SPORT AND PASTIMES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25870, 14 June 1945, Page 8

SPORT AND PASTIMES

Lovelock Relay Race

As the result of its success on Saturday, Celtic United Harrier and Amateur Athletic Club will have Us name inscribed on the handsome Lovelock Trophy for the first time. This also marked the club's first important success in an interclub contest. Saturday's race again showed that this event is well established in popularity, not only with clubs, but with the general public, who were present at the University Oval in large numbers. There were 10 entries, against eight last year, and it was pleasing again to see representation from as far north as Timaru, although the visitors did not do so well as in the previous year. There was no doubt about the keenness of the teams, and although four laps of the oval, making in all 1500 metres, is a fairly stringent test, particularly at the pace set, most of the competitors ran well up to the expectations of their supporters. In the race, which was full of interest throughout, Caversham led for a lap and a-half, when Celtic United ran into the lead, followed by University A and Civil Service A. Celtic United held its lead until the end of the twelfth lap, when University A was in the van for two laps, but G. Nelson (Civil Service) caught up lost ground and established a good lead. In the seventeenth round the position changed to University A, Civil Service A, and Celtic United, but in the twentieth Civil Service A had forged ahead. D. Hutton (Celtic United) then made his presence felt, heading off both University A and Civil Service A to win by six seconds. The big crowd showed its appreciation of the brilliant finish to an interesting race by giving the competitors a hearty round of applause. The race was certainly worthy of the name of the distinguished athlete associated with it. Dominion Cricketers in England “ The Selection Committee has gone to a considerable amount of trouble to try out all the prospective talent, and I think the final team should be fairly representative of the New Zealand players in England, allowing, of course, for men kept away by service duties.” writes Sub-lieutenant I. W. Gallaway, the former Carisbrook and Otago wicket-keeper, commenting in a letter to a friend on the prospects for the team of New Zealand cricketers playing in England this season. „The season opened on May 26 with a match against' the powerful Cambridge University side at Fenners, and the fixture list Included two games at Lord's, the first against M.C.C. on June 7, and the second against R.A.F. in the middle of July. Other important games would be against three major counties— Glamorgan on July 21, Northampton on August 5. and Warwickshire on August 19. Ken James had also arranged matches with Hammond’s Young England eleven, the R.A.A.F., the A.I.F. (captained byLindsay Hassett), and a West of England eleven. Nieper's Leadership The feature of the Rugby match between Southern and Pirates at Carisbrook on Saturday was the leadership and allround forward play of R. Nieper, the Southern captain, whose covering work especially was of a high standard. There is no doubt that his experience and leadership are a great asset to his side. Behind the Southern pack, D. Young played a resourceful game, but there is still room for improvement in his passing from the scrum. J. Graham (centre) was the best of the others, though his handling was a little uncertain, and S. Robert played soundly at first five-eighth, exploiting the kick for the gap to some effect. Good Display by Air Force

Air Force felt the absence of G. Delamore’s boot last Saturday .in its match against Zingari-Richmond at the Caledonian Ground. Nevertheless, the team won easily by 20 points to 8, but its margin would have been greater if all its kicking opportunities had been turned to account. The Air Force backs were too fast for Zingari, and the threequarters—D. Stevens, J. Hay, and C. Whitaker —scored five of the side’s six tries. The forwards backed up well, especially in the second spell, when they secured most of the ball in the set and loose -scrums, in spite of the fact that they was playing against a much heavier pack. Representative Basketball

The selection of the Otago basketball team which will play in the New Zealand tournament at Christchurch in August will be in the hands of Miss S. E. Foster, Miss M. A. McKenzie, and Mrs E. J. McAughtrie. In recent years Otago has fielded some strong teams which must have had a good chance of carrying off the trophy had a New Zealand tournament been held. Some promising young players have been seen in action at Logan Park during the past few Saturdays, and as several of last year's representatives will again be available, Otago should be represented by a team capable of equalling if not excelling the performances of previous years. v

