to make the occasion a notable one and a number of functions will be held to mark the opening. In the evening the main attraction will be a fair and community sing in the Omakau Hall, the committee having arranged for the attendance of Mr R. McKenzie and party from Dunedin, while items will also be given by a Maori concert party.

A Remarkable Bag Now back to the form that three seasons ago made her the speediest woman sprinter in the Dominion, Miss Islay Purdle collected a remarkable bag of titles at the Otago swimming championships last week. She took no fewer than five championships—the 100, 220 and 440 Yards Freestyle, and the 100 Yards and 200*Metres Backstroke—and, although, excfept in the case of the 100 Yards Backstroke, she had not to contend against particularly. stiff opposition, her performances gave promise of fast times at Wellington in February next.

Excitement at Carisbrook It frequently happens in cricket that a team has one over before stumps in which to force a win, but rarely does it happen that the alternative of a win or a loss hangs on the outcome of the last over of the day. But such was the position when Falvey and Mottram prepared to receive the last over from Dougan in the Carisbrook A-Univer-sity match at Carisbrook last Saturday. University needed 12 runs for a win on the first innings, while the loss of a wicket would have meant the loss of the match. Falvey hit a 4 off the first ball, but, as the batsman who had been in longer and was more likely to get the runs, he made a mistake in taking a single off the second, to give Mottram the bowling. Three further singles were run, and a 4 off the last ball would have given University a win, but Dougan sent one down that was well-nigh impossible for Falvey to get away, and a draw resulted. Apart from the thrilling finish, the highlights of the second day’s play were a delightful innings of 80 by C. D. G. Toomey, a grand' 6 by Begg into the stand, and an even better one by Falvey, which hit the spouting of the stand. University made a good impression in its first game without K. F. M. Uttley. A Family Affair Tt is somewhat unusual for a brother and a sister each to win a title at the same championship meeting, but Bob Peat and his sister Noeline, both members of the Kiwi Swimming Club, have this distinction. At the Otago championships last week they respectively won the 100 Yards Intermediate Boys’ and the 75 Yards Intermediate Girls' Breaststroke events, Noeline’s victory being am especially good effort in view of the fact that it was her first appearance in intermediate ranks. Both youngsters are former holders of national junior titles, and it looks as if they may be to the fore among the intermediates at the forthcoming New Zealand championships. Busy Handicappers The big interest among St. Clair Club golfers just now is the New Year tournament, and most of the intending competitors are putting in some solid practice. This has been reflected in excellent scoring, and the Saturday matches recently have been interesting. Last Saturday, though, Butler McKenzie, Jefferson and Sherriff all had a “ day on ” and their combined net score of 295 left them 14 strokes clear of the next set in the teams-of-four competition. McKenzie and Butler, each with a net 71, set the winning pace. The handicappers have been kept busy in the last month or two, and the following additional reductions are announced;—T. W. Grimsdale 22 to 21. P. Braham 24 to 21. T. Butler 21 to 18, J. Delbridge 11 to 9. R. M. Mackay 24 to 21, J. Manhire 16 to 15, F. Sherriff 12 to 10, H. Smith 24 to 22, C. C. Todd 20 to 17. A. B. Watt 8 to 7. Whitcombes for Golf*

