Sport and Sportsmen

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17864, 4 June 1926, Page 14

Sport and Sportsmen

NE‘VS,’ GOSSIP AND COMMENT

BY'

"ONLOOKER."

Going at a good bat—the English bowiers who s'*nke Tommy Andrews. Still the best back in Canterbury— W. A. Ford. K 55 55 . They appear to play cricket between the showers in England. Some of Canterbury’s chosen representative Rugby forwards require a charge of dynamite under them. The primary school matches resume next Saturday, at Hagley Park. “Eddie” Brown, the present New Zealand cross-country champion, is training again in Dunedin after an enforced three-months' spell. 11. L. Collins, the skipper of the Aussie cricket team, was unlucky in not scoring a century against Middlesex. The 99 which he made is his highest score on the tour so far. His next highest is the 43 that he made against Leicestershire. After the match between Varsity and Merivale at the show grounds last Saturday a lot of people asked how it was that Varsity came to win or Merivale came to be beaten? The answer is quite simple. Varsity were too good for Merivale. The Merivale fellows themselves admit that on the day the better team won. “Plain Bill” writes:—The great mistake made at Lancaster Park yesterday was the stopping of the schoolboys’ match after so short a term. They should have been asked to continue, and the alleged “reps” drafted on to the south ground for practice. Have New Zealand referees been told to apply the "blind” eye; to rough and illegal play? If so, they will quickly help the obstructionists to kill Rugby - Lancaster Park crowds in the past few days have seen some amazing occurrences go unchecked. Referees can be certain of the support of publi opinion if they deal firmly with the foul-play expert. Off the field and our of the ground is the wisest course. It has been truly said that Michael Falcon, the Norfolk captain who is to lead the Minor Counties against the Australians at Maidenhead, is the finest English player who never played for a first-i lass county (remarks a London critic). Falcon, who was a harrow boy and captained Cambridge in 1910. had a big hand in the sensational defeat of the Australians by an England XI. during the 1921 tour at Eastbourne at the end of August—their first defeat. He took eight wickets for 149, while G. A. Faulkner and C. 11. Gibson completed the rout. Faulkner scored 153 in the second innings. 55 We know some people that won’t like the tone of this par from a Hawke’s Bay paper:—“lt is my modest opinion, and I find others share it, that the selectors of the senior representative teams should seriously consider the desirability of giving a chance of representative honours to a few besides the old “stock-in-trade” men. In such fixtures as the game : gainst Wanganui, Manawatu and Otago, who may, without offence to them, be described as unlikely to jeopardise Hawke’s Bay’s position, it is to my mind not at all desir; ble or necessary to put in the strongest team, or to make certain of an overwhelming victory.” A word for the reporters—lt is understood that the Lancaster Park Board of Control is contemplating building additional grand stand acepmmodation at the park. When theV doit is to be hoped that they will take the opportunity of providing better accommodation for the reporters than exist- at present. An improvement war me de Inst U: >tl o' .-vas on. and v

with the existing btar. b: tl i is abmit t;.e test • ever, a new stand is erected, there seems no reason \vl an enclosed place should not he provided in it fvr the rep often have to " :k amidst all the din j and uproar occasioned by vigorous bam match. This inconvenience would be largely minimised if a pr per reporting box were provided. The following have scored 20 points and over in the Canterbury Rugby Union’s senior A competition to date this season:— I. H. Brown (Christchurch) tries 2, - tries converted 12, goals from penalty or mark 3 39 L. Ebert (Merivale) tries converted 11. goals 5 37 D. Nixon (Old Boys) tries 2, tries converted 6, goals 3, potted goals 1 31 S. R. Carleton (Old Boys), tries 3, tries converted 6. goals 2 . . 27 A. C. Robiliiard (Christchurch), tries 9 27 W. Dailey (Old B-oys) tries 3, potted goals 3 21 W. Elvy (Linwood) tries 7 21 C. E. Low (Varsity) tries 7 21 *.♦ $$ Only one century has been .scored against the Australians in their matches in England so far this tour, but nine have been scored for them as follows: J. M. Gregory, 120 not out v. Leicestershire. W. M. Woodfull, 201 v. Essex. C. G. Macartney, 148 v. Essex. TV. M. Woodfull, 118 v. Surrey. J. M. Gregory, 130 not out v. Hampshire. W. H. Ponsford, 110 not out v. Marylebone. J. S. Ryder, 108 not out v. South of England. T J. E. Andrews, 164 v. Middlesex. W. M. Woodfull. 100 v. Middlesex. The game aganst Middlesex was the tenth of the Australian’s tour of the Old Country. In these first ten matches the Australians scored 3938 runs for the loss of 102 wickets, an average of 38.60 runs a wicket and 2339 runs were scored against them for the loss of 122 wickets, an average of 19.17 rims a wicket. t*t m tv The following table shows how the Australian batsmen have been dismissed in the matches they have played on their tour of England to date:—

