SPORTS AND SPORTSMEN

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20254, 24 July 1937, Page 23 (Supplement)

SPORTS AND SPORTSMEN

By “ Spectator."

SECOND CRICKET TEST New Zealanders in England : Home Team’s New Men : Player for Twenty Years : Remarkable Rugby Career : Another New Zealand Team : Rising Tennis Star : Athletic Times.

TWO SPORTING FIXTURES of outstanding interest to New Zealanders are being played to-day—the Springboks’ first game in Auckland, and the commencement of the second crloket Test at Manchester. The first of these fixtures will be over by the time this appeals In print, 'but the scores of the New Zealanders In England will not be available for several more hours. In the Springboks’ first match an indication of the relative strength of the team is hoped to be obtained, but as the result will be known and so much has been written of late about the standard of the play of both the visitors and the probaible All Blacks that perhaps a review of the cricket match will be of more Interest. With the exoitement in New Zealand intense owing to the landing of the Springboks the progress of the Dominion cricketers has more or less passed unnoticed, but the seoond Test will resuscitate Interest In this kindred sport. At the time of writing neither team had been announced but It appears that the English selectors are taking the advice of the critics at Home and are commencing their search for new talent to meet the Australians next year. Twelve players have been announced, from ■whom the team will be picked and only six of England’s regular Test players have been included. Against such a team as the Dominion’s representatives the selectors could even have experimented further, but H is a step in the right direction and the inclusion of stalwarts can be taken by New Zealand as a oompliment to her standard of play.

The first Test, played at the historic Lord's ground, was drawn, though it must be admitted that New Zealand were lucky to escape defeat by a wid-e margin. It was time alone that saved them when they had eight ‘wickets down for a mere 175 runs when they required over 350 to win. However, the batsmen fought valiantly for their draw and showed a fine fighting spirit. England, in her first Test team took no risks and included Hammond, Hardstaff, Barnett, Leyland, Ames, Voce, Verity and the only experiment made was for the opening batsmen, Hutton and Parks being given these positions. They both failed in both innings, but such has been their form before and since that match that they are to be persevered with apparently. This seems a wise step as England must find a sound opening partnership for next season. Hutton, at present, is Just behind Hammond on the averages with 1510 runs at an average of 71.90, while Parks is sixth on the averages. Hutton, particularly, has greatly impressed and his splendid batting against New Zealand in the Yorkshire match guaranteed him a further trial.

A feature of the twelve players chosen for England is the omission of H. Verity, recognised as the best slow bowler in the world, but the critics are of the opinion that his bowling, although it keeps down the runs, has not the necessary attacking qualities required. The slow bowling will be left to Robins with F. R. Brown, who was a member of Jardine’s team to Australia, as the other spin attacker. The fast bowler Gover, who was played in the first Test has been omitted and in the absence of Fames the fast attack has been entrusted to two new Test men, T. W. Goddard and A. W. Wellard. A feature of the selection of these players is that they are both all-rounders of outstanding ability. Last season for Gloucester, despite the fact that he was suffering from a strain Goddard took 143 wickets at a cost of 20.37, while he scored 353 runs for an average of nearly 14. Wellard, who is a good fast bowler, but who also can bowl useful off-breaks if the wicket is not suitable to a fast attack, is an even better batsman, and has the ability of changing the fortunes of a game by his powerful hitting. The season before last he hit 72 sixes and last season notched over 50 big hits. Brown is also a successful forcing batsman and some fireworks should ho seen later in England’s innings. With Hammond, Hardstaff and Ames to strengthen the batting England looks to have a very solid team,

The New Zealanders have been veTy successful of late and with several of their batsmen running into form they oan be expected to make a better showing than they did in the first Test Neither Kerr, Vivian, Page or Had lee scored as freely as it was anticipated they would in the first match, but each of these has shown better form of late and if they can get going Wallace, Moloney and Donnellyshould be able to make the visitors' score a respectable one. Vivian especially has shown the greatest improvement and much will be expected from him this time. Wallace, who made such a splendid showing in the first Test has been batting even better than before, playing more solidly without the loss of his brilliant strokes and he should again give a good account of himself. Donnelly appears to have improved a great deal and has played some really valuable innings since the big game at Lord's, while Carson also looks to be running into form. Where New Zealand’s difficulty is going to be is in the opening partnership and it is difficult to say who should fill this important position. • • • • The success or otherwise of a match very frequently depends on the team getting a good start. Kerr, Hadlee, Vivian, Moloney and Wallace have been tried in this position and a satisfactor.v solution has not yet. been found. Ken- and Moloney appeal as the best at present with Hadlee. Wallace. Vivian, Page, Donnelly and Tindill to follow. The bowling positions will also be hard to fill, but one thing seems certain and that is that Cowie must open the attack. He has had outstanding success in this role, anil as ho has the class cannot Ik? kept out. Tho other bowling positions are difficult, with Roberts practically certain. This would leave one place to bo filled and the difficulty would be who to put in. Gallichan has again been doing well and on a wicket to suit him he may be the right man in the right place, but then Donnelly- and Moloney have been doing so well with their slows that he may be considered superfluous. Lamason, as an allrounder may be preferred, but it must be taken into consideration that (Jallichan is not a dud with a bat. He has often reached over 50 for Wellington and his choice would be just as sensible as Lamason’s.

