A SPORTSMAN’S DIARY

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 106, 28 January 1939, Page 3 (Supplement)

A SPORTSMAN’S DIARY

. (By

Quidnunc,

M.C.C. ONE UP AND TWO TO GO

Cricket Tests In South Africa

One up and two to go in the jubilee series of Test matches between England and South Africa, Hammond’s M.C.C. team is in a strong position to carry off the rubber for the first time on South African soil since 1922. The importance of such a victory cannot be too highly stressed. If England should fail, the fruits' of the team-building against Australia in 1938 and the moral influence of the tremendous thrashing handed out at the Oval in the fifth Test might be lost. The parade of such a great array of British cricketing talent in South Africa this season might well be taken as a dress rehearsal for the next tour of Australia. Teams that have previously visited South Africa have rarely been fully representative of England’s cricket strength, but it would seem that nothing is being left undone to rebuild the prestige of the Mother Country.

The tour should set the seal of lame on the deeds of Edward Paynter, the Lancashire left-hander, whose career as a batsman is not unlike that of Grimmett as a bowler. Now over 37 years of age, Paynter has been piling up some remarkable scores. He did not receive his opportunity for Lancashire because of that countv’s superabundance of talent, and it was not till 1931 that he forced his way to the front, playing for England against New Zealand, the following season accompanying Jardine’s, team ,to Australia. There he achieved distinction by leaving a sick bed to compile 83 runs iii the fourth Test in Brisbane and making the winning hit which gave England the iVshes.

Many people considered that Paynter should have accompanied Allen’s team to Australia in 1936. As if to remind the selectors of their error, he batted magnificently against the Australians last season at Home, and definitely established himself as one of England’s greatest pre-sent-day batsmen. His scores in the Tests were: 216 not out, 99, 43, 28, 21 not out and 0, a total of 407 runs and an average of 101.7. In the three Tests in South Africa this season Paynters scores have been 117, 100, 1 and 243, a total of 461 runs and an average of 115.2. In both series of Tests his figures are: 10 innings, 2 not outs, 868 runs, average 108.5.

Though failing as an opening batsman, Edrich has been retained in the Test side because of _ his all-round brilliance, his bowling and fielding being of a high standard. For a few overs he can rock them down as fast as any bowler in the world. Only 22 years of age, he is likely to become a great figure in English cricket if he can find his true batting form in Test matches'. The dates of the remaining Tests are: Johannesburg, February 18 to 22: Durban, March 3 to 7.

Rugby at Home. Contrary to expectations, England won the first of the series of international Rugby matches at Home, beating Wales last Saturday by an unconverted try to nil. The match was played at Twickenham and was disappointing to the spectators. Wales had the better of the first half because of superior scrummaging and Woolier twice went within an ace of scoring. Once ho punted through after a passinc rush, the ball going over England’s Tine, but Freakcs. England’s fullback, won the race to the ball. On the second occasion Woolier “potted,” the ball shaving the upright and going outside. There was no score at half-time. The second spell was hotly contested, but lacked brilliance. England crossed for a try after 16 minutes of play and held the lead til] time. The remaining international matches are:—Wales v. Scotland, Cardiff, February 4; England v. Ireland, Twickenham. February 11; Ireland v. Scotland, Dublin, February 25; Ireland v. Wales, Belfast. March 11; England v. Scotland, Murrayfield, March 18. Scotland won the championship last season with an unbeaten record.

Tribute to Driscoll. Says the “Sydney Referee”: —lan Driscoll, now a member of St. Stephen's Harriers, Melbourne, will be a redoubtable opponent of Athol Stubbs (N.S.W.), in the next Australian track _ walking championship. This former New Zealander is a talented exponent of the “heel and toe.” Certainly, Victoria has founo a most worthy successor to former Australian and State champion, Bill Marston. Driscoll gave us a special taste of his quality when in the Victorian Amateur Athletic Association’s interclub competitions at Olympic Prfrk last Saturday he registered Gmin. 38sec. in winning his section of the mile walk by 120 yards. He walked faultlessly, and gave the impression that, he could have lopped a lot oft’ the time figures had he been thoroughly extended. £OOOO Profit.

At the annual meeting of the Lancashire County Cricket Club, it was revealed that a profit of about £6OOO was made last season. Commenting on the balance-sheet, Mr. T.. A. Higson, chairman of the <elub, said: A substantial balance has been shown, and apart from profits of the Test matches, which have been very handsome, the county club has a profit on its own season’s working of some £2500. Cotton’s Contract.

