SPORT HOLDS SWAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 45, 22 August 1938, Page 8

SPORT HOLDS SWAY

Major sporting events again occupied an important place in the news of the world, at the weekend. Australia had two important engagements —one at the Kennington Oval, where her cricketers found two tenacious Yorkshiremen. a little too much for them, and the other at Boston, where her tennis representatives scored a five to nil win over Germany and earned the right to meet America in the challenge round for the Davis Cup. The first day's play in the fifth cricket Test showed

once again that in the main good batsmen on a good wicket will triumph over good bowling. After Edrich had been dismissed for a dozen, Hutton and Leyland (the latter making his first appearance in the present series) settled down with the one object in view—to wear down the bowlers. How well they succeeded is shown by the fact that the pair were still together when stumps were drawn, with the total at 347. With nine wickets intact, England is happily placed and with such proved run-getters as Hammond, Paynter, Compton, and Hardstaff still to go to the crease more records seem likely to go by the board. If the weather remains fine, the fifth Test, which is to be played to a finish, may prove to be a test of stamina as well as a test of cricketing ability. Australia had still another international engagement on Saturday, that with the New Zealand basketball players who have been taking part in an inter-State tournament at Melbourne. Unfortunately a marked difference between Australian and New Zealand rules has made the contests somewhat unequal, and it is to be hoped that the attempt to bring about uniformity will succeed. The touring-Maori Rugby team found Fiji a more formidable combination than was expected and had to be satisfied with a draw. Nearer at hand, there was also much to interest sportsmen, not the least attraction being the exhilarating display of Rugby given by Wellington and Hawke's Bay at Athletic Park. For the spdrt-loving public, it was a notable weekend.