Sport And Sportsmen.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18958, 2 January 1930, Page 9

Sport And Sportsmen.

Describing the conclusion of the Plunket Shield match in Wellington, one message says: “It was the brilliant and fighting innings of Ron Talbot and Lester, the two Old Collegians, w'hich made the feat of winning a possibility. Had Powell been in his best form the game would have gone to Canterbury. Talbot made his runs too late to receive consideration for the New Zealand side, but his effort, brilliant as it really was, will cause his name to shine in the best cricket before the tests are finished. « s: ?? In spite of reports to the contrary, the Australian Cricket Board of Control has announced that it will send only fifteen players to England, instead of sixteen. Probably the board has an eye to economy, and may thus kill two birds with one stone. Young a’Beckett, of Victoria, who played in two tests last year, and is in'-the running for the coming tour, will be up at Oxford next summer. If necessary, the board can claim his services, as was done in the case of Cantab Sammy Woods. A Wellington message says: There was great honour for Canterbury in the defeat, though the result could hardly be measured in the nineteen runs loss, but in the 388 runs scored in an attempt to reach the 408 for victory. Talbot, Roberts, Lester and Merritt brought honour to their province and made a reputation for themselves. Theirs were the innings which made the finish such a close one, and theirs were the fighting qualities which Canterbury has prided herself upon on the sports field for years. Talbot played a innings right through. He gave not one chance and played aggressively all round the wicket. His score had more merit than that of Dempster’s, though it may not have been such a cricket classic. Roberts, bubbling over with enthusiasm over his selection to the New Zealand team, also played delightful cricket. He confined himself to two off shots for his score, and in spite of the filling of the gap by Lowry, he reached the boundary. Lester was imbued with the confidence of his partner, Talbot, and made no mistakes. His strokes were neatly executed and his defence was perect. Merritt hit out at everything with marked success. He has the heart for a hard finish and is not frightened to attack against the biggest of odds. Miss Glenna Colle-tt has decided to go again to Europe next year and compete in the British championship. Miss Collett is still only twenty-six years of age. She holds the American title, which she has won on four occasions. But for the presence of Miss Joyce Wethered she would now be the British champion as well, for it was Miss Wethered who beat her in the final round by 3 and 1, after the little American lady had played the first nine holes in thirty-four strokes. It was Miss Wethered, also, who knocked Miss Collett out of the championship at Troon in 1925—in the third round. :: :: The Italian Rugby Federation, which was recently abolished by special Government decree, is likely to be revived shortly. It was a protest by the Lazio Club, who alleged that their opponents in the championship final broke most of the rules, written and unwritten, without being checked, that caused the rumpus. The Minister who was foremost in the suppression of the federation will reconstitute it and appoint a new president.