Sport and Sportsmen

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17474, 27 February 1925, Page 3

Sport and Sportsmen

ljs NEWS, GOSSIP AND COMMENT e|

S ar

“ONLOOKER .”

3 ifth test begins in Sydney to-day. Many Wellington cricketers are incensed because the provincial selector bas tailed to put Einlayson, lizard and Condliffy in the eleven to meet Victoria. The score of 400 runs which the East Christchurch senior eleven made against West Christchurch last Saturday is the highest single innings total made in senior cricket (A Grade) in Christchurch this season. Why not leave the name “ All Blacks*’ to the Dominion's Rugby representatives? The latest fad ol : terming the New Zealand rowing eight the “ All Black eight” is ridiculous. Next wo shall have the “ All Black cricket eleven.” * * All Black tennis duo,” “ All Black brass hand.” and 44 the All Black Champion Booster.” The accident recorded as happening to the All Black Richardson in Vancouver recalls that which occurred to Whatman, the Wairarapa three-quar-tcr. when playing for Wellington against Stoddart’s English team in the eighties. Spectators of that match state that the break could be distinctly hoard on the ground. Getting on for twentv years ago there was a peculiar stumping incident in a match, between Otago and Canterbury. T. Reese Mas backing up very keen] y, for runs were precious ut that moment. Downes was tbe bowler, and finding Reese was picking up a few runs by getting a flying start, lie broke Reese’s wicket while lie uas out of liis ground. The only man in the world who has taken the knock-out from a fowl. A St Albans resident claims the title. The other morning his better half set him on to catch a lien for the family pot. All went well until the rooster interfered. It raised its comb, screeched, and ripped a piece out of dad’s leg with its spur. The wound was so painful that he had to be helped inside. A cricket engagement for that afternoon went by default. An extra shade of bad luck and Victoria might easily have been beaten ii\ the first game of their New Zealand tour. With two down for 272, Otago declared their second innings closed, leaving the visitors JG2 to make 1o win and only and hour to go. Dickinson nearly upset Victoria’s applecart. Bowling at top he levelled thx wickets of Mavne, Willis. Wallace ?/.id Eh cling. The whistle of the Invercargill train blew' at 4 p.m. and the Australians got away with a draw, and a sigh of relief. New Zealand’s lion-hearted athletes larc not all in football togs. 'lake the case of G. S. Bright, a young North Islander. The other Saturday afternoon at 2.15 lie took Iris place in a one-mile cycling championship at the sports gathering at Athletic Park, Wellington. About an hour later he contested an open double sculls event at the Mollies Shield rowing regatta, ami succeeded in winning the event. Not satisfied with those two strenuous performances, he made his way back to Athletic Park, and was one of the prominent competitors in a two miles cycle handicap at 4.30 o’clock. In a keen tussle for third place he was ■upset at the finishing post, but his hardened condition served him in good stead, and he was quickly on his feet, none the worse for liis fall and littlo ■ affected by a. strenuous afternoon’s exercise. Bright was third in the New Zealand sculling championship and first in the single sculls at Picton. He is a splendid tvpe of athletic enthusiast. Newspaper reports quote Nepia having played in every match, tbirtv altogether, of the All Blacks’ tour, and suggest that the feat is without precedent. In point of fact (says an Australian critic) Tom Ellison, a member of the first M.L. team to visit England, and the finest forward of all time, in my opinion. played m sixty-six games. the Intel being seventy-five. Writer himself took part in sixty-five. To us of that 1 88S-S9 side thirty matches would have been like a picnic trip. Tt can be easily imagined that training was unnecessary in 1888-89 ; what might in other circumstances have been considered excessive hospitality alone kept the fellows from going stale. Slier- I ry Vynyard, one of the best forwards of the team, is now living at Drunimoyne (X.S.W.); to look at him now it is easy to remember him, as I do— . always on the ball, and Heaven hoi]) tbe man in front of him.

