SPORT AND PASTIMES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24833, 5 February 1942, Page 3

SPORT AND PASTIMES

Old Boys' Gift Win

It can hardly be said that Old Boys' eight-point win against Dunedin on Saturday was hard earned. Certainly the side put up a very meritorious performance in dismissing Dunedin in the first innings tor 54—thanks to some excellent bowling by Groves (four for 12) —but with only about an hour and a-quarter of play left it did not seem possible that Old Boys could repeat their performance and dismiss Dunedin again for a low score. The Dunedin batsmen did not play with much determination, however, and the last wicket fell with about 10 minutes of play still left. Groves's average of five wickets for 29 runs was gained more with the assistance of the batsmen than in spite of them, and it appeared to onlookers very much as though Dunedin was prepared to assist Old Boys to get eight points. Batsmen were run out, caught out, and stumped with an ease that could hardly have been possible if Dunedin had been grimly determined to bat out time. Dunedin's second innings was rather a farce, and as a result Old Boys went into the lead in the competition. Air Cadet Oarimen

Air cadets have not been concentrating on their rowing since the holidays began. Many of them, who are secondary school and college students, have been otherwise engaged in recent weeks. In most cases they have been working in the country. Absentees have been chiefly noticeable at the North End shed, for a few crews have attended for training at the Otago clubhouse. When the cadets resume their studies, however, they will be expected to step promptly back into their rowing stride. Athletic Coach " It is one of the best things the Otago Centre has ever done for athletics," said the president (Mr C. W. Clark), when speaking of the coaching week conducted by Dr F. E. Gallas, of Wellington. Centre officials and athletes are in agreement with Mr Clark's views and are enthusiastic over" the benefit of Dr Gallas's coaching. The attendance each evening was highly satisfactory, and numerous men and women athletes already have effected a big improvement in their track and field performances. Coaches in various events have been able quickly to grasp the teachings of the visitor, and will in future be able to pass on to ydung athletes the knowledge they have gained. Dr Gallas has not only the theoretical side of athletics • down to a fine art, but he is able to give a personal demonstration of what he is trying to convey. For example, in high jumping, he spoke of the various styles of jumping, and then used them himself in clearing the bar. The western roll or the eastern cut-off seemed comparatively easy after he had discussed and demonstrated them. Dr Gallas has an attractive personality, and he has the knack of making his coaching, as enjoyable as it is beneficial. During his stay in Dunedin he paid a visit to a nearby military camp and gave a coaching talk. Dr Gallas believes in raising the average performance of athletes rather than in producing champions, but it would appear that his coaching in Dunedin might well achieve, both objectives. Prior to his he showed some interesting athletic films. The president of the Otago Council of Sport (Mr W. Jenkins) attended the function, and a presentation was made to Dr Gallas for his assistance to the sport.

Another " Near Win " The University cricket team very nearly won its first game of the season against Carisbrook on Saturday* when it was beaten by only 13 runs. In the game against Carisbrook earlier in the season, the students lost by a similar margin. E. Jt. Blakely's score of 71 helped University along considerably, and he was ably supported by A, A. Joel. Blakely showed himself to be a hard hitter. He played some excellent shots and punished the slow bowling severely. His treatment of J. Nimmo's bowling was also severe. Ultimately he was bowled by a "yorker" by H. Hogg. Joel, who was with him while 95 runs were added, was not nearly so aggressive, but nevertheless he played steadily. R. O. Talbot, who was responsible for the dismissal of most of the University batsmen, had another " field day." He made 43 runs and took six wickets for 43 runs.

P. E. Mathieson Wins Five Titles

P. E. Mathieson, the well-known former Otago swimmer, was the winner of no fewer than five titles at the Auckland swimming championship carnival, held last week; He was successful in the 100 Yards, 220 Yards, and 440 Yards Freestyle and

100 Yards and 400 Metres backstroke events. His time in the 100 Yards Freestyle event, which he won with a few feet to spare, was 60sec. In the 220 Yards Freestyle he had a hollow victory in 2min 31sec. and he was home in smin 40sec in the 440 Yards Freestyle race. In the backstroke events he did not have to exert himself. He won the 100 Yards race as he pleased in 74 l-ssec, and he swam unopposed in the 400 Metres event in 6min 3 4-ssec. Opoho Croquet Club

Followers of the game will regret to hear that, owing to depleted membership, the Opoho Croquet Club has found it necessary to close down. This is indeed regrettable, as the club has three good lawns, very attractively situated, and in a progressive district; but owing to transfers and illness the club lost several important members in two seasons and has not recovered. It will be remembered that Mrs Corbet, Mrs Cole, and J. Tannock, all Opoho players, have on various occasions won Otago championships, and the club has also won interclub shields. With the transfer of Mr and Mrs Corbet to Invercargill, Mr and Mrs Cole to Auckland, Mr Tannock into camp, and Mr Nichol on the sick list, however, their places have not been filled and, other members having left the district, the struggle has been too much for the few members left. When the war clouds pass it is hoped that the district will take an interest in re-establishing the club.

