Athletic Sports

Southland Times, Issue 22915, 13 June 1936, Page 10

Athletic Sports

RUGBY FOOTBALL TO-DAY’S GAMES STAR v. INVERCARGILL The second and final round of the Galbraith Shield competition begins this afternoon. Two of the senior games will be played at Rugby Park and the other, between Albion and Mataura, at Gore. The draw brings the undefeated Invercargill side and Star together for the second time. In the first round Invercargill had matters much its own way in this game. The Blues showed combination and easily outplayed a disorganized Star team. To-day there should not be the same disparity of strength between the sides. Star has gradually developed its back play and may prove fully equal to holding the Invercargill backs. If it can then there should be a good duel between two good packs of forwards. There is no question about Invercargill’s strength forward, and it is known that Star is always able to field a good pack. Star will make a bold bid to be the first team to score a win over Invercargill. Both sides are reported to be up to full strength, while Invercargill has been strengthened, if anything, by the inclusion of G. Baird in the three-quarter line. Baird represented Southland on tour last year and was shaping well when he received a leg injury which kept him out of play for most of the games. His dash should be welcomed in a back line which hitherto has not compared with the pack in merit. Pirates and Marist meet in the cur-tain-raised. BADMINTON FAMOUS PLAYER’S VISIT. PLEASED WITH STANDARD IN NEW ZEALAND. Definite hopes of the future of badminton in New Zealand are held by J. F. Devlin, winner of the All England singles championship for six years between 1925 and 1931, who arrived in Invercargill last evening on a coaching tour of the Dominion. The game is in its infancy in this country, and his visit is the first opportunity New Zealand players have had to mould their games on that of a world champion. For that reason, even if Mr Devlin did no more than play exhibition games, his tour would be of great educational benefit. However, he has come in the capacity of a professional, and his lectures and coaching have been the subject of much enthusiasm among northern players. In an interview with The Southland Times after his arrival from Queenstown last evening, Mr Devlin said that he had,not yet seen enough of New Zealand players to criticize them at any length. “Taking into consideration the difficulties under which the game has been developing in New Zealand, though, I think the general standard is excellent,” he said. Most players played only once a week, and the halls were not suitable for the game. And, what was very important, they had had to develop their own styles. They had had no visitors whose play they could study. The keenness everywhere was wonderful, he continued, and he had been given every reason to expect a marked improvement in stroke play and tactics. “It might not be immediate,” he said, “but your players are so keen to learn that they must benefit from what I have been able io show them.” The Game in Canada. Mr Devlin was a member of the British teams which toured Canada in 1925 and 1930, and when he turned professional in 1931 he became coach to the Winnipeg Winter Club. “The game is booming in Canada," he said. There were about 60,000 people playing it, and hundreds of thousands of dollars had been spent pn the building of halls fitted with special hardwood floors, lounges, and fittings of the most luxurious type. Spectators were able to watch the play from lounges through specially arranged windows. “Conditions in Canada are the best in the world,” he said, “and the game there has been improved wonderfully.” When Mr Devlin toured the country in 1925, as the All England champion, he was much better than any of his opponents. When he returned in 1930, however, he found stern opposition, and that improvement had been maintained, he said. Mr Devlin is also a keen tennis player, having until recently played regularly in tournaments. Badminton helped a tennis player, he said, and it was usually the case that a good tennis player played badminton well. The indoor game had a definitely beneficial effect on volleying, serving and all other overhead tennis work. Three of New Zealand’s best players are touring with Mr Devlin for exhibition purposes. Jack Neale is the national singles champion, and, with Ron Hull, who arrives from Auckland by aeroplane to-day, the holder of the doubles title. The third New Zealander is Pat Wilson, of Auckland, a former singles champion. They are all young players, and their comments last evening indicated that their tour is teaching them a game which they thought they knew fairly well. The visitors will open their Invercargill programme this evening with exhibition matches among themselves and with local players. Additional lighting has been installed in Zealandia Hall, extensive seating accommodation has been arranged, and as much attention given to detail as far as playing conditions are concerned as was possible. On Monday and Tuesday evenings Mr Devlin will give lectures and demonstrations on the court, illustrating his points with blackboard drawings. The Invercargill players taking part in the programme will be Mrs E. Salisbury, Mrs M. Clarke, Misses M. Woods and J. Falconer, and W. S. Strang, J. Padget and L. Gray. BASKETBALL KIWI TEAMS FOR TO-DAY. First grade.—E. Smith, C. Jackson, J. Watson, A. Pittaway, D. Lainchbury, L. McLachlan, W. Clarke, B. Ingram, N. Jenkins. Second grade.—B. Watson, D. Donovan, A. Paterson, G. Frew, D. Pomeroy, D. Bryan, E. Ingram, R. Patterson, G. Clarke. Third grade.—B. Cosgrove, I. Parry, A. Nicholl, L. Millar, H. Harvey, J. McLachlan, I. Ramsay, M. Cowie, I. Brass. Fourth grade.—E. Harper, V. Grieve, K. Mitchell, I. Hope, E. Forde, D. Crowe, A. Thompson, N. Wyatt, M. Storrie. /

WRESTLING MEHRINGER defeats zaharias. (United Press Association.) Nelson, June 12. Pete Mehringer defeated Chris Zaharias on points after a fair bout, which went the full distance. Each secured a fall, the former in the third round with a flying tackle and a dump and Zaharias in the sixth round with backslams.