’Varsity ought to extend their vacation and win the champion ship. Wanganui to-morrow try to wrest the Ranfurly Shield from Ilawke’s Bay. In the last twenty-five years there have been only two great bowlers of lobs in English cricket—D. L. A. Jephson and G. H. Simpson-Hayward—-and it is difficult to decide which of the two was the better. Jephson took in all 297 wickets for 24.97 runs each, Simpson-Hayward’s ‘ bag ” being 415 wickets for 21.85 runs each, but the latter never gave a performance equal to Jephson’s—six wickets for 21 runs agairst the Players on a perfect wicket at Lord’s in 1899. Simpson-Hayward had such strong fingers that he could “ flick ” a cricket ball as other men do billiard balls.

Of L. A. Thomas, who played such a fine game for Wellington on Lancaster Park yesterday, the “New Zealand Times” says:—Here’s a hefty forward who is an apt illustration of what the big man with pace and brains can do. Thomas can ruck it with the best, and in the open handle the ball like a back. In fact he was a back before he distinguished himself in the scrum. Thomas first played football like many other

good men—at the

Petone School, and graduated from there to the firstclass side. He first played senior in 1916, but in 1918 transferred to the Wairarapa, where he also played in the senior grade. During the seasons 1919 and 1920 Hawke’s Bay claimed him, and as a wing three-quarter he repre<ented the Bay province both years.

He returned to Petone in 1921, and playing on the wing represented both his club and Wellington. It was in the match against Poneke for the cup final of that year that he went into the scrum, and was the best forward on the ground. lie has played in the pack ever since. In the years 1923-4-5 he has gained a regular place in the rep. fifteen, and in 1925 toured Australia with the New Zealand team under Captain .T. Donald. From a message recently from America to the effect that Howard Kinsey is, with Vincent Richards, to represent America in the international matches with France and England, and js to appear at Wimbledon, the doubt has arisen in tennis circles whether “ Bill ” Tilden is coming, as was hoped, for Wimbledon’s jubilee. There is time for a change of plan, and, of course, Tilden may come over unofficially. J. Earlam (Runcorn), the English champion, set up a new world’s billiards record by returning an average ol 83 in April in his British Empire amateur championship match with P. W. Rutledge (South Africa) at Thurston’s. At the second session he carried an unfinished run to 69, and then made a splendid break of 213, all of which were scored off the red ball. He afterwards had 92 and 97 (unfinished), totalling 499 in little more than an hour. Rutledge scored only 116, his best runs being 43 and 45. What patronage a cricket would have—and what divi ,oends it would pay (says a Sydnev scribe). Highest score _ s in the first game in England. Rvdc r and Bards ley. First century in England. Gregory First men to make twn centuries, Gregory and Woodfull. What price