Week-end Golf In the Four-ball Bogey Competition played at Balmacewen on Saturday, two student members, P. C. Grayson and N. W. Dorrington, combined well to return the excellent winning score o£ 7 up. VV. S. Stewart and A. E. Gardner were second, with a card of 5 up. Two interclub matches were played during the week-end. At Balmacewen the home team defeated a University Golf Club side by 121 matches to 8i matches, and at Belleknowes the visitors, Chisholm Park, were defeated by a margin of 10 games. A. G. Bayliss is in good form. He won the St. Clair Australian Stableford played on Saturday with the good score of 31 points. The three-round Australian Stableford competition for the Chisholm Park Service cup has reached an interesting stage. With two rounds played, A. Umbers and R. McAllan are equal with total scores of 59 points each. Rough Hockey

When Taieri defeated Kings In the A Grade women’s hockey match on Saturday, the game was more a question of brawn than science. M. Eaton, the Kings’ centre, was well bottled up by the Taieri halves, whose tactics were not always those best suited to tempers being controlled. F. Mantel, Taieri’s full-back, played one of her best games to date, and is one of the most impressive players in that position in the senior grade. Taieri's left-wing, W. Goreman, also played a fast, heady game. The Kings' fullbacks, E. Symon and G. Riach, played sound defensive games, but the team as a whole lacked combination. The result of the match was a surprise, as was University’s success over Training College. The University forwards had the better combination and made more of their chances in the circle. They were well supported by L. Harding in the half-back line, and she was in the thick of everything, keeping her side on the attack and helping defend when necessary. This player is one of the hardest workers in the competition.

Promising Athlete D Hutton, the 17-year-old Celtic United runner, was the outstanding performer in the Lovelock Relay Race on the University Oval on Saturday. In fact, on this effort, he looks certain to play an important part in big distance athletic events for some years to come. He is a well-developed youth, with a particularly easy action, and as one well qualified' to express an opinion expressed it, “ looks capable of running all day.” His final effort, in which he cut down the leaders to win by six seconds, and was still “ full of running,” was the highlight of a race which will be long remembered. Hutton is still a pupil of the Christian Brothers' High School,- and came into prominence last year when lie competed in the Secondary Schools’ Championship Mile in which he ran prominently, and he won the Christian Brothers’ Crosscountry event, in which he also gained fastest time. He should be difficult to head off in the Otago Junior Cross-country Championship. The Celtic United sextet included a number of other promising runners, and as they all have the advantage of youth, the club should play an increasingly prominent part on the track. Evenly Balanced Team

The Otago Boys’ High School first fifteen defeated Chr.stian Brothers’ Hign School by 25 points to nil in the curtainraiser at the Caledonian Ground last Saturday. Although only three of last vear’s team are still playing, Otago High School possesses an evenly-balanced side, which should do well in the school matches. The team has a good hooker in B. R. Smith, and other forwards who impressed on Saturday were B. M. Duncan (captain) and A. J. Paterson. The backs were well served by the half, O. M. Ellis, who last vear was a member of the unbeaten Alexandra District High School team. Boxing Gossip Bos Murphy, professional welter-weight boxer from Lower Hutt, has been signed to meet Tommy Hanson, of Wellington, at Dunedin on Monday, June 25. Murphy scored a sensatmnal knock-out against Tommy Dunn in Wellington some weeks ago, and this is his first contest since that date. Hanson is a rugged boxer who appeared here in September of last year against Clarrie Gordon in a contest that had the crowd on their toes throughout. The bout between Murphy and Hanson will be over 12 three-minute rounds. The preliminaries will consist of the final bouts in a novice tournament, the first of the season, and good entries have already been received, though they do not close until to-morrow at 5 p.m. The Match Committee of the Otago Boxing Association is endeavouring to find an opponent for Laurie Bolger, and it is likely that he will be opposed by a welterweight from the Wairarapa. This may be Bolger’s last contest as an amateur, as he will appear in Dunedin shortly as one of the principals in a professional contest.

