Pungent Pars

NZ Truth, Issue 1198, 15 November 1928, Page 16

Pungent Pars

Thirsty Souls. UNLESS the senior players m the Christchurch cricket competition take less time to absorb their afternoon tea they will be driving away public support. On New Zealand Cup. day, following a late start through a shower of rain, the players at Hagley Park took over twenty minutes m the pavilion, yet ten minutes is the maximum allowed players m which to imbibe tea or otherwise wet their whistles. If the tea adjournment privilege is to be abused m this manner, it is only a matter of time when the public will seek some more continuous form of entertainment, while the players themseivea are losing the advantage of the extra half-hour's daylight recently presented them by Tom K. Sidey, * • # Another Drink Boys! PRANK KILBY was generally known * amongst the All Blacks as "the Deputy-Mayor." The nick-name arose from a humorous incident at Hobart, where Frank unwittingly occupied the Deputy-Mayor's chair at a function. The Mayor was a sport and called on the "Deputy- Mayor" to say a few words of welcome. Kllby's retaliation was good. He said: "Well, citizens of Hobart, we are very glad to have these New Zealand footballers amongst us. They are a fine lot of fellows and I think -we will ask them to have another drink." •■ # # N.Z. Tennis Captain DARTLEET and brains go together m ** tennis m New Zealand. The -unassuming captain of the Dominion's tennis took defeat m a praiseworthy manner m the matches against Britain, and there

was never, a word ffrom him about his lack of .practice this season. I^rom his performance so early m the season it (will not be suriprising if Bartleet (eclipses his previous form this summer. . Already he is playing goodj tennis, but some of

his strokes require E. BARTLEET. [development. Although he went off his service In the test games, ; he proved that he possessed the strongest service among- the New Zealand players, but he was not up to mid- season standard. Games like those seen m the test work -wonders m Bartlett's play, and it. is unfortunate that he is not able to meet more often players above the New Zealand standard. • #, * * Back Again Ji A. . NEWMAN, the . Hampshire pro- ,•.'■' f essional is back-into-harness with the Canterbury .' Cricket: Association, and' for; the' first week after his arrival the. weather treated him, kindly, permitting him to commence coaching without delay. Newman has a promising batch of youngsters to lavish his talents on m Christchurch this season, and, while cricketers are looking for an improvement m batting, it is to be hoped that the Hampshire man will alsp devote a good deal of his time to imparting the art of bowling, at which he has proved himself a master. Newman is included m, the select band of English piayers, numbering one dozen, who have taken, m the last ten years, one thousand wickets m firstclass cricket, leaving- out of account anything- done abroad. Newman took 1092 wickets at a cost of 25.9, and the fact that he took no part m cricket m .1919, through not being demobilised m time, makes his figures all the better. #' . * # ' ' Striking Form THE champion sprinter, A. J. Elliot, "who has been well below his form, now shows signs of coming back, and ihe should be. seen at his best shortly. When the Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club's 100 yards handicap was run one night last week Elliot finished third, coming m fast. As the event was run m ten seconds, those who had previously watched Elliot's performances with dismay now look forward hopefully to his return to form, and there is little doubt that , he will show fine speed as the season progresses. ' J. S. Watt is another who has been causing interest through his bad showings, but this half-mile champion also made up for past performances^ by a return to form at the club's meeting. He was staying better m the 880 handicap than was the case 'when he ran the same distance on Labor Day. He was beaten by three yards fpr first place, but finished strongly. . It was a race he needed, arid will no doubt have good effect on his form. He should be seen to advantage from now on". ' • •-,••■■ ■• ■ Vale, Sport ' - THE death of Jack Peake has delivered a body blow .; to cricketers throughout the. Dominion. Jack died suddenly this week just when 'he was working up an enthusiasm for the administration of cricket as secretary of the New Zealand Cricket Council. His worth — well, ask any player or supporter' of the' game. "Truth" has little hesitation m saying that Jack was the best administrative man the game ever had. . Peake was just some boy with a referee's whistle, too, and he had controlled a few big matches m his time, Along with all the sports m the Dominion, "Truth" extends its sympathy tOiJack's relativea.