about any of those events?—with Macartney. Pons! re! and Tavior. to say . Ri And then in the first really important ! match ail the effective bowl nig done by Richardson, Collins and Ryder. The passing of time has sadlv thinned the ranks of the old X.Z.R.F. team, which, in. the hevdnv of its victorious fort or fi' men 1 ■ - n r main Ma-riland F*> t on the lis* comes the evergreen Aifie XVest of Tararaki, wearer of an All Bin Tc jersey and an imperturbable grin big Tim Mofifitt, the mardve lockman of the Springbok year, is stiTl boxing on in Wellington; Moke Beilis, grim of visa re and girthy as rf yore successfully 'lefies the onslaughts of Time in the s w-milling townshin of Taihape: Tockev Ford still p ' , she~ down Lancaster Park ir Christ- | - hurch of Rr'u day 'Cternoon; and | hurlv Dick. F. gar tv and Singe, the ’ dn-hin : fo— ord are both in Auck- • land 1 ng a Pngbv tiv« of p-rved star 'In;: nd Sin, e a era ok League fb.rwa rd. On Wednesday evening a meeting of the committee of the Christobiiroh ITarr : er Club was held in the Y.M.C.A., Mr B. H.* Wood (club captain) presiding over a good attendance. The syllabus for the remainder of the season was arranged. The question of whether the club should pplv for the New Zealand championship this season was fully discussed. It was eventually decided to write to thp centre informing it that the club was in favour of applying for the championship, but, before finally agreeing to hold this event, would like to know how far the centre was prep red to assist the club 1 financially and also an estimate of the j cost.. The question of a suitable \ course was discussed, and it was finally | decided to add a mile to the old course ! at its beginning in order to bring it up j to the required 10.000 metres for a New Zealand championship. Mr J. M’Kee attended the meeting to give some information regarding the working of fast and slow packs. Mr M’Kee was heartily thanked for his advice which should be of great value to the club. Twenty-nine members of the Christchurch Harrier Club participated m last Saturday’s ‘run from the Racecourse Hotel, Riccarton. This was new country for the club, and it proved to be ideal for harrier work. The fast pack gave the slow pack a start of about ten minutes, but, owing to lack Gf paper, the fast pack cut off several corners and caught the slow pack about a mile and a half from the finish. The runners lined up on the racecourse and held a run-in over the last 500yds. The race up the long straight was very i hard. J. M’Kee eventually ran out a winner by a small margin from V. B. Todd, with C. Mahan close up third. To-morrow the members will be the guests of Mr C. 11. Taylor, at his residence, 176, Peterborough Street. Those who intend taking part in the run should be present by half-past two. Paper will be used for this run*

WWSWWffiSHWWKKffiifiaWtfiifiSii Christchurch, you might say, were done “Brown.” L. Brownlie, brother of Maurice and of Cyril, is playing Rugby again in Hawke’s Bay. He was the first of the three to win an All Black jersey—against New South Wales four seasons back. Hawke’s Bay had a new three-quar-ter in the field against Wairarapa yesterday—Tait, who learned his Rugby at Scot's College, Wellington. Talking of leave for football, a Wellington writer says:—“ln the Wellington side there are at least four All Blacks who have been overseas, and they have their daily bread to think of just the same as any other mortal. This is a point that cannot be stressed too strongly—Rugby is a game, not a business.” A Gilbertian situation has arisen in Sydney. League fans hailed with rejoicing the defection of Toby, the Rugby Union star, who has filled the full-back position in the amateur code with great success, but hardly was the news out when the League's crack fullback, H. L. Courtney, intimated that he had had enough of League, and was going back to the Union game. Glasgow Academicals, who have been so prominent in Scottish Rugby circles since the war, have also a great international record to their credit. Since the start of the inter-country games in IS7I the “Accies” had up to the French match this year 51 members of the club who had obtained their “caps.” With W. M. Simmers getting the honour for the Welsh match, when he took the place of A. C. Wallace, on his way to Australia, the record was increased to 52. Councillor Clark, of Rochdale, has confessed that he never heard of the nineteenth hole in a golf course. Councillor Clark, Sir, the nineteenth hole is the sum total of the first eighteen. It is a bracing hole—and yet a lowering one. There, more often than anywhere else, does a player get it down in one. The variety of lies around the nineteenth is twenty-seven-point-eight timer as great as around r,II ’he other holes put together. More -u. that, it is the hole that tells, un-

