SPORTS BUDGET

Southland Times, Issue 24870, 9 October 1942, Page 6

SPORTS BUDGET

2000 Runs Scored By Cliff Shirley Lieutenant Cliff Shirley, who has been having a great season with bat and ball in games in the Middle East, recently completed a record of 2000 runs for the season. Shirley is a member of a well-known Invercargill cricket family. Playing for a New Zealand brigade team against Air Headquarters recently, he made 107, retired and took his total for the season to past the 2000 mark. He hit 16 fours in his century. In another game, against Willcocks Sporting Club (Cairo), he took eight wickets for 33 runs. To get 1000 runs in a season is something out .of the ordinary for a New Zealand cricketer, but to get 2000 is an achievement to be sef among the records. Swimming Coaching An ambitious coaching scheme is now being put in hand by the Southland Swimming Centre. It is intended that all experienced swimmers shall be coached in the methods and theories of swimming instruction, and they will be expected to help the younger members. So far the project has met with their approval, and it would seem that a record season for swimmers should result, for with the good material to hand in Invercargill and the facilities available at the tepid baths, everything is in favour of swimming of the best type. At the first meeting last week more than 40 prospective coaches attended and interest was very keen. A.T.C. members are among this keen band, and their job will be to help their comrades, as it is a necessary qualification that they all swim 440 yards. Mullet’s Success

Don Mullett, the Wellington heavyweight boxer, apparently had little difficulty in beating Danny O’Keefe, of America, in an open-air bout at Athletic Park, Wellington, last Saturday afternoon. The crowd of about 7000 persons did not see what was expected to be a thriller between heayweights. Mullett had matters much his own way and generally speaking the fight was a bit of a disappointment. Mullett is likely to be matched with Maurice Strickland for the heavyweight championship of New Zealand. The bout will probably be staged at Wellington about Christmas time.

Bowls Green Openings Most of the bowling greens in Southland will have been opened for the new season after the week-end. Tomorrow afternoon most of the city clubs will hold opening ceremonies. The clubs which have arranged to make a start are Te Rangi, Southland, Northend, Invercargill, Georgetown, Bluff and Edendale. The Mayor, Mr A. Wachner, a member of the Southland Bowling Club, will attend as many of the openings as possible. He will be accompanied by Mr D. K. Torrance, a member of the management committee of the Southland Bowling Centre and .Southland councillor on the New Zealand Bowling Association.

Otautau Sports In spite of adverse war-time conditions it has been decided that the Otautau sports meeting will be held as usual on Labour Day in Otautau’s picturesque Holt Park. There will undoubtedly be a shortage of competitors in the men’s events, but a limited programme of sport will be drawn up with prize money totalling £lOO. Last year £l5O was offered as prize money. This sports meeting is the first of the circuit and usually attracts the cream of Southland’s runners, cyclists, axemen, pipers and dancers. It is expected that the national dancing section, which is one of the highlights of the meeting, will be well supported this year.

Schmeling Retires A report from Berlin credits Max Schmeling with having taken a punch which has ended his boxing career. He was wounded in the Battle of Crete and has now announced his retirement from professional boxing. Schmeling, once world champion, lost his title to Jack Sharkey in 1932, and when he tried to regain it in 1938 he was stopped by Joe Louis in the first round. Schmeling had previously beaen Louis before Louis became world champion.

May Upset Calculations The decision of the military authorities not to grant week-end leave in future may upset the calculations of some of the cricket clubs which were hoping to have the occasional services of members who are now stationed at northern camps. During the past football season a good many soldiers played for their old teams when they happened to be on week-end leave.

Cricket Entries Entries for the competition of the Southland Cricket Association ’ will close on October 20. Though for some the position is more acute than for others all the clubs are faced with a serious shortage of players. However, according to a statement made at the meeting of the management committee of the association this week, it is hoped to have enough entries to permit of a three-grade competition.

A. G. Sutherland Recent reference to the fact that A. G. Sutherland, the brilliant Southland wing three-quarter, had been reported missing, believed killed on air operations, proves to have been a case of mistaken identity (says The Observer). It appears that there are several A. G. Sutherlands in the R.N.Z.A.F. The Southlander, who was bom at Timaru, is named Alexander Geoffrey Sutherland. The Sutherland who is believed to be lost turns out to be Alexander George Sutherland, whose next-of-kin, by an odd coincidence, live quite near Timaru, at Pleasant Point. It is an unhappy business when a good lad falls in the line of duty, whether he is a star footballer or not, and satisfaction that the crack wing three-quarter of 1939 may yet wear the All Black jersey is tempered by regret at the fate of his namesake.