A SPORTING MISCELLANY

Thames Star, Volume LXII, Issue 17397, 23 June 1928, Page 5

A SPORTING MISCELLANY

FRGM ALL THE WORLD OVER. SCISSORED, PINCHED & STOLEN. GAMES, PASTIMES/SPORTS, There were more than one in the All J3lacks' match at Johannesburg. Devine, the Transvaal half, was out for two minutes in the second spell as the result, it is said, of a punch on the jaw. . The well-known Auckland crosscountry runner, N. F. Cooper, sustained rather a severe sprain to one of his legs recently, and it is stated that he will not be able to compete again this season. Cooper is regarded as being on a par with J. W. Savidan as a steeplechaser. He is the present cross-country champion of Auckland, having won the title at the end of last season. Savidan did not compete. Cooper's 'inability to run will weaken the Auckland team that will take part in the New Zealand crosscountry champion ships at Wanganui in August. : '

The golfer homeward plods his cheerful way, And leaves behind the bunker and the tec. Oft did the "guttie", to their brassie yield, The divot oft their stubborn cleek has broke; How jocund did they drive across the field; How hent the iron -neath their sturdy ■ stroke. , ■'■ '

This subtle comment' conies from a Hawke's Bay paper in referring to the Wairarapa-iiawke's Bay match on the King's Birthday: "Irvine, looking more portly than ever, sought to intimidate the opposition at times by guttural efforts popular in rural football in the early 'nineties." .

What have Stanley Dean and his assistants in \\ eliington to say regarding the ducks and drakes that were playeu with the All Blacks' scrum formation in South Africa.? So far the'Rugby Union chiefs have observed a strange silence on the question. .. ~

Naturally, there were "incidents" in the Frencii hard-court tennis championships. In the tilth set of the lhatcn between Patterson, and Hawkes" (Australia) and Cochet and Delmzzlet (France j eight-all was called. Then r there was an unfortunate • discussion regarding the score, because the| Australians did not know, French.' Much coniusion followed, and the loudspeaker created a dreadful din. It was a nerve-wracking scene when all were keyed up to the most intense pitch, finally, with France leading 11-10, Debuzziet managed to win his service.

Private messages to "Lock" .from Capetown state that the All Blacks are sauty' missing the, services of lan. Harwho was injured in the first game. He was one of 'the best men on the ground in that contest.

Hawke's Bay Bugby. critics are not enamoured Qi xhis season's play of tne Wairarapa wizard Albert Cooke. It is stated that he does not now infuse the sparkle of 1923-24-2 o into his enorts. immediately tehind him he had Stringfellow, a player held high v in the estimation of the Wairarapa selection, yet he nivoured kicking to passing. ,

Strangler Lewis and Martin Plestina Wrestled th'rbugh the night and when daylight came Lewis gotf one fall. The i'e'leree; awarded him the match and told the spectators to go home. The decision was received with "boos/" and the police were called when and the referee were threatened. During the excitement Lewis smashed Plestina on the jaw with his righthand. Plestina was unconscious lor four minutes.

Waltr Hagen, the hustler, open -golf champion of Great Britain and professional champion of U.S.A., has just achieved a European record for a professional golfer. He completed his third match in three days, and travelled 1000 miles. On May 25 he beat Fred Bob son at Richmond, on May 26 he played in foursomes at x Dublin, and Fred Bobson beat him 1 up on May 28 at Cooden Beach. The Cooden Beach match was a dream of. colour, Hagen wearing a canary pullover, emerald stockings, and black and white shoes. The American flag flew on the clubhouse, and caddies carried Union Jacks and Stars and Stripes. %¥C2\ .