THE FIELD OF SPORT

Evening Star, Issue 23685, 19 September 1940, Page 13

THE FIELD OF SPORT

TOPICAL NOTES AND COMMENTS [By Hooker.] Springboks Rally Round. In spite of the acute division in South African politics on the subject of the war between followers of General Smuts and General Hertzog, the sportsmen of the Union seem to be offering themselves for service as freely as anywhere in the Empire, and some of the Cape Town Rugby clubs are very hard hit (says an exchange). The Villagers Club, which started the season with 120 active members, can barely muster three teams now, and its senior fifteen has begun to look very scratchy. The Hamiltons Club, which was Gerry Brand’s club (he was named after it—Gerhard Hamilton Brand) had lost in the middle of July 107 out of 180 members. Maitland started with seven teams, but in July had only three. It is estimated that 50 per cent, of the active eligible sportsmen of Cape Town are serving in some capacity or another, > Many of them are probably participating in the Kenya campaign. At any rate, appeals were made for sports equipment for men serving “ somewhere in Africa.” Three “ Birdies ” at One Hole. America, the land of many records, recently laid claim to an unusual one in that a golfer registered two “ birdies ” at the one hole, having got_ his first en route to the green by killing a bird with his drive. _ However, the feat almost pales into insignificance when compared with the artistry of a Manawatu golfer who, in a round on the Horowhitu Links, astounded his friends and the world at large by announcing that he had registered three “ birdies ” at the one hole. Like the American, he had killed a sparrow on the fairway and then went on to sink the ball under par. But when he announced that there were three “ birdies ” he had his friends sadly puzzled. “ Well, isn’t my name Goldfinch?” was the calm announcement.

Swimming Club’s Record. A remarkably fine record is disclosed in the annual report of the Kiwi Amateur Swimming Club', to be presented at the annual meeting. The club, which has a membership of 270, comprised of 50 senior, 40 intermediate, and 180 junior members, has good cause to be proud of the performances of its representatives at the Otago championship meeting. Its members secured no fewer than 28 firsts, 20 seconds, and 14 thirds in the interclub championship events, while in the New Zealand senior, intermediate, and junior championships members of this club gained seven firsts, six seconds, and eight thirds.

Services Recognised Captain H. C. Sidford, who has taken command of the Otago detachment of the New Zealand Scottish Regiment, which is entering camp at Burnham at the end of the month, has been advised by Mr F. Langley, secretary of the Auckland branch of the Royal Life Saving Society, that he has been awarded the recognition badge by the Central Executive in London for his services. Arrangenients are to be made for the award to be presented to Captain Sidfofd at' a meeting in Christchurch shortly of the New Zealand _ Council of the Royal ‘Life Saving Society. Captain Sidford, who is now domiciled in Dunedin, was well known in Auckland sporting circles, and at one time held the New Zealand amateur heavy-weight wrestling championship. He was also one of Auckland’s main referees of professional contests. Both in Auckland and Wellington he played a leading part in surf life saving activities.

Golf Match Raises £I,OOO. Over £I,OOO was raised for the Red Cross fund as the result of a 30-holes match at Bruntsfield links, near Edinburgh, on July 20, when Henry Cotton, British 1934 and 1937 open champion, beat the present open champion, Richard Burton, by 5 and 4. Cotton finished the first round 5 up, the scores being: Cotton 68, Burton 73. The second round was played out. and Burton’s score was 66, Cotton taking 69. L.B.W. Excuses. A most amusing article in the ‘ Cricketer,’ by F. A. J. Godfrey, deals with the ‘ Seriousness of the L.B.W. Menace.* He declares that “ after personal investigation,” he has set down the result of his inquiries in statistical form. “ So staggering are the figures,” he writes, “ that I offer no apology for reproducing them in detail thus:— Per cent. Those who may possible have been in front of the wicket ... 2 Those who can’t see how they could _ have been in front of the wicket 12 Those who know jolly well that they weren’t in front of the wicket 21 Those who were a foot outside the wicket 15 Those who were a foot outside the wicket “ without a word of a He!” 22 Those who were a yard outside the wicket ' 12 Those who were not within a mile of the wicket 16 Everyone who has taken an interest in cricket (says the ‘ Australasian ’) will recognise the explanations of batsmen and their denunciation of the umpire, but Mr Godfrey has omitted two extremely popular excuses, thus: “I played it hard” and “I slogged it on to my pad.” The inclusion of these two reasons would affect the percentages, but not the principle of the thing. A Topical Note. Mr G. A. Wycherley, speaking at the annual meeting of the Dunedin Cricket Club last wees, introduced a topical uoto when he referred to the great conflict that is going on in the Old World just now as a cricket match. Britain, he said, had a solid team, captained by a great leader named Winston Churchill, who, while “ playing the game,” knew how to block the scoring strokes of his opponents, and who employed his “ googly ” bowlers as well as his “ speed merchants ” _ effectively. On the other hand, Captain (late Corporal) Hitler, who had never been known to play cricket, was going all out for bodyline attack and was determined to win at any price. However, added Mr Wycherley, although Britain might be behind on the first innings, she would, for a certainty, score an outright win at the finish. Was First Amateur. A. (Tony) Gibbs, former Nelson and Otago golfer, who has been stationed in Wairoa for the last year, won the Povertv Bay open golf championship the other day—-but only just. Ho beat the other finalist, R. T. Harrison, of Gisborne, at the twentieth. Gibbs, even when he was a pupil at Nelson

