SPORTING and ATHLETIC PREVIEW

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17027, 28 April 1923, Page 8 (Supplement)

SPORTING and ATHLETIC PREVIEW

ODDS AND ENDS OF SPORT.

Blackburn, the New Zealand lightweight, who went- over to Australia in the latter part of last year, and engaged in a number of contests with great success, has returned to New Zealand, it is his intention to have a spell from work for a short period, and then seek a match a two, and afterwards leave for America. In a reference to the Australasian Athletic Union, the “Dominion” says:—lt is not likely that New Zealand will seriously contemplate withdrawal from the union unless, firstly, the personnel of the executive is changed, and, secondly, the headquarters are shifted from Sydney. Mahy years have proved the quality of Messrs >cu übes (president), Rowley (treasurer.), and Marks (secretary), who constitute the executive. it may truthfully be said, so far as New Zealand is concerned at any rate, that Richard (Joombes is the Australasian Union, that so long as he directs its destinies New Zealand will rest content. When, as in the natural course of things he must do, he relinquishes control, much will depend on his successor. But what, after all, would most hasten New Zealand’s withdrawal from the union would be a change of headquarters. They must, of course, always be in Australia. In Australia there is no place for us other than Sv-iney. Between New South Wales and New Zealand there is a sense of close sporting relationship that does not exist between us and the other States. Contact over a long period of years, frequent interchanges of visits in a number of sports, particularly football, and the fact that it is naturally our gateway to Australia, account for this. It is no reflection on tire other States. The fact simply is that they are remote friendly strangers who do not understand its. or yve them, so well as we and New South Wales understand each other. A change of headquarters and the union would at best become a working understanding between strangers—an arrangement that would come to grief on the slightest provocation. There would not in *}hb nature of things be anything of tf give-and-take that characterises the .1 ; at present. Not then, would N< Zeaur.fl willingly put up with a >i ie of all airs that makes us cross the Tasman five times out of six to contest Australasian championships, or that makes our entering the field for the cross-country championships a eheer impossibility. L. R • playing in Nepean district (New South Wales) matches, cap tured the whole twenty wickets in .i match. On the fiiNit Saturday he disthe opposition for folio

this up a week later by getting ten for 35; an average of 3.25. Roland, who won the heavy-weight championship t or Australia by defeating Colin Bell, was knocked out in the twelfth round at Newcastle by Fonce Mexon. The title, however, was not at stake. The Rugby player of the future won’t have long enjoyable “trips” when he ia expected to play for his province. He will simply go out to an aerodrome on Saturday morning, play his match at. say, Auckland or Invercargill, and jaunt home on the Sunday. Not likely? The Harlequins Rugby Football Club flew from London to Cologne on a Friday, played a. match with the Army of Occupation on the Saturday, and flew back to London on the Sunday. Pat M’Donald, the big Now York policeman, once a prominent figure s.t American amateur athletic championship meetings in hammer and shot events, lost bis last record—-the world's indoor record for putting the 161 b shot —on February 24. The winner was R G. Hills, of Princeton University, who did 48ft 9in, which betters M’Donald’s record by lft B£in. When England defeated France re ceutly, Davies, the English half-back, who interrupted his honeymoon to play his final game for England, dropped for goal, but the ball struck a Frenchman. Catching the rebound. Davies tried again, and this time found the posts. The Australian record for a queer fie 11 goal was put up by J. Patterson, cf Queensland, against New South Wales at. Sydney in 1894, says a “ Bulletin writer. Patterson, a forward, was dribbling through the loose when lie trod on the ball. Some amazing chanco sent it well over the crossbar and tho Northerners were credited with a fie In goaL In Doyle (14), Barrett (16), Stuart (16) and Charlton (15) Sydney owns four remarkable boy swimmers (says a Sydney paper). Charlton has proved himself, and, according to Harris, the man from Honolulu, will beat all-com-ers over a journey at the Olympic Games next year, but the other nippers have yet to compete against the topnotchers. Doyle is a freak; though a child in years, he is 6ft tall and weighs over 11 stone. He defeated Barrett and Stuart for the State junior title, but his victims have since notched better times. Barrett dead-heated with George Proudfoot for the supremacy of the Pyrmont club, getting over 100yds in 61sec, and on Saturday be swam 50yds in 24 4-ssec. Stuart has twice hundred insidg^a^r' r ’ "

