SPORTS BUDGET

Southland Times, Issue 25024, 9 April 1943, Page 6

SPORTS BUDGET

Boy Cricketer’s Big Scoring

More than 1000 runs have been made in school cricket this season by J. G. Leggat, the 16-year-old captain of Christchurch Boys’ High School who recently compiled the second of two brilliant double centuries within a fortnight. In latter years, the only other Boys' High School player to perform that feat—one thousand runs in a season—is F. B. Smith, lately of an Army senior eleven.

Leggat’s actual aggregate for 1942-43 matches in which the School eleven has been engaged is 1054 runs, made in 20 innings, four times not out, giving the fine average of 65.8. In addition, he has made 102 runs in Brabin Shield games. During the early part of the season, except for a 78 not out, he scored only moderately though consistently. Then he finished with a rush—--91 not out, 35, 100 not out, 214, 27, 65 not out. and 204. More or less he has had a bat in his hands since he was five years of age, coached and encouraged first by his father, Mr D. R. Leggat, then brought on further at the Fendalton primary school, where he captained the school eleven, progressing latterly to his present high standard at the Christchurch Boys’ High School. Mr Leggat, sen., has represented three provinces, Southland, Wanganui, and Wellington, at both cricket and football, so that possibly accounts for a lot. Not tall, but sturdily and almost squarely built, very quick in all his movements, young Leggat possesses the strokes to deal effectively with practically any type of ball. Footwork and wrist action are good, and behind it all is an equable temperament admirably suited to match cricket. Essentially a team player, a sudden or unexpected dismissal fails to rattle him, and he can keep his men up to the pitch when things are going adversely, as well as when they have rounded up a high total and are certain of victory.

Southland Harrier Champion Robert Hubber, who gained a notable success in the 5000 metres event at the Cairo athletic, championships recently, is a member of the well-known Hubber family of athletes whose deeds on the running track and in road and track cycling brought them high honours in the last few years. Robert Hubber won the Southland crosscountry championship two seasons ago in time which compared favourably with the best registered in New Zealand. He ran the 10,000 metres (6’,4 miles) in 36 minutes. His brothers, Harry and Lloyd, are members of the Invercargill Amateur Cycling Club. Two years ago Harry won the South Island 100 miles championship, and Lloyd, among other successes, was first home in the Round-the-Gorges cycle road race, held in Canterbury. George Muir Speaks George Muir, former Southland and New Zealand heavyweight boxing champion who has had a remarkable run of success in the ring in England, was one of the New Zealanders who broadcast messages home in the latest edition of Radio Magazine. Muir lost a points decision to Arnold Hayes, the Canadian Forces champion on his last bout, but he is confident of reversing the decision when they meet for the third time on Easter Monday. He said he was feeling fit. The Swimming Beadles In the Beadle family of swimmers Southland has a valuable addition to the sporting community. Beryl Beadle is the year’s outstanding junior girl in the South Island. On Saturday night she won the 50 yards backstroke in the good time of 39 4-ssec, and the 100 yards freestyle in 73 3-ssec, which is right up to New Zealand standard. Jean, her sister, is the Southland breaststroke champion and record-holder over 75 yards, and was runner-up in the 100 yards championship. She swam into third place on Saturday in a good finish, and in doing so recorded 67 l-ssec, which is 3sec under the Southland record. Next there is Bruce Beadle, a promising swimmer and diver. He gained third place in the junior boys’ dive on Saturday, making the Beadle family’s contribution of points for Southland in the match against Otago a total of 12. Peter Beadle, the youngest of the family, is a most promising tiny tot who swims in the width races. The head of this sporting family is Mr A. E. Beadle, an energetic and capable official of the Murihiku Club and Southland Swimming Centre. He is always available when needed for any job in the conduct of championship carnivals. The progress of the swimming Beadles will be followed with interest. Americans In N.Z. Rugby? Reference to the possibility of Americans participating in next season’s Rugby was made at the recent meeting of the ’ New Zealand Rugby Union Council. The chairman, Mr S. S. Dean, asked the secretary how far the move to get the visitors into the game had progressed. Mr A. E. Neilson replied that it had progressed so far that he was now awaiting word from the commanding officer. Champion Diver Miss Peggy Strang in winning the intermediate girls’ dive at the Otago-Southland contest, and Miss Joyce Morgan, runner-up. are the first girls to gain a verdict over Miss Mayzod Reed, Otago and New Zealand champion diver, for several seasons. Miss Reed has been unbeatable at times and in January she dived in such perfect style that she looked an outstanding champion. However, on Saturday her diving was not as good as usual and Miss Strang won a close victory over Miss Morgan by .04 of a point, with Miss Reed only a fraction of a point away third. Miss Strang is now coached by Mrs Isaacs, of Dunedin. She goes to school there, but represents Southland in her swimming and diving. May Lose Hand Several bones have been removed from the right hand of Mrs Helen Wills Moody Roark, former American and Wimbledon tennis champion. She injured the hand last January when she attempted to prevent a fight between hers and another dog. The doctors say she may never regain the full use of her hand. She has not played competitive tennis recently, but has appeared in charity exhibition matches. Schoolboy’s Fast Mile