Youth and Experience The Otago Golf Club championship has developed in a fashion to satisfy the keenest expectations of a hard tussle. It is to be finalised this weekend. Dr Ken Ross will meet T. W. Wight in one semi-final, and P. J. Gill and J. N. Lemon will meet in the other, and those two matches and the final seem certain to be worthy successors to the two or three magnificent battles that the earlier rounds produced. It is not surprising to find the youngsters of the club so well represented in the final stages, and Dr Ross, the veteran, who was so seriously extended in his two matches last week-end by J. W. Mclntosh and A. G. Sime, will have every right to be ranked club champion if he can go on to dispose of two of these fine young players. Tom Wight heat S. H. McKechnie only 1 up in the second round, but he had been 3 up with 4 to play when McKechnie turned on a 3 and a 2. Wight is getting far more punch into his swing nowadays, and although at present he is inclined to be erratic, he must be hitting very nearly the longest ball in the club. The whole field to this stage has been playing golf. In fact, there have been more brilliant holes at Balmacewen during the last week or two than in any similar period for years. Gill and Lemon are both in top form, as is indicated by the fact that Gill was 3 under bogey at the 15th in his match against E. A Reed. This coming week-end will be a full one, since in addition to the championship semi-finals and final, there is the President’s v. Captain’s teams match on Saturday, after which the losing side entertains the winning side at dinner in the clubhouse. Post entries will be accepted. Backstroke Champion in Form Miss Joyce Macdonald, the New Zealand women’s backstroke champion and record-holder, appears to be approaching the peak of her form. At the Southland championships last week she covered the distance in her heat of the 100 Yards Backstroke event in 75 4-ssec, and turned in 75sec dead for the final. Both times broke Miss Nancy Basstian’s 1935 Southland record of 83 l-ssec, but they did not come up to Miss Macdonald’s performance a few nights previously, when she registered 74 4-ssec, which is just 3-5 of a second outside her own New Zealand record. The Southland water is inclined to Sae slow, so that in the faster pools in the north the champion should be capable of improving on her best figures by two or three seconds.

The Squall is Over Now that the first heat of argument has died down, it is apparent that some hasty decisions made by the Otago Yacht Club are beginning to be regretted. The threatened boycott of club races and regattas by boats from the club has been called off—that is, of course, if ,it had actually been decided upon—and an effort_ is being made inside the club to raise funds independently to send Val to the .Centennial Regatta to compete in the National X Class Championship and to allow Vagabond, which was to have represented Otago in the Idlealong Championship, to compete as a club entry. Willingness to “ let bygones be bygones ” was expressed at the last meeting of the association, and the president spoke for all the delegates when he said the association would do everything it could to help the club. So far it has not sent forward to Wellington advice that the challenge for the Idlealong Championship had been cancelled, and it is withholding action until it has been ascertained whether the rules prohibit an entry from a club affiliated to an association. Should that be the case, there is every reason to suppose that the association would be willing to reconsider Vagabond as the official challenger from the province.

Loss to Athletics R. McLachlan. the Civil Service athlete and present Otago half-mile champion, will leave to-morrow to take up a position at Blenheim. His departure will be a serious loss to the province as he has been, a consistent performer in recent seasons, and has been improving every year. Last February he beat a strong field to win the half-mile title in 2min Isec, slow time that by no means indicates his ability as a half-miler. Numerous other titles have come his way, and he may have gone considerably further in distance running in the next year or two, A member of the well-known athletic family of McLachlans, he was a popular runner and club man. Bowls Championship The New Zealand Bowling Association’s tournament, the premier bowls carnival in the Dominion, will be commenced in Wellington on January 8, and will be concluded about January 20. The Singles have attracted an entry of 288, the Pairs 260 and the Fours 170. These figures constitute a record so far as Wellington is concerned. but were eclipsed last year by Auckland’s figures. It must, however, be remembered that Auckland has approximately 50 per cent, more bowlers than Wellington. Auckland’s figures last year were 406 Singles, 374 Pairs and ’ 220 Rinks. In the previous tournament in Wellington there were 280 Singles. 250 Pairs and 160 Rinks. The entry from Otago is numerically much smaller than usual. In the Singles the following southern players, including bowlers from South Canterbury, North Otago. Central Otago and Southland, will take part:—E. Sunderland'and T. E. Sunderland (Alexandra). J. E. Dowland (St. Kilda). R. Congalton (Cromwell). H, Murphy and I*. C. Scrimshaw (Temuka). J. T. Adams (Phoenix, Oamaru), J. R. Watson (North-East Valley), A. W. Macdonald (Balmacewen) J. Reid (Temuka). S. Rusbatch (Cromwell). G. 11. Claridge and G. C. Claridge (St. Kilda). A. Stuart (Cromwell), R. E. Austin (Cromwell), T. Ferguson and D. Bennie (Balmacewen). J. J. HinchclilT (St. Kilda), T. R. Hindlc (Balmacewen), C. H. Manning (Timaru), T. Edwards (Temuka). W. Carswell (Taieri), H. S. Reid (Kaituna), and J. Hornal (Mornington). Whitcombes for Bowls,*