His stroke is perfect, and he has just the right temperament for competition swimming. Referring to the fact that the Jam Sahib of Nawanagar (“ Ranji ”) was the chief guest at a sports dinner at the London Press Club in January, * J.W.” writes as follows in “ The Australasian ” :—ln reference to the importing spirit accredited to the Indian prince as a cricketer, it is pleasing to relate an incident of a personal nature, and one I shall never forget. Darling’s 1899 team were engaged in their last match of the tour against the Soutli of England, at Hastings, captained by W. G. Grace. The vear had been a hard and dry one. V e had had more than our usual share of accidents, and could not raise eleven sound men. Syd Grefory was too ill to play ; Clem Hill had not recovered from his palypus operation, while Alf Johns had left for home, his father being very ill. As a matter of fact his father died before our second wicket-keeper reached his native land. I had a bad knee, and could not run. but had to play, otherwise we would have been short-handed. Incidentally I still “ feel ” my knee at every atmospheric change. I could only walk between wickets, an ordinary bit of three counting only one. After this had been going on for some time. “ Ranji ” came to me, suggesting that I should ask ** W.G.” for a substitute. Knowing the “old man” well, I refused to act upon the suggestion, as my injury was pot sustained during the currency of the match. It got so much on the nerves of the Indian prince, however, that he asked my permission to personally intercede with the English captain. I granted his request, and confidently awaited the result, which was as anticipated. Coming up to me. and looking quite disgusted, he said. “ May tho Lord preserve me from ever ploying tic game in that spirit.” and walked • away. It was a true index to his character, and it gives me pleasure to be able to personally vouch for his fine e y c; r t sman ship. Unique was the cricket match, Melbourne, between the Rankins o£ Geelong and the M’Conchies of Richmond (writes a “ Bulletin ” correspondent). The Macs won by 69 runs (170- — 101), but they are a team in regular practice who, during their nine years iv. the Southern Cross competition, have been five times premiers, twice second and twice third. To the end of last season they had won 99 out of 114 completed competitive games. The Rankins, on the contrary, do not play re gularlv together, so against such formidable opposition put up a good performance. If it was at football—well, Ted Rankin was Geelong’s star for many years, and the best rover of his time, and his sons are both champions. ■ Jiff was full-back in the A.I.F. Rugby team, and. now Dick Lee has retired, is the best full forward in the A us-

traliah game ; and Bert lias no superior iu the centre, in which position he often represents Victoria. The course of the new stadium at Wembley, which (writes the London correspondent of “The Star”) is to be the finest sports arena in th© world, has not run smoothly. Almost every •day has brought fresh rumours, such as the abandonment of the work ol construction and other disturbing statements. Each has . been proved false, but there are many who say that the huge enclosure will prove a white elephant. At any rate there is no doubt that all will be in readiness for staging of the great cup final at Wembley, and that for the first time this, tlie most important match of the football season, will bo played under conditions worthy of it. There will be accommodation for 125,000 people and every one will be able to see in com fort. Other events to take place at the stadium are also being arranged. Perhaps the most interesting is that contemplated by the British Legion. They have booked July 14 for a great athletic rally, in which it is hoped that all the crack athletes of the world will take part. In fact the aim is to make it a miniature Olympiad with the events run on the team principle. It is, however, a little doubtful whether men will come from South Africa. America and Canada for a one day meeting, and there is the possibility of the extension of the British Legion’s scheme. In July we are almost certain to have a visit from a combined team from Harvard and Yale Universities to oppose Oxford and Cambridge, and it might be possible to embrace this contest in the Legion’s programme. Indeed it is suggested that the festival should be continued for a full week. Mr M. P. Adams, one-tifhe starter for "the Victorian A. A. A., was a spectator at the American Indian championship meeting, held in New York in Feb ruary. He was not impressed with what lie saw, writes “Harrier” in “The Australasian.” The programme consisted of thirteen events, yet the officials numbered ninety-seven. No wonder he says “The supervision by the army of officials was rotten, and competitors in other events than the one in progress, besides trainers and barrackers, actually i an alongside the competitors here and there howling instructions.” The racing is done on a board track, banked slightly at the turns, and ten laps to tho * mile, i.e., one hundred and seventy-six yard in circumference. Despitr the paucity ot runners, the track was at times too narrow to carry the field. In the 800yds (three heats of five men each), it was a free fight for position from the start, and the man who succeeded in getting the •nside running invariably won. The sprinters had wooden cleats nailed to the floor behind the starting line to enable them o get a quick

