SPORT AND PASTIMES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25740, 11 January 1945, Page 3

SPORT AND PASTIMES

Superfluous Selection The selection of two recognised wicketkeepers in G. 11. Mills and A. N. Lawson m the Otago cricket eleven which mot Wellington at Carisbrook last week appeared superfluous. Mills, Otago s No. 1 wicket-keeper, could not travel to Christchurch for the match against Canterbury, and Lawson was the logical choice for the vacancy. Mills, however, would gam a place in any Otago side for his batting alone, and since his inclusion for the Wellington match was a foregone conclusion, it is difficult to understand why lie was not called upon Co keep wickets. Instead of adopting this course, the selectors chose Lawson as wicket-keeper and played Mills in the field. It is questionable whether Lawson would have been selected merely as a batsman. His place on the batting Ist would not support such a choice, nor would his performances. With Mills as wicket-keeper-batsman, there would have been a vacancy, and something could probably have been done t'o increase Otago's batting strength. The dropping of R. Harwood has also been the subject of comment. He is recognised as one of the most promising left-hand bowlers in Otago. Strangely enough, he was not given even one over in the Canterbury match, and then lie had (he disappointment of being relegated to the position of twelfth man against Wellington—scarcely an encouragement to a young player. Farmer Sportsmen

Tlie delegation of British fanners which passed through Dunedin last, week-end included several men who have achieved distinction in British sport. Mr James Turner, leader of the delegation, was well known as a Rugby footballer before the war, and has been capped for both Derbyshire and Yorkshire Counties. He also boxed in the heavy-weight class for Leeds University. Mr G. S. Browne, the economics expert with the party, played Rugby for London University and was selected to represent Essex. He was successful on lhe running track 'and won many trophies. He also plays tennis, hockey, and cricket. Mr S. G. Ratcliff in his younger days played hockey and football. Mr Giles Tucker’s hobby Is yachting, and lie owns a SJ-ton cabin cruiser.

South Island Bowls 1 Invercargill turned on some sweltering hot days during the playing of lhe South Island Bowling Tournament, and several players collapsed temporarily, while a number of others were more or less "cot” cases. Although strongiy represented. Otago players were not so prominent as usual, out. the Roslyn pair, fl. Miller and W. J. McKay, narrowly missed winning the Pairs. The Roslyn men in the final met P. Dclargoy and R. McNish, of the Canterbury Club, and, after leading for die greater part of the journey, went down by three points. The seventeenth end proved disastrous for Roslyn, which at that stage had a 15—9 lead. McKay failed to disturb the head with running shots and McNish collected six, to bring lhe tallies level. With 19 ends played the scores were again equal—l 7 all —but the twentieth again spelt disaster for the RosIvn pair, who dropped another five, and with it. their chance of winning. The other success achieved by Otago was scored by Israel (Kaltuna), who gave a fine exhibition of accurate drawing to gain third place in the Singles. Invitation Swimming Carnival

An Invitation has been extended to Vivian Vial, of Invercargill, to compete in Dunedin next Thursday night at the Otago Swimming Centre’s carnival, on the eve of the departure of the Otago team for the Now Zealand Championship meeting at Lower Hutt. Vial is the New Zealand 100 and 220 yards intermediate boys’ breaststroke champion, but has now entered senior ranks. He is the holder of the New Zealand intermediate boys’ 220 yards breaststroke record of 3mln 8 l-ssec. It is proposed to match him in a 220 yards invitation breaststroke shortlimit handicap with N. Marslin, the Otago men’s 220 yards champion; V. Simonson, ex-Otago intermediate 100 and 220 yards champion; R. J. Isaacs, present Otago intermediate 100 yards champion; and P. McGregor, present Otago intermediate 220 yards champion. At the same meeting Miss Ngnire Lane will make an attack on her own New Zealand 100 yards women’s backstroke record of 74 2-ssec, and the 27 members of the Otago team will appear In special invitation eyents. A water polo match. Probables v. Possibles, lias also been arranged. i Axeman’* Mishap

The most exciting event at the axemen’s carnival organised by the Wellington South branch of the Returned Services’ Association was the " running chop competition. After each entrant had finished his wood block, lie threw his .axe aside, and had to run across to the other side of the oval. One of the forgot that his coat was on the ground. The axe, with Its razor-like blade, landed on one of the sleeves and completely severed it, and so ruined his suit. He was not aware of the mishap until the event, was over, however, and he had not even the compensation of winning the contest. Caltaux Badly Battered