Murphy Memorial Trophy Match Kajkorai, fielding a better balanced team, defeated Alhambra by 10 points to nil in the annual Rugby match for the Murphy Memorial Trophy on Saturday. The competition, which was instituted about six years ago, perpetuates the name of E. Murphy, a well-known Kaikorai forward, who was killed in a motor accident in 1938. He represented Otago regularly between 1933 and 1937 and played in the side which won the Ranfurly Shield from Canterbury in 1935. Three members of the Kaikorai team on Saturday—A. E. Chapman, L. I. Scott and B. Barnes—played in the Kaikorai team with Murphy. Scott was making his first appearance since his return from overseas, and his display at half-back was a good one. His passes from the scrum were swift and well directed, and he soon developed an understanding with Chapman and Murdoch. The last-named was played at second five-eighth, and linked up well with J. Taylor. The best of the three-quarters was E. Sizemore, who scored two good tries. Barnes, A. Foster and H. Thompson were a trio of good forwards. The Alhambra backs lacked combination, but the forwards showed dash, Mathieson, Newlands arid W. Williams being the most noticeable in the loose. Mathieson, who has just returned from overseas, was prominent in Middle East Rugby. The Dewar Cup

In the Intermediate Championship final for the Dewar Cup at St. Clair links on Saturday, J. E. Doogue, in a close and interesting match, defeated G. C. McKay, 2 up. The match was all square after the fourth hole, and over the remainder of the outward journey Doogue won the fifth and seventh and McKay, who was one down at the turn, the ninth. Doogue won the tenth, and they halved the eleventh, McKay then squared the match, and for the first time went into a lead of 1 up, by winning the next three holes. The fifteenth resulted in another half. Doogue squared the match at the sixteenth, and finished strongly by winning the last two holes, and the match 2 up.

Association Football Under good playing conditions, improved form was shown in a round of evenly contested games in the Association football competition on Saturday. Caversham was expected to make a closer game of it against Northern, but the poor showing of the Caversham forwards in the second spell was responsible for its 4—l defeat. Ives and Meehan played soundly for Northern and Stevenson in goal dealt with anything that came his way in a capable manner, but with the chances that Caversham had the final result should have iseen closer. Maori Hill and Mosgiel had a keen tussle, and the hill eleven, playing soundly, were defeated only in the closing stages. Welham, in goal for Roslyn-Wakari, gave a fine exhibition against Old Boys, saving his side repeatedly and dealing confidently with some awkward shots. Although Wilson was sound, he was inclined to overkick his forwards, McCallion and Ness gave him good support. Burgess spoilt much of his good work by getting mixed up with his other forwards and thus putting the whole line out of gear. The youthful Old Boys’ team gave another good display of concerted team work, and its last desperate efforts to equalise showed stamina. Roslyn won by 1 goal to nil. Mornington proved too solid for Air Force, and had much the better of the exchanges.

Ancient Rivals The match between Dunedin and Union on the North Ground on Saturday had a historical significance that is worth recording, for it is now 73 years since these two clubs first met in Dunedin. The Dunedin Club was formed in 1871, and will celebrate its seventh-fifth jubilee next year, and the Union Club first took the field in 1872, so they are unquestionably tue oldest clubs in this city. Dunedin also has the honour of providing the first Rugby team to go on tour in New Zealand, a fifteen from the club starting on a Dominion-wide tour on August 5, 1877. Games were played against Christchurch, Auckland, Nelson, Wellington, Temuka and Timaru, Dunedin winning all except that with Auckland, which was drawn Second Grade Basketball The Second Grade basketball match between St. Bernadette's and Y.W.C.A. Reckitt Colman, played at Logan Park on Saturday, proved an interesting game, the result being in doubt throughout. The height of the St. Bernadette’s forwards told on their smaller opponents, and their accuracy in shooting was a deciding factor in the game. Speed is essential to good basketball, and if forwards are to elude their opponents and work close enough to goal to make a score possible, their movements must be fast. The St. Bernadette and Reckitt and Colman teams both play fast basketball, and their handling is excellent. The wisdom of the step taken by the association in transferring the St. Bernadette’s team to Second Grade has been proved by its high standard of play in recent games. Form Not Truly Indicated