kis.-.; the prudent husband snatches a few t offee ben ns to munch on the way home 10 his little wifie. Piea.-c make a note of the foregoing, Coun -ill in case you ever come golfing with me.” Th • progress of the Rugby League West Coast has made Mr 'i Jj Wingham, president of the West f• Cen’.rc wax enthusiastic. “We started in 1919 with three teams,” stated Mr Wingham in an interview, 4 ‘ and now we have ten times that number, and new clubs are being formed every day. When we started in Greymouth a certain amount of resentment was displayed, and people even threatened to boycott me. Those who deigned to speak to me insisted that I must be mad to have anything to do with a game like League. Well,* added Mr Wingham, smilingly, “ I managed to live through their boycott, and I’m pleased to say that the game went ahead in spite of all the dismal prophecies. People no longer greet me with pity in their eyes; they look upon me as one who had prescience enough to back a winner whom they wouldn’t have at any price.” A belief held strongly by Norman M’Kenzie, Hawke’s Bay selector, is that if a man cannot play all the season it is no use putting him in your representative side. And that leads to the next thing, which is to find out that a man is available before you choose him. The Wellington selectors don’t do that (says the “New Zealand Times”). They announce that a team is to go to Auckland one day and next day they learn that four or five of them can’t go. Then they scurry round and try to fill the gaps, whereupon more players think that the team is to be a weak one, and also withdraw. Cricket “Ridiculous” for Women. Should women play cricket instead of tennis? At the annual general meeting of the Millom (Cumberland) Cricket Club some women tennis players asked that facilities should be provided for them to practise cricket regularly. The suggestion was turned down, one man declaring that it was ridiculous. RICH IN ALL BLACKS. At least two of the provinces are suffering from an embarrassment of riches as far as All Black players are concerned. Thirteen are playing in Hawke’s Bay and nine in Canterbury, (says an Auckland writer). In Hawke’s Bay Nepia, M. Brown’ee, C. Brownlee, Irvine, Mill, Paewai, Corkill, Blake, Kirkpatrick, Ormond ..nd Gemmell are all in action thi ,-ear, while new arrivals, who have vorn the All Black jersey recently, are 'ooke and L. M. Johnson, the latter oeing vice-captain of the All Blacks who went to Australia last year. Included in the nine All Blacks Canterbury lays claim to, are the following six backs, who have played for New Zealand; —Harris, Elvy, Ford, RobilJiard, M’Gregor and Dailey* _

Dailey is always putting someone’s pot on. When big “Jock” Richardson made his reappearance in Southland Rugby his position was not in the scrum, but at full-back. And a pretty solid one he made. Nine challenges for the Ranfurly Shield have been hurled at Hawke’s Bay head this year. Owen Crossman, the New South Wales wing three-quarter, who played against the Canterbury team at Christchurch last season, scored 36 points in the first two club games of the season in Sydney this year. “ Herbie ” Kingi, the brilliant Maori half-back, who played for Wanganui in Christchurch last year, is going strong these days in Taihape. Kingi is a clever little player and he was the hero of a humorous incident at Christchurch. Kingi had apparently been knocked out, lying inert on the ground, the referee whistling for the ambulance. His comrades crowded round and the artful little dodger told them in Maori that “ he was all right but wanted a breather!” Congratulations to Mr Harry Harris, of the Otago Rugby Union, on his appointment as financial manager of the Maori team and delegate to the Imperial Rugby conference. “ A cold and wet Saturday afternoon. What’s a chap to do? Can’t play tennis; hockey and football are no good in rain, neither is lacrosse. The harrier doesn’t mind, however, or didn’t a decade or two ago. Get his feet 'fret! Sure, but they won’t be cold. Get drenched to the skin; may be. He’s been known to swim the river in June. Nevertheless, he’s not cold; he keeps going, and his warm, racing blood keeps him aglow. He must, however, not run too fast, which would necessitate a stop for a breather; neither must he take it too easy—his pals see to that. Pools are kicked into spray; contact with mother earth, accidental or otherwise, converts neat knickers, perhaps white ones, and singlets into objects which create controversial subjects on washing days with mother, but what of these? He’s having his fun, no matter what the too ardent football barracker may call him, who, after all, is only a looker-on. and not a doer ” —“ Harrier,” in the “ Australasian.” Wins Marathon at 40 Years. When the majority of men reach forty they argue that their days of activity on the athletic tracks are gone. But there are exceptions. A chap named Percy Wyer, at Detroit, U.S.A., has just won a Marathon event, the annual Irish-American Pontiac-to-De-troit race. He was forty years of age. He had to run in a blinding snowstorm over icy roads. He covered the' statutory Marathon distance —26 miles 385 yards—in 2 hours 51 minutes and 30 seconds. Wyer weighs only 7st. Evidently he has a cast-iron constitution.

