Sport and Pastimes

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26177, 13 June 1946, Page 2

Sport and Pastimes

RUGBY LEADERS By its fine win over Southern last Saturday and because it has dropped only one point in the six matches played to date, the University A team has confirmed earlier impressions that it would not be easily deprived of the premiership it won last year. The Light Blues appear so far to be the most evenly balanced team in the competition. The success of some of the best University teams in past seasons has been determined by the strength of their forwards and their ability to provide the usually speedy back line with opportunities, and in this respect the present University A team is not an exception. Its forwards turned on a high-class display against Southern. Players of the calibre of K. J. O’Connor and T. J. Buckley would find a place in most representative packs, while G. D. Gordon is a hooker of unusual ability. The backs have been well served lately by P. A. Ongley, who has reproduced good form after an indifferent beginning, but only in the last couple of matches has the line as a whole functioned really effectively. T. F. C. Geary, the ex-New Zealand Services player, has solved the selectors’ problem at first five-eighths, his play in

this position being sound and workmanlike. The choice of second fiveeighths has occasioned more concern, and T. Cannon’s uncertain handling and lateral running have halted many likely attacking movements. Cannon, however, apparently realising the futility of his criss-cross running, showed much improvement in the second half of last Saturday’s game, and, as a result, some of the most attractive passing movements of the season were seen.

With some indecisiveness nearer to the scrum, added work was thrust upon the shoulders of the University, captain and centre, R. R. Elvidge, in the earlier games, and he was frequently called upon to staighten the attack. He stood up to the task well, and with the backs moving smoothly last Saturday he was the most outstanding player on the field. He showed that strength and finesse can be used together, and was always a source of danger to the opposition. There have been several changes in the wing positions, and it was unfortunate that I. J. Botting, whose pace and dash have delighted patrons on his appearances at Carisbrook, was unable to play. His place was taken by E. J. Peterson, the former South Island representative, who failed to reproduce anything like his form of the past two seasons. On the opposite wing, however, was a very nice footballer, G. Moore (whose name was given in the programme as Gwynne.) Moore, who hails from Hawke’s Bay scored a good try and generally showed the hallmark of a player of class. The University A team is well off for wingers, but of those seen in recent matches Botting and Moore were the most, impressive. T. Kawe has been a solid full-back whose tackling is usually very sure. The team has sufficient talent to develop into a combination ranking with some of the fine University fifteens of the past.

Bowling Green Transformation Some bowling clubs are in the fortunate position that they can always rely on members to “turn to” on a working bee whenever any work outside of ordinary maintenance is required on or about the green. One such club is Opoho. Recently this club decided to "put the cotula weed into the green. For that purpose three lorry-loads of weed were obtained locally, and in addition, 80 sacks of a particularly fine and clean sample of weed from Southland. The green was closed a week before the end of the season, and from that time the work of putting in the weed proceeded daily without intermission. Members who were free assisted the custodian during the week-days, and at weekends members invariably turned out in force. The record week-end working bee was 25.

The plugging system was employed, the local weed being first plugged in at about 9 to 12 inch centres, followed by the Southland weed which was plugged between the local variety. In this way the coverage was increased to an average of about five-inch centres, with a closer cover in some areas, particularly on the ends. Altogether, about 70,000 plugs were put in, and further plugging will be done before the opening of next season The whole green was well sliced after the insertion of the plugs. It was a big job well done. The club is to be congratulated on its energy and enterprise and it will have the good wishes of all bowlers for the success it deserves. It is understood that the club intends to put in a further 30,000 plugs next year to ensure the quickest possible cover with the cotula.

Sound Winger The most polished and attractive display among the wing three-quarters in the Kaikorai-Taieri game on Saturday was that of the Taieri light-weight, B. Scott. Unfortunately, Scott was not given as much of an opportunity to show his paces as he deserved, owing to faulty passing by the inside members of the back chain, but he displayed a fine turn of speed, with initative on attack, and was always well up with the play, looking for an opening. He scored two deserved tries himself, and paved the way for another.