Waikato Hunt’s New Hounds. Not for nine years has the Waikato Hunt Club pack had any new blood and therefore the fact that the Master, Mr Wynn Brown, brought eight hounds from England, from where he returned recently, must be of great interest to hunting enthusiasts in this district. The infusion of new blood cannot but be of great bene fit to the Waikato hounds. Tho hounds which Mr Brown has added to his kennels are six fox-hounds and two beagle bitches. During the master’s tour oi England among the leading hunts in the Old Country he was afforded a fine opportunity of selecting good material and the animals imported include a selection from the Beaver, Middleton, Blocklesby, Tiverton and Stokes Hill, the packs of which are recognised as outstanding. While the foxhound is the speedier of the two breeds imported, the beagles have gi-eat cunning and perseverance in the tracking down of hares. The foxhound is popular among huntsmen for it has ample dash and vigour, being bred mainly for speed and endurance. * * * * Mr Brown’s iniative is likely to have beneficial results among the other hunt packs in the Dominion an(J he is to 'be congratulated on his offer to make tho new blood freely open to other kennels for breeding purposes. Even if other hunts do not take advantage of this opportunity directly sooner or later the progeny of the new animals will travel to other club’s kennels.—R.C.S.

New Zealand Hookey Tourists. Commenting on the opening game of the New Zealand hockey team’s tour of Australia, which was commenced in a match against Northern Suburbs at, Manly recently, and which was won by the visitors by four goal? lo nil. Hie Sydney Sun says the New Zealand forwards combined well from the beginning. Brown and Browne, on the left, wing, were a constant menace to Revan ami r.ihh, who were kept busy defen ling. Dey opened the score for New Zealand from a wellplaced short corner. The New Zealand forward line, led by Houghton, often delighted* the crowd with snapp> short passing. Roughton and Browne boMi hit the posts with good shots. Golf Ball Breaks Beak. Many weird and wonderful incidents have happened on golf courses, but few surpass one at Kingston Heath. Victoria, recently. A junior member, half topped his approach shot at the sixth and the hall struck a magpie on the head. Imagine the player's astonishment wile'll on reaching his ball he found that tho magpie had parted company with its beak, which had stuck into the cover and come out the other side.

Overseas Athletics. Judging by th-e performances at the British amateur athletic championships New Zealand representatives at the Empire Games in Sydney next year, should be easily capable of holding their own against the team from United Kingdom at least. In two instances events at the English meeting were won by foreign competitors anc as cabled reports do not indicate the best native efforts strength in these departments cannot be assessed. A J comparison of the winners’ perform- ' ances at this year’s New Zealand anc

British meetings is as follows, the first named being the English title-holder, and the second the New Zealand titleholder:— 100 yards, G. *B. Holmes (9.9 secs), W. G. Fitzsimmons (10.2 secs). 220 yards, A. W. Sweeney (21.9 secs), W. G. Fitzsimmons (22J2secs). 440 yards, Roberts (48.2 secs), A. J. Sayers (49.2 secs). 880 yards, A. J. Collyer (lmin 63.3 secs), T. Allen (lmin 55.8 secs). 1 mile, S. C. Wooderson (4min 12.2 secs), W. A. Pullar (4min 14.8 secs). 440 yards hurdles, J. Bosmans (Belgium—sssecs), A. T. Anderson (55 3 \niles, P. D. Ward (14min 19.8 secs), C. H. Matthews (14min 18.6 Long jump, L. Long (Germany—24ft. 62in.), T. J. Crowe (22ft. 10 ins.). The New Zealand three miles was won this year by the Japanese, Nurakosa, and in this case’ the best New Zealand performance is given for comparison. * * * * It must be remembered that the English athletes have the benefit of much better tracks than in the Dominion and also that the New Zealand championships were held this year on a rather heavy surface. While it would not be reliable to compare the New Zealand record standards with the times at White City last week, they are in many cases materially better than the latest English clockings. New Zealanders should experience no difficulty in adapting themselves to Australian conditions and

