Sport and Sportsmen

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17834, 30 April 1926, Page 11

Sport and Sportsmen

NEWS, GOSSIP AND COMMENT

BY

"ONLOOKER."

The All Black selector, Arthur Geddas, has a son playing in the Wednesday senior grade at Invercargill. Randolph Rose will not meet Joie Ray. The famous American distance runner has turned professional, and proposes to appear in that capacity in London, Paris and Berlin. The new president of the Taranaki Rugby Union is Mr \V Guy, who was one of the selectors of the 1924 All Blacks. Mr Guy has also l>ecn appointed sole selector of the Taranaki representative team. | Old Boys. Wellington* have a new j recruit to their senior team this vear. He is a little fellow named “Tiny” Emerson, a representative from North Auckland. “Tiny” tips the beam at over 14st. and is over six feet. It is stated from Napier that Mill is definitely not available for the Maori tour, and that Blake is also very doubtful. This being so, the only place in the Napier team that should give Mr N. M'Kenzie any real trouble to fill is Nepias. Irvine, who was married during the summer, intends to play . again, and there are some solid forwards coming. The idea of limiting the number of vice-presndents of a club, and so increasing the honour done those elected, apparently finds little favour in Taradale (says a Hastings football writer). A glance through the report of their annual meeting shows that no fewer than 39 gentlemen were elected to the high and honorable position of vicepresident of the Taradale Club. It seems pretty safe to assume that this figure exceeds the total playizig strength of the club. L. Cornaga plays on the wing for the Linwood Rugby Club's senior fifteen. He came to Christchurch from Wellington last year. Cornaga is a good stamp of a three-quarter, being solidly built and possessing a fairly good turn of speed, but he appears to lack the dash that is essential to a winger if he is going to prove a consistent scoring man. Cornaga can be classed as a fairly good three-quarter, but with the brilliant Elvy on the other wing he suffers considerably by the contrast. When club Rugby began at Napier, a notable feature of the matches was the brilliant form shown by Cooke, despite a poisoned knee. He opened his side’s scoring account by placing a penalty goal, and then went on to register a conversion, a try, converting it himself, and another conversion, which gave him a total individual score of 13 points out of the 32 scored by Technical Old Boys, who beat Rovers by a margin of 2G points. He was in most of the scoring movements, and, throughout the game, played at the top of his form. All the Rugby men of Wales are discussing a spirited speech made by Dr D. Rocyn Jones, a vice-pres-dent of the Welsh Rugby Union, at the dinner which followed the international match between the schoolboys of England and Wales at Cardiff. One of the Welsh masters repeated an indiscreet statement which had been made to him by a member of the English Schools Selection Committee, to the effect that senior and international Rugby was a foul and dirty game as far as Wales was concerned. Dr Rocyn Jones (the father of D. N. Rocyn Jones of St Mary’s Hospital), characterised the statement as a falsehood, and by innuendo, if not by actual statement, made it clear that in his view a few of England's forwards had been responsible for any roughness ini.*ported into international football of recent years. All golfers in these days are long drivers, but I wonder whether it was to give their members a correct idea of values that the Fulwell Club placed posts 200 yards from every tee (says a London writer). The result has been a little surprising to those who believed that they regularly hit the ball 250 yards or so. They have now' found that their best shots do not travel very far past the post, and often when the wind is ahead they are some distance behind. There has always been great exaggeration as to the distance attained by the golfer. Shots, we know, do cover 300 yards, but they arc exceptional, and the conditions have to be entirely favourable. As a matter of fact, the average drive of the professional, under ordinary conditions, is not more than about 250 yards. X X X Following the cancellation of the women’s boxing contest, it was arranged that Miss Newton, one of the parties to it. should box three male opponents in two round bouts at the Manor Hall, IJackney, yesterday, (says London "Sporting Life") but the promoter interviewed the Mayor of Ilacknev on Saturday, and, after discussion, decided to abandon the contests. Miss Newton, who was present at the hall yesterday. in a short speech from the ring, expressed her disappointment at the turn of events. There are none to share her disappointment. She weeps alone. 9*c *|c *fe A Criticism of Kelleway. T have had an interesting letter from a cricket official in close touch with the Australian team. which throws some light on the exclusion of Kelleway. The letter is frank to a degree, as the following extract shows: " Keleway has no life off the ptich. although he has every opportunity all the year. Collins invariably starts off with him with the new’ ball, but he has never been dangerous. His batting is just the same. He comes in about the fifth wicket down, and sits and sits, even when there is no necessity for it.” Modelled on Cotter. Everitt, the Australian fast bowler, who came into the team at the last moment, is, my informant tells me, very similar in action to the late Albert Cotter. llis run up to the. wicket is almost the same, and he even resembles Cotter in build and mannerisms. Whether Everitt will develop into a class bowler is. in the opinion of my correspondent, very doubtful; he is described merely as a “ trier whose pace has appreciably improved during the last few months.” It is interesting, by the way, to note that Everitt played for New South Wales as far back as 1921. lie is, therefore, no chicken.