Use of Feet in Hockey It is many years now since hockey rules for men were amended to prevent the use of feet or legs to stop the ball. The men’s rule reads: “ The ball shall not be stopped on the ground or in the air intentionally by any part of the body, except the hand.” Many supporters of women’s hockey wish that the authorities controlling women’s rules would follow the men’s example. Not only does the use of feet slow up the game and detract from the clean stick-work so necessary in men’s games, but infringement of the rules bv the ball rebounding from contact with the feet occurs in the majority of cases. Women players should remember that their rule reads as follows:—"A plaver shall not kick the ball. . . . The ball may not be moved in any direction except with the stick.” , „ , , It is for these reasons that first-class women players rarely use the feet for stopping the ball, and coaches of junior teams would be well advised to discourage beginners from relying, except ip emergencies, on the use of anything but stick or hand in stopping the ball.

By Observer [p L

AN OPEN COMPETITION The results of Saturday’s matches in the Women’s senior hockey competition were something of a surprise, and have left the teams very closely placed. Otago heads the table with the loss ol one point, Kings come next with a loss and a draw, Momona, Taieri, University and Training College all follow close behind with two losses, and Dunedin appears to be capable of improving its position. Momona has the reputation of playing its best games against stiff opposition and lapsing from form against weaker opponents. This was the story on Saturday when it lost to the bottom team, but Dunedin produced excellent hockey under the conditions to secure its first victory. M. Marshall, for Dunedin, has been playing some outstanding games this season, and was largely responsible for her team’s success. Taieri made a meritorious recovery of form to defeat Training College decisively at Mosgiel and it will be a team to be watched for the remainder ol the season. All Black Claims C. Willocks, the big South Otago, Otago, South Island, and New Zealand forward, has shown excellent form in his last two club matches for Clutha. Against Toko, Willocks played a particularly good game, and showed himself to be a pack leader of no mean ability. He is captain of the Clutha team, which has been unbeaten so far this season- Only 26 years of age, Willocks has several years of big Rugby ahead of him yet, and, provided he maintains his current form, he should have strong claims for inclusion in this year’s All Black team. BRITISH PROFESSIONAL GOLF The result of the Spalding £ISOO tournament, which was played on the Old course at St. Andrew’s last week, indicates that the winner, David (Dai) Rees, is likely to be prominent in the Open Championship, which will be held on the same course during the first week in July. His score of 300 in the Spalding tournament compares favourably with leading aggregates at St. Andrew’s in previous Open Championships. Rees won from Henry Cotton and R. A. Whitcombe, who tied with 301. Bobby Locke took 309, and Norman von Nida 313. Cotton won the Open Championship in 1934 and 1937, and Whitcombe in }938. In golf the giants are sometimes small in stature, and it is remarkable how many slightly-built golfers can be numbered among the great. Dai Rees, who was born in Wales, stands about 5 feet 5 inches and weighs under 10 stone, but he more than makes up for a lack of inches by superb control and a smooth, effortless-seeming way of striking the ball. At the age of 33 he ranks among the flfst half dozen British professionals. During the war he was a Desert Rat.

J. Haig in Form The outstanding back in the Kai-korai-Taieri Rugby game on Saturday was J. Haig, whose initiative paved the way for the majority of the scoring He played a brilliant attacking game, often in the face of harassing breakaways from the scrum by the fast-moving Taieri forwards, and displayed penetration and ability to sell an effective “dummy” which made him always dangerous. Near the line he cut through a number of times with effect, and in spite of being keenly watched and marked by Taieri, he was always able to send a clean pass from difficult positions to D. Murdoch at first five-eighths. Murdoch played a much more effective game than he did against Southern on the preceding Saturday. He dispensed with the monotonous stab-kicks that had held up the Kaikorai backs so much against Southern, and made some penetrating runs and handled and passed well to position his outside numbers. Murdoch scored 13 points in the game on Saturday, including a neat field goal, to bring his total for the season to over 50 points.

