TOPICAL TATTLE

Evening Star, Issue 22142, 24 September 1935, Page 3

TOPICAL TATTLE

~<i [By H.P.S.]

Otago’s Shield Record. Prior to Saturday Otago had not won the Ranfurly Shield, but it has gone close to that distinction or have beaten teams that have Iveld the Ranfurly Shield when the trophy was not at stake. At Auckland in 1912, when Auckland had possession of the “ log of wood,” Otago 'led by 5-0 at halftime in the shield game, but the final result was 5-all draw, and Auckland retained, the shield. Southland was the first South Island union to win the Ranfurly Shield, Wellington taking it on tour in 1920 and losing it to Southland at Invercargill. In the match between Otago and Southland at Invercargill that year, Otago won by 11 points to S, this being before Sbuthland won the shield. Southland had gained possession before the return match was played at Dunedin, but the shield was not at stake when Otago won by 7 points to 3. The first of the home-and-away games in 1921 at Invercargill was a shield game, and Southland beat Otago by 10 points to 8. In the return game at Dunedin, Otago won by 20 [mints to 0, and a little later Southland left the shield in 'Wellington. Hawke’s Bay tenancy of the shield began in 1922 by its defeat of Wellington, but it did not take the trophy on tour during which Otago and Southland both • beat the Bay. Otago was unbeaten in all games that season. .Otago has twice challenged Canterbury for tlvo shield. In 1931, Canterbury won by 12 to 6, and in 1933 by 8 points to 5 after Otago led at halftime by 5 points to 0. All Blacks at Cricket. While the New Zealand Rugby team was voyaging to Great Britain its members had a cricket match on the Rangitiki (says ‘ Sporting -Life ’). The game was labelled 11 North v. South,” but as the island representation in the team is very uneven several of the North Island men were in the South team, together with some supernumeraries. It was also decided, to try to even up things a little, that the South should bat 17 men and the North 15. Each man was allowed 10 minutes’ batting or a limit of 21 runs. The South scored 81 runs. G. J. Oliver and G. Gilbert retired with 21 runs each. Harold Murphy, who' is travelling with the team, scored 12 and G. F. Hart and J. Hore made 9 each. B. S. Sadler and J. L. Griffiths were the most successful bowlers for -the North, each taking three wickets. The North team, composed entirely of footballers, without any assistance from among the passengers, did not do so well, its total score being G 5. E. W. Tindill retired nt 21, A. Mahoney scored 15 not out, H. F. M‘Lean 12, and Griffiths 10. Oliver took five wickets and Gilbertthree. “ Would Beat the World.” “ I am not quite believing that Jack Lovelock was m full training when he was beaten by S. C. Wooderson,” says a writer in a London paper. “Lovelock is a medical student, and the contemplation of the medical art (frogs and things) hardly coincides with intensive training. 1 still think if the world challenged Lovelock to a mile race —and gave him three weeks to train—Lovelock would beat the world.” Registered Cyclists. Tho secretary of the New Zealand Amateur Cycling Association reported to the last meeting that 782 registrations had been effected throughout New Zealand as follows: —Auckland Centre, 349; Canterbury, 110; West Coast (North Island), .110; Wellington, 117; Otago. 76; and Hawke’s BayPoverty Bay, 20. Centres are asked to forward to the association on or before October 31 any suggestions they might have with regard to the improvement of the present constitution. It has been suggested that clubs should hold their annual meetings in September, centres in October, and the association, as at present,, in November. Such arrangements would facilitate the preparation of returns and records of the association,' Former Rep. as Referee. Mr A. M. Matheson, New Zealand and Auckland representative cricketer and former Auckland representative footballer, has joined the Auckland Rugby Referees’ Association and passed his oral examination recently. Matheson played Rugby in Dunedin for University A, and represented Otago, while he also played cricket here for tho Dunedin Club. For 395 Minutes. On several occasions last year W. W. Keeton, very good batsman for Notts in first-class cricket, showed that he could score at a good rate as well as play a solid and sometimes stolid innings as an opening batsman (says an exchange). He was in his most riskeschewing mood, though, when he battled for Notts against Leicestershire, at Trent Bridge, a few weeks a go- _ . Keeton hatted then for 6h and 3omin without- giving a chance. He scored 184 not'out. and was'_ in for the whole of the innings, which was declared closed ijt 403 for five wickets. Cricket Feat. A remarkable cricket feat was accomplished in a recent match at Windsor, England. Playing for Windsor Gas Sports Club against Windsor Juniors, F. G. Hibbert took seven wickets with successive balls—all clean howled. Windsor Juniors scored 3! Hibbert took eight wickets for 2 runs. Mill Worker’s Record. Nellie Halstead, the 24-year-old Lancashire mill worker; by winning the 800 ! metres in record time —2min lo.Gsec—at the Women’s Amateur Athletic Association’s championships at the White City, London, last month, created a record which is thought likely to stand unchallenged for all time. This was her first appearance in the race, but in previous years she had won at every other available championship distance. During last winter she won the national cross-country championship at three miles. In spite of her record run and her tenth national championship win, the Radcliffo girl did not gain the special award for the best performance of the day. Tho honour went to Eileen Hiscock, who gained her third successive win in the 100 metres (109yds Ift lin), made a new British record of 10.9 sec in winning her heat, and regained the 200 metres (218yds 2ft 2in) title she lost to Miss Halstead at Herne Hill last year.