The New Zealand welter-weight boxer, Vic Caltaux, scored his only win in Australia when lie knocked out Jack Daniels, the Victorian champion, in the. eleventh round of their contest at Melbourne. Caltaux had previously been defeated by Vic Patrick, the Australian champion, at Sydney, and by Tommy Burns, the Queensland champion, at Brisbane, According to a Melbourne newspaper’s account of Caltaux’s bout against Burns, the New Zealander was completely outclassed. “ Burns proved bis worth for a shot at tile national title when he punched Vic Caltaux (New Zealand) to shreds inside five rounds at the Brisbane Stadium,” the paper stated. "It was little more than a working gallop for Burns. When the bout was stopped Caltaux was on the verge of collapse. His knees were loose at the hinges, and he was helpless on the ropes. In causing this damage Burns was a master tradesman. Cool and calculating, he punched with amazing power and precision. And he does not waste a thing." Burns is seeking a match with Vic Patrick, the Australian champion, for the title, and Burns’s manager, Mr A. Graham, points out that he defeated Cal’aux three rounds sooner than Patrick did. The takings for the BurnsCaltaux fight amounted to £2204 about £IOO below Brisbane's record of £ZdUJ for a bout between Burns Each fighter received £382 12s 2d. Caltaux was floored with a left hook in the first round. He shook Burns with a right to the jaw in the fourth, the only hurtful punch he landed. That stung Burns to fury. He belted Caltaux to the floor and had him befuddled at the bell. Just after the start of the fifth round Caltaux was down for nine, and the referee stopped the bout.

Amusing Incident in Bpwls One of the amusing incidents in the play In the Wanganui Bowling Centre s Chrtstmas tournament occurred when it became necessary to measure two bowls, one of which could give victory in that grame to one of the rinks involved (states an exchange). One rink wanted two to win one to tie. It scored one, but the second bowl had to be measured. The threes in the opposing rink, after politely suggesting that the " surplus ” leads and twos “ get off the green on to the bank, measured, measured again, and yet again “I wouldn’t like to say.” said one No. d. ” No more would I,” said the other chap. So they called the referee. He came, and measured, measured again, and yet again. •• You win,” he said to one of the rinks, and with that the bowls were kicked away. The game had been won, until somebody . . . nobody quite remembers who . . . said: “Weren’t they measuring two bowls of the same rink? (the rink that did not get the, referee's decision). Bowler looked at bowler, again at the bowls, and their discs. And that was what had actually happened . . .

threes and referee had measured, measured again, and yet again two bowls belonging to the same side. Full of apologies, the rinks played another head, and probably it was something of a consolation, if not justice, that the rink which got the referee’s decision won on that head.

In the Doldrums Cricket in Otago is in the doldrums at the moment, and recent performances by the Otago representative side have only served to emphasise the fact. Various factors have contributed to the position, but if any permanent improvement is to be effected members of the Cricket Association will have to get down to fundamentals. and in no half-hearted way at that. The remedy lies in the introduction and implementing of a concrete and constructive scheme for the coaching of schoolboys. Proposals have occasionally been brought forward and usually shelved by the association. Only recently a practical scheme was submitted by the president of the association (Mr w. R. Brinsley), but nothing further has been heard of the matter. Most boys are attracted to cricket in their school days, the period when they are receptive to coaching, and in which, if they are not instructed properly, bad habits form which are sometimes impossible to eradicate. School teachers would no doubt welcome assistance from experienced players in the coaching of their pupils, and if an arrangement could be reached between the Otago Cricket Association and the Schools’ Sports Association by which schools were allotted to the care of the clubs for coaching purposes much good would be accomplished. The ultimate result would be an improvement in the standard of Otago cricket and a widening of interest in the game. Cricket in the province has been allowed lo slip back, and it is time the drift was halted.