Holding the Lead The Otago women’s hockey team did well to hold King’s to a draw last Saturday, and it now has a lead of two points from King’s in the first round of the A 1 Grade competition. King’s is always a hard team to beat, and for a youthful team like Otago is this season, under the difficult conditions that applied on Saturday, to keep the fast King’s forwards bottled up and to force a draw was an achievement that does full credit to its keenness and the standard of its coaching. It has to its credit victories over Taieri, University and Dunedin, but still has two stiff games to play in the first round when it meets Momona and Training College. The forward line has been strengthened by acquiring the services of J. Tait, the Otago representative player, and the line now combines to make a strong attack. Prominent in defence is C. Cameron, a player from Gore, who, after several seasons in local basketball has now returned to her first love, hockey, and is displaying outstanding soundness in defence. As is the case with most successful teams. Otago depends a great deal on the half-back line, and with M. Henderson, J. Wills and P. Sheddan, it has a trio of hard workers. MATCH-WINNING DISPLAY

Zingari-Richmond’s victory over University B on Saturday was due in no small measure to the aggressive tactics of its centre three-quarter N. Mitchell, who opened up play in the second spell after the University pack had dominated the game before half time. Mitchell showed excellent judgment in kicking through gaps in the defence and was always ready to run in a determined manner when he saw the opportunity. He received good passes from his second five-eighths, and in turn passed

out well to the wing. His fast following up was responsible for at least one try. Mitchell used his head as well as his feet on Saturday and his tactics were, at one stage, so closely copied by the other members of the team that the ball was being tossed about as by a whole side of backs. The best try of the afternoon, and one that has probably not been bettered by any player this season, was scored by A. Fleury, one of the Zingari wings. He took the ball close to the tide line inside his own twenty-five and outstripped the de'ence as he ran to the opposing full-back. In a manner reminiscent of the former Zingari player and All Black winger A. C. Procter, he 'topped, swerved, changed pace, completely beat the full-back, and scored a brilliant try.

IN WORLD CLASS

New Zealand’s walking champion, J. R. Hyslop, of Otago, may be invited to Sydney for the 1947 New South Wales champinoships. Mr H. Hodson, New South Wales member of the Australian Athletic Unoin, made the suggestion at the Sydney Amateur Walking Club’s annual meeting a few weeks ago. He said Hyslop’s times compare favourably with world’s champions. A meeting with the Australian champion, A. Stubbs, would create great interest. Hyslop a member of the Anglican Harrier and Amateur Athletic Club, has been trained througout his career in athletics by J. V. Anderson, the well-known Dunedin coach, and his first entry into competition was made as a cross-country runner.

Long Association with Rugby H. G. Munro, the ex-New Zealand Rugby forward, is the coach of the University A team, the only unbeaten side in the senior competition. “Abie” Munro has had a long association with the game, dating back to his appearance in junior football in Invercargill before the first world war. He played for the Machine Gun Battalion against the Canterbury Battalion while sending in France, and 1920 found him claying for the University Club in Christchurch.- He represented Canterbury in all of its games in the 192021 seasons, and was a member of the side which defeated the South Africans by 6 points to 4 in 1921. Transferring to Dunedin, he played first for the University and then for the Pirates Clubs, representing Otago in thel922-23-24 seasons. He gained a place in the South Island team in 1924, and was a member of the 1924 New Zealand team on its tour of Australia, Great Britain und France. He was a specialist hooker, and his injury early in the tour was a big blow to the side. Munro was also a New Zealand University representative. On giving up active playing he became coach of the Zingari-Richmnnd senior team, a position he filled for several years For many years, however, he has been associated with University teams. Last season he was a New Zealand University selector, and he has also been an Otago provincial selector and coach as well as a member of the Management Committee of the Otago Rugby Union for several years. As an oarsman, he represented Southland against Otago in the interprovincial fours, and nowadays his summer-time recreation is <he encouragement of team marching. He Is president of the Otago Marching and Recreation Association. FAMOUS FIGHT RECALLED Jack Johnson, whose death in a motor accident is reported from New York, won the world’s heavy-weight boxing championship when he defeated Tommy Burns at the Rushcutter’s Bay Stadium, Sydney, on December 26, 1908. The contest aroused enormous interest, heightened by the personal feeling between the rivals. A huge crowd of 16,000 people assembled at the stadium, the receipts totalling £26,000—a record at the time. The history of the fight is soon told. Burns did all that mortal man could do, but Johnson’s superior physique and his great cleverness gave him the advantage from the start. Johnson weighed 13st lOlbs and Burns 12st Oilbs, and the negro simply towered over his opponent. Throughout the contest Johnson laughed and sneered at his opponent and goaded him to fury, and by the ninth round he was giving Burns advice. “Put it here, Tommy,” “ Swing your right,” and so on, to which Burns replied with a contemptuous "yellow dog.” The police wished to stop the fight in the thirteenth round, but Bums declared that he was quite fit and strong, and begged for no interference. Johnson punished him mercilessly in the fourteenth round, and the police here stopped the fight, and the referee (Mr Hugh D. Mclntosh) declared Johnson the winner.