The New Zealand golf championship will be held at Shirley this year—Sc, tenrber 25 to October 3. Kyle, of Ilutt Valley, is claimed, by Wellington athletes to be one of the best of the Dominion's quarter-milers of all time. t * Bookmakers have a limit : so should cricketers.”—The comment of a Christchurch man ufter reading about tlic huge scores in Sydney. The cablegrams told us the other day that at a cricket match in Australia the crowd became intoxicated with excitement and cheered Tate wildly.—Hie, I-lic, Hurrah! D. Pelham, one of the Aucklanders who has been swimming in Christchurch this week, with some success, made a good impression among northern Rugby enthusiasts last winter, lie played five-eighths for Ponsonby seniors. There is a marked tendency on 1 lie pint of Australian tennis writers to omit the name of Patterson from their forecasts for this year’s Davis Cup team. Gerald was mostly a flat failure in the United States last November. Ii has started. The Victorian, cricketers now in New Zealand are already ladling out praise lor .such-and-such a howler or such-and-such a batsman— the fortunate player is worthy of inclusion in any first-class side and so on. Meanwhile Dunedin. Invercargill or Taihape, as the case may he, preen themselves on the wonderful prodigy in their midst. If the tale hail .not been told so often. Me would relish, it more. The trouble in the ; past has generally been that the “marvel ” gets a swelled head, housemaid’s knee or a swollen girth, and the promise of a brilliant future does the soap-bubble trick. A novel athletic event is to be put on in connection with the St Patrick's Sports Association's meeting next month. This is a four or five mile point-to-point walking race. The matter was brought before the executive of the association this week by Mr J. J. Stephens, and they decided to adopt j the proposal. Mr Stephens suggested that; the course should be from the Bush Inn, down the Riccarton Road to Ilagley Park, thence round the park to the Carlton Hotel, then along Bealey Avenue to Colombo Street, and so along Colombo Street to English Park. It is expected that the finish at the park will create a great deal of in-, tcrcst. A parson was travelling in ilie tram with a victorious golf team. The bottle I and the flask circulated freely, and the golfers, flushed with victory and whisky. became mildly hilarious. At length the patient clergyman bestirred himself to sow a little seed. “ Gentlemen.” lie began, hesitantly. “ I've never tasted whisky in all my life. But at this point the- nearest of the offenders “interrupted him smartly. “My dear sir,” lie- said, amid roars of laughter, “you ought to have spoken up earlier. J’m afraid we’ve finished the* lot.”

At the dinner to the All Blacks after the English match, Air A. E. Freefchy replied in the briefest possible manner to the toast of “ The Referee.” 1 deeply regret,” lie said. “ the incident of flic day. but I had no alternative, I also regret the painful associations that it has created.” Air Froethv then sat down amid perfect silence.

How long will it. take Vancouver to recuuvcr from that OS points to 1? A chunk of wisdom from the green: Dean Hole said that if a man would in liis 1 cart. Just so a man who would play a •perfect game of bowls must have his head in the right hat. “Have a go, Horace.” yelled •some- • 11" from the stand to a batsman in <■ i ii• !•:<>• t match at Lancaster Park last a 1 urday. Next hall heat the balsian completely and his wicket Mas ;one. M hen C. Grimmett mns selected to ■•present Australia in the fifth Test 1 at«4i against the Englishmen. the i Veiling ton Cricket Association scut the cx-'A ellington player n congratulatory cablegram. “Thanks for kind thougts ; regards to all,” Grimmett replied. M est ('ii l isl ehu rch. nho were beaten hv East Christchurch last Saturday in the semi-final ut the senior cricket championship, wire in the lead at the end of the previous round with eleven points. Sydenham wore second with ten and Linuood and East third equal with six. I lie final ol the senior championship of the. Canterbury Cricket Association will be fought out this year between Sydenham and East Christchurch. A start will he made on flic game to-mor--1 iow week and it will be continued on March 14 and also on March 21 if necessary. It is interesting to note that, whilst Sydenham gained the seJ nior championship last season. East I were 1 lie winners of the “wooden I spoon.” On form this season SydenI ham should he able to heat East, but in cricket it is seldom safe to predict. East are a much improved team.

•). .Shepherd, the well-known Otago cricketer, is one of the best bats in the -"Dominion. Unfortunately last season lie was unable, on account of business reasons, to play for New Zeafand against the Non- South Welshmen. ' If lie had been available be was a certainty for inclusion. According to all accounts. Shepherd did not show his beginning of this season but he appears to have struck lorm now. Against the Victorians a few days ago lie made 60. Shepherd did not go on tour with the Otago team this season but he played against Canterbury and made scores of 21 and Talking of the selection of the New Zealand cricket team to play Victoria one enthusiast urges that Nelson’s strength should be carefully scrutinised. The holders of the Hawke Cup have stalled off six challenges in succession, and there must he some merit in a sus.. tained effort of the kind. lv. It. Saxon is a player well worthy of consideration. Tom Lowry, ex-captain of Cambridge University, who scored 130 for Kngland against New Zealand at the Basin lieserve on February 3. 1923. is back in New Zealand again, and would be a useful man on the New Zealand side against the Victorians. A few “clout's'’ for fieldsmen: - Don't throw at the bowler as though he were a brick wall. Don’t attempt to stop the ball anywhere within reach stop it! Don’t hold the ball for five minutes —return it at once; it’s not yours. Don't return the ball along the ground, unless you like to sec the score mounting up. Don't forget a straight and true throw saves runs. Don't get lax because no ball comes your way. Don’t get downhearted because you "dropped one.’’ Don't forget to be cheerful which-