Famous Groundsman Retires. After 42 years, John Marshall, the, famous groundsman at Trent Bridge, is retiring. At tho age of 82 he has surely established a record by preparing the wicket for the first test match between England and South Africa for 1935. Marshall was at Trent Bridge in 1878, when tho first _ Australian eleven opened its tour in England. Does the Work. The Garisbrook Cricket Club has ever been fortunate in its choice of club captain, but misgiving was felt by some members when Don Cameron was transferred to Invercargill. He had been such an excellent club captain over a period of years that it was felt that his place would be hard to fill indeed. Cameron was not only a fine club player but an enthusiast and an executive official with considerable administrative ability. However, the club is fortunate in its choice of club captain this year, J. W. Howorth being elected to the position. Howorth • captained Carisbrook B in senior cricket last season, and gave a good account of himself. He has been a member of the club for many years past, and has a thorough knowledge of what is required of a club captain of a club catering for so many members as Garisbrook does. He is a solid official of the same type as Don Cameron. Tennis Tour. The question of sending a tennis team to Australia during the coming season was raised at the annual meeting of tho New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association. It was stated that a team could not be sent before February and consequently there was no urgency regarding arrangements In the meantime players who could go to Australia earlier would probably apply to the association for a subsidy. After considerable discussion on the advisability of sending players to Australia a motion was carried recommending the Management Committee to go into the question of subsidising a team to, visit Australia. Improved English Swimming Standard. Winners of titles at the _ English Amateur Swimming Association’s national meeting, held at Blackpool recently, recorded times exemplifying an improvement in the standard of the previous season. The pool in which the contests were swum was of an exceptional length, 110yds, and in view of this, performances were considered the more meritorious. The victor in the 220yds men’s championship, N. Wainwright, succeeded in lowering the British native record from 2min 20 2-ssec to 2min 18 3-ssec. The New Zealand record, held by R. Frankharn, of Auckland, is 2min 22 l-ssec. Frankharn also holds tho 100yds record of 54 4-ssec.

American Schoolboys’ Tour. Two teams of young American players have arrived in England to play a series of matches in lawn tennis. The combined Harvard and Yale team will meet Oxford and Cambridge, and the schoolboys from Lawrenceville are to take part in matches with the Royal Military College, Oxford University, Cambridge University, Westminster School, Queen’s Club, the. Army, the Public Schools Old Boys’ Association. _ and Eton. This is tho first series of international public school lawn tennis matches arranged.