Johnson was 30 years of age when he won the title from Burns, and 37 when, after a chequered career, he was defeated in 26 rounds by Jess Willard at Havana on April 5, 1915. Johnson’s long ring career ended in 1928 with a knockout in four rounds by one Bearcat Wright. He was then 50, but two years later he took part in an exhibition with Philadelphia Jack O’Brien. Johnson was immensely powerful, his strength being of the natural type. His neck, shoulders, chest, and arms were of uncommon dimensions. He stood half an inch over six feet, and one of his favourite diversions when he was training was to let two men hold on to his neck, by which medium he swung them round and round. Johnson was not a boxer of the hurricane order. Vigilant to a degree, he took the measure of his man before putting on the closure. When he developed top pressure, his opponents needed to have their eyes open to avoid the onslaught of the champion, quick as the lightning’s flash.

Athletics in India Hugh Ramsay, who spent five years in India, first with the Indian Army and then with the Royal Indian Navy, has returned to New Zealand firmly convinced of the possibilities of Indians in track athletics. “ They have no idea of training,” he told the writer, “ and frequently ran through a programme from 100 yards to 3 miles." He believes, however, that if they could be persuaded to concentrate on some particular event they would go far in athletics. There is plenty of good material available, especially over 440 yards and 880 yards, but they know nothing of hurdling. “ The Indians are incredibly good at Association football and hockey,” he states, “and the Gurkhas take part in a very strenuous type of cross-country running, known as kud races, climbing up mountains and clambering down cliffs, all excellent training for mountain warfare A good deal of this type of sport is arranged on the North-west Frontier, and the Gurkhas are unsurpassed at it.”

Winter Sport* Day The Otago University Harrier Club has organised a novel list of attractions in conjunction with its annual relay race for the Lovelock Trophy, and the University ground at Logan Park will be the venue of Rugby football, men’s and women’s hockey, women’s basketball matches, and the Lovelock Trophy race. The University B team will meet Pirates A in a senior Rugby match, and University D will play Southern in a Second Grade game. The men’s hockey matches will be between University A and Albany A, and University B will play High School Old Boys Six of the seven University women’s hockey teams, including the A and B elevens, will play during the afternoon, and University A and other teams will engage in women’s basketball matches.

SOUTH ISLAND CHAMPION By defeating the Canterbury representative team at Christchurch recently, Otago became the first holder of the South Island Men’s Indoor Basketball Championship. The match itself was brimful or incident, and notable for the fact that Otago was never in the lead until the last three minutes of the game.

