SPORT AND SPORTSMEN

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20923, 30 September 1939, Page 22 (Supplement)

SPORT AND SPORTSMEN

By "SPECTATOR."

GRAND RUGBY SEASON CONCLUDES Building Up Waikato Team : Stag Trophy Thrills : Best Competition For Years : City’s Great Performance : Country Teams Start Off Well : Injuries Affect Many Teams : Membership Of Tennis Club ONE of the most exciting and best Rugby seasons from all points of view in the Waikato will close today when the final game of any importance in the district will be decided. This match is between the Hamilton representatives and Matamata, the holders of the Peace Cup. The season has been an exceptional one from the point of view of Hamilton supporters in that they have been privileged to witness numerous very bright matches while the standard of play has shown another commendable move for the better throughout the area. If the present rate of improvement is maintained the Waikato Union will soon be able to take its rightful place among the major unions of the Dominion. The highlight of the season was the Fijian-Maori All Black match in Hamilton, w’hile the Waikato games in this territory were also good draws. The Waikato team’s match against Auckland in Hamilton was disappointing but in the return game Waikato showed more like its true worth. There is no question that the Stag Trophy games have done more than anything else to revive the standard of play and, this season, the competition was the best that has ever been conducted. The country teams added greatly to the interest and built up the standard of play to a surprisingly high limit early in the competition. An adequate indication of the exciting nature of the whole competition is given in the final table, showing three teams level at the head of the table. The final points were:

Hautapu and United, the two Cambridge teams who were bottom at the end of the first round, did not play in the second round. Semi-Final Old Boys 16 v. Technical Old Boys 6 Final City 7 v. Old Boys 6

The outstanding performance in the Stag Trophy competition was City’s winning of the championship in its first year in the senior ranks. It has often been said that the deterioration in Hamilton Rugby dates back to the day when the old City team defaulted from senior competition. There is no doubt that football was football when City was the champion team in Hamilton for so many years in succession, and the really first time that the standard of play has approached that has been this season, with City winning the championship. Whether the new City team can take all the credit or not is a different story, but the fact remains that the play has again reached a high order. There is little doubt that this improvement has been due to the Stag Trophy competition instead of the usual purely town competitions, but the City team can take a great deal of the credit for the resuscitation of the interest in the game locally. * * * * The Stag Trophy competition this year opened with the record entry of eleven teams, and there was some criticism regarding the acceptance of the nominations of City and Raglan. Both these teams, however, more than justified their inclusion by their successes in their opening three games, and although Raglan faded a bit City kept going. Taupiri was a team that commenced in brilliant style and looked early to be one of the hardest sides to beat, but owing first to an injury to Hayman, their winger, and the calls on the two Taylors and Catley for the Waikato team, the side lost ground. Te Awamutu was another of the country teams that appeared to have a very good chance at the end of the first round, but it also suffered some reverses at a vital stage and, towards the end the issue was between the four Hamilton teams, with Frankton knocked out fairly early in the second round. * * • • The benefit of the Stag Trophy competition to country teams was adequately demonstrated by the displays given by the Putaruru team. Early in the season this side lost most of its matches, but with the experience gained the team improved each week until, in the second round, it caused several upsets by defeating leading teams. The two Cambridge teams also played much better football at the end of the first round and, in all probability, would have done a lot better had they stayed in. Three of the Ham- 1 ilton teams were always in the leading positions and, as fortunes fluctuated, the excitement was intense. Old Boys played several brilliant games in the early stages and looked the ultimate winners, but early in the second round slipped a trifle through injuries. Meanwhile Technical had made up lost ground and City was holding its own and the three teams drew level. First one and then another would reach the lead, with Old Boys and Technical on top together most of the way with City two points behind and a match in hand. This position was maintained until the end, when Old Boys and Technical were drawn to play in the semi-final and City drawn to play its last match. City won its game, placing it up with Old Boys and Technical, and by the manner in which Old Boys dominated the game against Technical an exciting final was predicted. ♦ • • • Such turned out to be the case and City won by one point. No one would want to detract from City's great performance or its great victory last week, but I think that Old Boys would win two out of every three games played against City if both were at full strength. However, that is beside the point and City now hold the Stag Trophy. The games next year will be fraught with keen interest, if the competition is continued, to see whether the City team can emulate the deeds of the old champions. ♦ * * Although the competition was very interesting and exciting to practically all Rugby fans, the lapse of form of some of the country teams in

