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The Kia ora coo-ee : the magazine for the ANZACS in the Middle East, 1918

Sport

page 14

Sport

Best Camp Sports Club.

A Sports Club has been formed at the Desert Mounted Corps Rest Camp, Port Said, with a committee consisting of a representative of each branch of spoit, under the presidency of Lieut. E. de V. Lamb, Camp Adjutant. A cricket ream chosen from leave parties, convalescents and Staff has played ten matches since April 13th., winning nine and losing one.

A sports meeting is being held for each leave party when present in Camp. The first was held on the beach last month and was a great success. The Rest Camp Band played selections. First and second prizse were given for each event, and in addition points were alloted—two for first place and one for second—the competitor gaining most points being awarded a special trophy. Results were as follows:—

120 yards Hurdle: Tpr. McDougall, 1; Tpr. Commins, 2. 100 yards Hurdle: Tpr. Tipper, 1; Tpr. McDougall, 2. 75 yards Siamese: Tprs. Smee and Battersby, Old Baffers' Race (40 and over): Tpr. Brady, 1; Sgt. Furniss, 2. Hop, Step and Jump: Tpr. Tipper, 1; Tpr. Hawes, 2. Long Jump: Cpl. Bredel, 1; Tpr. Smee, 2. 220 yards Championship: Tpr. Smee, 1; Tpr. Tipper, 2. Wheelbarrow Race: Tprs. Smee and Tipper. 75 yards Sack Race: Tpr. Phillips, 1; Tpr. Smee, 2. Carry-your-Chum: Tprs. Battersby and McDougall. Competitor gaining most points: Tpr. Smee.

Cricket.

A Cricket Club has been formed in the 2nd L.H. Trng. Regt. 1461 Corporal C. E. Blockley, 7th L.H. Details, Hon. Secty., would be glad to hear from secretaries of other clubs that can arrange games.

A. I. F. Headquarters C. C. played eight matches last month and won five of them, the remainder being drawn games. The B. team, in their match against Army Audit Section C. C., scored 269 for eight wickets; their opponents made only 22. A feature of this match was the bowling of Hannam, 5 wickets for 5 runs, and Baker, 5 wickets for 7. The latter performed the hat trick. The scores in the A. team's match with the Y.M.C. A. were: Y.M. C.A., 172; A.I.F. H. Q., 5 wickets for 178.

On June 1st. a team of Australians and New Zealanders from D. M.C. Rest Camp journeyed to Cairo to meet a team from New Zealand Headquarters, the match resulting in a win for the Port Said team by two wickets and 20 runs. la the first innings H.Q. made 95 runs (Murley, not out, 42; Alley, 12), D.M.C. responding with 56. (Stewart, 17; Lieut. Lamb., II). In the second innings H.Q. made 63 (Alley, 25) and the Port Said team made up their deficiency in the first innings and passed this score at a cost of eight wickets.

A team representing the 3rd. L. H. Training Regt. visited Cairo recently to meet the A. I. F. Headquarters C. C. The match resulted in a win. for the home team by 7 runs. H.Q batted first, making 105 runs When the Moascar team had lost only 5 wickets for 82, the match looked a certainty for them, but the "tail failed to wag", the last five wickets producing only an additional 16 runs, making a total of 98.

A match was played between the Australians and New Zealanders in the Rest Camp on May 23rd. The N. Z. team batted first, malting 81, to which the Australians replied with 5 wickets for 160.

Boxing Championship.

Keen interest was displayed in the match between Sergeant Morry Steinberg (England) and Mick Rutherford (Australia) for the lightweight boxing championship of Egypt. The contest took place at Luna Park on May 25th., and Steinberg won on a knock-out in the thirteenth round.

There were fully 3,000 soldiers, with a sprinkling of civilians, present, and every shift and turn of the fight was closely followed by critical eyes. There is no better judge of boxing than the average soldier, be he Maorilander, Australian or Tommy.

There were four preliminaries, the best being the bout between Lippo and Gough (Welters). The latter won on points fairly easily.

At 8.30 p.m. the gong sounded for the first round of the big match. Rutherford opened with a straight left and a right cross. In close quarters, he showed his superiority, using his right to the body with some precision; but though he hits hard, the punches had no effect on Steinberg, who was trained to the minute and had a body like iron.

