FIELD GAMES IN TIMARU

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18008, 13 July 1928, Page 16 (Supplement)

FIELD GAMES IN TIMARU

THE GAME' IN SOUTH 1 * CANTERBURY.

Rugby football in- South Canterbury «late.s back- very many years. The records show that the first Soufk Canterbury Chib teas formed at a meeting liekl in the Clarendon (notv Empire) Mote!, in April, 1875, so that the pun lias now entered on its 54th year. In the very early days players tvero comparatively few. At the inauguration meeting, the election of oflieers resulted:—President, Mr P. B. Lnxmoore; captain, Mr A. G. Hammersley; secretary and treasurer, Mr CD; S. Eraser. At this stage it is worthy of note that Mr Fraser, who was the first secretary, still’takes an active interest,in the.game, and may be seen on Eraser Park of a Saturday afternoon, acting as official timekeeper. A newspaper of 1875, in an article entitled “Football Under Rugby Rules” stated that the rough work of the football field, with its rallies and charges and scrummages, made a player quick of eye, swift of foot, sure of tread, prompt to take in at one short, sharp glance the size ana strength of his opponent ; to forecast the chances of the coming crash, and to decide then and there how the foe was to lie .met—whether to be rushed at chest to chest and knee to knee, or whether to be foi'ed by some adroit nick of battle. Football was the best possible school for good temper, and “no man should play it who could not lake a- good hearty kick on the shins .without malice, and return ;t when he got the' chance, without vindictiveness.” A favourite method of tackling an opponent in those days was to run at him, providing lie had the ball, and kick him/violently across the shins or anywhere below the knee. This was- quite legal and was called hacking. A lull charge, which meant rushing at an oncoming adversary, and striking him chest . to chest or knee to knee, -was another popular method of upsetting a man, and was considered much safer than the present day method of tackling. At the time of the formation of the South Canterbury Club, it was the general rule to play up to twenty men.—fifteen forwards, two halves, and three backs. The South Canterbury Club played its first match the day after it was formed. sides being chosen by C. S. Fraser and A. Hammersly. Although the latter’s side was - the'hca'vier of the two,' it suffered defeat by two tries and a field goal to four tries. Tn those days a goal was the only scoring point, lo is stated that in one historical game played shortly afterwards the home

POPULARITY OF-RUGBY FOOTBALL

side ran up a score of about 110 points, but the visitors, who had only one goal to their credit, were declared the winners. The first Town v. Country match, which was played on May 15, 1875, resulted in a draw. Although the rules were not familiar to many of the players, the match never-the-lcss gave the greatest satisfaction to the players on both sides, and also to tho spectators, who congregated in largo numbers. Tho first inter-provincial match, played against North Canterbury at Ashburton, May 24, 1875, also resulted in a draw. Gradually clubs sprang up in the country districts, but for some time there were no organised competitions. It was on July 2(1, 18/9, that the Canterbury Rugby Union was formed at a meeting held in the Grosvenor Hotel in Timaru. There were representatives present from the Christchurch, Timaru, Ashburton, and Temuka Clubs, and Air Lewin was voted to the chair. The chairman explained the object of the meeting and handed in a draft set of by-laws. He said the clubs in North Canterbury had already expressed themselves in favour of the formation of an association. If an association were formed its chief object would be to encourage the adoption of the Rugby Union game, and ji.e clubs joining the association would have a better standing and a common aim. They would also secure a fuller and fairer representation of the clilfeient clubs in intcrprdvincial matches. The Christchurch, Eastern Rangiora, Southbridgc, Ashburton, Temuka, and Timaru Clubs were willing to join an association, and had already expiessca their approval of- the*' scheme. It nas then decided to form an association, called the Canterbury Union, .with which, in time, the other provincial districts might be conjoined to form a. union for the Colony. J he secretary was directed to write to the clubs «i the other provinces and ascertain their views with regal’d to the formation cf a New Zealand Union. I t- is worthy of note that- the South Canterbury Union was one of the first to realise the advantage of a federation of the provincial bodies, and it was the first South Island Union to affiliate with the New Zealand Union. As a reward for its enterprise, South Canterbury was given the opportunity to supply two men—C. - N. .Mclntosh and J. 11. Gardner—for a team for Australia, at a time when no other Southern Unions were represented. tThe Union has had. its ebbs and flows in playing strength, high water mark being reached between" 1909 and 1914, when, for several seasons our representatives were not defeated on their

