THE SPORTSMAN'S LOG

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 967, 9 May 1930, Page 7

THE SPORTSMAN'S LOG

by

"ROUSEABOUT"

Ron T. Stewart, All Black forward in the Christchurch team, is carrying so much weight that Rugby enthusiasts reckon he ought to be known as “Ton" Stewart. W. Elvy, former Canterbury and New Zealand Rugby threequarter, and later a Wellington representative, is reported to have shown, when playing for Petone last Saturday, that he is as dangerous a scoring man as ever he was. Still Plunging Not Criticism, But Although no criticism can be levelled at the amateur boxer who turns to the professional ranks —for he has a perfect right to do as he pleases—the frequency with which we hear of amateurs turning over is rather unfortunate for the standard eff the amateur sport in the Dominion. It seems these days that an amateur no sooner shows outstanding merit among his fellows than he decides to capitalise his talent, and so the standard of amateur boxing is constantly checked from moving forward. Charlie Purdy, Ted Morgan, Alf Cleverley. all Olympic Games representatives, are now professionals, and it seems likely that the promptitude with which these men have turned their overseas experience to advantage in the cash ranks will impel the Olympic Games authorities in New Zealand to think deeply before sending another boxer to the Games. Those who have been sent have certainly not been of a great deal of assistance to amateur boxing, after receiving the highest honour that New Zealand can confer on any amateur athlete, whereas the amateurs in other sports are still amateurs. * * * There were two All Blacks (W. Hazlett and J. C. Geddes) and eight provincial representatives in the Invercargill Pirates Rugby team that was beaten by 31 points to 13 by a lighter but fitter and more dashing Invercargill Club team on a recent Saturday. Chatham Cup Competition Record entries are likely to be received this year for the Chatham Cup competition conducted by the New Zealand. Pootball Association. At this week’s meeting of the council it was stated that already eight entries had been received from the South Island and there was likely to be at least 20 from the North Island’ and there may yet be two entries from the West Coast of the South Island. It was decided that entries will definitely close on May 19, after which the draw will be arranged so as to allow local associations to make their own arrangements for playing the preliminary matches. Challenges are to be invited from the minor associations for the Brown Shield, and if sufficient are forthcoming this competition will also be inaugurated. No Men, If You Please! Delegates to the annual meeting of the New Zealand Ladies’ Hockey Association have decided that in future they will endeavour to see that all the association’s affairs are controlled by women, and that affiliated associations be advised not to send men managers to the annual tournament with teams. Mr. H. D. Bennett, who was previously president of the association, wrote stating that he did not seek re-election, as he thought that women only should control the destines of the game, except. perhaps, that a small advisory committee of three men might be found useful for a few years, after which women would have sufficient knowledge to take over absolute control. The meeting decided to follow this advice as far as it conveniently could, and Lady Bledisloe was elected patroness and Miss M. Moore, president. but the meeting was still compelled to appoint a number of male vice-presidents as they had been nominated by the affiliated associations. Two male executive officers were also elected, Mr. L. S i’. Butcher, as assistant secretary, and Mr. S. B. Browne on the executive.

' M. F. Waters, a former president of the English Rugby Union, is sanguine about the establishment of an Imperial Rugby Council. “England has always supported the cause of the he said recently, “and although the International Board will still rule over matches between the Home unions the Dominions will have a voice in matters in which they are concerned.” • * * Staunch Supporter of Rugby The announcement that Sir Apirana Ngata, M.P., is to deliver the address for the Canterbury College Diploma Day early next month will be received with interest by Rugby followers in the South, for the Minister of NativeAffairs is a staunch supporter of the national game. In | his native Ruatoria i district on the j East Coast of rhe ! North Island, he | does much to keep the Rugby flag flying in a sparsely - settled district. Hi 3 hand is frequently k in his pocket to t help meet the expenses of managing the game, and the East Coast Union owes much to liis practical generosity. Sir Apirana Ngata would travel many miles to see the East Coast team play an interprovincia! match or to witness the Tairawhiti team in action in the Prince of Wales Cup competition, and his interest i:i the game does much to keep the Maori boys of the district up to the required pitch of enthusiasm. He might, indeed. be almost termed the “King of Rugby” on the East Coast of the North Island. Only one other man could possibly usurp his position in that regard, and that is the famous George Nepia. who is selector, coach, trainer and fullback for the Wairoa representative team. It would be hard to say which man holds greater sway among the sport-loving Maoris, but it can safely be stated that the titled farmer-scholar has done as much for the game there as even the player-storekeeper, and that is saying a good deal.

! Training College and Soccer The Otago Football Association continues to make a strong protest against the attitude of the principal of the Dunedin Training College in preventing students of the college from adopting the Soccer code as their winter oastime. A letter was forwarded this week to the New Zealand Football Association. enclosing a copy of the letter sent to the Minister of Education in protest, and asking the N.Z.F.A. to itself take action. This the parent i bodv declined to do until the Otago Association could submit a specific case, when the matter would be placed before the Minister in Wellington. * * • The No-Replacement Rule The Otago Rugby Union Committee, at its meeting last week, found it difficult to understand how the New Zealand Rugby Union’s recommendation for the adoption in club matches of the British rule prohibiting replacement of injured players was going* to do much toward the better preparation of representative teams to meet the British team. It was agreed to continue to allow the replacement, so far as club matches are concerned. Players, in taking a mark, however, will have to dig their heels into the turf at Carisbrook—or wherever they may be playing. * « « In Hawke’s Bay a few days ago a Sun reporter ran across Carl Atkinson, former Canterbury and New Zealand champion swimmer. The veteran is attached to the district office of a. leading insurance agency there, and looks in the pink of condition. Though his hair is now thin on top and ha has reached the age when most people regard swimming as only a healthy recreation. Atkinson still retains his interest in the competitive side of the ! game. He can still cleave the water ! at a fair pace. too. though it is now six years since he last won a DomlnI ion championship and nearly twice 1 that long since he represented Engj land at the Olympic Games. At the i recent Hawke’s Bay swimming championships Atkinson swam with quite a fair measere of success, for he won the furlong in 2min 47sec and finished second in the 100 yards and the 150 yards. Atkinson take his part in the administrative side of the game in Hawke's Bay, and is a member of the I executive of the district centre and a -1 coach for the younger members of tha * | Napier Club.