Nearly 2000 Runs A player who has good reason to feel disappointed that he will not have the opportunity to tour north with the Otago cricket team at Christmas is A. R. Knight, of Grange. If that disappointment is not justified by the form which he has been showing, it certainly can be excused on the ground that he requires only 68 runs to complete a total of 2000 runs in all firstclass matches for Otago. Actually Knight has exceeded that number in all matches for the province, for he

at the Otago Championships, with the exception of the quarter-mile, in which he had a moral victory since it was only an error of judgment that lost him the decision. His times, considering he was never extended in any of his freestyle races, were good, and with another five weeks in front of him before the national championships, he has plenty of time to bring his figures down to within striking distance of New Zealand records?

scored well against Sir Julien Cahn’s strong eleven last season, but that game did not rank as first class, despite the worth of the side. It cannot be suggested that Knight’s representative career is ended, for he still has years of cx-icket ahead of him, but impatience to reach the 2000 mark is at least understandable, for no other player who has appeared exclusively for Otago has such a record. Knight’s runs have been made in 89 innings played since 1923, and his full record is; Ings. N.O. H.S. Runs. Avge. 89 3 84 1932 22.46 Sanders Cup Crew Only one of the Otago Sanders Cup crew, which was announced on Monday night, has had previous experience at contests, and this man, E. Burt, the for’ard hand, is not a regular member of Evelyn’s crew. Burt is an old hand with the spinnaker and is undoubtedly the best man in the for’ard position on the harbour at the present time. His smart work has been noticeable in Lynette in the trials this season and he will be a valuable and steadying influence in the crew at Wellington. The skipper, R. Todd, is not lacking in racing experience, however, as he has represented the province in Cornwell Cup contests. Since he started sailing in 14footers he has advanced rapidly. His brother, L. Todd, and the fourth man, S. McConnell, are both new to contest racing. The appointment of C. J. Pettit as a co-delegate to the Sanders Cup conference, held during the contest, will mean that quite apart from the expert managership of_ Mr C. Smith, the crew will have behind them a man with practical knowledge and experience that should be invaluable to it. Pettit deserves considerable praise for the manner in which he has assisted the crew since Ripple was selected. Last week-end he held a veritable “ field day ” at Vauxhall and next Sunday Lynette’s sails and gear will be transferred to Ripple for further tests. Pettit has offered any gear required and even his boat if necessary, and his sportsmanlike action is appreciated by the crew and the association. Otago Centennial Regatta A particularly attractive programme with an imposing total of prize money has been arranged for the Otago Centennial Regatta, to be held at Port Chalmers on February 10. Ten rowing events, six yacht races, and three motor boat events should provide enthusiasts with all the aquatics they desire in one day, and when it is realised that the prize money amounts to £167 10s, it will be seen that no effort has been spared to make the regatta a fitting one for centennial year. Rowing eve ts have been allotted £llO 10s of the prize money, and the races range from senior four oars, with a first prize of £l7, down to youths’ pairs. All the races will be over a mile, except the senior four-oared race, which will be over one mile and a-half. The yachting section comprises races for all classes of yachts, including all-comers and 14footers, and the three motor boat events includes one for speed craft. Given calm water and enough breeze for the sailing boats, the regatta should be the outstanding event of the aquatic season. One Southlander Otago’s cricket team to go on tour this season will again include the Southland representative, A. S. H. Cutler, who was dropped last season after making scores of 2 and 4 against Wellington. Cutler, however, has shown impressive form for Southland this season and is a better player than his small scores in his only representative game for this province would appear to indicate. Before coming south. Cutler was one of the best batsmen in the strong Manawatu side which held a firm grip on the Hawke Cup. In the 1934-35 season he played eight innings for Manawatu with a top score of 129. and his average was 46.33. In the next two seasons he averaged 27.5 and 26.4. He will be no stranger to his captain, D. A. R. Moloney, for they were partners in a fine stand for Manawatu in the 1936-37 season against Wairarapa. Moloney on that occasion made 184 and Cutler 76. Promising Intermediate Swimmer Not since the days of those two remarkable young swimmers, Sydney and Walter Jarvis has Otago had such a promising intermediate boy freestylor as Colin Sell. This strapping 14-year-older cleared the board in his division