own ground. A lew years ago the Union acquired the freehold of (ho Atlile*..; Grounds, which it had occupied lor many years on a very insecure tenure. Since it li-as secured control, the Uni<>,» has made vast improvements to ti,o area, the chief of which are the en».> tion of a fine big grandstand, and more recently installation of hot mid cold showers lor the convenience of players. The latter system has worked very effectively, and lias been greatly appreciated by players. GAME OF HOCKEY. ATTRACTIVE "WINTER GAME. During the next few months hoc-key is likely to receive a welcome fillip in Timaru through the staging here oi the New Zealand ladies’ tournament. This is but the second occasion cm nhich a tournament of any note lias been held here, and ihe indications are that the interest which the public has for many years manilestecl in the game will ho reflected in the attendances at the various games. The game was placed on ail organised basis, so far as Timaru is concerned, about 1907, but at that time the controlling body was in Christchurch, and the local Association was only a branch. The game continued to prosper, and several teams, both ladies’ and men’s, engaged in tn., competitions. In 1910 it was found that hockey was in such a sound position that control from Christchurch was unnecessary, and caused muc*i needless inconvenience. The local SubAssociation therefore moved to break away from the parent body, but the

laLler strongly disapproved of their action, and it was some time before local enthusiasts had their way. From that time onwards the stick game progressed by leaps and bounds, ami 1913 saw tho game at its zenith. ’Then- came tho war, and hockey players, along with other sports, went to join tho colours. This was' a blow from which the game lias only just recovered. Dailies’ hockey suffered a setback with the substitution of basketball for hockey in the schools, and for a time tiie game in Timaru was dormant so fat” as the feminine sex was concerned. During the last two or three years a distinct revival has taken place in this section. Five-a-side tournaments are held annually, and entries for those are received from all parts of South Canterbury. Tho tournaments in the past have boon well conducted and have provided good sport-. THE WILLOW. TIIE GAME IN TIMARU. Cricket is another sport which, from the very early days, lias claimed a lair measure of support from the public, and which has, of late years, made steady progress. The first recorded match was played at a sports- meeting held in Timaru on January 14, 18G3, when sides were chosen by Messrs F. Wilson and Massey. "Wilson's side com piled the modest total of 74 in two innings, whilo Massey’s team, in their first effort ran up 60 runs. They secured the 14 runs required to win with the loss of one wicket only. At

this stage the game was abandoned, in order to allow the remainder of the sports to bo proceeded with. On March 25 of tho same year, a match was played- between Arowhenua and Timarn, at Arowhenua. Tho country side secured an easy win by an innings and 28 runs. Evidently the original Timarn Club had a short existence, for on October 22 and 29, 18GG, meetings wore held at which it was decided to form a new dub. The newly-formed club played a match against Arowhenua, but suffered defeat by three wickets. Simmonds captained tho Timarn team and Massey the country side. Commenting on tho match, the “Herald” stated that the bowling of E. Dryson and of Forward was deserving of special mention. Cuff, Simmonds and Perry were tho highest scorers, their free hitting being very much admired. The fielding of tho Timarn representatives was anything hut good, and their defeat was generally looked upon ns due to their having allowed their opponents to run up so large a number of byes during their first innings. From that time onwards the game began to develop, but not for many years were organised competitions held. It was in 1908 that the South Canterbury Cricket Association affiliated with the Now Zealand Cricket Council. Up till 1914 the game was in a very nourishing condition, but with the outbreak of the war, a heavy toll was taken on the ranks of the various clubs. During the past six years steady progress has been manifested, and the staging of interprovincial matches and games against touring sides has done much to popularise the sport.

IN THE RING. SOME TIMARU CHAMPIONS. "While little interest is being manifested in the sport of boxing in Timaru at the present time, it is understood that an early effort is to be made to place the sport on the sound footing which was apparent but a few years ago. The Timaru Boxing Association was formed in 1911. The Association did much to foster the sport, by the conducting of- tournaments and the staging of professional contests. In recent years some of the best professionals in the country, and many from overseas, were induced to come to Timaru, and" almost without exception, large houses were recorded. Til the year of its inception, the Association had. hut 25 members, hut a lew years ago the total had risen to 400. Several Timaru hoys have earned fame abroad as professionals. Outstanding among these was Boh Fitzsimmons, who was horn in 'Timaru, and was educated here. For some time he worked in his father’s smithy in Stafford. Street North, land later went to Sydney, where lie soon made a name for .'himself. He afterwards went to America, where lie cameo .. world-wide reputation as a boxer. Of recent years the most notable Timaru product was Eddie Parker, who is still regarded as one of the best heavyweights in the country. Billy E'liott and the Gunn family are other weli-known Timaruvian.s who gained championship honours.