SPORT AND PASTIMES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25562, 15 June 1944, Page 3

SPORT AND PASTIMES

Deaths of Prominent Sportsmen

The war takes continued toll of sportsmen, and in recent weeks three men prominent in New Zealand Rugby have made the supreme sacrifice—J. H. Harris and G. F. Hart, both of whom played for New Zealand, and B. V. A. Jones, who was a New Zealand University and Otago representative. Harris, a Canterbury representative player of many years’ standing, was of an earlier period than the other two, and although Hart was also a Canterbury player, he was a familiar figure on Dunedin playing fields. It was at Carisbrook that he played his first game for New Zealand against the British team in 1930. New , Zealand lost by six points to three, Hart scoring a fine try at the corner. On that occasion, as in his many subsequent appearances for New Zealand during

the next six years, he demonstrated that /his grpatest assets were speed and determined running, but his defence was by no means weak. It was at Dunedin, too, that Hart had his most notable success on the running track. Competing in the New Zealand 100 Yards Championship at the Caledonian Ground in 1931, he finished second on a heavy track to G. S. Simpson, of the United States, whose time was 10 l-ssec. As Simpson was ineligible to hold the title, Hart became the champion, his time being 10 2-ssec. He scored many brilliant tries in club, interprovincial, and international Rugby, and had good claims to be regarded as the best wing threequarter in New Zealand Rugby in the 10 years preceding the war. In Otago University and representative sides, as well as in the New Zealand University team which toured Japan in 1935, Jones proved himself a brilliant attacking three-quarter. He was coach and selecior of the 30th Battalion Rugby team, which was the first army team to play in Fiji. • He was a fine squash racquets player. Major Jones was 31 years of age at the time of his death, and Captain Hart was 36. Week-end Golf ~ Some fairly extensive patches of snow were lying on the fairways at Balmacewen on Saturday, and as a consequence the semi-finals in the knock-out competition were postponed. St. Clair and Chisholm Park were, however, able to continue their match programmes. The combined Stableford held at St. Clair was won by H. E. Skinner and J. O’Donnell, whose score of 64 points was one point better than that returned by G. H. Burgess and R. G. Hill. Sixteen pairs teed up at Chisholm Park in the second round of the knock-out competition for the Laing Trophy, and although wind-drifted sand on some of the fairways and greens had an adverse effect on the standard of play, the matches were well contested with many close finishes. In an official match at Belleknowes recently A. I. Murray played a remarkable round of 58. Par-for the course is 62, and Murray, who was 31 for the first nine holes, scored no fewer than six " birdies ” in the second half, which he completed in 27—four under par. Unsatisfactory System

In spite of the fact that Rugby football is being played in a war-'ime atmosphere, the spirit of competition naturally remains, and the present system of arranging the senior draw is unsatisfactory, to say the least. The teams should definitely be divided into two sections, and if it should be found that some of the teams in the second division are too strong for the others in that section, there would be nothing to prevent the Rugby Union from promoting them to the first division after one or two matches. It has been obvious for some time that the union, byplaying the weaker teams in matches together, has largely in actual practice divided the competition, but it has shown a remarkable reluctance publicly to acknowledge the fact. The clubs are entitled to a frank statement of the reasons for this “ under cover ” policy of conducting the competition.

Sportsmen Knighted

The King's birthday honours included knigh’.hpods for two sportsmen. They are Sir Charles Aubrey Sniilh, who is described as the leading member of the British community in California, and .Sir W. W. Wakefield, a member of the House of Common?. Sir C. Aubrey Smith is a leading film actor, but he was once a prominent cricketer and played for Sussex in county competition. He also played for Cambridge University and Transvaal. On going to the United States, he did a good deal to keep the game alive in California, where he organised matches. Sir W. W. Wakefield, who served in the R.A.F. in the last war, enjoyed the - reputation of being one of the greatest Rugby forwards England has produced. He captained England, Cambridge University, Middlesex, R.A.F., and Harlequins. He led the English team which was defeated by New Zealand at Twickenham in 1924 by 17 points to 11. Basketball Rules

The New Zealand Baskelball Association t has published a revised edition of the rules. The rules remain unaltered, but they are grouped more helpfully, and there is an excellent section on coaching. The work was done mainly by Miss S. E. Foster, who is a vice-president of the Otago Basketball Association, and for many years has been the practical and theoretical examiner for the New Zealand referees' examination. Miss Foster has been president of the Otago Referees’ Association, and is the Olago delegate to the New Zealand Council. She is a former representative player. Excellent Combined Play

The feature of the Rugby match between University Combined Faculties and Training College at Carisbrook on Saturday was (he fine combined play of the University's five-eighths, D. Murdoch and R. Elvidge. They have developed an excellent understanding of each other's play, and at times on Saturday Elvidge reached brilliant heights. He used a powerful fend and some of the Training College players learnt to their cost (hat they could not afford to tackle him high. His backing up on attack and defence was admirable. R. Williams (first, five-eighths) showed more penetration than any o'her 'Training College back, but he overdid the cut-in, and lost touch with those outside him. Both sets of backs, however, were to bo commended on their efforts to keep the game open, their display being easily the brightest of the season. University thot - oughly deserved its win by 14 points to 9. but the Training College side won favour by the fact that even when facing defeat, it continued to play the open, attractive type of game. If some criticism may be made of its showing, it is that the forwards showed a disinclination to pack tightly, and there was a period in the second spell when University almost completely dominated the forward play. Ski-ing Activities