Ray Bell, the well-known Southland and Maori player, who recently underwent an operation for appendicitis, has made a good recovery. C. Badelev, who was a member of the 1924 All Blacks, i.< reported to be playing in North Auckland this season j as captain of the Old Boys’ team in ! Whangerci. Harvey, the Wairarapa representative and All Black of 1924, who had a spell last season, is likely to resume playing this season. Q. Donald’s playing days are said to be over. There arc two Ilarts (brothers! playing in the senior Rugby competition i n Christchurch this season. but thev play for different teams. R. Hart plays for Merivale and this year liis younger brother, G. Hart, joined up with the Christchurch Club. G. Hart learnt his football at the Waitaki Boys’ High School, and is said to be one of the best footballers turned out by that institution in recent years. Since joining the Christchurch Club he has played in the senior team as live-eighths, alongside All Black N. P. M’Gregor, and he has shown a considerable amount of promise. “Yes,” said the small man in the corner of the railway carriage, ‘‘those big golfing competitions give a fillip to trade. When the star plajers make a terrific drive far down the fairway and all eyes are strained in order to see where the ball has finished, men like J reap considerable benefit.” “Oh,” said another passenger, “what are you—a maker of spectacles or field glasses ?” “No. no.” replied the first speaker with a touch of hauteur, “I'm a pickpocket.” At the Ilford Club’s dinner, the Rev 11. Dunnico told a story of a four-ball match playing a hole where there was a carry over a deep ravine. One of the players got on to the green all right, but the other three were trapped in the ravine. Two of them said they would give up the hole. The fourth man would not. and with great difficulty he climbed down, and presently the ball came flying over the top. One of the men called .down, “How many strokes?” The answer came, “Three.” The first man called down, “But I heard six.” There came the reply, “Perhaps you did, but the other three were echoes!”

C_. Speight is a member ot tne cnci Boys Clvrb senior fifteen. He was one of the players who helped the All Whites to the top of the tree last season. He is a forward and a good one. He, perhaps, does not shine out in the loose as much as some of his mates, but he is a good honest toiler who can be depended upon to do his fair share of the work. Jack Todd, the ex-Invercargill Club forward, who represented Southland in 1923, is captain of the Zingari-Rich-mond Club in Dunedin this season. Pat Burt, Southland and South Island rep. made his first appearance for the same club the other day. It is officially announced that Hobbs, the famous Surrey batsman, has been granted a benefit next season, and the Surrey and Nottingham match, on July 31, August 2 and 3, has been set aside for that purpose.

This will be the third benefit Hobbs has received., He was given the Surrey and Kent match in 1914. War breaking out, the fixture was transferred to Lord’s, but naturally did not prove a big success financially. Accordingly in 1919 the Surrey and Kent match was again set apart as a benefit to Hobbs, and on that occasion a sum of £1671 2s 7d was handed to him. The proposed trip to Sydney of the Xew Zealand University team seems to have fallen through. Tt is understood, however, that an inter-'Varsity tournament will probably be played at. Wellington during the vacation in May. If this propo.sal eventuates the Wellington public should see a real treat, for ’Varsity football in all centres is looked on as being of the brightest. Otago 'Varsity A have been at, or close to, the top in Dunedin for years. SCHOOL PLAYERS WHO HAVE BECOME FAMOUS. Speaking of the 1918 High Schools Tournament at Invercargill, brings to mind the number of players in the Southland Boys’ High School team that year who afterwards won high honours in the game (says an Invercargill writer). Of the backs, R. Johnstone, half-back, later represented Otago Unitersitv and Otago, G. Cleland represented Southland, E. If. Diack represented Southland, Otago and New Zealand Universities. 11. L). Morgan represented Otago and New Zealand, H. O. Jefcoate played for the Christchurch Club. J. G. Mackav played for the Invercargill Club after leaving school, but a tine full-back was lost to the game when he left for America. Included in the Otago Boys’High School team were the Otago and New Zealand representatives, G. Dickinson and L. G. Townsend, who captained Otago last year, while in the Timaru team was Ron. Stewart, who was a member of the All Blacks in 1921 and 1925, and S. C. Cabot, the well-known Otago and New Zealand University player. The Christchurch team included W. Dailey, the All Black half-back, S. R. Carleton, who was probably the star back of the great combination which represented Christchurch Boys’ High School when they won the Moas<ar Cup in 1920. having scored something like 600 points in club and grade matches for the season. Carleton is playing for the crack Old Boys’ side in Christchurch this season. Another member of the Christchurch team was D. M. Dickson, the well-known Otago University. Otago and New Zealand representative forward. The South Island High Schools’ football tournaments have turned out many plavers who have afterwards become famous in big Rugby.

