Wanganui Spotlight on World of Sport

Wanganui Chronicle, 3 October 1946, Page 7

Wanganui Spotlight on World of Sport

Equal to Wellington Standard. Last Saturday the Wanganui soccer teams had a most successful day against the visiting Marist and Waterside teams from Wellington, winning two matches, drawing two, and losing one. All games produced some football unequalled in Wanganui for some time, and the visitors congratulated the local teams on playing such a high standard of soccer which, they stated, is as good, if not better, than Wellington soccer. Defence Rifle Club. October 28 will again see the Wanganui Defence Rifle Club in action, that date having been set down at the annual meeting recently for the official opening of the 1946 season. As was the case last season, all club fixtures will be held on the Putiki Range, permission for the use of the Aramoho range having been refused last year.

The Perfect Try

The try which was scored on Spriggens Park on Saturday by the Technical Old Boys full-back (J. Patterson), has been, in some circles, described as the best witnessed on the Park for many years. Patterson received the ball on his own twentyfive when he came into the live-eighth line for an attack, and sped through the Wellington defence to reach the half-way line, where he passed on to K. Dunlop. Another 10 yards and with only the full back to beat, Patterson again received and sprinted into goal to score behind the posts. Patterson, at the start of the season, played on the wing, where he acquitted himself well, although notto the same extent as when he was shifted into the liveeighths line. He proved himself there for a time, and then back he went to the last line—which was his position when playing for Kaierau several seasons ago, when he won the Takarangi Cup for the outstanding fullback of that club on two successive occasions.

Superb Combination. Wanganui’s second goal against Marist in the main soccer fixture last Saturday was a treat to watch. From the kick off at the commencement of the second spell, Heath passed to J. Kidd, who sent the ball out to Alex Kidd. He drew a man and sent a short pass into J. Kidd, who snapped a good pass to Crutchley. He sent it back to Heath, who neatly beat one of the Marist backs and then gave it again to J. Kidd, who let drive from close in, giving the goalkeeper no chance at all. The whole movement was an excellent exhibition of soccer combination, and certainly earned the loud applause which followed. Marton Harriers do Well.

In first and third places in the Simile Wangaehu - Wanganui harrier road race on Saturday were Tony Rivers and Don Smith, members of the Marton Club. It is perhaps interesting to note that Rivers is the youngest senior harrier in Marton, while Smith is just the re/erse—the veteran of the club. This is the second season out for Rivers, a lad of 19 years. He is very keen—one of the keenest in the club, but a strained stomach sustained during the course of his employment, rendered him inactive for many weeks, and it is only lately that he set himself to training. Rivers is the livewire secretary of the Marton,Club.

Don Smith is one of the foundation members of the Marton Club, when it was formed 16 years ago. Close on the 40 mark now, he can still show a clean pair of heels to younger members, and has been one of the main stays of the club. He has represented the West Coast (N.I) at several Dominor championships. Gordon Bromley, who returned third fastest time is, this year, Marton’s champion harrier He has been a harrier for many years, but not always with the Marton Club. It was only in the middle of this season that he returned to Marton after an absence of several years, and began to train seriously.

Chatham Cup Winners Beaten.

, The main senior soccer game last week-end between Wanganui A and Marist (Wellington, 1946 Chatham Cup winners) was a thriller from start io finish. The local team played exceptionally well and outclassed the skilled Marist side throughout most of the game.

Weiterwi Igs;'. Raxm- Caampion. One most interesting fact about Bernie Coughlin’s boxing career which makes his recent victory in he New Zealand welterweight boxing championships all the more meritorous, is that it was only 12 months ago that this devastating “south paw” took his first tuition with the gloves. Prior to September, 1945, Bernie had never competitively worn boxing gloves, and

it was at that tine that he entered Messrs. Brown and Barlow’s gymnasium in Wanganui, with whom he continually took tuition until the middle of this last winter, when Mr. T. Souter took him jn charge. It was under the instruction of Mr. Souter that Bernie trained for, and eventually won, the national title, which besides being a most creditable performance for himself and his trainer, brings great credit upon the city of Wanganui.

Unbeaten Record. Defeating Tongariro at Tokaanu last Saturday by 27 joints to 3, Ruapehu Rugby team maintained its undefeated record for the 1946 season. Its record in representative matches is as follows:—v. Taumarunui, drew, 9 all; v. Taihape, won 12-10; v. Combined Services, won 22-8; v. Rangitikei, won 19-8; v. Ohura, won 10-5; v. Taihape (return match), won 14-6; v. Wanganui B, won 9-8; v. Tangariro, won 27-3. The sole selector of the season was Mr. V. Wilson, stationmaster at Raetihi.