Rowing in Middle East

News of rowing in the Middle East is given by Gunner W. L. ZatTsr, formerly a prominent oarsman with the Otago Rowing Club, in a letter to his brother, Mr F. G. Zafler, of Dunedin. Gnr. ,Zalfer mentioned that he had been appointed coach, trainer and selector for the rowing at an infantry training depot in „lho Middle East. At a regatta which was held some weeks ago his crews gained a first in the pairs and seconds in the senior fours, open fours and senior pairs. He was appointed judge for the day. He had selected a senior crew for the Egyptian championships which were to have been held on December 17. He had accompanied them on their training spins, doing about nine miles every day. The stroke is an Egyptian named Youssif, No. 3 is Barry Olds, a well-known New Zealand oarsman, Noel Naylor is No. 2, and Jim Blcyn is bow. The crew averages 13 stone. " Tiny ” Eggers, the former North End and Otago interprovincial oarsman. has been assisting Zaffcr with the crew. The winning pair was stroked by a Port Chalmers rower, Godin Cochrane, and a new member of the club was L. Newton, who showed great promise with the Otago Rowing CSub a year or two ago.

Otago Lawn Tennis Successes Following on their good performances in the Canterbury Lawn Tennis championships at Christchurch at. Christmas time, Otago players further distinguished themselves by their displays in the South Canterbury Championships at' Timaru during the New Year holiday period. Otago names appeared in the list of championship winders more often than those of any other province. Miss M. Kerr (Otago) produced much more accurate play than her opponent. Mrs J. Adams (Christchurch), to win the Ladies’ Championship Singles (i—3, (J —2. Her hardest tight was in the semi-final against' Mrs H. Lane (Christchurch). the Dunedin girl winning 7—5, B—6. after a long and gruelling match. Partnering Miss T. Poole, of Christchurch. Miss Kerr also annexed the Ladies' Doubles title, beating Mesdtvmes J. Adams and H. Lane (Christchurch) 6—3, 6—4, in tile final, in which the game was dominated by the net play of the winners. J. Robson (Otago) added to his laurels by winning the Men’s Championship Doubles wit'll O. Bold, of Wellington, and the Mixed Championship Doubles with Mrs H. Lane (Christchurch). In spite of the poor display in the final by their opponents, I. Seay and A. D. Brown, of Christchurch, Robson and Bold showed that they are a combination capable of extending most of New Zealand’s strongest pairs. Robson’s play was erratic at times during the tournament, but he showed himself capable of hard match-winning lawn tennis, both in singles and doubles. In the Mixed Doubles fina’l Robson and Mrs Lane defeated O. Bold (Wellington) and Miss M. Adam (Christchurch) 6—3, o—6, 6—2. A. L. •Scott (Dunedin) won the .Boys' Singles final against J. Adam (Timaru) 6—2, 6—4. thus completing the double, ns he had previously annexed the Canterbury title. In the Girls’ Singles final. Miss Y. Rudd (Dunedin) went down 2—9 to the promising young South Canterbury player, Miss S. Elsom. The performances of the Otago players suggest that, given the same favourable conditions in regard to grass courts, the standard of play in this district would compare favourably with that in the northern provinces.

Surf Life-saving Championships The New Zealand surf life-saving championships will be conducted by the Otago Surf Life-saving Association at the St. Clair Beach on February 3 and 4. Men s events have been reinstated In the form of “ war-time ” championships, and this will be the first time that a full programme has been conducted since the outbreak of war. The men’s and junior classes will each consist of Six-man Rescue and Resuscitation Championship, Four-man Alarm. Surf Beltman’s Championship, and Individual Surf Race Championship. The junior section is open to competitors under the age of 18 on Deceipber 31 last. The Indies’ events consist of Six-man Rescue and Resuscitation Championship, Four-man Alarm, and a march past. Already information has been received that some 50 competitors from Wellington will be taking part, and will be drawn from the Lvall Bav, Maranui, Island Bay, and Titahi Bav Clubs. Teams are also expected, from Auckland, Taranaki, Castlecliff (Wanganui), Canterbury, West Coast, as well as from the St. Clair, St. Kilda, Balclutha, and Orcti Clubs. It is expected that approximately 150 competitors will take part, and the Otago Association will be faced with the task of finding billets for more than 100 visitors. The arrangements for the meeting are under the direction of the president of the Otago Surf Life-sav-ing Association, Mr H. H. Henderson, and the championship secretary is Mr B. F. Shnonsen. An invitation has been extended to the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr W. E. Parry, to perform the opening ceremony, and the visitors will include the president of the New Zealand Surf Life-saving Association (Mr P. Coira) and the secretary (Mr N. A. Ingram), both of Wellington. Last year at. Wellington the St. Clair Club made a clean sweep of the events in the women's section with the exception of the march past, in which it was placed second. The meeting, as stated, was confined to ladies and juniors. Outstanding Athletes