Webb, of University team, again look? like the best attacking threequarter in Dunedin. He brought ofl two fine tries against Allambra on Saturday. Alex Sligo, who played half-back in the Southland Boys’ High School first fifteen in 1010. is playing for the Taieri Rovers senior fifteen in Dunedin Club football this season. Taieri are j captained by the ex-Star and Otautau ! player, George Grieve. Popularity of baseball in Japan is j shown by the announcement that in the seven games between the University of Chicago and Japanese Universities recently, gate receipts amounted to more than 70,000 yen. The total receipts of all the various university league games were given at 79.75 S yen. The University of Chicago games, therefore, drew the best paying crowds of the season. (A yen is about Is 6d.) Clem Hill has gone to England at a big retaining fee, to write about the Test matches on the scenes where he himself made a name just 30 years ago. The South Australian Jockey Club and the allied bodies have given him the necessary leave of absence from his duties as a stipendiary steward, and Adelaide sportsmen got together to give him a big send-off —and a case of pipes. G. Mortlock, who plays fiveeighths or three-quarters for the Albion senior fifteen, learnt his football at St Andrew’s College. He was in the first fifteen of the College two or three years ago, and at that time he showed a good deal of promise. This is his first year in senior football, but he is shaping quite well. He is a speedy back, and has a good knowledge of the game. “ Cricketers throughout New Zealand should seize the opportunity and play, baseball during the winter months. The Australian cricketers do it, and if the New Zealanders only knew what it meant to them they wouldn’t waste any time in taking it up either.” So said Mr W. J. Heslehurst, chairman of the Canterbury Baseball Association when commenting on the cable from England that P. G. H. Fender had engaged a baseball player as a cricket coach. “Many first grade cricketers in Australia are baseball players,” says Mr Heslehurst. “ Both pitching and catching is invaluable to cricketers. We have some good cricketers in the association now, and I’ve not the slightest doubt we’ll have more before the season’s far advanced. At least one Australian eleven in England- wore distinguishing sashes of different colours when on the field. That was the team of aboriginals which visited England in IS6B under the captaincy of Charlie Lawrence. It played 47 matches, and its all-rounder, Johnny Mullagh, made 1698 runs, averaging 23.8, and took 245 wickets, averaging 10. A comparison with the figures of the first white team (Gregory's) to visit England proves the aboriginal a real champion. C. Bannerman, who topped the batting list, made 723 runs, averaging 24. no one else averaging 20; and Boyle, the most successful bowler, took 68, averaging 9.6.

Mrs Baldwin, wife of the British Prime Minister, explaining a remark by 11. L. Collins, the Australian captain, that her*season’s average was C2 runs when she married, said that cricket was her favourite girlhood pastime, and she and her sister played with the White Heather Club, though women’s cricket then was discountenanced. She worshipped Ranji. “I was a nervous batswoman,” she added, “until I became engaged to Mr Baldwin, after which I struck form.” Mr If. E. Smith, the ‘‘‘Father of Winchester,” who was recently made the recipent of a cheque for £IBO from his fellow citizens, was in his younger days a very keen devotee of Rugbv football. lie recalled (says a Temuka correspondent, the famous match of IS7S, when the Temuka team gave the touring Otago representatives the hardest match of their New Zealand tour. Mr Smith was a member of the Temuka team, which was defeated by one try to nil. This, the only try of the. match, was scored before any Temuka man had handled the ball, and resulted, humorously enough, from the fact that the Temuka full-back was that day wearing a brand new white outfit (uniform jerseys were not then the rule) and did not care to risk soiling it by tackling his man. Figuring in the Temuka team with Mr Smith were: R. 11, Pierpont (full-back). John M'Bratnev (wing three-quarter), Frank Tavener. E. 11. Dobson (now of Christchurch), John and Tames Patterson, S. D. Barker. Francis Barker (Timaru), Donald 11. Potts (Kati Kati. Auckland). Ambrose Potts (Holcianga, Auckland), and a third brother, Geoffrey Potts, who. when last heard of was farming in the Wanganui district. The three remaining members of the team Mr Smith could not recall. COMING TO N.Z. There seems every prospect of a South Australian cricket team visiting the Dominion next season, and with Victor Richardson strongly in favour of the acceptance of the invitation, it may be taken for granted that the State authorities will seize the opportunity to send a team, if one can be got together. The South Australian captain’s view of the tour is that “it gives the players a glorious vacation, playing their favourite game under the most congenial conditions and surroundings. It elevates the sport, and provides the players with golden opportunities of developing their powers with a view to Sheffield Shield success.” Even if a few players might not be able to afford the time to participate, in such a tour, Richardson believes that a team of sufficient strength to meet the wishes of the New Zealanders and ta benefit South Australia, can be assembled.