vital games was unfortunate as several of the country teams were capable of playing just as good if not better football than the Hamilton teams. However, all must now be agreed that this type of competition is far superior to the old. type of small competitions in each centre. The Stag Trophy has gone from success to success since its inauguration, and when eventually Morrinsville and Matamata come into the competition, as they must within a few years, this competition should be one of the best in the Dominion. The excellent standard of play, as stated before, has been materially assisted by the very high standard of refereeing throughout the season. Again on Saturday for the final, spectators saw an exhibition of refereeing that would not be bettered in any part of the Dominion. Rugby Championships The lower grade Rugby competitions have also been completed, Technical Old Boyi colts winning both championship and knockout competitions in the junior and third grade, while the fourth grade competitions were won by Marist. The final points were:— Junior Grade

Hamilton Tennis Club At a recent meeting of the Hamilton Lawn Tennis Club’s committee the possible effect on the future of the club of the European War was discussed and ways and means of granting some benefits to present and intending members were finalised. The committee stated that though it realised that some of its members would be called upon for duty it was hoped that they would carry on as before until such time and decided to grant them some inducement. The club subscriptions have been drastically reduced for the coming season, as advertised, while any member who is called away during the season will receive a pro rata rebate on his subscription. The decision win involve the curtailment of the * progressive policy in respect to improvements but the great work completed during the past three years will ensure good facilities for members. * * * * It is felt by the committee that the reduced subscriptions should be particularly inviting to junior members—players under 20 years of age on October 15. These members will have exactly the same playing privileges as the senior members and all junior members may obtain coaching from leading senior members if they desire it. The Waikato Association has been taking an increasing interest in younger players and further facilities can be expected, in the way of competition. With the inducements offered by the Hamilton Club a large influx of junior players is expected for the approaching season. Dramatic Win There were some exciting finishes this season in county cricket matches, but there can be nothing more thrilling than the conclusion of the games at Cheltenham and Southend on August 18. Gloucestershire, needing 14 runs with three wickets

standing to beat Derbyshire at Cheltenham, were all out for the addition of twelve runs, and were beaten by a single. Tom Mitchell, who claimed two of the remaining wickets, played a big part in the visitors’ success, taking five for 75 in the second innings. Cop son took the other wicket. One of the finest and closest matches seen for a long time ended in a victory for Middlesex over Essex by five runs at Southend. Essex, with five men to be dismissed, had to score 66 runs for victory when play was resumed, but Sims caused three wickets to fall for 21 runs in half an hour, and the home county’s position seemed hopeless. Then Kenneth Farnes, who had a “life” almost as soon as he arrived, helped Ray Smith, who batted in determined fashion, in a useful ninth-wicket stand, but 21 were still needed when Eastman, suffering from a twisted knee, joined Smith in the last partnership. While Eastman defended, Smith sent the score along steadily, and Middlesex must have seen the gap between themselves and Yorkshire widening. At 197, however, Jim Smith (the Lord’s express) had Eastman leg-before, to give Middlesex a victory by five runs. Sims claimed eight victims for 62 each. Wizard of the Billiard Cue There are 21 balls used in the game of snooker and the possible score to be made in one visit to the table is 147, unless the player having first stroke makes a foul stroke and leaves his opponent “snookered,” in which case the opponent is allowed to pot any ball, count it the same value as one red and then sink a colour. Under this condition the possible score is 155, but history does not record such a happening in good snooker.. Horace Lindrum, Australian snooker star, who will visit Hamilton on October T, has the unofficial world record break of 141, made in regular competition in England this year. This broke the official record of 138, made by world champion Joe Davis, who in turn had broken Lin drum’s record of 132 made in competition against Davis. But for a technicality Lindrum’s record would have been granted official recognition as it was made in the presence of 1100 spectators, but as the table had not been passed by the Board of Control prior to the break being made the official verdict was that the record could not be accepted—although it was admitted that the table was in perfect order and answered to all tests.

