Sports Review

He's A Fighter

Looking For A

Good Fight

AT least two Fijian heavyweight boxers, who planned to cash in on fights with world famous Tongan, Kitione Lave, had their hopes dashed when the British Boxing Board of Control, outed Lave for six months. (PIM October).

One of the Fijians was Isimeli Radrodro, who revels in the title of “Heavyweight Champion of the Orient”, gained when he was serving in Malaya with the Fiji Ist Battalion.

Radrodro recently took his dis charge from the Fiji Military Forces, after 16 years’ service, and although he will say nothing about his work in future, he admits he is looking for professional fights.

He hopes to go to Tonga, New Zealand and perhaps Singapore.

Radrodro is a fine sportsman, but as a professional boxer he is probably past his best, judging by

some of his performances in tl last 12 months.

He has won international rugs honours in three tours —in NI Zealand in 1951 and 1957, and tl; year when he led the Fijian tea in Tonga.

The Kiwis Extended

The Rugby Season

From Norman Baxter, in Suva Theoretically, the rugi season in the South© Hemisphere ends about the es of September each year, and Kii: Willow takes over almost immec: ately.

In Fiji, however, there is generae a break of six weeks between ft two to give the grounds a chances recover from a hard football seasog Part of this vacuum was filll this year when a rugby team fr«~ New Zealand (the Corinthian; made a three weeks’ visit to pic half a dozen matches in Viti L©i and Levuka.

So while the death throes of ft rugby season were somewhat prc longed, no one really minded, 1

There was some fast and spectacular baseball at Rabaul, New Britain, in October when Rabaul Baseball Association staged the 1958 Lightning Knockout competition (for the Bu[?] Philp Trophy) over one week-end. The Chinese "Red Sox" team got off with the top hoNO[?] after a 4-3 win against the "Silver Lions", Catholic Mission team from Vunapope, in a g[?] which had the big crowd on its toes. This action shot was taken during the week-end.

ithe Kiwis provided an attractive band of sound, orthodox rugby and gave the local boys many a lesson.

Those Kiwis must have found it tough playing when the temperature was anything between 75 and 85 degrees—and they could not have a swim to cool off afterwards, as the Suva Sea Baths were closed because of the polio epidemic.

He's Another

Rising Tongan

A rising Tongan welterweight, Alami Kaihau, won by a technical KO in the eighth round, a scheduled ten-round contest with New Zealand welterweight champion Peter Graham on October 20 at Auckland. Kaihau was down on points in the first few rounds, but proved a heavier hitter and delivered some damaging punches later in the catchweight contest.

In the preliminaries Semi Waisale, of Fiji, won by points in a contest with Johnny lefata, of Western Samoa. The Samoan ap peared to be the heavier hitter, but Waisale was more active. ► I

4 Very Good Green

-Number One

BOWLERS in Suva must be among the keenest in the world.

Each fine day it is an even bet :here will be some players out, and bat has meant a lot of play in the last few months because of dry veather.

Twelve months ago the Suva Bowling Club ripped up its No. 1

green, which was showing more than orainary signs of wear and tear. For the keen bowlers there was only No. 2 green, 100 yards away from the clubhouse, and this green has taken a proper thrashing.

Fortunately No. 1 green reopened on September 28, and has an excellent surface which should stand up to the hardest work these bowlers can give it for the next few years.

No. 1 green has a very big advan

tage over No. 2—it is only a step to the bar.

KEENEST competitor in the mile cycle race at the Popondetta (Papua) Agricultural Show in October was Alexander Pouga, who travelled 50 miles by canoe and bicycle to enter the event —and win.

He trained by riding his bicycle around the bush tracks of his home district, Oro Bay.

Charman's All Races Amateur Boxing Club continues to do a good, clean job for the youth of Suva. For the presentation of trophies at its recent championship tournament in Suva, leading citizens of several races were on hand. Here, for the presentation to one trphy winner, are the Commissioner for India in Fiji, Mr. K. D. Bhasin, the Speaker of the Legislative Council, Mr. Maurice Scott (with trophy) and Ratu Edward Cakabau, Deputy Secretary of Fijian Affairs.