push-off. Mr Adams was more intei osted in a meeting at the same pl-ue run by the Municipal Athletic Activi ties Committee of the City of New York. The city has an enormous num oer of employees, as the municipality controls the police, fire brigades, education, taxes and assessments. parks, etc., and the Athletic Activities Com mittee (which was formed only “n No vember, 1921) arranges competitions also in basket-ball, ice-skating, swim ming. volley ball. Instructors are provided for those wishing to learn any or the games or exercises.

RUGBY IN BRITAIN.

INTER NATIGN AL MATCHES. (Special to tho “ Star.”) LONDON, March 15. Scotland won their Rugby match against Ireland in Dublin by two goals and a try to a try—-13 points to 3. Scotland however, did not enhance their prospects by their performance. After their superb display in defeating the Welshmen it was expected that they would win with considerable ease, but, although the forwards controlled the plav. getting the ball from nine scrummages out ol : ten, or if they chose, going right through with it. the side were far from convincing. Perhaps the trouble was at stand off half where M’Queen was not in his usual form. He took and gave his passes all right, but he lacked thrust and showed little originality in opening out an attack. As a result the Scottish centre three-quar-ters had few opportunities and even Graeie. the here of the game against Wales, was forced into an inconspicuous part. As a matter of fact Ireland registered tlie first score, but through their forwards Scotland soon gained the mastery and the result was never m doubt. WALES DEFEATS FRANCE. The one crumb of satisfaction Wales have gained from their international, adventures is a victory over trance. They won at Swansea by three goals (one a penalty) and a. try to a goal and a try, but one could only reflect that the game in the Principality is going through a very lean period and that teams of the past would have won tiiis match just as they liked. As it was Wales were only ahead by two points at the interval, and they were actually behind soon after the start of the second half. But in the end the home forwards saved the match. Ihe French eight packed very badly and rarely got the ball, whilst behind the scrummage if the Welsh threes had not blundered so often a considerable score must have been run up against them. The match had unfortunate phases. Not only were blows actually exchanged, but there was a lot of hacking. By the way the

vay the Frenchmen persistently obstruct they are most irritating opponents, and in ether respects too they are iot always fair, but it would have been letter in fa-ce of the provocation they received if the home men had exercised more self-control. Still for the rough passages in the game the Welshmen were not to blame. One was glad to see that one “ incident ” for which a Frenchman was responsible was pointed cut to the referee by the French linesman and that the player was cautioned. IRELAND SCORES OYER WALES. Wesh Rugby football is indeed passing through a lean period and the giant strides which the Association code is making in the Principality is against a speedy recovery. Beaten by England and Scotland the Wesh national fifteen have now lost to Ireland for the first time in eleven years. At Dublin the margin against the Welshmen was only a placed goal to a dropped goal, but they gave a very disappointing display and the frequency with which they were penalised told a plain story of the sore straights to which they were driven to hold their own. The number of free kicks awarded to Ireland was almost a record for an international match, and if they had accepted reasonable chances the home fifteen would have wen more conclusively.