Sports Review

An On-Again

Off-Again Win

From Correspondents in Noumea and Suva VIEW CALEDONIA’S heavyweight J 3! champ., Doudie, who is a Loyalty Islander, got in the ring in Noumea on March 7 against South Seas champion, Sakiusa Cawaru, of Fiji, but it wasn’t exactly an incident-free event.

The bout was to decide the South Seas’ title, and Doudie appeared to have the advantage during the early rounds —but from the ninth round in the 12-round bout, the advantage went to the Fijian. By the end of the eleventh round Doudie was groggy on the ropes.

He recovered in the final round, but it was too late—and the match went to the Fijian.

But not for long. The crowd be ca m e instantly hostile, fighting broke out, bottles were thrown into the ring, and the police were called in.

The next day the boxing com mittee had a meeting, checked the reports of the judges and declared that a point in Doudie’s favour had

been overlooked. The decision was reversed and Doudie declared winner by one point.

Mathematically speaking, it might seem that if Doudie was awarded an extra point, that would have put him on par with Sakiusa, and the match would have been a draw.

It’s difficult to know who or what was responsible for the decision. But sport generally has been at a low ebb in New Caledonia in the last few months.

There have been persistent dis agreements, especially in the ranks of the footballers and basketball players. Teams have walked out on umpires’ decisions and acts of violence committed. About the only branch of sport where there have been no upsets is spear-fishing!

In Fiji, news of the turnabout decision caused “astonishment”. Re ports that reached there said that Sakiusa had clearly been the winner on points, and that the referee had acted correctly.

Sakiusa is due back in Suva in time to meet Tongan heavyweight Kitione Lave at an open-air bout at Buckhurst Park on April 18. The 12 months ban on Lave imposed by the British Boxing Board of Control expired on April 8.

The Batting

Brothers

GEORGE MAWI, a Fijian I works for the Inland Reve Department at Suva, is a vei tile young man. When he is helping Inland Revenue Comr sioner Barnes to collect taxes h along at Albert Park collecting bi men’s wickets.

He has collected so many wicl this season that he would be l man chosen for a Fiji representa cricket team. In recent weeks specialty has been collecting tricks.

He did one in his last grade ma before Easter and on Easter M day, playing for a Suva rei sentative team, bundled out tt Nadi batsmen in succession to i him another hat trick.

George has a younger brotl Paula Sigeva, who also works for Inland Revenue Department, j this young brother is almost adept at collecting wickets George. George is a right-ham Paula bowls left-handed.

Mr. Barnes is a keen sportsn and would probably be the last put any obstacles in their was the tour comes off and they in the side.

YES, BUT IS IT SPORT? It's a point that's been argued for years, but so long as the cards aren't marked there seems to be no reason why a good game of poker shouldn't get the sporting blood up. And the blood was up in Lae, NG, in March when sporting gentlemen adjourned to the RSL club for a poker game that raised funds for the P-NG Red Cross March Appeal.

Here, Arthur Strachan, facing camera, studies his move for the next hand while John Smith takes time off to move some of that cash out of the way. In a smoke-filled ante-room, another band of adherents headed by Dr. Tony Tonaki, continued to play in grim silence. But it was all for a good cause. Photo; Pat Robertson.

landy Kind

Leaf

a Port Moresby Correspondent IE was a cry of “foul” here ilnst the Papuan Cricket sociatlon in March. re schoolteacher M. Roua malpractice against Papuan ; Association president Toua. ,’s complaint was that none Kila Kila club members had hosen for a Papuan repre ve eleven which recently a representative European i Port Moresby. The reason s, according to schoolteacher was that president Toua be that the Kila Kila men had sing a magic leaf as a “secret i” against opposing sides, use of this alleged belief, ad not allowed any Kila Kila » be represented in the side, dent Toua, an Administration wasn’t very impressed when la Kila allegations were re to him. bad heard of that bit of . The story was part of old rites. idea is that you mix a cer irk and juice with the leaf lew it,” said Toua. “As you t you say magic words, and suit your opponents are sup ;o become weaker and so you feat them. it’s straight sorcery—and it’s se.” real reason for the Kila Kila ms was simple, explained None of the players was aough.

ty Of Fight

\ave

ONE LAVE came to Fiji, v, and conquered all local position in a series of exhibi latches. The Tongan’s first were classed as “exhibition” vas still under a British Box ard of Control suspension for Lng to take part in a bare e fight.

Fiji Boxing and Wrestling ition say they recognise the ut they turned a blind eye exhibitions. In fact associa ■esident, Trevor Frost, agreed 3ree one of the exhibitions, in put paid to plans for this outdoors bout, and the next ’revor was down with the ’flu, yas not, after all, in the posi : condoning it. ’s experience was too much 5 Fijians, who went into the jainst him, and he won each a two or three rounds, lentally, these exhibitions did y as expected. d commentary for Fiji box

bouts B he'fo f ueht t hp t Kn t >H 0 tb t I I H three oouis ne lougnt he KO d the heavy- Ra™ia w& ] l ?Sn rnnrS Ji ’ M J ke Ss.r^^o Wlthm two rounds on two OGcaßions.

It took a comparative newcomer, tough youngster named Tawake, to give Lave the shock of on March 28.

Though Tawake went down in the third round he shook the Tongan on a couple of occasions with powerful right crosses.

Lave took no chances with the naughty lad after that and went for the “kill”.

SUVA, April, 12.

Kitione Lave, wqs knocked out

within three minutes of the first round of his fieht with veteran box e r Moses Varasikete. known as the hardest hitting Fijian boxer, at Nadi, last night.

Varasikete went for Lave from the bell and floored him twice, the second time for a count of eight.

When Lave rose he was hit with a terrific right to the temple and fell like a log. While he was writhing and groaning on the mat the referee crowned Varasikete the winner.

The fight was the first for Lave since the expiry of the British ban on April 8. He is due to meet Sakiusa, Fijian champion, on Mon day, but it is not known whether Lave will be fit.