SPORT AND SPORTSMEN.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 183, 4 August 1931, Page 4

SPORT AND SPORTSMEN.

“ Tom Robinson, one of the new men in the Canterbury pack on Saturday, showed disappointing form,” writes a Rugby critic. “Although he was fair in the first spell he soon lost his dash in the remaining half and failed to put in his weight in the tight. A lighter forward who works hard from kick-off to final whistle is far more worthy of a place in the pack than Robinson, who apparently cannot stay the distance.” : : “ Do not get a false impression of the strength of New Zealand cricket from the result of the second test,” says a prominent cricket authority. “ Personally 1 feel confident that the performance of the New Zealand team is not to be regarded as a true indication of its strength. I think a truer indication is to be taken from the first test match. My view is, of course, confirmed by the fact that the. showing of the New Zealand team in the first test match was such as to convince the M.C.C, a very generous and sporting but conservative body, that it was only doing the New Zealanders justice in granting two more tests. “ One has also to recall that New Zealand have already met all the bowlers whose success in the second test accounted for the result, and in no prior case have these bowlers been able to get rid of the New Zealanders so cheaply on two occasions as in the present match. It is true that they had not previously met Tate, but the limited measure of success attained by him did not account for the two low scores made by New Zealand.” Two good stories are related in Dunedin concerning the progress of that famous New Zealand footballer, Jimmy Duncan. In a match between Otago and Auckland at the Caledonian Ground in 1895 Otago were 8 points behind at half-time, but the finish of the match saw Otago winners by 11 points to 8. Duncan’s strategy was a big item in the win. Being very closely watched, Duncan on one occasion finessed, himself going behind the scrum and putting the half-back, “ Scrummy ” Mason, in his place. Out came the ball, the Auckland backs hung off, awaiting Duncan’s pass to Mason, and Duncan, after a splendid run, went across the line on his own! These were the days when Otago University, though not serious contenders for premiership honours, were wont to spring surprises on opposing sides. Kaikorai were playing the ’Varsity, and the announcement had gone forth that Duncan was to be watched as a cat watches a mouse. And so it was. Time and again that brilliant little half-back, Teddy Davis, handed the ball to Duncan, and time and again Duncan bit the dust. A hurried council of war was held and Duncan instructed Davis to go on his own. With Otago’s great fiveeighth acting the part o£ “ buffer ” splendidly, Davis scored four tries, and Kaikorai won by some thirty-odd points. A senior team from the Athletic Club visited Hamner Springs during the week-end at the invitation of the K. and T. football team. A friendly match was played in the Domain, the result being a win by 18 points to nil for the home team, which included several players who have been prominent in New Zealand and provincial football. The tries were scored by W. Mann (2), IT. Robertson and A. Rowe, the latter try being converted by L. Petersen, and K. Hawkins potted a goal. The visitors were captained by G. Brittenden, and the local players by A. Pickering. Mr M. Sheehan was referee. In the evening, the visitors were entertained to dinner at Ilanmer House.

A correspondent writes as follows: The following score-sheet may interest those who are decrying the New Zealand team for their poor showing at the Oval. It represents Australia’s reply to England’s 380 for nine wickets at Birmingham in May, 1902: Trumper, b Ilirst 18 Duff, c Jessop b Rhodes 2 Ilill, c Braund b Hirst 1 Gregory, lbw b Hirst 0 Darling, c Jessop b Rhodes ...... 3 Noble, st Lillev T> Rhodes 3 Armstrong, c Lillev b Rhodes .... 0 Hopkins, c Lillev b Rhodes 5 Kelly, not out 1 Jones, c Jackson b Rhodes 0 Howell, c Fry b Rhodes 0 Extras 3 Total 3G Bowling analysis.—Rhodes, seven wickets for 17 runs; Ilirst, three for 15; Braund, none for 1.