A SPORTSMAN’S DIARY

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 278, 20 August 1938, Page 10 (Supplement)

A SPORTSMAN’S DIARY

NEARLY A CRISIS AT WIMBLEDON

“Big Bill” Tilden Involved

One might be pardoned for expressing the belief that the ■world is crisis-minded nowadays, even in sport. Bodyline bowing nearly threatened to strain relations between England and Australia. There were talks of boycotts of boxing bouts because of racial feeling. International Soccer matches have frequently provoked trouble. Disputes and controversy have raged over the conduct of the Olympic Games. Now Wimbledon has become inVO1 A d crisis nearly developed at the recent Wimbledon tennis championships. When C. E. Malfroy (New Zealand) was beaten by Gene Mako (U.S.A.) in the third round after a tense five-set tussle, he walked off the court without acknowledging the success of his conqueror. ' , On being told by a friend that he had put up a fine fight, Malfroy said: “Well, it wasn’t so bad, considering that there were two of them to beat.” Malfroy was referring to the fact that Big Bill” Tilden was at Mako’s end of the court urging on his fellow countryman and pupil with a few nicely-chosen words. . The rights and wrongs of an amateur having a professional coach in attendance during a game aroused a keen argument. “I am all for professional coaching in amateur sport, out wlieiyt e chips are down and the show is on, the coach s place is in the bac - benches,” said an English writer. . . The episode recalled Britain’s recent defeat of America in the Walker Cup. Henry Cotton, noted English golf professional, not only coached the British players but was on hand, during the match to hold out a supporting hand at a time when their spines needed a shade of strengthening. The Americans expressed their disapproval. “Let him teach them and inspire them all he can before the match, but, once it starts, let him stay away,” they said. . The incidents emphasise that very little amateur sport is free nowadays from some sort of crisis or other.

Canadian Heavyweight. Al Delaney, Canadian heavyweight champion, has impressed British critics in his quest for the British Empire heavyweight title. He recently defeated Jack London (lost. 121 b.). Delaney gained a certain amount of fame for the fact that he once knocked out four of Joe Louis’s teeth with a terrific right-hand punch.

Golf in U.S.A. Champions of the present and of the past decade fell by the wayside in the U.S.A, professional golfers’ championship in July. The surprises of the first and second rounds were the defeats of Harry Cooper and Ralph Guldahl, the latter, the . open champion, going under to Dick Metz (Chicago). In the third round America’s match play king, Denny Shute, who has not tasted defeat in match play since 1936, was beaten by Jimmy Hines, of Long Island. In the fourth round the last of golf’s old guard in U.S.A., Gene Sarazen, was beaten by Henry Picard. Sarazen was the title holder in 1922, and during the past 18 years won the U.S.A, open twice and the British open once, as well as numerous other leading events. The semi-finalists were Picard, of Pennsylvania, Paul Runyan, of White Plains, Jimmy Hines, of Long Island, and Sam Snead, of West Virginia. Picard and Hines were eliminated, and in the final Runyan defeated his youthful opponent, 8 and 7. , The outstanding performance during the tourney was the brilliant score of 64 for 18 holes returned by Byron Nelson (Pennsylvania), which was eight under par for the course. Nelson played 26 holes without once going over par. He was beaten by Hines in the fourth round. Rose From Ball Boys.

From ball boys to tennis champions. This was the meteoric rise of Yugoslavia’s three tennis musketeers, Mitic, Puncec and Palada. When they first started in competitive tenuis they had not sufficient means to make trips abroad. Then times improved, enabling them to take part in the Wimbledon championships. It is interesting to recall that until tennis enabled him to hit the headlines, Donald Budge, the world's outstanding amateur, was what they call in California “just a small-time kid.” His father drove a laundry van in Los Angeles.

Chatham Cup Victory. In trouncing Nomads (Christchurch), by 10 goals to one, Mosgiel (Dunedin), the South Island finalists for the Chatham Cup, put up a performance which has not been paralleled. Both teams' are at present the championship leaders in their respective centres. The game was remarkable in that, with half the second spell gone. it was still open. Mosgiel at that stage led 2-1, but from then on Mosgiel’e halves and forwards thrilled the spectators with crisp passing movements. Mosgiel meet Waterside (Wellington), in the final at Wellington on September 3.

Unlucky With Injuries. The touring British Rugby team has been unlucky with injuries in South Africa. When they were beaten by Tranevaal, 16-9, Reynolds, Clement and . Nicholson, all backs, had to leave the field. At one stage Britain played two short. Injuries have been responsible for a slump in Reynolds’s play. In earlier games he impressed South African critics as one of the best stand-off halves to visit the country. After this match, South African papers described Travers (Britain), as the “prince” of hookers. He completely outshone Jan Lotz, the Springbok hooker, who left a memory in New Zealand few are likely to forget. In the first spell Britain won 14 scrums to eight, and in the second spell traded evens, even though they had only six forwards. The report of this match stated“ Tony Harris was „ the outstanding back, and it will be surprising if he has not won the recognition of the to play for South Africa in the coming Test.” Tennis Items.

It is estimated that about oue-quarter of the population of Australia, nearly two million people, play tennis. It is also estimated that they spend as much as £12,600,000 yearly on their clothes, rackets, balls, fees, etc. The U.S.A, national championships, at which it is expected that the Australians, Quist, Bromwich and Schwartz, will compete, will commence on September 8 at Forest Hills.

