THE FIELD OF SPORT

Evening Star, Issue 23692, 27 September 1940, Page 11

THE FIELD OF SPORT

TOPICAL NEWS AND NOTES I By Hooimt.J Promising Schoolboy Footballer. A sturdy little player who took the eye in the primary schools curtainraiser in the Rugby gala day at Carisbrook last Saturday was L. Watson, a first live-eighth, who showed a good eye for an opening, kicked well, and got through some saving work on defence. The youngster’s football ability is inherent, however, for he is a son of Ernie Watson, former Port Chalmers and Zingari-Richmond player, whose record in Otago Rugby was an outstanding one. Watson was Otago’s last line of defence for many years, and he was also a capable centre three-quarter. Between 1910 and 1921 he represented Otago on 47 occasions, and was in the side which met the Springboks'of 1921. Black and White Tennis Champions. Don Budge, professional tennis champion of the world, met 23-year-old Jimmy M’Danicl, of Los Angeles, negro amateur champion, in an exhibition match at Harlem last month. It was the first time that black and white tennis champions of America met on the tennis court. It was an exhibition arranged by Budge in his work as a promotional salesman for a sporting goods firm. In the United States the colour line in tennis is most distinct. None of the 16,000.000 odd negroes ever take part in the normally scheduled tournaments, but have their own tournaments and their annual amateur championships. The genera! standard of their play is well below that of the white amateurs of America.

Hornabrook on Plus 4 Mark. A brilliant card of GG in the qualifying round of the Masterton Golf Club’s annual championship by John Hornabrook, New Zealand open and amateur titleholdcr, was a feature of New Zealand golf recently (says the ‘ Sports Post ’). Hornabrook has been in his very best form in recent weeks, and his latest round—a course record —though a great effort, is not particularly • surprising. Par for the course is 73; the previous record of 68 was held jointly by T. Horton and Gene Sarazen. Incidentally, since the previous record was established the course has been lengthened considerably. Hornabrook now plays off the remarkable handicap of plus 4.

Army Full-back. Full-back in the Trentham Army team, which met Wellington last Saturday, was R. G. Bush, former Otago and Auckland representative cricketer and footballer. Bush played Rugby here for Varsity A and cricket for the Grange, and in 1931 he represented Otago at Rugby in six games. In the same year he played for New Zealand against Australia. According to a Wellington writer, Bush, as powerful as ever, if not so quick-moving, was a big last line of defence for the Army, and some of Wellington's players struck it hal'd.

Veteran Maori Player. The distinction of being the oldest player on the field in Saturday’s patriotic match between the Maoris and a jockeys’ team belonged to W. Taiaroa, who was originally selected as a forward, but filled a gap on the wing. The early development of Otago Rugby and the name of Taiaroa tire almost synonymous —the late J. G. Taiaroa wont from Otago to Australia with the first Now Zealand team in 1884—but Bill Taiaroa at one time-played in Canterbury, it showed the enthusiasm and sportsmanship of the Maoris that several veterans willingly turned out in the effort to field a team against the jockeys, and though ho must be nearing the halfcentury mark, Bill Taiaroa was not the least capable of them.

Rep. Full-back’s Misfortune. The selected full-back for the Public Service team against Varsity A last Saturday was K. Black, the Dunedin and Otago last line. Unfortunately, however, while playing iq a match for the Police fifteen against Eastern Districts at Palmerston recently, Black broke a bone in his foot, and will ho out of active commission for some time.

German Tennis Player Naturalised. All those who remember the popular German lawn tennis player, Dr Daniel Prenn, who used to represent Germany in Davis Onp matches, and played many times tit Wimbledon, will be interested to learn that he has just been admitted to British nationality. Prenn’s story is just one of the many tragedies of the Nazi regime. In the Davis Cup match of 1982 Germany beat Great Britain by three matches to two in the semi-final round, and its victory was. in the main due to Dr Prenn, who won both his singles matches, disposing first of Fred Perry and thou of H. W. Austin. After the final match he was carried shoulder-high from the court by a wildly enthusiastic and cheering crowd —the hero of the day. In less than 12 months, on account of his Jewish blood, ho was hounded out of Germany.

Steele's Versatility. H. A. Steele, whose appearances in Otago Rugby this season have been infrequent. turned out on Saturday in the Alaori team which played the iockcys at Carisbrook. The former Alaori All Black wing three-quarter nlaved an excellent game in a new role, filling the position at the base of the serum. There was nothing wrong with his service, and he varied his game with some speedv hursts up the centre of the field. Steele has beans of football in him yet. and many a side would be glad to have a player as versatile.

