ROUND OF SPORT

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 25, 29 July 1939, Page 23

ROUND OF SPORT

TED MORGAN BENEFIT FUND

WELLINGTON AMATEUR BOXERS TO HELP

The only New Zealand boxer ever to win a title at the Olympic Game's, Ted Morgan, of Wellington, recently fell some distance from a building, suffering a fractured leg. The leg has made a comparatively good recovery, but Morgan is at present walking around with an iron support. In recognition' of the fact that he did a very great deal for Wellington and New Zealand boxing generally, local amateur boxers and trainers are combining in a special amateur tournament that will probably be held at the Town Hall on Thursday. The proceeds, in full, ,will go to Morgan. In addition to the amateur bouts, Jackie Sharpe, Australian professional lightweight, has offered to fight, some other boy of his weight. He has offered his share of the purse to the fund.

Leo Parsons, ■ Manawatu * bantamweight boxing champion, and Harold Foote, of Wellington, the New Zealand featherweight champion, met over four rounds at Palmerston North recently. Parsons took a clear points decision and the Boucher Cup. Describing the bout the "Manawatu Standard" said: "These two boxers met at practically the same- weight, and Parsons, boxing very stylishly as well is fighting vigorously, definitely showed himself to be the better of the two. He was giving Foote a lacing in the last few minutes of the contest, in which two very fast and skilful boxers were matched. Rushing his opponent, Parsons sent in hard punches to the body in a good two-fisted encounter, but Foote proved to be a formidable opponent. Parsons continued to take the fight to him, excelling at in-fighting, and landed some pretty rights. Sending out lightning jabs. Parsons went straight in to his opponent, scoring freely with both hands, though he ran into an occasional steadier. Foote was not connecting frequently enough, and tried to overtake the leeway in the last round as Parsons tired, but the Manawatu champion jolted him heavily with the same beautiful rights. He opened a cut over Foote's eye, and took a clear points decision." Parsons lost to Jackie Parker, of Wellington, in the local ring recently.

Lovers of boxing will be interested to learn that there are hopes of a revival of the sport in Napier, states a Hawke's Bay exchange. A few enthusiasts have got together and formed a club known as the Napier Boxing Club. They have several boys in steady training who should be in fighting trim in a few weeks. It is to be hoped that the Napier Boxing Association will give the club the support it richly deserves. Mick McLean, the well-known Napier lightweight, is putting plenty of vim into his work, and is rapidly approaching his best. "Tiger" McKnight, the Napier welterweight, is ready and waiting for the gong. Mr. M. Ward is trainer for the Napier Boxing Club, and is now still willing to don the gloves with any professional, 12st or under, that may be available in the interests of boxing in the town. George Thomson, a Napier lad of much promise, who has been doing a little sparring with the wellknown Hawke's Bay lightweight Jimmy Mapau, should not be long before he gets into the ring.

An outstanding football record is held by Mr. Noel Robilliard, manager of the Ashburton Rugby team, which played Wellington this week. In his playing days he represented Canterbury as a three-quarter. After he gave up playing he became active on the administrative side of the game. He is president of the Ashburton Rugby Union as well as being senior selector. He comes of a footballing family, Mr. F. B. Robilliard, his father, playing for Canterbury in 1896 and 1898, appearing against Wanganui in 1898, when Wanganui beat Canterbury 14-6 in Wanganui. This was the first match between the two provinces. Alan Robilliard, the wing three-quarter who played for the South Island in 1924-25-26-27, and who toured Great Britain with the 1924 All Blacks, Australia with the 1926 All Blacks, and South Africa with the 1928 All Blacks, is a cousin. The following Auckland side has been chosen by Mr. E. Parkinson for the Flyger Rose Bowl game against Wellington at Blandford Park on August s:— R. Gordon, G. Healy, M. Speed, B. Moody, A. Fincham, A. Turner, W. Putt, A. Parkinson, J. Walters, G. Sutcliffe, R. Harinam; reserves, J. G. Dacre, S. Wickenden, R. Agate. a * * » Neither man was in form when Johnny Foster, Canada, fought Neville Mudgway, welterweight boing champion of New Zealand, at the Auckland Town Hall recently, states an exchange. After ten uninspiring rounds the judges disagreed as to which had given the worse display, and the referee declared Foster the winner. The decision had a mixed reception. Even although the main bout was rather an anti-climax, a stirring clash in the supporting professional bout made the programme a success. Bert McKay, j Auckland's new professional lightweight find, met Fred Finnigan, of Wellington, and for the third time in succession McKay won without going the full distance, being awarded a technical knock-out decision in the fourth round. The aggressive tactics of these two youngsters provided a welcome contrast to the excess of caution displayed by both Mudgway and Foster. a » « • Giving a good exhibition of team running the Hastings Harrier Club's team defeated Masterton by one point in the annual inter-club contest for the Keats trophy recently, states an exchange. Though the margin was so

narrow Hastings fully deserved the victory, as Masterton had a decided advantage in running on their own course, and having two such outstanding runners as Wi A. C. Pullar and G. Gregory. With Pullar breaking the track record he made no race of it among the leading runners, and considering the fairly heavy nature of portion of the track he mus.t be looked upon as a likely winner of the national cross-country championship title to be decided at Havelock North on August 12. In past years the Masterton Club has always been noted for the attention as regards the wearing of correct uniform, so it was most surprising to see Pullar turning out wearing a red singlet.

Ossie Stewart, the American negro boxer, intends leaving for the United States at the earliest possible moment, states the "Sydney Morning Herald." He is dissatisfied at having to wait so long for matches. Stewart was to