SPORT AT HOME

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 179, 17 April 1923, Page 4

SPORT AT HOME

PUBLIC BADLY CATERED FOR AN AUSTRALIAN’S IMPRESSIONS

By the s.s. Dorset yesterday, there arrived from England, Dr. b<. Al. Gregg, of Sydney, who for the past eighteen months has been prosecuting his studies as an eye specialist at London and Birmingham. ; Dr. who came out as ship s doctor, is one of Sydney’s best-known athletes, having represented New Scuth Wales at cricket on more than one occasion, while he is an able exponent of tennis, and was a member of the New South Wales team which visited New Zealand in 1920, the Davis (Questioned by a Dominion reporter yesterday as to how sport was progressing in the Mother Country, Dr. Grego- stated that ho had represented the Egbaston Club, of Birmingham, m a tennis match against the Oxford team a week before the ’Varsity match. It was a reflection on England s stiength in tennis that < nly. one of the Oxford team on that occasion was an Englishman. The team was captained by a South African, and was composed of two Australians, two Americans, and an Englishman. One of the Australians was Watt, who was also a member of the New South Wales team which visited New Zealand m 1920. In the ’Varsity match a week later, three or four members of the Cambridgu six wore also foreigners, including the Indians, Hade and Kamiswami. Apart from this, said Dr. Gregg, it struck him that there were not"many young tennis players coming along in England. The Australian spent two days at the New Wimbledon, and was greatly impressed with the wonderful new stand, which enables a very large ciowd to view the play in comfort. He saw Miss Suzanne Lenglen defeat Mrs. Mallory in their memorable match. "The French girl is a wonderful player,” declared. Dr. Gregg, and there is no one in the world who can compare with her. In this game she completely outclassed the American lady, and I feel certain that she will always be able to do so. Jn fact, on the _ voyage, out in the Dorset, we received a wireless message stating that Miss Lenglen had defeated Mrs. Mallory, 6—o, 6—o, in a match in the Riviera. This is about a true criterion of the strength of the two players as revealed at Wimbledon in July last.” Dr. Gregg also saw G. Patterson defeat his fellow-Australian, J. O. Anderson, in the semi-final of the championship singles at Wimbledon, in. a match which was more than once interrupted by rain. Poor Rugby Display. Dr. Gregg, who is an old Rugby player, saw the first international match of the Rugby season between England and Wales, at Twickenham, which Was won bv England by 7 points to 3. It was a very hard forward game, but as a spectacle was veiy disappointing. “And here, let me sav, said Dr. Gregg, “that sports bodies in England cater very badly, for their patrons. Tile ground at Twickenham, which is the headquarters of Rugby in England, holds 30,000 people, and of these only about one-siyth can get under cover. One can imap-.ne wlhat this means in a climate like that of England.” In fact, Dr. Gregg proceeded, all branches of sport in the Old Country are sadly lacking in the facilities they provide for their patrons. It was the same on most of the racecourses, where not only was little comfort provided, but it was almost impossible to see anything of the racing at all. Some of the straights were a mile long, but one could only see a few . hundred yards of the race.

Trade Improving. Questioned as to the condition of trade in England, Dr. Gregg stated that it was tihe opinion of manufacturers in the Midlands .that matters were gradually improving. Nothing like a boom was anticipated, but what was better still—a steady improvement. There were still a large number of unemployed in the country, who organised marches at intervals through London, but the general opinion .was that conditions would steadily improve. , ... Dr. Gregg will leave for his home in Sydney on Friday next.