College, was a very fine golfer, and was on a low single-figure handicap mark then. On transferring to Otago, w'hero ho attended university, ho continued to show very fine form. In 1938, at the Balmacewen links, ho finished first amateur in the New Zealand open championship._ Examinations prevented Gibbs competing in the last national championships at the Miramar links. Ho is on scratch nowadays. Cricket Umpires. The annual report of the Otago Cricket Umpires’ Association to be presented at the annual meeting next Thursday expresses regret at the death of Mr W. J. Hughes, a member of the association for many years. It conveys to members congratulations upon the excellent manner in which they carried out duties during the season. Regret is expressed that more old players do not give their services to the association. The membership is too small, andl_ it entails many sacrifices upon the willing members. Umpires were provided for all senior and most intermediate matches played in mid-week. The association was again entrusted with the awarding of points for the fielding cup, and at the end of the season the Albion team received the most points. Criticism Resented. V. M'Grath, Australian Davis Cup tennis player, recently revealed that several Australian top-ranking tennis players, who were criticised by some speakers at an Australian Tennis Association’s meeting for not enlisting, had infirmities which definitely would debar them from military service, A large percentage of the remaining players had already enlisted. That, M'Grath added, meant that the criticism was unfair and inaccurate. M'Grath said it was common knowledge that Quist had been rejected because of asthma, but there was another well-known player who suffered even more from that complaint. Another prominent player was partially deaf; one sufferd from arthritis and had badl feet for years. Has Added Polish. By his play in the centre three-quar-ter berth for Pirates against Southern in the Rugby championship final last Saturday, Ray Mahony further demonstrated that he is a much more polished player now than he was when he left for Invercargill three seasons ago. He has a better idea of positional play, there is much more finish to his work, and everything he does is done in a tradesmanlike manner. The way he capped off a move by A. R. Duff with a try on Saturday was fine, and had he been available throughout the season instead of at the tail end, Pirates would have put together an even more impressive record. Mahony is a fine allrounder, and he intends playing cricket during the summer with his former club, High School Old Boys, though whether he will take up athletics seriously in the coming season is undecided. Mahony has made a fine contribution to Otago and Southland sport in the last four or five years.

Sarazen Disapppointed. Gene Sarazen had one of the major disappointments of his career lately as the outcome of a challenge he made to the selectors of the last United States Ryder Cup golf team. On the announcement of the team, which included Bryon Nelson, Henry Picard, Sam Snead. Ralph Guldahl, Horton Smith, Paul Runyan, and Jimmy Hines, he said scornfully that he could pick a team from those t overlooked that would “beat the pants ” of those chosen. Some months later the challenge was accepted, a match being arranged for war relief funds.. Sarazen picked a team, which included such relative oldtimers as Tommy Armour, Harry Cooper, Jimmy Thomson (who did Titirangi’s famed Wrecker in drive and mashie-nibhek), Craig Wood, and Lawson Little. In spite of having this glittering array of talent, Sarazen’s team was beaten by 8 matches to 5. A Level Hundred. Peter Foote, Varsity A and Otago representative forward, is probably tiic most reliable place-kick in the senior competition, being equally facile at kicking goals from the handy positions as from acute angles well out. The season just ended w r as a good one for him, and he had the satisfaction of registering the level 100 points. Four of these (two conversions) were put up in the interisland universities match at Auckland, the remainder in the local senior competition. He scored two trios in club games, the remaining points being made up almost equally of penalties and conversions. Prolific Try-getter. Although it did not succeed in winning its section (1) of the third grade Rugby competition, the Pirates C team suffered only one defeat and drew one game. Its record of points was: 355 for, and 28 against; and contributing to this fine record was the most prolific try-getter in Otago Rugby this year, Ron Skinner, This lad, a wing three-quarter of good physique and great promise, scored 34 tries in 12 matches—a total of 102 points, nil in tries. Members of the Pirates Club regard him as one of the best prospects they have had for a long time.