In Good Form G. R. Dickinson, who is playing for Karori, has been one of the outstanding successes in Wellington cricket recently. In successive matches he has taken seven for 57 and eight for 54, and his batting efforts in the same games have been 26 and 37 not out. With the bat he has been doing well throughout the season, but he is again proving a match-winner as a bowler. An instance was his four for 13 off his first three overs last Saturday. He was recently selected to ■ play in a Wellington metropolitan side.

The Tomahawk Lagoons Several anglers, using small fly during the day and large fly at night, report excellent sport on the Tomahawk Lagoon. The trout taken were good fighters and were excellent for the table. The weed, which has been troublesome for some time past, has now died off sufficiently to give good, clear casting in most parts. Anglers generally are of the opinion that the sport offered by the fish transferred by the society from the Leith to No. .1 Lagoon has shown a big improvement on that of past years, when fish have been put only into No. 2 Lagoon. A Dunedin angler serving with the forces near Christchurch writes of a fine catch of trout from Lake Coleridge. The bpsket comprised 11 fish weighing 441 b. The writer was unable to make the trip to the lake, but he writes that ne will make sure that there will be a funeral or that he has some other equally good excuse to get him off, for the next expedition to Coleridge. Promising Fast Bowlers

The entry of the North-East Valley cricket team into the Otago Cricket Association's First Grade competition last week revealed at least one promising player in the Gardens club. J. Cullen, a fast right-hander, bowled a good length and with plenty of pace. He took all of the seven Grange wickets which fell for 53 runs. He also achieved some success with the bat in making 16 runs. Another feature of this game was A. R. Knight's 60 runs. Knight has reached double figures in every Saturday match this season except one, when he was run out for nine.

E. S. Douglas Retires MAINLY because of war conditions, E. S. Douglas has relinquished his position as professional to the Otago Golf Club at Balmacewen. The drift of men to the services and the reduced amount of time that those who remain at home are able to devote to the game have greatly reduced the activities of professionals, but Douglas's decision was influenced by still another factor. "After 40 years of the game I have had just about enough of it," he said the other day It was at Balmacewen that Douglas won his first New Zealand Open ChampionshiD 29 years ago, and he also held the title on three other occasions.

He has remained throughout his career in this country one of its outstanding players, and his staying powers were proved convincingly last year, when in the celebrated 72-hole match played by veteran champions he returned scores of 71, 68, 69, and 69 against a bogey of 73. He leaves Balmacewen with the good wishes of members, many of whom owe to his advice a large measure of the enjoyment that they have been able to derive from the game. Cricket Competition Points

The main interest of last Saturday's grade cricket matches was the entry of North-East Valley into the First Grade competition. It was obvious that another team had to be found to fill up the gap left in the senior competition, and that North-East Valley's claims were justified is indicated by its past performances and in the positions of teams in the Intermediate competition up to January 24. North-East Valley had played six games, won five on the first innings and one outright to make a total of 33 points. Air Force, the second team in the competition, had only 18 points. In the First Grade competition, Old Boys are the leaders with 31 points, having won three games on the first innings, lost two games, and won two outright. Grange, Kaikorai, and Carisbrook are next with 30 points each. They have all won six games on the first innings and lost one. Taieri lead the Second Grade A competition with 13 points, Carisbrook being next with 12 points. The Second Grade B competition is headed by Mornington with 18 points, followed by Green Island and Port Chalmers each with 15 points. Postal Archery Match