In the first couple of rounds Rutherford lead easily on points, his opponent making a lot of misses. The pace all through was fast. In the middle of the third term, Rutherford seemed to tire, and Steinberg was connecting with right and left swings to the body and head; and the round was in his favour The fourth round opened with a straight left from the Australian, Steinberg missing a right cross. Rutherford connected with left and right swings to the body. Half way through the round he tired again, but points were slightly in his favour up to the end of the term.

The Winner

The Winner

The next three rounds were also in favour of Rutherford, who had regained his strength He was doing all the in-fighting, while Steinberg failed to connect with his punches. The eighth round was even. Rutherford again adopted in figthing, his punches taking no effect on Steinberg, who connected with right and left swings to the head. There was much holding and clinching in the ninth round. It was evident that Rutherford was tiring, but the round ended in his favour. From the tenth round Steinberg was out after his man, and was waiting a chance for a knock-out. In the twelfth round Rutherford went down for 4 counts fright jab to the chin), but the bell saved him. It was clear that he was finished. When the gong went for the thirteenth round Steinberg sailed in, and after going half way, connected with a right hook to the chin and left swing to the head. Rutherford went down and took the count.

Rutherford proved himself the cleverer man, Steinberg being a fighter, and not displaying much science. It was evident after the tenth round that he would have to knock out his opponent to win, as Rutherford was well ahead on points. The match was a ding-dong go from start to finish, and the spectators were thoroughly pleased.

Mr. J. A. Syson, of the Cairo International Sporting Club, acted as referee. The betting was 2 to 1 on Steinberg before the fight started; after the first round it was evens, and after the second, 6 to 4 on Rutherford.

The Anzac Sundowners.

On a clear June night, the stars of Bethlehem shone on a gathering of soldiers and village folk in front of a monastery, whose steps formed a stage. The Anzac Sundowners Concert Troupe gave their initial performance in the open. There was some trouble with the lighting effects, but that was the only flaw, and the Star of the Sundowners rose to a high place in the firmament of popularity. Among those who watched it rise was Major-General sir Edward W.C. Chaytor, K.C.M.G., C.B., A.D.C., T.D.

A piano was borrowed from a Jewish household and Staff Sergeant G. Doward drew wonderful music from it. The cornet solos of Spr. F.H. Millar were special features of the entertainment, the favourite items being "Songs of Araby" and "Perfect. Day". His original humorous sketches, "The Yokel" and "The Village Curate", showed his versatility; they were excellently done. L/Cpl. T. Lewis gave some clever impersonations, including "A pre-war German at the Telephone" and "Uriah Heep",

Among those who contributed songs were Sergt. W.E. Landsell, Sergt. Schwarz, Dvr. C.E. Kentish, and Spr. E. Watts. Dvr. A.R. Myers recited Major A.B. Paterson'3 "Pardon, the Son of Reprieve" and 'The Bush Christening" in capital style. The selections rendered by the Anzac Divisional Band, conductor, Lieut. J. Crosby-Browne, were very popular. One of the pieces played was a trombone rag, "Mr. Thomas Cat", composed by Captain Walker. The whole programme was delightful and the audience demanded many encores. Sergt.-Major F.S.B. Owen acted as stage manager. He triumphed over difficulties. The "stage" was decorated with streamers of foliage and bunches of flowers, and the effect was charming.

N.Z.M.R. Band Eulogised.

The following letter was received by Lieut. W. Stewart, Bandmaster of the N Z.M.R. Band, after it had played at a gathering at Richon:—

"Dear Sir, We, the Committee, beg leave to tender you on behalf of our benevolent Society, our warmest thanks for the big success of this evening, which is chiefly due to the brilliant music of your eminent Band. We shall never forget this pleasant evening that we have spent in your agreeable company; your famous Band has been always recognised and admired by the general voice of the public. We can assure you, Dear Sir, that during you short stay with us you have endeared yourself to all the members of our Community by your innumerable acts of kindness, attention and friendship. We consider it, therefore, to be our honoured privilege to dedicate to you, on this auspicious occasion, this brief and unpretending letter of thankfulness, as a slight token of our gratitude. Prior to your departure, our sick and poor wish to assure you, Dear Sir, that on the present occasion there is but one feeling pervading the hearts of all of us, and it is one of deep appreciation for your unbounded generosity. May the blessings of Providence be on you, who, from your high station, has sent down bounty and charity to the fatherless, sick and poor; their blessings are ineffaceable and will follow you wherever you turn. We consider it to be part and parcel of our duty to thank you once more for your charity to our poor brethren, and for which the sick and poor owe you an immense dept of gratitude. With sentiments of respect and esteem, we have the honour and gratification to subscribe ourselves," etc.