Record University Swim. J. H. Gradon, Manchester University, made a successful attempt on the international Universities’ Games (men’s) record for 200 metres breaststroke at the Victoria Baths, Manchester. Gradon’s time was ' 2min 55 3-ssec, which heat the previous record made at Turin (Italy) in 1933 by ssec. Football “ Poachers.”

A vigorous league v. Rugby controversy has been going on in the columns of the ’■ New Zealand Observer ’ (Auckland), the latest contribution, under the heading of “ Poachers,” coming from a correspondent, Mr F. C. Price, as follows: —“ Your League correspondents seem greatly worried over the popularity of their game. 'After two seasons at Carlaw Park 1 returned to my “ old love ’’ mainly on the ■ ground of unsportsmanlike behaviour of so many of tho “ Poachers ” as they are now being called. There are many admirable features of the League game which the Rugby code could well copy, but if the amended rules were brought into foi»je they would satisfy any normal-minded person. At Eden Park there is a better .sporting spirit, and less of the larrikin betting -and boozing elements. / am quite willing to admit Hint the cluli attendances at Carlaw Park are larger than at Eden Park. The poacliing of players from Rugby and Soccer does nob reflect credit on the League code, and is not fair to their own players. In the Auckland province there are thousands playing Rugby compared to only a few hundred “ Leagueites.” Important Chang Mooted.

The writer has had a hint that certain well-known Rugby officials have been getting their heads together lately with a view to bringing-'about a change in the present system of Rugby control in the Dominion, ft has been known for a long time that many of the affiliated Rugby Unions are very dissatisfied with the wide powers that are nt present vested in the Management Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union, and the proposal that has been mooted is aimed at giving the unions a much greater direct say than is the case at the present time. Some interesting developments may be expected during tho nest few months. Double-jointed, , They say that Vincent Lopez is the only wrestler in captivity who is douhlejointed (says aii American writer). The Half-back Position. Congratulations will be tendered to C. K. Saxton, the Otago lialf-baek, on his selection to play in the South Island team in next week’s match, but on his game against Canterbury he must bo counted lucky. There were many who thought J. J. M'Auliffe. the Canterbury half-back, shaded him. Saxton was clever in running from the scrum, but he was often buried by the opposing forwards, and Thevathan was called upon to do a lot of saving work and often to open up play from the base of the scrum. Tho dropping of Simon from both Otago and South Island teams has caused a Jot of comment, and after his fine record of service for the province he must bo counted very unlucky to have missed the game when tho Ranfurly Shield came to Otago for the first time. There has been talk that he has suffered a lapse of form, but that is not consistent with all Auckland reports, . which stated that once be settled down

after the first few minutes, he played an excellent game. Those who have followed the play of the two halves at all closely find it hard to believe that Simon would not have given, to say the least, as good service as Saxton behind the serum on Saturday, and, having regard to his position as captain of the Otago team and his record for the province, all other things being equal—as they certainly appeared to he—ho should havo been chosen.

The Soil-ill Island selectors carried him right through the All Black trials, and it is difficult to believe that lie has suffered such loss of form as to be dropped in favour of another player now. This Toss of form does not seem consistent with the facts.

This is what the Auckland one of the most reliable opinions in the country, had to say of Simon in the Auckland game;—“ Simon played a good all-round game, his defence being excellent, while he got the ball away very smartly with, well-timed and directed passes.”

Trevathan Outstanding. “ A fine all-round game for Otago was played by Trevathan ” (says the Auckland ‘ Herald,’ in commenting on the Otago-Auekland match). “He showed great ability both on attack and defence, and besides scoring a try he narrowly missed on other occasions. A strong runner and quick to see an opportunity, he made some splendid openings and worked the blind side with Simon very cleverly. _ Auckland failed to give enough attention to the blind side movements of the opposition, but they were carried out so quickly that tho defence was caught napping before it realised the, position. On defence Trevathan did some fine work, and on his form ■ and place-kicking ability it is surprising that he did not gain All Black honours.” It may be added that Thevathan fully lived up to this view by bis play iu the Canterbury match.