Who Goes to Forest Hills? Who are the L.T.A. going to send to the American championships at Forest Hills this year? asks an English tennis writer. One assumes they will send some players, for only that way are the Americans encouraged to send players over here, and the English ones are welcomed in the United States. Now, surely, E. J. Filby will be sent. His fine showing against Austin on Wimbledon’s opening day was sufficiert passport. The United States can give what no other country can—many tournaments and many good players, not only two or three. There are McNeill, Kovacs, Riggs, Hunt. Kramer’ young and improving players, and old hands lik< S. B. Wood, a peer of the best for some of the time at any rate. That is what Filby wants —beating not b.v one but by many. That, if anything, will teach him to crowd the net, not lap- in no-man’s land, and to kill the lob as it should be killed. Give him that, and we have a champion. Then w».- not also send C. J. Hovell, if available?*, He is only 20 —and shows the stuff. ’ He ran Coombe. of New Zealand, to five sets, and he and Sherwood beat Abe anef Gandar Dower in a match of over three* hours and 64 games; only three sets —but look at them, 10/8, 21/19, 6/0. Metcalfe in Form.

Jack Metci’fe, the most versatile runner in Australia, won three events at Muswellbrook (N.S.W.) recently, when a team including five Empire Games representatives competed at the opening meeting of a new athletic club. He cleared 6ft. 3Jin. in the high jump, 21ft. 3iin. in the broad jump, and 45ft. 3in. in the hop, step, and jump. As he was second in the javelin throw, he had a busy day.

Who Wins “the Ashes?” Several correspondents have asked: “In the event of England winning the fifth Test, which side will, “win” ‘the ashes.’ ” The answer is, “Neither. ’ Each will have won one match, and the rubber will thus be undecided. Australia as the holder will retain “the. ashes” until the next rubber to be played in Australia in 1940-11.

Ward’s Lucky Day. When Frank Ward the Australian slow bowler, top-scored with a hurricane 71 he won the sweep for the most sixes in Australia’s second innings against Scotland. He got his runs in 45 minutes, hitting three sixes and nine fours. Australia made 320, giving Scotland the hopeless chase of 446 runs for victory. The sweep, arranged before play began, was for the batsman scoring most sixes. O’Reilly, the favourite, went in early to set a standard, but he made only a single. Fingleton showed that he could hit the ball if he desired, and he reached 50 in 37 minutes. He was out immediately after lunch for 69, made in 55 minutes, and including one six and nine fours. Waite missed the sweep, but took the fast-scoring honours with 43 in 20 minutes. He hit two sixes and five fours. Brown did not appear to be a trier for the prize, and played most sedately for. 26 not out. Don Bradman’s Runs.

Quite a lot of interest centres in whether Don Bradman will reach 3000 runs for the season in England. He is already well on the way, having scored approximately 2500 runs to date with eight matches to go. Should he do so he will become the first Australian batsman to achieve this. This feat has been accomplished 22 times by an English batsman. Herbert Sutcliffe and E. Hendren each eached 3000 three times; K. S. Ranjitsinhji, T. Hayward, O. P. Mead and W. R. Hammond, twice each. Sutcliffe in 1931 had these remarkable figures: 42 innings, 11 times not out, 3006 runs, average 96.96. As will be seen by the list given below, Bradman s average in 1930 was 98.66. The following list shows the Australian batsmen who have scored 2000 runs in a season in England:— Highest Year Total score Aver. D. G. Bradman 1930 2960 334 98.66 V. Trumper .. 1902 2570 128 48.49 W. Bardsley . ■ 1912 2441 184* 51.93 C. G. Macartney 1921 2335 345 58.37 W. Bardsley .. 1921 2218 345 53.37 C. G. Macartney 1912 2207 208 45.04 W. Bardsley .. 1909 2180 219 46.39 M. A. Noble . 1905 2084 267 44.34 S. J. McCabe .1934 2078 240 69.26 D. G. Bradman 1934 2020 304 84.16 W. Armstrong 1905 2002 303* 48.82 ♦Not out. Rugby Coaching. A very sound note was struck by Mr. F. D. Kilby, the former All Black and coach of the Wellington senior team, during a recent function of the Wellington club. The best coaches should not be with the seniors but among the lower grades, contended Mr. Kilby. By bringing on the young players on sound lines senior football would improve. There was every need for this, he said, in view of the change that had taken place in New Zealand Rugby. It may be mentioned in passing that this is the policy of a number of clubs in Wellington. It could be applied more universally. ■

The 1938 All Blacks. When any comparison between the 1938 Al! Blacks and the 1937 Springboks are made one important factor should not be overlooked. The Springboks were definitely superior last season to the Australians and the All Blacks in line-out play and in scrummaging. This superiority enabled them to monopolise possession, build up team work and dictate the run of the play. This season's matches between Australia and New Zealand revealed that the -line-out play was disappointing. The scrums were even. It is impossible to ignore the fact that in these fundamental phases of Rugby neither New Zealand nor Australia is as efficient as in previous years. On their form last year the Springboks should still prove superior in these departments. They are departments around which the whole fabric of the game is built. Incidentally, the only way to build up any game is on its fundamental lines. New Zealand has already set its Rugby house in order. The team in Australia followed these principles under the able coaching of Mr. A. McDonald, but much could be desired as to the line-out play and scrummaging. Rucking, it may be pointed out, has never slumped in this country. It is still- of a high standard, and it is from loose play following rucks that New Zealand teams are stili among the best in the world. When more of the line-out experts and solid scrummagers of the type of the Brownlies. White. Finlayson and Co., to mention players of the past decade, appear on the horizon, then can New Zealand look with confidence to downing the South Africans.