An innovation in archery competition is a postal match that has been arranged between the Tamaqua Club, of Pennsylvania, U.S.A., and the Dunedin Club. The match, which is at present in progress, consists of one shoot each month for three months, using the Ohio round—96 arrows at 30 yards on a 24inch target on which the gold (bull's eye) is 4in in diameter. The aggregate of the four best scores will decide the winner. This round is being used because it is suitable for indoor and outdoor shooting, and the American club is now in its winter season. The losing club will give the winner a trophy made from a product of its country to a value of three dollars. The Dunedin Club shot its first round over the week-end. About 12 took part and the leading scores were:—R. Campbell 626, H. Butel 600, G. Fielding 473. and R. Dunne 447—a total of 2146, which is. considered very satisfactory. Campbell's and Butel's scores are outstanding for this round, even in America, and were evidently the result of a trial of strength between the two strongest contenders for i the club championship which will be decided at the end of this month. Mrs F. Wheeler recorded the good score of 408. The American scores have not yet come to- hand. Similar matches with other American and Australian clubs, which were considered, have had to be postponed because of the difficulty, owing to military obligations, of securing a muster of the club's male .members.

In National Class Miss J. McGrath, the Otago Club sprinter, showed at the athletic, meeting at the Caledonian Ground on Monday that she would have been a strong contender for the national 100 yards title if the New Zealand women's championships had been held this season. On a dead track she won the 100 Yards in 11 4-ssec. There are few women sprinters in New Zealand who can break 12sec for the 100 yards, and it is doubtful if there are any who could better 11 4-ssec. On present form, and in better conditions, it is probable that in the next few weeks Miss McGrath will clip a fifth, or even two-fifths, off Monday's time. Sign of the Times

Some idea of the heavy drain on field and track athletes in Dunedin through war obligations was provided at the weekly evening meeting last Monday. When the Senior 100 Yards was called not one starter came forward. This is in sharp contrast to meetings a year or two ago, when several heats had to be held. It is interesting to notice that a promising Caversham sprinter, A. Jones, has been selected to represent the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in a meeting with the Hellenic Athletic Union at Alexandria next week-end. Jones, who is of similar build to Brian Tapley, was developing into a champion when he joined the army. The Importance of Catching

Cricket matches are frequently won or lost by catches held or missed, and this was borne out once again on Saturday at Logan Park in the match between KaiJtorai and Albion-Y.M.C.A. When the latter side commenced its innings two of its most reliable batsmen were dismissed by brilliant catches. O. . Everson the sides 'keeper, was brilliantly caught by L. Vial in the slips. This young cricketer had to reach out to get near the ball, and hu held a fine one-hand catch. Another good catch in the slips by A. Pringle sent L. Smith, one of the side's best batsmen, to the pavilion, and Albion-Y.M.C.A. was well on the way to a disappointing batting display that produced only 60 runs. Kalkorai did not have matters its own way when it went to the wicket, and, until C F. Allcott and G. McGregor became associated, its chances of a win were not rosy If catches from these two batsmen had been held there might easily have been a different ending to the game. As it was. Allcott was caught at a critical stage of the game—but it was off a noball. No Croquet Tournament

The executive of the Otago Croquet Association decided a week ago to cancel the Otago tournament, and many players have been wondering why this was necessary. At the meeting of delegates on Tuesday, Mrs Gibson said they had been reluctant to take this step, but as there appeared to be no possibility of having the lawns at Logan Park cut, owing to the workmen having been taken for more important work, and there were difficulties about the cafeteria owing to delivery restrictions, and since, also, many players thought it an inopportune time to be running a tournament, there appeared to be nothing else to do but cancel it. Almost without comment, delegates accepted the executive's decision. The dates for the champion of champions tournament were brought forward, and entries will close on March 17. Play will be on March 19 and 20, at the association lawns at Logan Park. There was a lengthy discussion at this meeting on who was the " captain" referred to in match regulation 17. It is quite clear that both in regulation 7 and regulation 11 the captain referred to is the team captain, not the club captain, and this interpretation was accepted almost unanimously. Army Diet and Running

While he has nothing to complain of about army food for military activities, Harold Nelson, the New Zealand junior mile champion, does not find it suitable for athletic training. Nelson is in an Otago military camp, but still finds time to devote to athletics. He is supplementing the army menu with malt and other items to enable him to train successfully. He aims at establishing a New Zealand junior record for three-quarters of a mile, and on recent showings it seems certain that this record will soon stand in his name. On Monday night he finished third in the Junior Half Mile, in which only inches separated the placed men. Nelson's time was about 2min 3sec, which shows that he is ncarlng top form. Regatta at St. Leonards

With a programme similar to that of last year, a regatta will be held at St. Leonards on Saturday, February 14. There will be rowing events, yacht races for allcomers and X class boats, and a motor boat race for allcomers, in addition to a model yacht programme.