SPORT AND PASTIMES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24969, 16 July 1942, Page 2

SPORT AND PASTIMES

Representative Rugby rjtHE Otago selectors, Messrs W. J. PearJL son, B. Collie and I. Glendining, have chosen an attractive side for the first representative match of tire season, against Southland at Invercargill on Saturday. Naturally, there will be a diminution of the traditional rivalry between the two provinces (his season, but even though the winning of matches is not of such great, importance in these times, it is certain that there will be no lack of keenness among the players. The Otago side is a young one. which is commendable, but it has experienced and reliable men in tire key positions, and this fact should stand it in good stead if Hie Southland selectors have been able to gel together a scrum to compare with Maroon packs of normal strength. There are no surprises in the selections for half-back and first five-eighths, and, in the absence of a regular full-back up to representative standard. E. Black, the Dunedin five-eighths, was a good choice for that position. The othex back positions were not so easy to fill, but the selectors have sorted out a likely combination. D. Trevathan and Black arc the only players chosen outside the University teams. L. W. Broughton has played himself into good repute as a second fiveeighths. The tendency to go too far with the ball when lie had made an opening which was noticeable earlier in the season has largely disappeared, and he is handling well and running straight and strongly. Provided lie makes his duty as a link his first consideration, lie should not be a weakness in the side. R. R. Elvidge has created an excellent impression at centre three-quarter, and the absence of an outstanding claimant for this position has given an opportunity to a promising young player. The wing three-quarters positions would be perhaps the most troublesome of all. .T. W. Green, J. Langham, B. Arnott, G. S. Reynolds, and W. M. Smeeton would all be in the running, and the chosen two, Green and Langham. will certainly make good use of the ball if the men inside them can do their job properly. Langham probably earned bis place by his clever display against O.M.R. last Saturday, and Green had only to maintain his form to be a logical choice. This writer would like to have seen a place found for the Kaikorai player. Arnott. who has been showing excellent form. His turn should come. The forwards are not a heavy set, but they should form an even scrum, and, provided they pack well, which is essential against any Southland team, they should give their backs a fair share of ball. The front row—J. Ward, P. B. Fox, and T. Wallace —is a solid one, although Fox will have to use his energy to better purpose than he has been doing in recent matches. He has been working hard enough, but much of his effort has been wasted. The lock men, J. Sands and I. Prior. lack something in experience, but both are hearty scrumraagers. J. Lanaulte, M. J. Phelan, and A. Scandrett complete the set, and all are being given an opportunity to prove themselves. Phelan and Scandrett are both honest workers, but the writer would have preferred D. J. Gudex for the other side row position. Lanauze is an extremely dangerous player in the loose, but there is no place in an Otago scrum against Southland for a man who does not pull his weight In the tight. Gudex is the better scrummager of the two, and he is much the more constructive plaver. His remarkable pace and handling ability for a forward were well demonstrated last Saturday, when he scored four excellent tries. His turn, like that of Arnott, should come.

The University five-eighths, P. A. Ongley. has been playing so well at first five-eighths this season that the selectors must have found it difficult to pass him over. It is doubtful whether he would be so happy farther out in the line, however, and there can be little criticism of the retention of Trevathan in the position in which he has been the “ general ” of his side in so many matches. Unless the Southland selectors can field a pack close to normal standard. Otago’s prospects must be considered bright, even if playing conditions are not perfect. If conditions are at all favourable, it can be taken for granted that the side will play bright football, and that is what is required more than ever in these times. Dual Position Players -

The selection of E. Black, of the Dunedin Club, who has been playing at fiveeighth during the season, as full-back for Otago against Southland on Saturday is not without precedent. Regular attenders at Carisbrook a few years ago will remember the surprise with which they saw Roy Callander, the Kaikoari fiveeighth, lake the field as full-back in an Otago team. It was a last-minute selection caused by the Inability of the man originally chosen to take his place. The experiment was an outstanding success, and the spectators were delighted to see Callander play what was, perhaps, the best game of his career. Ability to fill both the full-back and five-eighth positions has been common among New Zealand footballers. Perhaps the most notable instance was that of W. J. Wallace, and H, T. Lilburne has represented New Zealand in both positions. A. E. Cooke played a number of good games at fullback. and J. M. Taylor, though he was not outstanding in the position, played frequently as a five-eighth, and, in fact, has appeared in that role this season. G. L. Porter, who played his best football for Southland, was a fine exponent of both full-back and five-eighth play, and the same can be said of H. Pollock, of Wellington. D. Trevathan has played fullback for Otago, and C. C. Nicholson wa» another Otago man who gave the province excellent service in both positions. A Bright Finish

The success of J. N. Lemon, who won the Bogey Competition at Balmacewen on Saturday, was in a large measure due to a good start and an even better finish. At the first hole (412 yards) he put his second shot a couple of feet from the pin for a birdie 3. and although he had a poor drive at the eighteenth (417 yards), he holed his third shot, a No. 6 iron, to register an eagle. “ Playing All Black Football ”

While club footballers in Dunedin have been competing for representative honours this season, several former Otago representative players have been playing good football overseas. One of them is W. I. Perriam, Pirates and Otago centre threequarter, of whom a recent issue of the N.Z.E.F, Times had the following to say:— " Perriam, the former Otago and South Island five-eighth, has been the most brilliant back of the season. He is still young and has been playing All Black Rugby all the season. He is the most solid tackier in the N.Z.E.F. side, has plenty of thrust in his swerving runs, and is the brains of the back attack.” Miss Mary Martin

The departure for Wellington of Miss Mary Martin, who has been physical welfare and recreation officer in Dunedin since the inception of the physical welfare branch of the Department of Internal Affairs, will be regretted by everyone connected with the administration of sport in Otago. Miss Martin has proved herself an enthusiastic and efficient organiser, and has earned widespread respect and popularity. The Otago Provincial Council of Sport, the Otago Women’s Baseball Association and the Women’s Indoor Basketball League arc only some of the bodies That owe much to her enterprise and organising ability. Her practical example in sport has been noteworthy, and she will leave in Dunedin a record of highly constructive effort in many directions. Miss Martin’s successor will be Miss Joyce Thomson, who is coming from the position of sports mistress at the Palmerston North Girls’ High School. Miss Thomson was a well-known lawn tennis player, being an Otago University and New Zealand University “ blue ” and an Otago representative player. Loss to Bowling Club*

The bowling fraternity suffered a double loss this week by the death of two popular and highly respected members of local clubs, Mr J. M. Adam, president of the Kaituna Club, and Mr J. Newlands, president of the ' Anderson's Bay Club. Mr Adam took a very keen interest in the affairs of the Kaituna Club, and in addition to holding the office of president during the past 12 months, served for a number oJ years as treasurer. He was an enthusiastic Home Guardsman, and it was while attending a parade of his unit on Monday night that he suddenly expired. Mr Newlands, who was a retired railway servant, was president of the Anderson's Bay Club for only one week. He had been elected to that office at the club's annual meeting on Wednesday evening of last. week. He had been a member of the Management, and Match Committees of the club for several years, and was an ardent worker in its interests. The flower borders were one oi his chief interests, and it was while at work in one of the plots on Tuesday that lie was overtaken by a sudden illness, expiring shortly after lie bad been removed to his home.