Sports Commentary

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27229, 4 November 1949, Page 4

Sports Commentary

By The Sports Editor

Acquisition To Old Boys The return of A. W. Roberts to the High School Old Boys cricket team this year should give this comparatively young side a welcome fillip. Roberts has oeen a well-known figure in New Zealand cricket for many years, having been a member of the team which vis-ited England in 1937. He was captain of Old • Boys two seasons ago, but his transfer to Alexandra kept him out of big cricket last year. Although still working in Central Otago, he intends coming to Dunedin each week-end. Last Saturday Roberts took three wickets for 65 against Grange in a total of 379 runs. This in itself was a .satisfactory start for the beginning of the season, but as his batting abilities have always caused him to be regarded with respect by opposing bowlers he may yet take a further part in what promises to be a particularly interesting match. Happy Memories News from Wellington is that the cx-New Zealand representative and Otago Plunket Shield player, G. R. Dickinson, appearing for belt Help in the Wellington Mercantile League B Grade cricket competition, made 125, the innings including many boundaries. Although it is many years since Dickinson lett Dunedin, local cricketing enthusiasts recall withy pleasure lus numerous outstanding bowling performances for Otago, as well as for New Zealand, and the many exhilarating batting displays lie gave in club and representative cricket. No one who was present will ever forget his memorable performance against V. ¥, Richardson's team on February 24 and 25, 1928, when, playing for Otago, he took seven wickets for 96 runs, his victims being W. H. Ponsford (148), W. Woodfull (107), A. F. Kippax (38), V. Y. Richardson (2) K. J. Schneider (3), R. K. Oxcnliam (0), and W. A. Oldfield (0). No Bowling Trials Nominations for the New Zealand bowling team to compete at the British Empire Games next year will close with the secretary of the New Zealand'Bowling Association, Mr h. A. Hosking, on November 30. It has been decided to hold no trials. The selectors, Messrs Hosking and M. J. Walsh J. R. Smith (Christchurch), and, W. F. Hadwin (Wellington), will meet early, in December to decide the team, which will comprise seven players. The 22 centres will be allowed to nominate one bowler on the basis of one for each 1000 oi the bowling population. Centres having fewer than 1000 members will still be permitted to nominate one. player. The player s event and position, and record in important tournaments over the last three years must accompany the nomination. No player will be allovved ,to compete in more than one event.

Southland Athletes . Seek Recognition

With eight individual clubs and a membership of 170 active athletes, the Southland Sub-centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association feels that the time is overdue for recognition as a centre. The sub-centre, reorganised from a defunct body to an active and enthusiastic organisation within five years—mainly the result of good work by Messrs A. L. Tresidder and A. D. Rowse—has made more than one application in the past season or two for that recognition, says the Southland Times. For some obscure reason —obscure in the, eyes of local athletic enthusiasts—the application has been deferred ’Ey the controlling body, the writer continues. Southland, as part of the Otago Centre, is obliged to transact all its business through the Otago Centre. Delays in attention to applications, and possibly a lack of appreciation of the local position by Otago officials, have caused much upsetting of plans in Southland. At least 10 letters, it is stated, have not been replied to by Otago. , , . The position is now intolerable, and the sub-centre, before it is much older, is determined to get its case before the New Zealand Association, the Invercargill writer adds. Southland is strong enough to paddle its pwn canoe in amateur athletics, and it is time Otago supported its application for consideration for centre status. Too Many Strokes

Arthur GoundriH, the famous British one-armed billiards player, is a man who smiles his way through life in spite of his infirmity. Billiards is not his only game. At golf his handicap is 16. In Scotland recently he aid not disclose this when a local 14-handi-capper offered him a round on the links. “ How many strokes would you like? ” Goundrill was asked. “ What about a stroke a hole except at the short 3’s? ” he replied. “ Surely, if you think that is enough,” came the doubting answer Bogey for the first three holes was 4,5, 3. Goundrill did them in 4,6, and a devastating Z to become 3 up. When he was 6 up at the ninth hole his bewildered opponent protested mildly: “ You did not tell me you could play like this,” “ Oh, it is an easy course,” said Goundrill, thinking to let him down lightly. Instead came the explosive reply: “Where do you usually play, in the Alps? ” New Plant For Rowing Clubs Both the Queen’s Drive and Otago Rowing Clubs have been advised that their orders for plywood racing fours in Australia have been completed and should be delivered to the clubs by the end of November. When these boats arrive, all the local clubs will be equipped with plywood fours and all will be on an equal footing at the various regattas, whereas last season sfome clubs were still using the old clinker boats and others were racing in the new carvel built plywood craft —the latter are considerably faster than the, older type of skiff. It is good news, too, to learn that the Otago Club has had advice that its eight-oared boat and single sculler, on order with G. Sims and Son, England, are completed and ready for shipment. . The club is making every effort to have these boats in Dunedin for Christmas. The Otago Rowing. Association is also doing its best to ensure the delivery of 14 sets of oars and 9 sets of sculls which have been completed by Sims and Sons for the major part of this season. At present all the local clubs are extremely short of good racing oars and sculls and anything the association can do to relieve this position will certainly be readily appreciated by the clubs Noted Oarsman Transferred F. ("Mick”) Brough, who made a name for himself in rowing in Otago and Now Zealand championship competition as well as overseas, has been transferred from the Invercargill Telegraph Office to Gisborne on promotion. He should be a great acquisition to the East Coast Rowing Association if he can be induced to assist the sport in Gisborne as a coach.

Brough won many senior races in Otago, as stroke of crews from the Otago Rowing Club. He stroked the Otago Club crew comprising himself, J. Werges, C. J. McAra, and P. S. Anderson to victory two years in succession at New Zealand championship regattas. Besides a very successful visit to Australia, he also stroked the Otago representative eight to victory on several occasions. In 1930 he was stroke of the New Zealand Eight which finished second to England in the Empire Games at Hamilton, Canada, and stroke of the winning four with cox.

In later years he has taken a very keen interest in the administrative side or the sport both in Otago and Southland, besides coaching younger oarsmen. Both Werges and McAra, are still keenly interested in the sport they have served so well.