cvpr way Ihe game is goi ns;. Don't talk without the skipper’s permission; he. won’t gi veil ! Don't forget to play- the game all the time, not port of il. Up till last Saturday West < 'hristchureh were leading in the senior «-ri* ket championship. hut the'- were oilier! by East ChrisO lutr- i». . . d ].-t ihe opportunitv "I placing «•.» with Sydenham it) the final This system of playing semi-finals would be all right it o operated equitably, but when ;* team with far fewer points is allow cd to displace a side which has won more matches and has earned right through the season by consistent, performances a right to at least have a smack at the final, it can scarcely be regarded ns a fair thing. What a howl there would have been if Limvoud had displaced Sydenham in the same manner! Such a happening was quite within. the bounds of possibility, and would have meant that two teams which had tip to date proved themselves a good deal superior had to stand down in favour of two inferior teams. What an anomaly! At a meeting of the Cricket association a fortnight ago Mr W. R. Patrick pointed out that the system was liable to operate most unfairly, but being member of one of the lead- | ing teams he evidently did not like to I sav too much for Sear of being accused 1 of funking it.

CROSS-WORDS.

The Cross-word Puzzle given above is meant for Sportsmen and Sportswomen, but there arc no restrictions Anyone can have a " pop." Bogey is fifteen minutes. CLUES. ACROSS. 1 —Worth three points. 2- in cricket. 3- -What, the grandstand makes. I - A call for assistance. f» —Not down. 0 — Belongs to us. 7 Negative. B—A home for monks. ‘l—Made by the baker. 10 — Initials of an All Black 1 11 —They change colours. 12— Preposition. 13— A girl. 11 --Unto. 15 —Some fielders require it. 17 - Swab. IS —Enthusiast. DOWN'. 1- Heard at Riccarton. 3—Unpopular in any team. (5 -Every good player does it. S—The ambulance provides it. 11- - M oney (slang). 16 —Exclamation of triumph. 19— A boxing term. 20— A Christian name (fairly Scotch). 21 —lll's Majesty's Navy. 22 Move (verb). 23 - Needed, after a hard game. 21 —Article of wear (backwards). 25 Action of wild mule. 26 Adverb. 27 Word of agreement. 28 Weight of a real lock forward. 29 He shines. 30— Often attempted at Rugby. Drink has ruined many a man’s reputation, hut think ol the number of men who have ruined the reputation of drink. •Some of the I«ugby League football clubs are getting into their stride early. The Waimairi Club is holding its first practice to-morrow afternoon ; the Lin wood Club has fixed its opening day for March 7. I), .J. M’Beth, the well-known bowler of the Sydenham eleven, has been batting well of late. In Jiis last four innings he has made thirty-three, thirty-five, twelve and sixty-one not out. hi nine innings in club cricket this season he has scored 220 runs and hia average is 27.5—n0t bad for