Warrant. Officer D. M. Harrjs. the outstanding Auckland athlete, came within one-fifth of a second of his New Zealand record of 48 2-ssec when he won the 440 \ards Invitation Handicap in 48 3-ssec at the Christchurch Games at Lancaster Park last week. Several reliable (but unofficial) watches made his time 48 l-ssec. Harris, who thrilled the spectators with his speed, began smartly, and quickly caught the leaders. With half the journey covered, lie w.is showing the olhers the way. and his only serious challenger after that was A. F. Dockery, a Christchurch Boys' High School youth, aged 18. Dockery started oIT the 15-yard mark, and apparently was not prepared for the initial burst by Harris. Dockery made a good effort over the last 120 yards, but faded 50 yards from home. Earlier in the day Dockery, off 50 yards, won the Half-mile Junior Handicap in the amazing time for a youth of his age of lmin 52 2-ssec, second place going to the Dunedin Civil Service athlete, B. McKernan. who was running from the same mark as Dockery.

Treatment for Strained Muscle Contrary to the previous practice, which required a temporary retirement from activity for weeks or perhaps months, the treatment for pulled or strained muscles advised by American athletic coaches sends the plaver back to the field immediately after an injection lias been made into the affected muscle. The efficacy of this method was proved by the Dunedin lawn tennis player, L. Jackson, during the South Canterbury lawn tennis championships at Timaru last week, when he strained a back muscle to an extent which compelled him to takq to his bed. A Timaru doctor advised and made the necessary injection, as a result of which Jackson was able to compete in a strenuous match two days later. •

Bluff Regatta * The Port Chalmers Rowing Club and Queen's Drive Boating Club were represented at the Bluff regatta on New Year's Day. The most successful club was Awarua, which in nine races had six firsts and three seconds. Port Chalmers had two firsts and Queen’s Drive one first. The principal race of the day, the Senior Fours, was won by Awarua by three lengths from Queen's Drive, Port Chalmers being third. The Queen’s Drive crew comprised H. Bradley, A. Cook, D. Wilson, and R. Parris, and Port Chalmers was represented by G. Mitchell, H. Robertson, E. Hill, and J. Mclntyre. Mitchell and Robertson won the Senior Pairs for Port Chalmers, whose representatives, J. W. Smith and A. Mcßae, were successful also in the Youths’ Double Sculls. The Queen’s Drive crew, consisting of A. McDowell, D. McCormack, W. Meehan, and E. Holden* finished second to Awarua crews in both Maiden and Junior Fours, and McDowell and McCormack won the Maiden Pairs. The value of the trophies won by the various clubs was: Awarua, £3l; Queen’s Drive, £9 10s; Port Chalmers, £6 10s; Invercargill Railway, £4, Riverton, £2 10s.

Coaching - Policy Rewarded The policy of the Otago Lawn Tennis Association in co-operation with the official coach, Mr T.’ Brooks, in concentrating on schemes for the coaching of junior players, ranging from primary school children to players in their early twenties, is beginning to produce results. This was evidenced by the performances of the Otago representatives—and particularly the younger players—in the Canterbury and South Canterbury championships during the Christmas and New Year holiday period. At Timaru Otago players won, or shared in the winning, of four out of five major events, as well as winning or figuring prominently in most of the junior sections. Mr D. G. Gardiner, president of the South Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association, in presenting the trophies, drew attention to the success of the Otago competitors, and congratulated the Otago Association on the excellent work it was doing with the junior players. Promising Lawn Tennis Player

J. D. Adam, who was a junior champion lawn tennis player for South Canterbury at the age of 16 years, and is at present Doubles champion of Canterbury with A. L. Scott (Otago), has been nominated by the South Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association to represent the province at the New Zealand junior championships to be held in Auckland this month. Adam showed good form in the Canterbury ana South Canterbury tournaments held recently.