Sports Commentary

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26589, 11 October 1947, Page 9

Sports Commentary

By The Sports Editor _

Opponents for Marr Jackie Marr the Australian light-heavy-weight boxer who is in New Zealand under contract to the Mataura Boxing Club, will be pitted against Colin Honey, the promising Auckland fighter, in his first contest on October 25. The date of Marr’s bout with Darcy Hoffman, of Dunedin, has been fixed for November 15, and it is expected that this contest will be held at the Mataura Recreation Ground. Honey showed such promise as an amateur, and is now trained by the former New Zealand and Australian professional middle-weight champion, Lachie Macdonald, one-time Dunedin boxer. Macdonald will accompany Honey to Mataura for his contest with Marr.

Shaw’s Brilliant Golf ' Some sensational play was seen in a four-ball game on the Miramar golf course last week, in which the professionals A. J. Shaw (professional champion of the Dominion), J. E. Mclntosh, and J. Lambie, and an amateur, J. Shelly, took part. Shaw covered the course, which has a bogey of 71, in 64, his figures reading:— Out 53334433 4—32. In 34433335 4—32—64. The outstanding episode of the game came at the fifteenth hole (420 yards), where Mclntosh, who did the full journey in 70, holed his brassie second shot for an albatross 2 to Shaw’s eagle 3.

Champion Diver’s Aim The New Zealand Swimming Council some time ago set times which swimmers would require to reach if they were to be considered for nomination in the New Zealand team for the Olympic Games. No requirements were named in regard to diving, however, and the Otago Centre has written to the council asking whether it will consider arranging a trial for J. Stewart, the New Zealand men’s champion, or whether it will regard the forthcoming championships at Dunedin in February in the nature of a trial. In the event of the council agreeing to make arrangements for a trial for diving aspirants, Stewart intends to undergo a full-time preparation under the direction of his coach, Mr D. Freeman..

Southland Cricket Tour \ It is possible that a tour similar to that made two seasons ago will again be undertaken this season by the Southland Cricket • Association. The Management Committee of the association decided this week to communicate with the Otago, North Otago, South Canterbury, Mid-Canterbury and Canterbury Associations, inquiring whether they would be able to arrange matches for a Southland touring side. It was also decided to ask Otago to send a team to Southland early this season and to state that the return match at Dunedin would be played during the proposed tour.

Hard Hitting Golfer Miss Zoe Hudson, the Christchurch golfer, who contested the final of the New Zealand women’s championship at Hamilton this week, probably owes her powerful hitting to the fact that she is a farmer. With a brother, she takes care of 116 acres carrying mixed stock and situated just outside Christchurch. During the war, when her brother was on military service, Miss Hudson farmed the property herself and took considerable pride in the number of horses on the property. Because of the work, Miss Hudson does not get many opportunities for golf, but she voted herself a golfing holiday about three weeks ago and ended it with her play at Hamilton. She was the long hitter of the field in the Auckland women’s championship at Titirangi, where she was runner-up. She regularly drove the ball between 180 and 200 yards, a long distance for a woman, and against Mrs G. W. Hollis, her redoubtable opponent in the final, she was more than once 10 and 20 yards ahead on the drive. Rugby Codes Co-operate

Rugby and League players on the West Coast have, at least temporarily, sunk their differences and are busily engaged in raising funds for the Food for Britain campaign. On a recent Sunday a novel football match was played in which Hokitika representatives of the rival codes met in a game to raise funds for one of the West Coast “ Miss New Zealand ” candidates. The first half was played under Rugby Union rules, with 15 players on each side and the second under League rules, with 13 on each side. A second match will be played at the headquarters of the League code, Wingham Park, Greymouth, • to-morrow, when the West Coast League holds its annual charity day. Although the League is taking part in the arrangements, the Rugby Union has officially disclaimed any connection with the matches, which are being organised on the Rugby side by a small group of players. No official comment on the matter is forthcoming from Rugby Union officials in view of the possibility that the status of the players taking part may be affected.