He shot -the goal that won the match. An incident in the Technical-Thistle Soccer contest on Saturday. Phelps, for Technical, did the trick on this occasion. “Full-back,” in the ‘‘Otago DailyTimes” says: “I have never yet seen a good place kick who leans the ball towards him when having a shot. It may be all right for short kicks, but it is not satisfactory for long shots. Diack adopts the practice of leaning the ball to him.” A Sydney man says: It has always been a puzzle to the writer why Maoriland cricket form is not up to S’African at least, though the will to do better is becoming apparent latterly. The attributes which have made the Maorilander such a supreme player of Rugby are all assets for cricket. Only an Evangelist is wanting.

“ Avon ” writes to the Sydney “ Bulletin ”: —Not since the All Blacks wiped the floor with the English Rugby XV has Maoriland been so worked up over the sending of Randolph Rose to compete in the British running championships. The question of providing a companion, “ not a manager or a trainer,” for Rose was debated for weeks, and finally the choice fell on the runner’s close personal friend, J. W. M’Holm, holder of the Australasian hammer-throwing record. M’Holm is a police-sergeant., but leave of absence was granted before it was even asked. The only fly in the ointment has been the very slow response to the appeal for public subscriptions. But the average Maorilander has to get terribly excited before he parts with any of his bawbees. E. A. Beilis, still a player, is selector for the Taihape Sub-Union, a circumstance practically without precedent. It says much for the. faith Taihape places in the genial “Moke” that such an honour has been conferftd on him (says a Wanganui exchange). A playing selector is a novelty that lias a lot to commend it. When the selector is a dignified gentleman in a bowler hat dissatisfied critics can only rage impotcntly. But when he is a player, embroiled in the scrum, what chances for the comrade with a grievance! And what a chance for the grandstand to hurl opprobrium! In 1922 two wellknown players, Len Lopdell and “Son” White were included in the Southland selection committee and though they met with criticism in some quarters the fact remains that the only matches Southland lost in a heavy season were those against Otago. Charles Hoff, Norway's all-round star and world’s record-holder in the pole vault, is young and athletic-looking, and carries a “smile all the while” (says a New York paper). lie has an engaging personality, and is quite unlike Paavo Nurmi, that other distinguished invader, who held the athletic spotlight last Winter. The Phantom Finn steered shy of his admirers; he was forever dodging those who would do him homage; he was diffident and taciturn. The New York crowds are certain to take Hoff much easier, for 11 off will doubtless meet them halfway. His athletic achievements are n*iny, and his flight over the bar at the dizzy height of thirteen feet and more should, give the athletic fan a thrill or two. While pole vaulting is his main accomplishment Hoff is Europe’s best all round athlete, and he has his eye on the Olympic decathlon honours in 1928. At the Paris games in 1921 this crown was borne away by our own Harold Osborn, who set record figures in capturing the ten-event test. Hoff is quite proficient as well in running, middledistance running, particularly; in broad jumping, high jumping; in the hop, step, and jump; in throwing the discus and javelin, and putting the shot and in hurdling. He is twenty-three years old, (ift 2in in height, and weighs only 1471 b. He has broad shoulders and his bodytapers down, his waist being small and his legs thin and wiry.

The young son of the house wished to drag his father out to see a rugger match. “But will it be a good game, my boy?” asked the parent doubtfully. “ Good Lord, yes. pater,” asserted the boy eagerly. “ The teams hate each other like poison.”