Born in Australia 27 years ago, Horace Landrum is one of the fourth generation of champion cueists. His great-grandfather, Fred Lindrum, sen., was Australia’s first billiards champion, but it was from that champion’s son, Horace’s grandfather, that the young Australian learned thp mastery of the composition balls. At the age of 14 years, Horace was initiated into the mysteries of half-ball, running side, check-side and nursery - cannons. Five years later he was considered good enough to embark on a professional career, and since then he has travelled the world. It was appropriate that he should visit New Zealand during our Centennial year,

as the Lindrum family is celebrating its own centennial—loo years of championship representation in billiards is the fine record of this great family, of which Horace is the modern representative. * * * * Horace Lindrum has not played billiards for three years, having found his forte to be snooker, at which he has seven times cleared the table at one visit. On five occasions he achieved this feat against Joe Davis, who, despite his world title, has only performed this feat on five occasions—and never against Lindrum. On 61 occasions Lindrum has created breaks in excess of 100. Although years younger than Davis, who has been undisputed snooker i champion for some time, Horace Lindrum came within an ace of -rift - ing the world title this yea-, Davis retaining the title by 37 games to 35. * * * • “I have seen some excellent amateur snooker players in New Zealand,” said Lindrum, “but they lack real championship calibre because they do not have control of the cue ball. They ‘pot’ as well as any professional, but then lose position. 1 would recommend would-be snooker players to practice billiards first and learn ball control. This is most essential. Strangely enough, however, a good snooker player cannot mix billiards and snooker. In snooker the cue action is of the ‘stab’ variety; in billiards there is a ‘followthrough.’ But positional play is of paramount importance in both games and it is better, and easier, to learn this side of the game in billiards and then put it into operation in snooker.” * * * * Lindrum will play against selected opponents in Hamilton, and his likeable personality is certain to win , him many friends.

P. W. L. . D. Pts. For Pts. Agst. Ch. Pts City 14 10 3 1 161 92 21 Old Boys 14 10 3 1 207 112 21 Technical 14 10 3 1 192 94 21 Te Awamutu 12 7 3 2 107 96 16 Frankton 13 7 6 0 101 125 16 Putaruru 14 6 ft 2 110 115 14 Taupiri 14 6 7 1 148 126 13 Raglan 13 4 7 2 105 154 10 Rovers 12 3 9 0 85 158 6

Team P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts. Tech. Colts .. 14 14 0 0 210 63 23 Karamu ..12 9 3 0 88 75 18 Tech. O.B. ..13 7 4 2 109 82 16 Rototuna ..11 7 4 0 102 83 1 1 Te Kowhai ..12 7 5 0 101 100 14 Railway ..10 5 3 2 62 51 12 Old Boys ..10 5 4 1 76 43 11 Battery .. 12 4 8 0 75 103 8 Whatawhata . 12 4 8 0 85 116 8 Ruakura ..12 4 8 0 87 145 8 City B .. 9 2 6 1 46 62 5 Frankton ..12 2 10 0 76 103 4 City A . . 9 0 9 0 22 113 0 Third Grade Team . P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts. Tech O.B. .. 12 1 1 0 1 145 56 23 Old Boys . . 12 4 6 2 66 78- 10 Tech. School 12 5 7 0 51 97 10 Frankton .. 12 4 6 2 98 89 10 City .. 12 3 8 1 97 137 7 Fourth Grade Team P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts. Marist .. 9 7 0 2 99 25 16 Tech. O.B. ..9 5 3 1 89 39 11 City . . 9 2 6 1 18 76 5 Tech. School 9 0 9 0 23 89 0