Sports Review

M/ I*

rVOn 111

LarGS . DN Day in Fiji, October 10, anniversary of the ceding hose islands to Britain, is >f sport. In Suva it’s the lockey tournament of the d in Nausori 12 miles away bus flies it’s the big day ear, Regatta Day, a perfect man’s holiday, where ds flock along the banks of ;a and out on the natural ind formed by what is r the best bridge in the 'acific. iji, as elsewhere in the the outboard motor has ito its own, and no more on the Rewa River and its ies where 15-ft to 20-ft, flat-bottomed punts whine ad forth with passengers duce day and night. It is these powered punts which the entertainment on Day (although some pure ypes are also there). starters, with microphone plifier, set up camp in mida the base of one of the piles, and a commentator mother amplifier system i from the footpath above, lands of the public favour

ige grandstand.

lands of others mill along r banks, where Indian girls ack and forth with handearing glass jugs of cool, well diluted, cordials at a

penny a glass, or temporary stalls offer short sections of sugar cane, uncooked corn-cobs, “grog” (yaqona), slices of melon, coloured ice-blocks, and Indian sweets and cookies of all kinds.

Though most shops are shut, even the town of Nausori is packed as buses from outer districts disgorge their loads to add to the fun. Down stream a little, in the shallows of a side channel hard by the Rewa Hotel, dozens of Fijian children, tiring of watching the boats snarling back and forth, splash and scream in their own version of a good time.

This year the weather could hardly have been better for the big occasion—a fresh, cool breeze, and sufficient cloud cover to ease the heat of the sun. No one much cares who won the events. This is more of a social occasion, an annual get-together enjoyed by Fijians, Indians—and a good sprinkling of Europeans from Suva, mm .. n §• •

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ri\HE reins changed hands at JL Rabaul one day in October when the acknowledged master, Matthew Bernard Foley, stepped down as president of Rabaul Amateur Turf Club, Ready to take them up was keen supporter George Clark, of Rabaul, who has been a capable judge for the club on many occasions, and who will now hold office as presi dent for the next 12 months.

Matt Foley, who had been presi dent since the club’s formation 3 years ago, was made a life member in honour of his services. “And I m still here to work”, he told the annual meeting, “but I feel some one else deserves to be president now .

Rabaul Amateur Turf Club has proved itself a happy-go-lucky, up-and-down but basically sturdy organisation which has consistently defied its critics, spent money in all directions, and yet managed to keep its bank managers happy.

Foley’s part in building up a success story in the face of heavy obstacles has been immeasurable “I guess you would say that Matt is the turf club”, committee mem bers say.

Their opinion is not far off the mark. Many is the time that Foley has combined the duties of rider, trainer, owner, and club president —and has been topping the riders’ premiership at the same time.

A serious fall earlier this year has put him out of the riding game but has not diminished his interest in the turf club and its development.

The annual meeting re-elected Ernie Young, of Rabaul, to carry on as secretary of the club.

Wouldn't Have Done

At Lords

From Norman Baxter, in Suva THOSE big and unwieldly-looking cricket teams sported by the Samoans and Cook Islanders have always been of academic interest only to the Fijians, who prefer what they consider to be the orthodox game of rugby.

But a Samoan band which took Suva by storm in October (see Pacific Report) gave a brief demon stration of this kind of cricket after an open air concert in Albert Park and left locals wide-eyed It was not only at the sight of 30 dusky cricketers on the ground at the same time —but also those triangular bats (about the same length as a baseball club), the four feet long wickets, and the rubber ball (which was very hard).

But what was most amazing was the lengths to which the fieldsmen would go to get the batsmen out.

One of them, a sort of unofficial captain, would give an imperious blast on a whistle. At this signal the fieldsmen would begin clapping hands, and making cither noises with the apparent intention of up setting the batsmen. It wouldn’t have done at Lords.

But the batsmen were inured by long years of experience, and no device could rattle them.

The wicketkeepers, one at each end, did not wear gloves. If a ball passed the batsman they immedi ately bowled to the man at the other end. Perhaps they should be called wicketkeeper-bowlers.

[?]g day of the year at Nausori—Regatta Day. This was the scene on October 10, with the Nausori Bridge jam packed! See story below.

There was no waste time be overs.

Some of the mighty swipe the semi-darkness had the s tors instinctively ducking.

The light became too bau there was no appeal. Even just walked off the field!

Now He's Kitione L

Of England

TONG AN boxer Kitione La 1 , Fiji late in October fc United Kingdom—with s title —Kitione Lave of Englan decided on the “England" pa cause he was upset at his rec when he returned to the kingdom in April after his lon to England. He wasn’t, he tlr treated by the locals in the n to which he had become accus; Before he left Fiji, Lav another clash —their fourth Fijian Mosese Varasikete —ar knocked out by the Fijian 12th round. Mosese’s showir him in the top rank of heavy boxers in the South Pacific, proved that he could absorb p ment as well as dish it out.

But some of the credit w his trainer, Inoke Davu, who i hard on the Nadi boy to ha 1 in top condition for that bout, now evens the score to two-al each man gaining his victo] clean knockouts.

As Lave is unlikely to ret the South Pacific during his career, and. cannot have very more years to run, any d' bout with Mosese will have fought on the other side world.

As far as is known, Mose no plans to travel that far, bu ager “Jerry” Adams is 1 another effort to get him ini Zealand (see “Adams v. Autl PIM, October, p. 133).

Footnote : At Papeete on b to UK, Lave lost to Fijian £ Cawaru, k.o’d in the Bth.