One tiling was made clear by the trend of play in the cricket match, England v. iNew South Wales this week. .T. Scott, ot Sydney, despite claims to the contrary. is not a test match bowler, lie conic! only take one for 120 and one for (j - He was at his best years ago. but in those days “ Tibby ” Cotter had pride of place as a trundler of fast stuff. j The Mairohriu Cycling Chib propose io bring over next month from Ausj Lr.dia Jack Fitzgerald, cycling chain- ! pion o! Victoria. 'J his year Vuy.!go raid was narrowly defeated by |i I arris Horder in 1h- third semi-final | ior the world’s cycling Derby. T’urI her he had a nasty fall in the special qualifying heat for Ihe grand final. ;:i w Inch ho was considered to have ■ a good chance of success. Fitzgerald regisicrod !2 2-osec for the lasi furlong m his contest with Holder, and -quailed 1 lie track record held b.\ Spen- • er and Harder. The following story is told by Robert Kdgren. one oi the best-known sports writers in America: A few '.ears ago a famous college lootbali player, alter playing five years, decided to go out west and try his hick. After matriculating in a wellknown corn State institute he reported I l, r the first dav'.s lootbali practice. I h<- roach, who through some slip-up bad not been told of the latest addition to h • squad, started to bawl him out lor one inisphiy. Ihe player. «urpri'cd. stood hi'- ground for a minute, a"*.! then angrily blurted out. “Sav don l voii«c know who | am?” ! s " I don i’ ’ onieklv returned the "acli. Who are you:' • -' 1 <<i back the astonished plaver. “TV* I'm rb.. highest-paid amateur in collect j football, that who I am!” \ ink bind this year l-as been full oi '-.urpri.se>. ,\ few 'go. fl. Doiclgc heat I? 1.. Bartlcct in 1 b*‘ l*cinuera ( lub chamoionship. Doulg-- has been .. useful el.,i, hand--nn plaver ami I! grade representative f " r Pnst. and knows I,is game 1 le'roughly |,|,| there were rone who [ -* • * icmated the result.. wb on these two ; 1,1 • upicfl the centre court ai the 1 • m uern Club. The winner plaved at n- 1.,p of his iorin and used his head - h eai.no- I•• said that Bari-, I wav on ov game. He appeared ; 't.,le. end played manv of his shot? 1,1 •' 1t >ilcs> manner. His serving was -_.M,d :or fhc most part of the match, bwi Doidgc was able to get a lot hack sf.»jidmg in at times and taking the );: 1 nil lie rise, which upset Barf CO. s volleying, as the ball ,-a.nr b„H c t'itiu **ai’Thc^ ° «° , “ n « , * lin * In lns book Chestnuts Re-roasted” y [' T y ,n °U«' H.eks tells H good storv o f John Roberts. at one time the " or i ,d s c a,,,pi "" billiard .player. While on tour through Australia Roberts happened to be held i,p i fl a small town tor some tbiv- hours owing to an ic ~is train. Having nothing O do. he w ent to ihe local bote! and Jt a cigar in the billiard-room. Tts only occupant was the marker, a rerv -•heeky youth of sixteen, who. seeing a stranger, invited him to have a ga.me Roberts thanked him. but refused. On said the hoy. •• come on; 111 give you points; I give everyone sixtv m a hundred.” But the champion again thanking- him. begged to be excused. The lad, however, was persistent, and at last "Roberts, not want- ! n £, i )U botljGred any more, said: ’ Well, to tell you the truth, mv boy the reason I don’t want to play is that I am John Roberts, the champion billiard player of the world.” “ Oh, are yon?” said the hoy. b»- no means nmiphis.efj. “ Then Til E i Te vnu

>«• me people are backing New Zea!amj to boal Victoria in (be test match at Wellington on March tip. •• Onlooker” believes' it can be done, but there are three easel l l ials select the l»e.v,i, strangle stage fright, and smarten the licluing. '* V Excuse me,'’ saiiJ the. Ameiicun visitor to Baris, pausing in front of a native, “kin you speak English?” Oui, monsieur, a. vary lectio,said the Gaul, bowing freely. “Good!” said the “then perhaps you'll put me wise as to where I tain get some good eats in this joint.” I wo American card sharps wore discussing business on an Atlantic trip. Do you have much luck at the game?” asked one. “Sure,” respond cd the Qfcher, “ why, one time I licit 1 five aces in a poker game and only got shot through the loot.” The hall was in the ascendant in •Wellington cricket on Saturday afternoon. when wickets were dead as the result of the heavy rain on .Friday. The feature of the day's play was the deloat oi Peton’e by Wellington, as the outcome of a sterling all-round performance by J. S- Hiddlestone. He made oJ. not out and took live for 22. I played at golf for the first tin « yesterday and did a seventy-eight said the beginner. " .Seventyeight!” echoed the man who could really play. “ Why. man. that’s almost incredible for a beginner.” *• As I was saying,” resumed the novice, " I did a .seventy-eight, but at the second bole 1 did a great deal better.” She was plain but wealthy; he was a well-known football player and tliojouglily impecunious.. He asked her *•» marry him. and she temporised. “ I believe.” she said after a pause. “ that it is my monev von want more than me." “ Madam,” he said in shocked tones. “how can you think such tilings? As a. member of the Amateut Eootball Association I am absolutely debarred from entering any sporting event for money.” W. M. Woodl'ull. wlio will be seen in Chri&tchnrch to-day, is one of the sti'ongest first-wicket batsmen in Victoria, and a player who runs for that State in the last ennplo seasons. He is eminently a sound rather than a brilliant batsman, and a terror to the bowlers, for the reason that he digs in and nibbles their averages away. A lady was crossing a busy street when a large Alsatian hound dashed into her and knocked her over. Next instant a Ford car skidded into hei and inflicted several bruises. \A hei. she was assisted to, her feet by the alarmed bystanders, someone asked Ik s if tile dog had hurt her. -Not exactly,' responded the breathless victim: “it was the tin can tied to life il that did most of the damage.” MV T*lunket Greene, the weil-km;x’ English singer, is also a great sportsman. In a recently published bool: “ Where the Bright Waters Meet.” In. says lie believes that he and his broi tiier were the first 1 icople to introduce lawn tennis into Germany: “Jt berame a regular society c-raae, and l can remember the untimely fate of a certain charming officer who-became so light beaded with enthusiasm that lie turned up one afternoon in flannels an..-] - black and white blazer. and was pro mnll y co ur t-m art ia I led. X o thing daunted, lie returned to the fray and played in the lull-dress uniform of the Blue l lilans. frock coat, helmet an-i aerobafic.s. he caught bis spur in his watch-chain and dislocated his knee, and that was the cud of him. I ran