The form of the Pirates team in the senior Rugby competition has been better than its record of four losses in as many matches would suggest, and it did well to hold the unbeaten Southern side to a G —3 margin at Carisbrook on Saturday. The Pirates pack is on the light side, and although a little spasmodic in their efforts on Saturday, the forwards made a great rally in the second spell, which might easily have retrieved the position had it been sustained. They had an experienced leader and skilful hooker in T. Graham, who is captaining the side, and supporting him ably were W. Mayhew. who played hard in the tight. D. Hamilton and G. Nelson, the last-named always being well up with the play. The three-quarter line, comprising A. R. Duff, R. Harwood and A. McAuliffe, is a fast combination which only requires opportunities to get results. Encouragement of Schoolboys

A series of seven-a-side matches between teams from the Kaikorai, Maori Hill, Wakari and Arthur Street Schools is being sponsored by the Kaikorai Football Club, and the first match between Kaikorai and Wakari at Bishopscourt on Saturday during the half-time interval of the senior match, was won by Kaikorai by 6 points to nil. Further evidence of the good work being done bv local clubs to foster Rugby among primary school boys is shown in the coaching scheme adopted by the Zingari-Richmond Club. Some 40 boys from the High Street and Kensington Schools are taking part in a comprehensive plan of coaching each Saturday morning, and as further clubs follow suit it is not difficult to estimate the benefits that will accrue to the game in the future.

Men’s Hockey The only upset in the senior men’s hockey competition, which was continued on Saturday, was the defeat of Air Force by Albany by 7 goals to 3. Brown, the Air Force goalkeeper, played an outstanding game, his performance being well up to representative standard, and it should serve to put other aspirants for the position of goalkeeper in the Otago team on their mettle. It was fortunate for Air Force that Brown was in such good form, as the Albany forwards were aggressive and the margin of defeat might have been still greater. Training College defeated University B in a match where the fortunes of both sides frequently fluctuated. University A scored another win, this time against Technical Old Boys, which did not provide strong opposition for the students. Kyle, who has been the most prolific scorer for University this season, secured six goals, which brings his tally to nine. Poole and Burns-Watsou have also been consistent scorers for the team. Otago Association Eleven

The Otago Association football team selected to play against Canterbury at the Caledonian Ground on Saturday has only one surprise selection, that of Williams, of Caversham. The team should give a good account of itself, and as it is in traininig under the charge of Mr D. Hanlin it should at least take the field on Saturday able to stand a hard 90 minutes of football. Goalies Play Well

Both the goalies, R. Sew Hoy and N. Douall played sound hockey in the A women’s match on Saturday, when Dunedin defeated Otago. N. Douall, the Otago player, used her feet accurately and kicked well, while both made a number of excellent saves. In the Dunedin team, L. Lepine kept her forwards well supplied and V. Stevens played soundly at fullback, J. Burton, who obtained the goals, was the pick of the forwards. The two sisters, I. Erridge and Mrs Puddey, worked hard for Otago, and B. Milnes played well at full-back. Prevalent Infringement

“ Personal contact' ” in basketball may cause dangerous play, as well as spoiling good displays, and it is an infringement which referees are finding prevalent in first grade matches this season. The definition of "personal contact” is: “ Touching an opponent in such a way as to interfere with her play. This includes the action of a player who pushes the ball against' an opponent to gain room.” This infringement is being strictly watched by referees, the penalty being a free pass, except in the goal circle, where the option is given of a pass or shot at goal. Secretary’s Retirement

Mr Alf Williams, the well-known secretary of the New Zealand Football Council, has retired after 50 years in the soccer code as player, administrator, and finally as secretary of the New Zealand Football Association. His worth to the Wellington Football Association was recognised, in 1932 when the Alf Williams Challenge Trophy was presented for local competition. His work as a referee was also well known, and he was in charge of the Wellington-New South Wales and New Zealand-New South Wales matches in 1904 and Wellington v. New Zealand match in 1905. His services in respect to the tours of the Australian team in 1936 and the English amateur team in 1937 were highly, praised by the managers of both teams.