Hockey Girls’ Contribution. Hockey girls throughout Australia have already contributed £3,000 to war funds. This was reported by the secretary of tbo All-Australia Women’s Hockey Association, Mrs F. J. Davey. The Lustre Club, of Sydney, is nearing its objective of £750, for the purchase of an ambulance. Former Otago Cricketer Weds. The wedding recently in Loudon of Lieutenant W. Hawkesworth, N.Z.M.C., to Miss 11. Jolliffe, of Wellington, was reported in the Auckland ‘ Herald.’ Hawkesworth is the former Otago representative wicketkeeper and captain of the University eleven. For several seasons he had some good performances to his credit in Plunket Shield matches, but probably his most notable feat in shield matches-was his last-wicket partnership of 184 with 11. C. Blunt against Canterbury at Lancaster Park, Christchurch, in the 193132 season. Going in last man when Blunt’s score was 192, Hawkesworth stonewalled before losing his wicket for 21 rims. In the meantime, however, Blunt bad gone on to create a New Zealand record score of 338 not out. Hawkesworth was prominently associated with many student activities at

Otago University, and for a term was president of the Otago University Students’ Association, being responsible i'or the organisation of one highly successful New Zealand tournament. He also filled a place in the University B Rugby fifteen for a period. Fine Rugby Record. Cyril Towers, captain of the Randwick Rugby Union team, which defeated Manly in the grand final at North Sydney Oval recently, is not contemplating retirement. He wants to play his 200th first grade game. This is Towers’s fifteenth year in first grade football. Graduating from Christiaji Brothers’ College, Waverley, in 1925, ho went straight into the Randwick team, and has played with that club in 196 first grade games. Towers represented Now South Wales for the first time in 1926, and was a member of the Waratahs who toured Great Britain and France in 1927-28. He first appeared with an Australian team —this came about when Queensland and Victoria rc-eutered the Rugby fold- —in 1929. Merritt’s Field Day. W. E. Merritt’s work at an Army ordnance depot in England m recent mouths has had little cncct on his cricket, if his recent form for Dudley, against Stourbridge in the Birmingham League is any guide. The former Canterbury and Now Zealand representative had a field day. In a lirst-wickct partnership which realised 167 runs, Merritt scored IUB in as many minutes, and when Stourbridge went in to bat Merritt, tossing down his very best spinners, dismissed three opponents in his first two overs for no runs. He finished tip with seven for 28. Dudley won handsomely, due almost solely to the all-round effort of the New Zealand professional. First Grade Basketball Tournament. The Kiwi Girls’ Basketball Club wound up the season in line style last Saturday by winning the first grade tournament, in which it played seven matches, winning six and losing one. Runners-up were Albany. The winning side contained several players well known in other spheres of sport, and making her first appearance in Otago basketball was the former Auckland and New Zealand representative player, Miss Mary Martin, who proved a great asset. The Kiwi team included two New Zealand ladies’ swimming champions in Miss Islay Purdio (440yds free style) and Winnie Dunn (100yds and 220yds breast stroke), both selected for the Otago basketball team this year, and Misses Greta Harris, Agnes Brown, and Elma Abernetby have all performed with distinction in Otago championship competition; Miss Lorraine Phelan is a keen member of the Dunedin Swimming Club, and the side on Saturday was completed by Misses E. Cameron and N. Buchanan. Allen for Trentham. Due to enter Trentham with the Fourth Reinforcement is Theo Allen, cx-Ncw Zealand half-mile champion and Empire Games representative. Allen enlisted many months ago, but was classed as temporarily unfit because of varicose veins. Ho had the trouble attended to, and was subsequently passed fit. Allen has put up many notable performances on the track, but his most outstanding was bis Australian record for the half-mile when ho won the first heat at the Empire Games in Sydney in 1938, a record broken a little later by Pat Boot. Allen ran his fastest mile when he took part in the world record attempt in the four-mile relay at Mastertou last year in association with Pullar, Boot, and Matthews, but he showed his worth at Auckland a few years ago when bo ran a great third to Pullar and Wilson in their classic New Zealand championship mile. Allen may bo seen in action on Wellington tracks in the coming summer. Sports Gala Day.

Many attractions, some of a decidedly novel nature, are promised at the sports gala day cfli the Caledonian Ground on October 5 in aid of the patriotic funds, and not the least interesting should be a Rugby game between teams of hockey girls and basketball girls. Both sides have already gone into serious training, and the hockey girls commissioned two ex-All Blacks in Charlie Sonntag and Charlie Quaid to put them through their paces last week-end. The coaching of the basketball girls in the intricacies of Rugby are in the hands of Bob Harvey. the Union five-eighth. Gymnastic displays arc among the other features promised, and from all accounts the programme to be arranged will be of a widely diversified and entertaining nature.