At a meeting of the Auckland Rugby executive, Mr Harr}' Frost presiding, it was decided not to make a tour of the South Island this year, and to endeavour to arrange a tour of the North Island, playing. Hawke’s Bay, Wellington, Wairarapa, and Taranaki. This decision was made on account of the cost of the extended tour being beyond the Union’s available funds at the moment.

At to-morrow’s run of the Christchurch Harrier Club it is the intention of those in charge to inaugurate the run-in system. This system (which has proved very successful in Wellington and Dunedin for some years) merely consists of a race over the last part of the ordinary Saturday run, the distances varying from week to week and each run-in being a handicap. A trophy will be presented at the end of the year to the runner gaining the highest aggregate of points, points to count three, two and one for first, second and third respectively. To-mor-row's run-in at Sumner will probably be quite a short one. K « « They were discussing the habits of a certain wealthy fellow-clubman who had once seen humbler days. “ Seems to lose a good deal of money at bridge.” remarked A. “No wonder,” explained B. “he gives every hand away. Every time he picks up a spade you can see him moistening his palms.” JJ j{ j* The effect of “barracking” on the nerves of players in athletic competitions is the subject of a recent article in the London “Evening News.” The writer, Mr Peter Merrill, makes a touching reference to the late Anthony Wilding. “Both W. T. Tilden and Mrs Lambert Chambers (a great sportswoman, generous to a degree) have assured me.” says Mr Merrill, “that they never hear the noise made by spectators, much less vrhat they are saying. And the late Anthony Wilding, whose death in the Great War is still deplored by those who knew him personally, being a loss that hurts like an old wound in weeping weather, taught himself to be indifferent to cheers and countercheers as part of his technique. At first he was a little sensitive to tjie cries of the gallery at Wimbledon and elsewhere, and would be jarred by occasional personalities—until he took himself strictly in hand and learned to keep his mind on the game, the whole game, and nothing but the game. ‘Besides,’ he said, ‘the excitability of the crowd, even if it sometimes goes beyond good sportmanship, is a compliment to the play and the players.’ As for the adorable Mile. Lenglen, she ought not have to allowed herself to be upset by the outcries of the Cannes crowd, which did not worry Helen Wills—perhaps because watching football in America teaches the value of indifference to the yells of partisan spectators.

“The best yet,” was the general opinion expressed by the members of the Christchurch Harrier Club after the splendid outing from Mr George Crimp’s residence, Beckenham, last Saturday. Everything was in favour of a good run—an ideal day, a record attendance ol : thirty-six, a fine, clear trail and a hot bath and a first-class afternoon tea to finish up with. The trail was laid by C. G. Mahan and J. 11. Nalder, and they made a splendid job of it. This was Nalder’s first run of the season, and he ran well. Among the pack some of the new runners showed up very well; it is evident that competition will be very keen this year for places in the team for the New Zealand championships. To-morrow the run will be held from Sumner, members catching the quarter past two car from the Square.

Two Wanganui sportsmen, father and son, set off the other day into the country to stalk (lie elusive deer (says the “Herald.”) The day was well ad-

vanced, and the sportsmen were tired, the only redeeming feature being that the bags were empty and not so difficult to carry. At last a deer was sighted crouched at the edge of some scrub. “Luck at last” whispered father, “we will have a sitting shot and we well both fire together so as not to miss him, but he is too far away, so we will have to get closer.” Closer they crept so as not to disturb the sleeping beauty which they were going to boast about to their friends later on. At last the right distance was obtained, quickly the rifles went to the shoulders—and—bang ! There was not a kick out of the deer. “Got him! ” they shouted in unison. Down a bank and through a creek they went in haste, and when within a few yards of the deer, father, who was in the lead, put his fingers to his nose and called “Pooh!” The deer had been dead for at least a fortnight. An Incident in Chicago. Like the majority of foreign athletes, Nurmi, the great Finnish runner, is temperamental. At a sports meeting in Chicago officials had difficultyin persuading him to run because the track measured twelve laps to the mile. The Finn had been informed it was ten laps to the mile. Tfe also complained about spectators being on the course. He asserted that they disconcerted him during his preliminary run as he wanted to run over every part of the board track. He finally consented to go through with his agreement, but it was apparent he did not put forth his best efforts.

Nurmi, however, like every person in the various branches of sports, may have his faults, but the fact remains he is the greatest middle-distance runner ever seen. His name will live for pjay pun amytuue ux s.maA aubui athletics.