SPORTING.

Southland Times, Issue 19511, 10 May 1922, Page 3

SPORTING.

NOTES BY SIR MODRED. Canterbury Park Trotting Club Winter entries are due at noon to-day. The Egmont R.C.’s Winter meeting opens to-day and continues over Thursday. Nominations for the Dunedin Jockey Club’s Winter fixture are due on Friday next. The Ashburton County R.C.’s Autumn meeting opens on Friday next and continues over Saturday. Mr W. Stone parted with Primum, having presented the son of Nassau to an enthusiastic young sportsman. It is understood that several northern sportsmen intend assisting at the sale of Mr G. Hunter’s trotting stud auction at Wyndham to-day. Good flat racehorses generally run well when first raced over the battens, hence Vagabond (10.10) reads attractively in Wanganui Century Hurdles. i It is understood that A. McLellan will race Downcast and Blue Chimes at the New Brighton Trotting Club's Winter meeting on May 18 and 20—Thursday and Saturday of next week. The Southland-owned pacer Bellfashion looked to have lightened up very much when he raced unsuccessfully at the Forbury Park T.C.’s meeting last week. Iu the meantime, the handicapper is keeping the son of Bellman alongside some useful horses, Wild Briar, for example, in firstclass company. At last week’s meeting of the W'inton ■ Jockey Club (reports Winton Record) it was decided, after a lengthy discussion on details, to proceed with the erection of the new stewards’ stand. The building will be thoroughly up-to-date in every respect. Several Invercargill experts who have seen the plans speak well of the lay-out of the buildings, at the same time suggesting minor improvements. It may not be generally known that Helenwood, winner of the First Amateur Handicap at Forbury Park last week, was bred by a Southlander, Mr A. Drummond, of Five Rivers. The aged daughter of Wildwood Jnr. —Lady Helen, who races in the colours of that good judge of square-gait-ed performers, Mr W. T. Lowe, of Tinwald, will probably be heard of again, as she is a dashing, speedy mover. Her quality must have been thoroughly realised by her connections, as she started first favourite in her winning essay at Dunedin. The four-year-old mare Bebehead, by Birkenhead—Bebe, who was bred at the Waikanae Stud, Wellington, goes back to that location as a matron, and her owner has secured a Boniform yearling to take her place. The Trentham-trained horses Blackhead, Callaghan, and Island, have been nominated at the Oamaru meeting, which takes place at the same time as the Wanganui meeting. Vagabond has been engaged in the Kaitoke Hack Hurdles, £250 (12m.), to be decided on the first day of the Wanganui Jockey Club’s Winter meeting this week. Judging from some of th# prices realised at the Sydney sales, the blood-stock market in Australia appears to be in a healthy state. Three of- the first batch of yearlings by imported Magpie totalled 2450gns. Valais (Cicero—Lily of the Valley) was also represented at the sales for the first time this season, and two of his stock have brought 1825gns. He did one season at the stud in England, where last season he was represented by four winners of six races. The Wairarapa correspondent of the N.Z. Sporting and Dramatic Review reports that while being schooled over the brush fences recently Lord Nagar met with an accident which will lay him aside for some time. ‘Mr Kemball has a private steeplechase ground for his horses consisting of a few fences and it was while the Australian-bred gelding was at exercise that the mishap occurred. He had jumped the big country well, but on the occasion referred to he was run off at the brush by one of his stable companions and struck the wing, of the jump with his shoulder. A nasty gash was inflicted and it will take some considerable time to mend. In fact it may prevent the gelding racing again this season. Lord Nagar had been up but a short time after a lengthy spell and was going along nicely in his work and it is hard luck for Mr W. Hawthorne to lose his services, The speedy Absurd gelding Golden Bubble, was given a lesson over the pony hurdles at Ellerslie recently, and although he negotiated the fences safely, he did not seem to relish his task. However, he should do a lot better when he gets a little more confidence. At Lexington, Kentucky, on February 26, the first foal of the great American horse, Man o’ War arrived at the Hyland stud. The first bom of the fomous racehorse is a bay filly out of Masquerade, by Disguise. Masquerade is owned by Mr S. D. Riddle, who also possesses Man o’ War, Picardy, who won the Combermore Highweight Handicap Plate, of £3OO (seven furlongs) at the Chester meeting, for His Majesty the King, is a son of Pic ton, sire of the Southland stallion Fleetham. In conversation with “Argus,” the Christchurch Star scribe, during the progress of the Forbury Park T.C. meeting last week, Mr M. J. Hannon, owner of that good pacer Abert Cling, stated that the Young McKinney gelding is at present looking particularly well. The gelding, who was recently reported to have died at Oamaru, stall shows ■igns of his dislocated hip trouble, but moves soundly, and he is to be jogged on the tracks to see if he will stand another preparation. In the Innovation Handicap, on the first day of the Forbury Park T.C. meeting last week, Peter McKinney, who finished well out of a place, was asked to give the winner, Clonmel, a start of 216 yards over two miles. On the following day, in the Peninsula Handicap (two miles) Clonmel had to concede 12 yards to Peter McKinney, who *beat the Invercargill horse by two lengths. On the opening day thirteen investments were recorded on Peter McKinney, while in the Peninsula Handicap on Saturday the Canterbury performer carried 1641 chances in the legalised wagering machine. Charles O’Mally, sire of Zinovia, Chartebelle, and many other winners, has died at the Greenfields Stud, Tipperary, Ireland, following a fracture of his left hind leg. Raced by Mr A. P. Cunliffe, the horse some years ago was acquired by a syndicate for, it was said, £50,000. He was very heavily insured. Mr W. Stone, who was out in the back blocks of the wild Fiordland for about ten days with a combined sheep-mustering and shooting party, returned to Invercargill on Monday night, when he learned for the first time that Roceday had won a race at the Timaru meeting. The travellers had an enjoyable time in the mountains, and, after gathering in about 3000 long wools, shot some big game, as represented by wild cattle and pigs-