Retiring Cricket President. Mr. H. F. Arkwright, who did not seek re-election as president of the Rangitikei Cricket Association at the annual meeting this week, has been identified with the game in Rangitikei for nearly 50 years. In his younger days he was a brilliant bat, a useful bowler and a capable man behind the sticks. Besides representing Rangitikei in Hawke Cup and other representative matches, Mr. Arkwright played for Wanganui in 1906 against the touring M.C.C. team and was a member of the N.Z. Minor Associations’ team which played Australia at Wellington in 1921. He also played for Conutry against Town in Wellington in 1924. A keen student of the game, Mr. Arkwright has helped many a cricketer on the road to fame. He was selector of the combined Manawatu, Rangitikei and Wairarapa side which played the M.C.C. at Palmerston North in 1923. As an administrator he had undoubted ability and was president of the Rangitikei Association from 1922-24, from 1926-28 and from 1938-1945, a total of 14 years. The purchasing of the present cricket ground was possible largely through the efforts of Mr. Arkwright, who had the backing of many other fine stalwarts of the game. In 1922, Mr. Arkwright presented a shield, known as the Arkwright Shield, for competition among junior clubs. He is a life member of the association and in further recognition of his work delegates at the annual meeting this week decided to appoint Mr. Arkwright, the association’s first patron. As the ‘father of cricket in Rangitikei,” the honour conferred upon him has been undoubtedly deserved.

Hard Working Forward

A forward who has, in games towards the end of the Rugby football season just closed, shown great form, is N Brown, of Pirates. On Saturday last, at Taihape, he was one of the best forwards on the field, his following up and keen sense of anticipation being rewarded with an excellent forward try—the only time which the King Country line was crossed.

Wanganui Golf Championships The first championship golf tournament to be held in Wanganui for the local titles since 1941 will commence on the Wanganui Golf Club's course at Belmont this morning. The greens are all in excellent condition, but several visiting players who played a practice round yesterday found a certain amount of difficulty with the strong wind which was then blowingIf these windy conditions prevail today, the chances are against very low scores, but even so, the standard of play of the competitors will assure some excellent golf.

Promising Primary School Players. The primary school soccer team was matched, through a misunderstanding, against a larger and older team last Saturday, but although the score was large against them these young lads were by no means disgraced, and proved to the spectators that there is some excellent talent among the Wanganui juveniles. The other games were all evenly matched the scores being a very good indication of the run of play, the games resulting as follows: Senior, Wanganui A 2, Marist 1; Wanganui B 4, Waterside 3. Junior: Wanganui A 3, Marist 4ths 3; Wanganui B 1, Waterside 3rds 1; Waterside sths 8, Wanganui Primary School reps. 1.

Pat Stewart Back in Wanganui. A former member of the Wanganui Tech. College Old Boys’ senior Rugby team, Mr. S. G. (Pat) Stewart, who has been on the staff of Freeman R. Jackson and Co., Raetihi, for the past eight years, has been transferred to the Wanganui office of the firm Pat Stewart played for the Technical College Old Boys’ team round about 1926, when it possessed one of the fastest line of backs seen in Wanganui for a long period. Among them were the late Archie Irwin, who lost his life in a yachting disaster in 1931, Bruce Skeen, who was killed in action in World War 11, Stan Ambrose and Norman Ash. Pat Stewart was fullback for the team for four consecutive seasons and was a sure tackler and accurate line-kick. A brother, Harold Stewart, played for Kaierau. In World War 11, Harold Stewart held the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and was in command of a large camp which was located on the Wanganui Racecourse for several months.

Christ’s College Old Boy. To have played half-back for 18 years is a record which stands to the credit of Mr. O. M. Friedlander, of Raetihi. An old boy of Christ’s College, Christchurch, he was a member of the Ashburton Old Boys’ RugbyClub. He represented Ashburton for three seasons.

In 1930, Mr. Friedlander joined the staff of Freeman R. Jackson and Co., Wanganui, and was appointed to its Raetihi office. From 1931 to 1933 he captained the Raetihi senior Rugby team. He is a former Ruapehu representative and from 1931 to 1933, he was half-back for the King Country representative side. Giving up active playing Mr. Friedlander associated himself with the administrative sice of Rugby. He v ...s sole selector to the Ruapehu Rugby Union for five consecutive years, and from 1939 to 1944 was president of that body. Another Rugby office held by Mr. Friedlander was a member of the selection committee of the King Country Rugby Union.

Hockey Grounds on Centennial Park Advice that the Marton Borough Council had agreed to proceed with the preparation of the Centennial Park grounds into playing areas for hockey was contained in a letter received at. the monthly meeting of the Rangitikei Hockey Association on Tuesday. It was proposed, stated the letter, to commence operations early in November The council accepted Mr. W. G. Aitken’s offer to supervise the work. The letter was the outcome of a deputation comprising Messrs. W. G. Aitken and G. Signal which waited on the council at its last meeting recommending certain work. Messrs. W. G. Aitken, E- O. Pryce. G. Signal, A. Gracie and V. Hawkins were appointed a sub-committee to coooerate with the council’s Reserves Committee in planning and executing the work required to develop a firstclass playing area. It was decided to close the season officially on the night of the ball. Owing to the lateness of the season the Huimai and United challengers for the Paranihi Cup at present held by Kia Ora, were held over until next season. A hearty ,\ote of thanks was accorded the Huimai Club for a dona- ' lion of £l5. Expenses entailed in sending the Rangitikei hockey team to the Dominion tournament at Christchurch last month totalled £145 9s 4d, according to a statement prepared by the secretary. Mrs. D. Gardiner- The chief items of expenditure were £57 8s 6d for transport and £B4 15s for board. It was intimated tb°’ Rangitikei would be reimbursed with a share of the profits from the tournament.