in view of this and regarding the English championships as a fair indication of the competition forthcoming at Sydney in 1938, competitois from the Dominion should not be eclipsed in the big meeting.—“Empiad.” New Zealand Rugby Team. The third Issue of “ The Rugby Almanack of New Zealand,” edited by Messrs A. H. Carman and A. G. Swan (Wellington), and Read Masters (Christchurch), Is, as usual, chooki fill of Interesting matter relating to Ihe game in the Dominion and over--1 seas. ! The editors have chosen the follow- ! ing New Zealand team on last season’s i Play. \ Full-baok: H. R. Pollock (Welling- ■ ten). Three-quarters: G. F. Hart (Can- | lerbury), J. L. Sullivan (Taranaki), N. 1 A. Mitchell (Southland). I Five-eighths: C. M. le Que'sne j (Hawke’s Bay), C. A. Crossman (King | Half-back: L. S. Clothier (Hawke's Bay). Forwards: J. Wells (Wellington), I F. J. Green (Otago), R. B. King (West Coast), R. H. Ward (Southland), S. |T Reid (Hawke's Bay); K. S. Jackson ! (Hawke’s Bay), G. A. Orman( Buller), * J. Jlore (Otago). Reserves: Backs, C. C. Gillies ( Otago), and W. J. Phillips (King Country) ; forwards, T. W. Lockinglon (Auckland), and L. Hannigan (Hawke’s Bay). In addition to picking the team, the editors have, chosen their five players j of the year, and also five promising I players. The five players of the year 1 are H. B. Pollock (Wellington), J. L. j Sullivan (Taranaki). N. A. Mitchell ; (Southland), and S. T. Reicl and E. S. | Jackson (Hawke’s Bay). ! The five promising piaye’rs whom I 1 lie editors have chosen are:— j Charles Thomas Box. a hard grafter and fast forward, who played his first 1 game for the King Country last William Green Brooks. Hie Canterbury first five-eighth of last season, who. afler coming on as an emergency in the Canterhury-Manawatu game, played in six out of the seven remaini ing provincial fixtures. William Nice! Carson. Ihe New ; Zealand representative cricketer, who ! played his first game for Auckland j last season, coming on as a reserve in ’ the match against the Australians. Donald Anderson Failaver, of Wal-rarapa-Bush, who is considered among the best line-out forwards in the country , and represented his union against Wellington and Australia. Michael O’Conner, wlm lias played for South Canterbury and New Zealand Maoris, is considered as one of I tie most promising full-backs now playing in New Zealand. He is of splendid physique, and his handling and tackling can hardly be faulted.

Chilly in the Goal. Hockey goalies and soccer ’keepers have often been caricatured doing a “freeze” in the goal mouth while the play is all up the other end of the field. There was a counterpart of this in Hamilton last Saturday which was, as all sportsmen will remember, a particularly cold day. In the ladies’ hockey matches at Boy-es Park one of the goalies playing endeavoured to overcome the chilly conditions by donning a heavy overcoat. When play came up her end and she was called upon to use the stick the coat was not discarded. It seemed no great handicap to the nimbleness of’the player and apparently proved effective in eliminating the hardship for which it was donned. Australian Bowling CarnivaL It was decided at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Bowling Association at Dunedin that the team to represent New Zealand in the British Empire Games at Sydney next year should be chosen from New Zealand players who are competing in the Australian Bowling Carnival to be held at Sydney from January 17 to February 2. Entries for the carnival which must be endorsed by the association close in Sydney on November 27. Entries will have to be received by the New Zealand Association by November 15.

Another matter of importance decided at the meeting was that the 1932 test stamp or stamps of subsequent years are to be the only ones now recognised.

