SPORT IN BRITAIN

LONDON, March 12. RUGBY. A very interesting state of affairs has been created in regard the Rugby tournament, in which England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and France take part. Whilst it is an international affair, it cannot truly rank as the international championship, having regard to the standard of Rugby in New Zealand, South Africa, and Australia. . The success of Wales against Ireland at Swansea last Saturday has improved the prospects of England in the tournament. On the other hand, should Wales beat Franco and Scotland triumph against England, the five countries will finish level on points. Ireland opened with great dash on Saturday, and took the lead after a few minutes, when E. 0. Davy dropped a goal from quite 40yds out. This spurred the Welsh forwards to great effort, and A. Skyme got over for a try, whilst another try by H. Peacock gave the home side the lead. Ireland again went in front when T. P. Murray was successful with a penalty kick just after the interval. A little later Wales had a penalty kick, and J- Bassett safely directed the ball over tne bar and between the posts. To clinch matters, T Arthur got over for another try, so that Wales won by 12 points to 7 Whilst the winners ■ crossed their rivals’ line three times, the visitors were unable to cross the Welsh line even once. The Irish attack this season has not been brilliant, and the two victories gained have been largely due to skin in dropped goal-kicking, so much so that there has been a revival as to why a dropped goal shall count more points than a try. The Welsh success was mainly due to splendid play by the forwards, and it is interesting to note that all three tries were scored by men plaving in this section of the team. The Welsh selectors are to be congratulated for their enterprise and courage in making wholesale changes after the failure against England and Scotland. The victory over Ireland will encourage the team tor the last engagement against France at I aris, which is bound to be a difficult proposition for the visitors. [Wales beat France and England, and thus won the championship.] „ ~ . It was a case of North v. South in the final of the Rugby county championship at Blundelsands last batuidav. Foi the second successive year Lancashire figured in the final, but a train without success, the Gloucestershire players winning a great game. The forwards from the south-west were splendidly led by J. S. Tucker, and, bavin" captained the county winners, it mav be a good omen for Saturday s match at Twickenham, when he will lead the English team. It was this superiority forward which enabled Gloucestershire to prevail by two goals and one trv to one goal and one try. The Lancashire players made gallant efforts in the last ten minutes, and even Southerners would have been rather' pleased to see the home county prevail.- The south-western counties have so often won the championship that success for a northern countj would have been good for the game.

SOCCER

The issue is not yet settled in the struggle for pride of place in the first division of the League. Sheffield Wednesday slipped back m consequence ot a, two goals to one. defeat on visiting Leicester. Manchester City also went under at Middlesbrough, where the home club scored the one goal ot the match. These defeats for leading clubs grave Derby County a chance to come to the top, and a three goals to 0 triumph when visiting Blackburn has made he struggle very interesting. 'A hast everT Derby went to the top with 41 points, this is the result ot thirty-tv o engagements, whilst Manchester Mtj has scored 40 points in twenty-nine matches. , , „ Another important change cm be chronicled in connection with the second division championship. Blackpool lost when at home to Isotts County, the visitors scoring the odd (real in three. Meanwhile Oldham Registered five goals against their btoke Citv visitors, without response, and claim equal points with Blackpool, with a match in hand. Interest in the struggle for the Scottish League championship flags, owing to the strong position o* Glasgow Rangers. The team of all the talent” swamped Cowdenbeath by o goals to 0 on Saturday, and, whilst Aberdeen also beat Kilmarnock by the odd goal in seven, it seems impossible for the leaders to be caught. Saturday’s results left Rangers with a lead of “six points over Aberdeen, and with two matches in hand. STEEPLECHASING CRACKS.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup, run over a course of three miles and three furlongs, is considered a great public trial for the Grand National. Easter Hero won it last year and was made a hot favourite for the race this week. Although there were four candidates the race was regarded as a duel between Easter Hero and Gib, and it was a fine race between the pair until near home. Easter Hero was well clear of his chief rival at halfway, but when Gib commenced to close the gap and was practically alongside with six furlongs to go, excitement ruled high. Unfortunately for supporters of Gib, the gelding fell at the second fence from home, and Easter Hero went on to score easily from Grakie. Save for a blunder at the first fence Easter Hero jumped well, and the victory at Cheltenham has resulted in Mr J. H. Whitney’s candidate becoming a sound favourite for the Grand National. This is such a lottery, however, that odds of 5 L i 1 against a horse winning seem absurd, as it is virtually 3 to 1 against any named candidate getting the course without mishap. Gregalach, last year’s sensational winner, is going well and speeding np. Any horse which lias gone round the Grand National course without mishap is worthy of respect, and many clever judges of form think Gregalach has a sound chance. If both stand up it may be a case of Easter Hero and Gregalach fighting out the issue. THE ATHLETES GRAND NATIONAL. The national cross-country championship of England was decided over a i-ourse of ten miles at Sheffield on Saturday, just on 350 athletes facing the starter. It resulted in something of a surprise. W. B. Howard, of Kettering, finishing first in 57min 42sec, with E. Harper, of Hallamshire (the holder) next. Then came Corporal J.

A. Broadley, of the Hampstead Harriers, the Midlands, North, and South thus being represented in the placings Howard got away before the haltdistance, and whilst Harper closed the gap towards the end he was beaten ‘2syds. He had been suffering from a cold, and ran well under the circumstances to get so near the winner. Howard is a farmer, and his victory on Saturday is by far his best effort to date. ‘He holds the Bedfordshire County championship, and was fourth in the Midland championship recently. His triumph will spur him on to greater effort, and he will have further opportunity in the international race at Leamington. Several notable runners failed badly on Saturday. J. E. Webster, the Midland champion, was only twenty-sec-ond, whilst A. Burns, the Northern champion, soon faded out of the picture. after showing up well for a mile or so . Once more the Birchfield Harriers won the team race with 94 points. Hallamshire being second with 101, with Tipton Harriers. 105 points,, in third place. The Irish National at Dublin served to show that a fine new stayer in T. F Smyth has been discovered. He heat a representative field and ran the nine-mile course in 52miii 46sec, with Private Kinselle. of the Irish Free States Army, and 1). Coarcl. of Donore, as his nearest rivals. Coard has proved himself a class runner in the past, and as he was beaten by over a minute, the winner must be really good. BOXING. The brothers Corbett have shown form of late which puts them among the top-notchers. Harry met A. Howart, at Liverpool a few days ago, stopping him in twelve rounds. As Howard is ranked the light-weight champion of Europe by the International Boxing Union, the performance of Corbett naturally puts him well up the ladder. His supporters now want to match him against Harry Mason, and a bout between the pair ought to prove a draw. Bert Kirby, the new fly-weight champion, has given further proof of his ability by outpointing Young hiki, of Liverpool, in a bout decided at West Bromwich last Saturday, and be is clearly a star.