SPEED BOAT RACING. A truly international speed-boat race on a scale not witnessed in England for 13 years will take place on the river Thames at the end of next month, when the contest for the Duke of York’s trophy will be decided. Entries from three other countries besides Great Britain are assured, the participants being the United States, Canada and France. That all previous speed records will be broken is not in doubt, since greatly increased engine-power will be developed compared with that attained in previous years, nor is it questionable that the race will prove more exciting than the corresponding events which have preceded it.

No wonder the Americans are hard to beat at the Olympic Games. Already the American Olympic Association has launched its plans for the 1928 games at Antwerp, and has commissioned last year’s coach to the Olympic team, Lawson Robertson, to make a trip abroad to report on housing accommodation. At least one North Island referee is a man of' resource, and proved his wisdom in one of the junior games. A scrum was in progress on the goal line when a hand crept down crutiouslv towards the ball and then edged towards the desired line. There were so many legs and bodies that the offender could not be seen, or otherwise identified, but the referee did not hesitate a moment. Gripping the wandering hand, he blew his whistle, waited for the scrum to untangle itself, identified the offender, and awarded the resulting penalty. At Wimbledon this month, the lawn tennis championships will again run their course. Already all the seats have been bought up for the Wimbledon tournament, and thousands of applications have had to be turned down. The chief attraction is the appearance of Mile. Suzanne Lenglen and Miss Helen Wills. The Americans are very positive that their champion will this year rise to the occasion and defeat Suzanne, but Continental enthusiasts think otherwise. Tom Keeney, the New Zealand heavyweight, is in with first challenge to Phil Scott for the heavy-weight championship of Great Britain. Charlie Ring evidently does not think highly of Tom Heeney as a heavyweight champion possibility, for he has challenged the New Zealander, and has deposited £IOO to act as a side wager. It is not, however, likely that Heeney will consent to such a fight. He has set his cap on higher game. Mr Norman M’Kenzie, the big chief of Hawke’s Bay, who has proved himself cap ble of finding a team which could, stall off all shield challenges, even when his stars have been absent, preaches as a first necessity personal contact with a . player. The notion of three selectors, he says, is bi d. First because when there is more than one selector the men are afraid to fraternise with players because of possible charges of favouritism. Secondly, because three men cannot get round the country as one. M’Kenzie. himself, spends his weekends wandering round the country' from Dannevirke to W: iroa. It is any wonder that he can pick a side? When Jackson Scholz was in New Zealand a few months ago he mentioned to an Auckland “Star” writer that the c l ub to which he was attached, the New York Amateur Athletic Club, was planning to build new headquarters costing 7,000,000 dollars. Exchanges to hand from the States show that plans are now afoot, one of the chief proposals being to increase the club dues from 75 dollars per year to 150 dollars, and the initiation fee from 100 dollars to 200 dollars.