Henry Cotton has just entered into a new four years’ contract with Ashbridge Golf Club, one of the conditions giving him the right to travel abroad. He is, therefore, free to accept the American offer to visit the States to play Sam Snead for the “world championship.” But it will depend on the financial guarantees whether he goes. Now he has announced his terms. He is requesting a payment of £2OOO for a five weeks’ tour, starting in March. Moreover, he wants his expenses paid. To a pressman he said: “I think it is a fair remuneration. I shall be losing money, anyway, by not taking part in the early British tournaments—and then there’s my work at Ashbridge.” His attitude to proposed jobs has always been the same: “My price is so-and-so. If you can’t pay it, or do not wish to, -then we will not bother each other further.” Cotton, although not British open champion, makes more money than probably any three other British professionals. His income from personal exertion is much more than £5OOO a year. He owns a house which' £5OOO would not buy, and eight acres of land. He is financially independent, and he is only Sit.

"Blondo Alice.” , , Miss Alice Marble, the American lawn tennis champion, has been engaged as a singer, and will appear in leading New York hotels. She is tall and fair, and probably the most striking in appearance of all leading tennis playprs. To American tennis enthusiasts she is known as “Blonde Alice.” She is famed for her ultra-short “shorts” on the court and also for her fashionable dress off it.

Anyandyerlike! , It was a shrill voice, and could be heard a furlong away. The venue was ni<>-ht bowls, and the attendance in keeping with one of Sydney’s humid visitations. There was one whose directions were a treat to listen to, so emphatic were they, but there was one of which few realized the meaning. It was “staged, of course, for bowlers know their English as they know their brands. “What’s that he says?” queried a woman, as the skip announced again: “Come on, draw us a shot, anyandyerlike!”—From the Sydney "Referee.”

Tennis Omissions. For the insuflicient reason of insufficient data,” the lawn tennis authorities in the United States have not included the names of Mrs. Helen Wills Moody and Miss Helen Jacobs in the 1938 list. A list that does not contain the names of two such tennis champions can hardly be described as a tennis list worthy of being considered authoritative, says the Sydney “Referee.” . . Miss Alice Marble heads the list, being the winner of the singles championship, with Mrs. Palfrey Fabyan, who has more than once been within beating distance of Miss Marble, second, and Miss D. Bundy third. Budge, as. was to be expected, heads the men’s list, with R. L. Riggs and G. Mako second and third. Mako has never been listed as high as he is on'this occasion. In the German list, H. Henkel heads, with G. von Metaxa and H. Redi second and third, both of whom are Austrians. R. Menzel, late of Czechoslovakia, is not listed, because of Herr Hitler being late in his invasion of Czechoslovakia. Fraulein Horn leads the women’s list, with Fraulein Ullstein, Harnel, and Krauss oecuping second, third and fourth places. Fraulein Ullstein and Harnel have not played on Hilglisli courts. Ireland does not appear to be emulating the glories of the past. She was one of the first countries to play lawn tennis, and produced great, players in Cecil Campbell Joshua Pirn. "Ghost” Hamilton, and others. Today. G. Lyttelton Rogers, who is as Irish as roast beef, beads the list.

Romance in Football. A little town is Runcorn, Englund, with about 25,000 inhabitants. It is a chemical town and is oa the opposite side of the River Mersey to Widnes, another chemical town. Rugby football was all the rage, the Ruucornians travelling each weekend to Widnes to watch Rugby League football. Them live years ago, Runcorn took an interest in soccer, says an English writer.

For the first year they played on an open ground and the players dressed in a small hut. Then they progressed further and bought some old timber from the local chemical works and began to put up railings. It was dillieult' to keep up the railings because there is much unemployment in the town and neighbours found that football railings, like any railings, would make good fires. The third year and the Runcoru F.C. was leading the local league. They began to charge sixpence and a shilling admission, women free. Things became so prosperous that they even had an extra set of shorts and jerseys. Then came the tight for the Soccer Football Cup. It is played at Wembley each year. Runcorn bad to play in three qualifying round?. They survived them. In the first round they played Aldershot on their ground and held them to a draw. The replay was played in Runcorn and the head of the council (the town is not big enough to have a mayor), accompanied by the local brass band, made a gala day of it. The east winds were blowing and the chemical works were busy making powder for ammunition ami acids for steel works. Pile winds swept over the ground ami you ennnot convince Aidershot that they were not beaten because they bad been "gassed.” The town has gone crazy over the success of the Runcorn team. Townspeople have been working nights extending the ground. Nofcv it holds 15,000 people. Forty thousand applied for tickets. ftuneorii is so small that there is not <*veii • a i , esh|in , aiil in it. There are a tew fish mid chip simps, but a couple of healthy chrinirai workers can eat their supplies liny niglil. A first division football team visiting Runcorn ! They will be talking about it iu the year 2001.