oiiaramoo Hi© truth of this staatoniruit f«-r I saw him do H. The cult did in. I long survive him/’ GIRL CHANNEL SWIMMER, ATTEMPT IN SUMMER. NKW VdKK. .lii.iuurv Id Miss Helen Viainwrigbt. national all round swimming champion for ]92f. v. dl attempt to swim (he Knglish Channel no:; t summer. .Miss Wainwrigbt who is 18 years of ago. has received an official authorisation from the Women's Swimming Association. She will -ail in June and Mill train lor lour m eeks.

(One ol the leading woman swimmers ol' the-world. Miss Waiuw right was a prominent member of the United .States team at the Olympic (Sanies last year. She gained second place in the women’s 400 metres race. No woman lias yet swum the Channel though many have made the attempt. In the opinion of Jaboz W’olffo. who has made -1. unsuccessful attempts, it is most improbable, that a woman will ever succeed. One great handicap, he states, is that a woman has to wear a. costume, while male swimmers set out on the long journey clad only in “ grease and goggles.” A costume restricts movement and causes serious chafing. Further, the feat calls for greater strength and stamina than any woman possesses. If a woman does succeed, it will he “the biggest athletic achievement the

Dull cricket'is net confined to. Test matches, for in their second inningin the Hawke, Cup match the other day Nelson took two ■ hours and live minutes to score 60 runs. Saxon, the ex-Cambridge Rugby Blue, was the principal offender, for in that time he j Scored IS runs, a truly enlivening pc:-, formancc. Such mournful proceedings as this arc. calculated to do Ihe mud old game all sorts of harm. i STF.RL S MCI IT. It. is darkly rumoured that the N\ er-i Coasters’ Association intends to entertain .Tack Steel when lie rear lies the j Christchurch stag l *- of his journey | Sfe fended tackling Tommies ami ; Taffies good and hard. He found the hottest Belfast rushes I easy lo retard; Pray, then, that Bugger's patron j Preserve that might his battle paint: j Lest Westland’s sparkling amber j knoc ks him off his perch and guard, j According to n London rorrespon- ! lent, writing lo :he “ Taranaki Dailv Nous’’ of the “ Brownlie incident” of the All Black tour, the said incident must have been a moving spectacle (says the “ Do.minion ’’>. Hero are two extract? from his dispatch: “In that terrific ton minutes the whole world seemed to have passed bv . . ." •• Men. many ol them old internationals. wiio had played in many ii lartic tests, were stunned, while women in thousands from the world over wept.’’ <.!) Mi»s Marjorie Mmiarlanc. of Auck-j iaitd. u l.io w ent on a short tennis tour j after the New Zealand championships, put up a very line record while away:! Won Taranaki singles championship, ! and with Mrs "Marshall runner-up m i lie doubles. Won Hastings singles championship and combined doubles with -I. Lowry. Won Wellington championship doubles with Miss Lloyd and combined doubles with Smyth. Won Da.nneviike championship singles, heating Miss ‘Tracey in the semi-final 6-3, 6-2, and Miss Howett in the final 2-0. 6-2. 6-4- Combined doubles with J. Lowrv and Indies’ doubles with Mis Howell. Returned to Auckland and won the Auckland singles championship. Footballers are now getting into training for the coming season. llow Omar mightn’t have put it: Awake, for Coaches in the summer light lime thrown the Ball that puts Soft Joys to Flight, And Lo. we’ll run and walk each Night fc’’ Miles. Thereby t,u give Some Other Club a J'right Ah Moon nt my Delight--I’ve got to train. The Cad of Leather’s got me Once j Again. How oft Hereafter, Dearie, shall you look Through Pub or Ballroom after me in j Hobart people have quarrelled with, i the brewers oxer the price of beer and declared it “ black." The largest boozer in. the town Is now .a man of fair renown. His great and noble sacrifice j j Makes virtue oi his former vice ‘ > But he who never touched a drink ! | Has nothing in the cause to j-ink. j | Sj weaponless aroid the fight | •