A THREAT TO NURMI. Infractions of the am.iteur rule are often alleged against prominent figures in sport. The latest to suffer is Paavo Nurmi, the v world’s greatest long distance runner. After winning renown at the Olympic Sports, he toured x\merica, and the cables daily reported him rs making or breaking some world’s \ record. He was one the biggest atI tractions in America and amassed a large srim of money. I The American athletic bodies did not object to the famous athlete receiving I this money, but when recently he visit- | ed his home in Finland, the athletic association there threatened to deprive him of his amateur status if he return- | ed to America.

(a) The three Test matches against South Africa are included. The Australians won two and drew one. (b) Four of the A.I.F team. The 1878 and 1880 teams played several matches against odds. The 1882 eleven was the first which confined its programme to eleven-a-side matches. The Wannee Golf Club, Berlin, where Percy Allis is to go as professional, has been founded by a group of German millionaires, and is to be run on the lines of an American country club (says an exchange). It is said the second eighteen-holes course is to be laid out in Germany, and a luxurious club house has been built. There are terraces for dancing, large salons, and thirty-two bedrooms. It is intended to restrict the membership to six hundred. Cricket and Rugby football establish a link of Empire by sending representative teams on tour (says the “Athletic News”). The great test matches with the Australians and the All Blacks are their reward. Association football has no such patriotism and no such reward. It sees or.ly the English League tables and the English Cup. This, at any rate, is true, in the main, of the clubs. The game is an Empire game because of its own popularity, and because the Football Association has striven loyally to help Soccer football overseas. The great professional clubs of the country, with sufficiently few exceptions to prove the rule, have displayed an intolerably narrow attitude, however, when asked to respond to the pleas of the dominions. WHEN MERIVALE PLAY OLD BOYS.

The stand packed tight, and the bank as warm, The stage all set for the fray, A sudden rush from the speedy Whites. And the great Blue pack at bay. Inch by inch, and the line hard by, But the great Blue pack are strong. They smash their way through . the yielding Whites, Egged oii by the cheering throng. Blue! Blue! Blue! As they break from the ruck, And pounce on the rolling sphere, Blue! Blue! Blue! As it shoots through the backs. And the long sought line draws near. The sudden jink of the speedy three, Head down he dives for the try. The upraised hand of the referee. As the roar of the crowd rolls high. On with the game. Will the Whites in turn. Just gird up their loins anew? Will fleet-foot insides swerve and dash Through the shattered ranks of Blue? White! White! White! Prom the c heering stand, As they dash for the distant goal. White! White! White! Is the chanting song, As over the Blues they roll. White! White! White! In the warring scrum, See the half-back pounce on the sphere. White White! White! As it flies through the line, And the sprinting wing draws clear. Twelve to nothing or twelve to three; What matter who wins the day, May the game be hard, and the game be fair, When the cheering echoes away. It paves a way for the Red and Black, In many a hard-fought game; It strengthens defence and strengthens attack. And it all boils down to the same. The Whites and the Blues, the Blacks and the Greens, In the club games have their sway;. But the bottom team will be up with the top, If Canterbury beats the Bay. —P. D. BROWN. AUSTRALIAN ELEVENS. RECORD OF THE TOURS. As the tour of the Australian eleven progresses its results will naturally be compared with those of former teams. According to the Sydnev “ Sun,” their records were as follow:

*6 *! O Minor Counties 6 ca l o 7 O 2 c5 Leicestershire ... . 5 4 1 — — Essex — — Surrey . 1 8 1 — l Hptnpshire .... M ary Je bone — — Cambridge . 1 5 — — Oxford . 4 — South of England. . 2 3 — 1 — Middlesex . 7 8 — Totals 37 47 11 4 3

Tear. Won. Losi f U r n 187S 3 880 1882 1SS4 7 1886 S 1888 • . . 19 3 4 1X90 16 1<93 10 8 . -96 i -99 3 1902 2 1905 .. . . 3 1909 4 1912a .... 8 1919b .. . . 4 1921 2 14 38 .Totals .. . . 270 102 237 GS9