The scores at the end of each quarter reflect the closeness throughoutr-first quarter, 8-all; second quarter, Canterbury 14-11; third quarter, Canterbury 26-25; and full time, Otago 30-26. With the teams so evenly matched, the deciding factor was the tactics employed, and the Otago captain, A. S. Mills, fully justified his appointment to this position by his direction of the team. This was particularly evident by his steadying of the team in the last quarter when he changed the direction of attacking plays from the centre instead of from the flanks. This change of tactics completely upset the strong Canterbury de'ence and enabled Otago to snatch almost literally a last-minute victory. The tight zone defence of Canterbury made it difficult for the Otago front line to penetrate in the early stages, and some difficulty was experienced by the Otago defence in getting the ball through to the forwards at this stage. The tactics then adopted provided for a forward coming further back to receive and the guard moving up to make an extra attacking link. Both L. Williams—when playing guard— and A. S. Mills exploited this “running guard ” game with excellent results. The fast breaks of the players from a defensive position were several times successful in reaching Otago territory before its “five-man” defence system could be established, and on these occasions it was only the solid defence of N. Roberts and the clever anticipation of Mills that checked most of these dangerous situations. In most respects, the warns were evenly matched, the most noticeable difference being in Otago's greater persistency of attack and faster style of play. Canterbury did not haye nearly so many shots at goal, but its degree of accuracy was high.

South Otago Rugby The Senior Rugby Competition in South Otago is now at a most interesting stage. Last season’s winner, Crescent, has been beaten in its last two matches, Clinton scoring a surprise win by 6—3, while last Saturday Clutha came out a winner by 9—6. The position now is that Clutha leads with nine flag points, Crescent is second with eight, Clinton is third with seven, and Toko next with six. Crescent, however, is the only team whch has not yet drawn a bye, and it is therefore probable that next week it will drop to third place. Had Crescent been able to produce a reliable goal-kicker in the match against Clutha last Saturday it must have won, as no fewer than three “sitters were missed in the first 25 minutes of play. Clinton is the mostimproved team in the competition. Besides defeating Crescent and Catlins it held Toko to a draw, and gave Clutha a close match. F. Williams, a fine forward and a brother of the former All Black forward, is displaying excellent form for Clinton, and is a certainty for the Otago Sub-union’s team.

Improved Country Team A Seacliff correspondent writes: " There is nothing like a defeat to put a team on its mettle, and this has proved correct in the case of Seacliff which was defeated by Waikouaiti and Shag Point. Its display on Saturday against Palmerston showed a big improvement, with the forwards displaying some combination. The line-out play of Shaw, Milne, R. Lonie, Kavaney and F. Tod was a pleasure to watch after some of the exhibitions seen this season, and the inclusion of C. Moore at half-back has speeded up the delivery from the scrum. A. Nicholson, at centre, played a sound and attractive game, but had to take some poor passes. A. Eckhold kicked a field goal, and J. Henderson maintained his consistent scoring record with another try —his fourth m successive games. He has keen anticipation which he uses to full advantage.”

L. Haig Reappear* Laurie Haig, the well-known first five-eighths, and brother of J. Haig, made a welcome reappearance for his club, Crescent (South Otago) last Saturday. A leg injury has kept him out of the game up to the present. Playing full-back for Crescent, Haig gave a first-class exhibition, and had an interesting duel with the Clutha and South Otego full-back, P. Shand. When his team was six points down, Haig frequently joined in in back movements, and paved the way for a fine try, as well as kicking a penalty goal. Unfortunately, he received a bad knock at that stage and had to leave the field. It is doubtful whether he will be able to play again this season. SPORT IN GENERAL Bert Oldfield, the Australian Test wicket-keeper, is writing another book on cricket. He is dealing with the art of wicket-keeping and the value of co-ordination between the wicketkeeper and bowler. The work, which is nearly finished, will be published in England. Keen cricketers will remember his other book, “ Behind the Wickets.”, •* * * Eddie Bonis, Queensland Rugby Union hooker, who has represented Australia in 21 tests—an all time record—announced his retirement the other day. He is now an official of the code in Brisbane. * * * A Chinese Association football team may visit Australia this winter. An offer of a tour was received by the Australian Football Association last month Five test matches would be played, and the team would be fully representative of Chinese soccer, ft would be chosen from the best sides in the Shanghai and Hongkong areas. Most likely the Chinese proposal will be accepted. *. * * According to a Sydney writer, Vic Patrick will rest for a month and then prepare for contests with oversea light-weights. As Stadiums, Ltd, are bringing light-weights to Australia, Patrick will concentrate on this division.