Sports Commentary

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27405, 2 June 1950, Page 3

Sports Commentary

■mm By The Sport* Editor ..t

Otago Speedway Captain Signs Belle Vue Contract

Ron Johnston, Otago’s speedway champion and captain, has arrived in England and has been through his initial speedway trial at Belle Vue, Manchester. Arriving at Southampton on May 8, he was met by a fellow New Zealander, Frank Boyle, of Wellington. Boyle whisked Johnston off to Oxford where he met Bob McFarlane, New Zealand and South Island champion, who, it will be remembered, rode in Dunedin just before leaving for England for his second season. Ron Mason met Johnston at Liverpool and there it was that Mason took complete charge of him. Hustling him off to Manchester, Johnston, riding Mason’s new machine, was put through his successful trials, including a “ sit down,” on the famous 423-yard Belle Vue circuit.

Belle Vue Speedway management has signed Johnston under contract, and in his early stages he will go on tour to Ireland. He has stated that Mason’s machine was a “gem ’ to handle and that Mason has arranged for one identical to his own to be built and supplied to Johnston within the week. A specially tuned JAP motor will be fitted. So far Mason has more than kept his promise towards looking after Otago’s Speedway representative in England. All speedway followers in Dunedin can rest assured that this lad is in capable hands, and Mason has, there is little doubt, been in no small measure responsible for the interest the powerful first division Belle Vue Speedway has displayed. Belle Vue, of course, is Masop’s home track as it is also home to Jack Parker, world renowned and England’s most famous speedway, rider. Mason, it will be recalled, substantially helped to put Dunedin’s Tahuna Speedway and its riders to the fore in New Zealand. Johnston is due back to ride in Dunedin by mid-November.

High Standard Attained Natalie Nicholls. the New Zealand basketball representative, was playing at the top of her form last Saturday when her team registered a good win against High School Ex-girls. This player's covering of the court is remarkable and her spectacular control of the ball is the envy of all basketball players. When both are combined with accurate shooting, as was the case last Saturday, the play reaches a standard unsurpassed in any part of New Zealand.- ' On the opposing side R. Howe was the most prominent member of the Ex-girls’ forward third last week. Her positional play was excellent and she had more success than her copartners in evading the strong University defenders. Her passes into goal were well-judged while her shooting at goal showed a greater degree of accuracy. Altogether, her performance was a creditable one. Growing Popularity

Fifteen teams are taking part this season in the South Otago Basketball Sub-association’s competitions. There are seven A Grade and eight B Grade teams and the sport is undoubtedly increasing in popularity—perhaps at the expense of women’s hockey. The South Otago district does not include Milton, which is the headquarters of a separate sub-association, and there, also, the number of teams is increasing each season. After three series of matches, Kaitangata and Waiwera are the only unbeaten A and B Grade teams respectively in the South Otago competitions. Clutha Valley, which won the A Grade last season, has so far not won a match this year. Superior Defence

In the game against High School Ex-girls last Saturday, the University basketball team showed marked superiority in the defence third. The team was without the services of M. Barrett, who has played well so far this season, but her position was ably filled by L. Deacon, who gained a place in the Otago representative team last year. B. Fleming, who is enjoying her first season in the senior team, is developing along sound lines and is proving a player of undoubted worth. Her support on Saturday was of marked ability. To Teresa Reardon. however,, must go the honours of the day’s play. This player’s anticipation, speed, and sure handling of the ball .prevented many goals from being scored. She was, without doubt, the best defence on the field.