FOOTBALL. APPOINTING THE SELECTORS. WHAT WILL BE DONE TO-NIGHT? (By “Censorious.”) To-night the management committee of the Southland Rugby Union will have under consideration the appointment of three selectors. This was promised at the meeting of the committee. The number of the selectors if already fixed, but there are some important points which the committee should gravely ponder on before they settle the personnel of the trio which will select the representative fifteens of the season. It is necessary, of course, that the selectors should be in close touch with the players and that they should be able to collect a fifteen which will be able to carry out the style of play required by the tactical schemes of the selectors. Mr J. W. Stead, on whose head fell much criticism last year, should still be available this season, and it is improbable that the union will consider any selection, committee which does not include him. The troubles of last year were not of his making although he fought the battle of his colleagues on what I believe to have been a mistaken idea of the duties of the selectors in regard to coaching. I could not agree with Mr Stead last year, but with others to aid him this season I feel confident that the union will find in him a careful and a satisfactory selector. Of equal importance, however, ie the necessity for a closer connection between the selectors and the players. Some little time ago I referred to the long-standing fault of rugby in this country: the dearth of captains clothed with authority. Matches have been lost so often because captains have not had sufficient authority and have not been made aware of tactical plans until too late that the importance of these matters need not be emphasised at this stage. It seems, however, that the present time offers the opport-unity for a stroke which will ensure two things at least: (1) that the captain will receive the status he requires; (2) that he will have a voice in the tactical schemes to be attempted and in the men who are to aid him in carrying them out. In addition the connection between the team on the field and the selectors would be preserved. This can be done by having as one of the selectors a player who is to be the rep. captain. Revolution aiy ? Not so revolutionary as it sounds. It has been tried in other team games with success. In football when a team is on tour the captain is one of the committee on tour which selects from the touring twenty or so players the actual fifteens to go on to the field and he has some knowledge of the tactical schemes. Why, therefore, should the union not adopt this policy for teams playing for the province on the home ground.' There will be no difficulty this : year in selecting the player who is best fitted to lead the team and that difficulty is out of the way. If he is not put on the selection committee the chance of giving the Southland fifteen a captain capable of being a real captain will be lost, and rep. play will suffer. The management committee will have the chance to-night to take this step; if they do not take it they will lose a golden opportunity, committing a mistake which will militate against the chances of the Southland fifteen in its big rep. programme this year. The third man What is wrong with the coach? THE AMENDED RULE. THE CORRECT VERSION. In yesterday morning’s issue reference was made to an apparent contradiction in regard to the new kicking into touch rule sanctioned at the recent annual meeting of the N.Z.R.F.U. and played in last Saturday’s matches in Invercargill. The actual working of the clause, which is an addition to Rule 12, is now available and shows that the jule quoted by the Wellington “Dominion” is incorrect. The correct wording of the new rule is as follows: ‘When the ball pitches in touch from a kick, other than a penalty kick, from beyond twenty-five yards of the kicker’s goal line, the opposite side shall bring it out as in (a) at a spot opposite the spot where the kicker was when he kicked the ball.” EASTERN DISTRICT RUGBY. TO-MORROW’S MATCHES. The following fixtures have been arranged for the Eastern District Sub-union’s competitions to-morrow: — FIRST GRADE. Pioneer v Wyndham at Gore, No. 1 at 3.15 pm.. Mataura v Edendale at Mataura at 3 p.m. Albion a Bye. SECOND GRADE. Albion v Pioneer at Gore, No. 2, at 3 p.m. Edendale v Mataura at Edendale at 3 p.m. Seaward Downs v Pukerau at Seaward Downs at 3.15 pm. Wyndham a bye. THIRD GRADE. Wyndham v High School A at Wyndham at 3 p.m. Pioneer v High School B at Gore No. 3 at 2 p.m. Edendale v Albion at Edendale at 2 n.m. Mataura a bye. CRICKET. AUSTRALIANS’ VISIT TO NEW ZEAZEALAND. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) PERTH, May 9. Mayne and O’Keefe state that they are going to England on business only, and returning in September. ENGLISH COUNTY CRICKET. LONDON, May 8. (Received May 9, 5.5 p.m.) Yorkshire with a score of 112 and 12 for one wicket, beat Northampton, 81 and 42. MacAulay took six for 8 and five for 23. Rhodes in the second innings took four for 2. NVddlesex 107 and 73 for no wickets beat Cambridge 128 and 51. Durstan took six for 29, including the hat trick. A. H. White, formerly at the Geelong Grammar School took four for 27 for Cambridge. Lancashire 424 (Makepeace 96, E. Tyldestey 93) beat Glamorgan 68 and 159. Parkins took six for 16. Notts 306 and 26 for one wicket defeated Leicester 150 and 181. Warwick 138 and 209 defeated Worcester 145 and 120. Sussex 173 and 218 defeated Ham pah ire 73 and 256 for two wickete, Bowoll 126 not out, BASKET BALL PRIMARY SCHOOL GAMES. The first games of the round wore played on Friday the senior results being as follows: Middle(26) v. South (6) Waikiwi (40) v. North A. (8). Waihopai (48) v. North B. (2). Bluff (121 St. George (31.