The possibility has been mentioned of an application being made for the recognition as an Empire schoolboy’s record of M. R. Craighead’s performance in the senior mile race at the Christchurch Boys’ High School sports. His time was 4min 28 l-ssec. There is, however, a better performance on record in New Zealand. When V. P. Boot was at Timaru Boys’ High School he won the mile in 4min 26 4-ssec, and the timekeepers were all accredited association officials. The performance at the time was claimed as an Empire schoolboys’ record. C. H. Matthews won the mile when attending the Christchurch Technical College in 4min 29 2-ssec at about the same period. Both Boot and Matthews afterwards won Empire championships.

Champions Reappear Neither J. G. Leckie nor A. A. Cameron has engaged very seriously in athletics in the last few years, but these ex-New Zealand champions were outstanding performers in the field events at the Otago championship meeting recently. Hammer throwers seem to retain their skill longer than competitors in other branches of athletics, and Leckie, who is nearly 40, won this event with a throw of 138 ft Ilin, which is not far below his best efforts. Cameron, who has enjoyed success in nearly every branch of field athletics, contented himself on this occasion with the shot putt and the discus throwing, and he won both of them. A throw of 118 ft 4in was an excellent performance for a rnan who has scarcely handled a discus during the past year.

Jimmy Wilde Injured Jimmy Wilde, former world flyweight boxing champion and one of Britain’s bestknown fighters, was injured recently when German planes bombed a town in southeast England, killing several persons. Wilde, now 51, held the flyweight title for 11 years. He retired in 1922 after losing the championship to Pancho Villa, who knocked him out in seven rounds in New York. Wilde won the championship by knocking out the Zulu Kid in London on December 18, 1911. In 1913-14 he won 39 consecutive fights. Youthful Champion

To the growing evidence that big cricket of the future looks like being well served by boys of today, the Hutt Valley Memorial Technical College has an offering of some brilliance. It is in the exceptional performances of a lad named Cliff Jones, who last week had his sixteenth birthday. Against Levin High School recently he made a score of 122 not out and took seven wickets for 19 runs. Then, captaining his school team against Silverstream College the other day, his brilliance with the bat was shown to even greater extent, his score this time being 195, of which 162 came from boundary hits (three 6’s and thirty-six 4’s). Those who have seen this boy play have no doubt that in him New Zealand has a cricketing son of outstanding ability. His school has just cause to be proud of him, and it is not only for his cricket. Cliff Jones is the athletic champion of his school; he has run the 100yds in 10 3-ssec, has cleared 19ft 6',4in in the long jump, and. has thrown the cricket ball 95 yards. He is also a good swimmer: in fact, a splendid all-rounder, and modest with it all.