SEARCHLIGHT ON SPORT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20014, 12 August 1939, Page 9

SEARCHLIGHT ON SPORT

Marist Bros.’ Boxing The Marist Bros. School annual boxing tournament will be held next Wed cweek ?t the Open House. This is one of the nights of the year for followers of the art in Gisborne, and the boys, who range in weight fiom postage weight to heavyweight, put. on splendid exhibitions. This year two old' boys fights will be of inteiiest as T. Callaghan is meeting C. Ferguson and F. Hollis will meet B. McMahon. High School Boxing The Gisborne High School annual boxing tournament held last week in the assembly room was not so well attended by the parents ns one would have expected. The standard of the fights was very high, and i.t reflects credit ion :the honorary coach, Mr. Jack Keeney. During the 28 fights the referee did' not have to order “break” on m,ore'.than six occasions. N. Kane won the school championship and Doddrell Belt by defeating I. Shaw and W. Toroa. In. his bout against Shaw he won by a very narrow margin and if Shaw had made better use of the straight left instead of trying td “mix it” with Kane, he would probably have won the bout. Four-Forty offers the suggestion to the School boxing officials that the championship bouts should be three one-minute rounds instead of the semi-finals being two one and a-'half minute rounds. It was noticeable in every championship bout that the contestants were very tired at the conclusion of li-minute rounds.

The best bout of the evening was that between B. Sharp, who hits very cleanly with both hands to the head and body, and D. Nelson, who has a nice straight left hand but he did not use it enough. Four-Forty is of the opinion that the boys should' not be allowed to enter tire ring with their school belts on'with the buckle in front

Junior Football

The Poverty Bay junior representative team did not experience much trouble in defeating the Walroa juniors in the game played on the Oval on Saturday. Over a period of years now, Poverty Bay lias been able to field a good junior side and' it is a pity that more games are not arranged for them.

Ait full-back for the home side, Ray Thomson had a fairly easy day but got through what work came his way in good style.

Cook, the Wairoa full-back, was inclined ito stand too close to the other backs when playing against the wind. He was caught out of position when Poverty Bay played a long kicking game.

Mick Smale, the Celtic club’s fullback, was played as right wing threequarter and he scored a good try with his straight running. His tackling was also very solid: R. McGregor did not play as well at centre three-quarter as be does at second five-eighth, but at times ran ills wing men into position before passing out. Brian Quinn gave a good display as the left wing three-quarter, although at times he did not handle the baLl cleanly. A feature of his play was 'his tackling, which was of high class. Bob Carroll played one of ihis best games of the season at second fiveeighth. his cutting in and fast following up harrassing the Wairoa backs.

Harry Sebirc showed up weU-.«:ftt

first five-eighth despite having one ankle heavily bandaged. IT is field goal was a gem. S. Lee, at half-back, also had one ankle heavily bandaged, bus it did not appear to hamper his work from the base of the scrum. Nissen, the Wairoa right wing three-quarter, showed a good turn of speed in marking Quinn, but on the day he did not receive much ball, from his -inside backs.

Cornes replaced Kelly at centre three-quarter, and he gave a fair display despite the fact that he was inclined to wander from position.

Puriri and Ratapu played as well as the Gisborne inside backs.’ allowed them, ithe ball being seldom hooked for them from the scrums.

Playing at half-back, Walker did not get much support from, his forwards, and his play was thus hampered. Francis and Prince fully deserved their place in the Bay pack and both were prominent in the scrums and in fast following up. D. McKinley and A. Eastwood were very prominent in the line-outs and sent the ball smartly to the backs The latter was also well in the limelight with his fast„following up. The three front row forwards —Bell, Donovan and Ensor —all played well up to their club forjm and fully de served their places

Neil Summersby has played in many positifins this season for Old Boys B and as wing forward last week he again gave a good exhibition of forward play. Soloman played a sound game in

the Wairoa scrum but like several of the others was inclined to break away too fast Bell and Brown were the most prominent of the visitors in the lineouts, while Murphy was outstanding in most of the dribbling rushes.

Sports Queen

On the Oval on Saturday, September 2, it is intended to stage an Old Timers’ match in aid of the funds of ‘he sports queen. It is fully expected that such players as Maurice Brownlie and Henry Brown, former All Blacks — and Wally Langlands, Vic. Caulton. Ivan Bramwell and Fred. Bennett, former Poverty Bay representatives, will again don a jersey for the cause. The Rugby Union lias allowed the committee to take all the gate in excess of the average weekly takings towards the centennial funds, but i( would have been more satisfactory if they iiad allowed the sports commitee to have soldi tickets before the game at a charge of Is on a 50-50 basis, and then Rugby would be giving its support towards the success of the sports queen.

Relay Races

It would be a good move by the ;ports queen’s committee if on the -ame day they organise a club relay championship over four lengths of the playing field and also a race for players in full playing rig-out over a length. -> There is a divergence of

BY " FOUR-FORTY’ ’

opinion among Rugby fans who attend tl’.e games weekly as to who is the fastest player in Gisborne. FourForty’s vote is for Earl White, of the Old Boys A junior learn.

Footballer Mesmerised

During a discussion at the la*cat ■meeting of the Rotorua Rugby. SubUnion management committee, considerable amusement was aroused by tire Whakarcwarcwa delegate. Mr. D. 11. Windeler. The committee was considering the irregularity of jersey colours worn by tile Kahuknra side in its match against Whaka. when a number of Kaluiknra p'avers wore red jerseys. "One of my men became so mesmerised by 'lie colours.” announced Mr. Windeler. "that In: tackled one of his own team-mates."

Japanese Swimming Champion

Swimmers next season should benefit greatly by the presence in Weiling’on of an ex-Japanese swimming champion, who is now an efficient honorary coach,' and an enthusiast who is only too willing to hero amateur swimmers either by coactim : or demonstration. This is Mr. Hiroshi Nomura, who is going to succeed Mi S. Fusi as manager of the Wellington branch of E. Kanematsu (N.Z.), Limited. Mr. Nomura, before coming to Wellington, resided in Sydney for some time, and was an active member of the Sydney Amateur Swimming Club.

Former All Black

Although .1. Leeson, the Waikato representative Rugby forward and All Black of 1934.' plays regularly for the Kereone Club, Morrinsville, for Morrinsville in sub-union games,and for the Harlequin Club, he has no intention of turning out again for Waikato. Leeson has played in 50 Waikato representative games, missing not one match between 1929 and 1937 except when not available through illness, or on account of All Black trials and games. He toured Australia with the 1934 All Blacks, and has played against Great Britain, Australia and the Springbok" in Hamilton. He has devotee! much of his spare time to coaching junior teams.