JUNIOR. South (23) v. South (4). Waikiwi (21) v. Bluff (3). North (37) v Middle nil. Detailed reports of the games will appear in Saturday’s issue.

TENNIS. THE SYDNEY TOURNAMENT (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) SYDNEY, May 9. (Received May 9, 9.50 pm.) The tennis tournament was continued in fine, cold weather. In the mixed doubles championship semifinal Sieler and Miss Gray beat Peach and Miss Curtis 6-3, 2—6, 6—3. Miss Gray’s play was the chief factor in the victoiy, her smashing and lobbing being excellent. Sieler was a dynamo of energy, and he seemed to be everywhere. He was particularly proficient in net play. Miss Curtis volleyed in her customary manner, but was showing signs of stateness. The first set was level pegging till the sixth game. Their opponents turned the tables in the succeeding set, mainly through Peach’s effective smashing. Miss Gray’s excellent tossing in the third set won the match. In the final Darby and Mrs Rendall beat Sieler and Miss Gray 6—2, 6—4. In the men’s doubles championship Clemenger and Kirkpatrick beat Henderson and Utz 4—6, 4 —6, 6—l, 6—2, 6—4. In the mixed doubles handicap Green and Miss Green beat Witham and Miss Colquhoun 4—6, 6—2, 6—l. In the men’s doubles handicap Wood and Fowler beat Green and Hartgill 6—3, 4 —6, The New Zealanders intend returning by the Ulimaroa on May 20.