“ Fred Perry The Beoond7* Already claimed as the future “ Fred Perry ’’ of the English tennis world is the’ promising, 20-years-old player E. J. Filby, who is regarded in England as one of the leading members of the legion of young players likely to take the world’s amateur championship. So finished have been Filby’s recent exhibitions that many enthusiasts consider that he should be included in the British team to defend the Davis cup this month. One prominent critic says: “ I do not think he should be selected this year. Ilis game is still Immature. But of one thing I am sure —he has it in him to become our leading player, and possibly in the near future Britain will owe him a debt of gratitude, as they did Pe’rry when he put this country at the head of the world in lawn tennis.” Filby’s father, who is keen to see Ids son progress, made a promise that if the' boy made progress this year he would let him devote several more years to tennis before he commenced his business care’er. That promise must be fulfilled for there is no doubt about young Filby’s advance. Filby, who lives at Wimbledon and grew up with the game, is a mixture of Perry and Bene’ Lacosto. He has Perry’s • forcefulness, and in a minor degree the same quick table-tennis whip forehand drive. He’ built his backhand on the lines of Lacoste’s, but this he has speeded up lately. At present he is not a consistent performer. Overheu’s Good Three-mile Run. A feature of the C.Y.M. Harrier Club’s run in Hamilton last Saturday was the fine performance of lan Overheu, who started from scratch and finished in tenth position, clocking the excellent time of 16m 40s for the three miles. A field of 20 runners contested the run, which was held under ideal conditions. The race was well fought by the middle handicap

men and some good sprint finishes were seen, especially in one case whore three runners dead-heated. Th course led from Mr Louden’s i residence in Stanley Street via Bound- ] ary Road and along River Road past the new Fairfield bridge before turn- | ing up Clarkin’s Road into Grey I Street for the long run home. First J | home, by nearly a minute, was C. j Rogue, off 2mins 30secs, who finished in 17m ITsecs, with J. McKinley off 3mins 15secs second. Following closely was J. Ccombes, who had a start of lmin 45secs. Overheu gained the fastest time and the next fastest time was recorded by A. Martin, in 17 mins lOsecs. To-day the club is participating in an invitation run at Cambridge. Outstanding Football Career.“Twenty years’ active association with the Rugby football code, and still going strong,” is the fine record of Bill Martin, of Morrinsville. Half this span is the usual playing life of a footballer before he turns to a quieter and less strenuous side of the sport. After about ten years the average footballer is content to devote his attention to coaching and so hand the fruits of his valuable experience on to the coming players. However, Bill Martin, who turns out regularly for Morrinsville Old Boys, finds time to instruct younger players in the finer points of the game and also put his own teaching into practice. * * *B* • Martin’s career, apart from school football, commenced about 18 years ago when he joined the ranks of the Star junior team in Invercargill. The team was coached by J. W. Stead, the .veil-known 1905 All Black, and under lis able guidance gave a good account) >f itself in the club competitions. At the time Martin was very small and rather light for the grade in which he »vas playing and on coming to Hamilton four years later he played fourth jrade for Old Boys. In the following season the first Technical Old Boys’ team took the field and Martin played third grade for them.

After one season’s play with the Technical Old Boys’ club, Martin moved to Murchison, where he played for two seasons. In addition to being captain of the Murchison senior club team he was also a member of the Murchison representatives. When Martin returned to Hamilton, Whitiora and Technical Old Boys joined forces under the latter club’s name and he turned out for them again. For three years he played senior football in their colours before he went to Te Awamutu on transfer. While there he continued his association with the game, turning out for Rovers. However,, Rovers held Martin for only two seasons and then he returned to Hamilton in 1932, once more to take the field for Technical Old Boys. • * * •

When he went to Morrinsville about two years ago Martin had intended to confine his activities to coaching the younger players. However, he turned out to fill a gap in Old Boys’ senior team and has been a regular player ever since. During the past 18 years Martin has worn the colours of six different clubs in several parts of the Dominion, a record, perhaps, unequalled in New Zealand club football. Wherever he has gone he has maintained touch with the game and has always given his services willingly. This season, he states, will be his last as a player, and from next year on he hopes to hand his knowledge of the game on to younger players who will be able to make good use of it.—C.W.T. Wild Wrestling. Wild and woolly wrestling with the highlights embracing fouls with, the knee, vicious kicking, any amount of strangle’ holds and rabbit punches of the wildest nature, was heard by a Cambridge man from KGU Honolulu in a broadcast relayed from the Civic Auditorium. The match wag contested by the two “ wildmen ” Ray Richards and Herbie (Butch) Freeman. Judging from his tactics the latter is well named " Butch ”. Throughout the match the referee had an arduous task and came out sound but the tlredest man of the' three In the ring. The broadcast apparently did not mention just how many members of the police force were In attendance but so irate were the fans at the end of the bout that Butch did not have the courage to leave the ring for his dressing room for fear that he may have been mobbed. He’ remained Inside the ropes cooling down while the crowd, tired of waiting for an opportunity to show their displeasure of the wrestler, dispersed somewhat. Butch was responsible for all the dirty work and hence the temper of the crowd. Two announcers were necessary to cove’r the bout for every now and then one had to take a “ breather ”. The reception of the broadcast was very good throughout.