The Otago Ski Club has plans in hand for the erection of a hew hut at Rock and Pillar which will provide accommodation for 100 members. In the meantime Flagstaff is proving popular with ski-ers, and the first match of the season was held at the week-end between the University and Otago Ski Clubs. The downhill relay race was won by Otago, University teams filling the next three places. The slalom race was won by University, Otago filling second place. The conditions were good, with about a foot of snow. It is proposed to hold further meetings at Flagstaff during the winter' if conditions are suitable.

Otago Boxer's Success In a professional boxing match held at Auckland on Monday night and described as one of the most spectacular contests seen there for many years, Roy Stevens scored a technical’knock-out over Fred Southdee in the eighth round. It was Stevens’s first appearance in the professional ranks, and he fulfilled the expectations of Auckland ringside critics who were much impressed with his showings in training workouts. Stevens is another of the many professional boxers who were taught by Mr A. Leckie, of Dunedin. In 1940 he won the Otago amateur middleweight championship, and after joining the army he won a South Island services title. As an amateur he had an imposing record, and in 22 bouts suffered only one defeat. Roy Stevens is a brother of Harry S.evens, a former Otago amateur champion wrestler.

Long Association with Golf Club

Golfers generally will regret that the new committee of the Akarana Golf Club has decided to terminate the arrangement wiih Basil J. Smith, sen., as club professional, thus severing a link which was forged in the inaugural year of the club in 1927—17 years ago (states the Auckland Star). Since that time Smith has been a great acquisition to the club, and with the able assistance of his sons, Basil, jun., now a professional in Southland, and Pax, a flying officer, now engaged in operational flying in England, has been instrumental in making Akarana a name to be reckoned with in New Zealand golf. It will be recalled that Basil Smith, jun.. Who won the Akarana Club championship four years in succession, was an outstanding Auckland and New Zealand amateur, and that Pax Smith followed in his footsteps to repeat the Akarana championship domination, and in 1938 won the North Island championship, and followed this up by winning the New Zealand amateur championship at Dunedin. Their father was engaged as the Akarana Club’s professional soon after it was founded, and during the years which have elapsed he has been responsible to a great extent for the improvements which have been made in the lay-out of Akarana. To-day its condition is unsurpassed by any other club In the Auckland province. B. J. Smith, sen., is a former Otago club and provincial champion. Good Rugby Forward

A forward consistently in the picture it. the Rugby match at Carisbrook on Saturday was M. Foreman, who gave a skilful display of hooking for the University team and played a lively, bustling game in the loose. He is a brother of H., M. Foreman, the ex-Universlty A forward, who was a member of the Otago team when it successfully defended the Ranfurly Shield in 1936.

Former All Black Selector Mr L. V. Carmine, president of the New Zealand Rugby. Football Union in 1940, has returned to that body again, this> time as a member of the executive commit; ee. In his playing days he was a Buffer representative player, and subsequently he was secretary of the Buffer Rugby Union for eight years. From 1921 to 1524 he was sole selector and coach of that union’s representative team. Near the end of that period he was also a South Island selector, and.was one of the selectors of the ” invincible ” All Blacks for the tour of Britain in 1924. The others were Messrs A. Guy, A. Wilson, E. McKenzie, N. McKenzie, A. J. Geddes, and H. Davis. In later years Mr Carmine was associated with the game in Wanganui, Taranaki. King Country, and Auckland. He was president of the King Country Union from 1935 to 1938, and was a vice-president of the New Zealand Union in 1938 and 1939 before being elected president. N.Z.E.F. Oarsmen

New Zealand rowers competed with marked success in a regatta held by the Cairo River Club on the Nile. They won five events as follows:—Single Sculls — Sanders; Novice Fours—Corkhill, Brown. Gibbons, Webber, Stewart (coxswain); Open Pairs —Pepper, Davidson, Loughnan (coxswain); Open Fours—Sheppard, Parker, Chittenden, Sheppard, Loughnan (coxswain); Open Eights—Chittenden, Brown, Sheppard, Parker, Sheppard, Willis, Parlane. Trewby, May (coxswain). Former Christchurch Referee

A recent arrival in Dunedin was Mr R. M. Anderson, who was formerly a well-known Christchurch Rugby referee. In his playing days he was a member of the High School Old Boys’ Club, and for the 12 years immediately preceding the war he was an active referee. While serving in the army he controlled service matches. He should be an acquisition to the ranks of local referees.

Basketball Representative Programme

The programme of representative matches in women’s basketball will depend largely upon a solution of the transport problem, but the Otago Basketball Association is going ahead with its arrangements. It is proposed to play Southland at Invercargill and Canterbury at Dunedin, and Mrs E. J. McAughtrie,- Misses S. E. Foster and M. A. Mackenzie have been appointed selectors.