THE SPORTING WORLD

Evening Star, Issue 15065, 23 December 1912, Page 9

THE SPORTING WORLD

[From Ora London Correspondent.]

November 15, INTERNATIONAL ATHLETICS';

It is pleasing to hear that the athletic authorities of Harvard and Yale, oirtho one hand, and of Oxford and' Cambridge, on the other, contemplate holding another international contest. It is qmto generally understood that Harvard and Yalo do not represent the two strongest athletic universities in the United States, so that . the meeting cannot be looked on.asatestof the respective ability of. English and American 'Varsity athletic strength. To bo perfectly candid, all form tells us that the American collegians are greatly the superior, mainly because they pay proper attention to field athletics. "Such "meetings as the ono contemplated cannot help but do good. We are not afraid of the Oxford and Cambridgo athletes doing anything but add to England's athletic prestige, even should the fortunes of the contest go against them. Oxford and Cambridge men know how to Icse (which is more difficult than knowing how to win), as G. L. Anderson showed when ho met with such hard luck in the hurdle raco at the Olympic Games. The Englishmen ought also to profit by their visit, and learn much from American methods. It is some years since an English athletic team visited America, apropos of which something a prominent American athletic official said during the 1908 Olympic Games comes back to mind. It was following the disqualification of an American athlete, and the remark was: " I jrity the next poor English athlete who visits the United States." The writer's comment was: " I envy him, for I know he will get the usual glad-hand treatment." There is no reason to doubt the sort of welcome the English 'Varsity athletes will get, for tho average American sportsman must be able to recognise that the silly charges and 'statements arising out of the recent Olympic Games were not made by practical athletes or those who are recognised authorities on matters athletic.

To hark back a trifle, the first, test of athletic strength between American and English 'varsity cracks was in 1894, when Oxford brat Yale in London. One year later, at Xew York, Yale easily defeated Cambridge, Since then the meetings have been between the combined strength of Oxford and Cambridge and Harvard and Yale, with the latter having the beet of matters. The American athletes won at New York in 1901 (6 to 3) and in London in ISO 4 (6 events to 3), whilst the Englishmen were the winners in London in the years 1899 and 1911, the scores being 5 to 4in each case. It will thus be seen that of the six competitions each side has won three. The writer witnessed all these contests save the one in 1901, and he cannot help but notice that the English athletes made little improvement in the field events (their weak spot), but that the Americans gradually approached the English standard in Jong-dietanco running. It is all a. matter of cultivation, and it will be a pity if the , Oxford and Cambridge men do not turn their serious attention to jumping and weight-throwing. At one of the field events—viz., hurdling—Oxford now has a real champion in G. R. L. Anderson, and the interest show,n by the American trainers and athletes in the Dark Blue at Stockholm was a decided compliment. Oxford will have another real flyer in A. N. S. Jackson, who may set up' a new world's amateur one-mile'record before his career is over. —New Cracks.— It also looks as though Cambridge University will be able to furnish a couple of very goood long-distance men in J. K. Bousfield and A. L. Telfer. The form of the former when winning the one and three miles races at the freshmen's sports stamped him as an exceptional runner. Something big was expected from him in the cross-country match (8 miles) against the Ranelagh Harriers on Saturday, and it came as a big surprise when Telfer'boat him by 38sec. It was no fluke, either, for other tried performers were well beaten. Telfer looks to be one of the finest stayers Cambridge has had for years, and his future running will be closely watched. : ' ' Before finishing with athletic topics itmay bo added that France is the latest nation to fake practical steps to develop her athletic material for Olympic Games purposes. It is proposed to hold a big meeting in Paris during 1913, at -which the events figuring on the Olympic Games programme will be decided.' The idea is to hold this, meeting annually, and presumably there will bo trials 'in various districts. The venture indicates the manner French athletes arc a.livc to the situation, and, coming just after the progressive policy of Hungary, shows that, European nations are awake to tho situation. BOXIXG.

Although there was some difference of opinion as to the winner of the Fred Welsh v. Matt Wells contest for the lightweight championship, everyone agreed that it was one of the best seen at the National Sporting Club for some time. The holder of the belt showed more speed than Welsh for half the contest, and when the 15th round was over most of the experts were of the opinion that there was nothing in itWelsh undoubtedly stayed better than his rival, and ho was the faster of the two towards the end. There was less clinching than usual when Welsh is one of the boxers, and that was something greatly appreciated by the spectators who filled the National Sporting Club on Monday. A pleasing thing in connection with the match was the sporting feeling between Wells and Welsh when they met the following day for paying over of the stakes and handing over of the Lord Lonsdale- belt, which Wells took from Welsh 18 months ago. Naturally there is talk of another match to decide the rubber. If it should be held at the National Sporting Club it cannot very well take placo before the early summer of 1913. Wells is most anxious for another go, and can find backing for £I,OOO.

Another eagerly-awaited encounter is the meeting- of Owen Moran and Jim Driscoll. They did not sign articles early in the week, as expected, but bctli have placed their money in the hands of the National Sporting Club's secretary, and a match is now virtually assured. FOOTBALL. The English amateurs played pretty football against the Belgian team at Swindon on Saturday. Vivian Woodward gave of his best, scoring twice, whilst Gordon White and A. Berry also beat the visitiug goalkeeper. The most noteworthy happening in the League campaign on Saturday was the fine win of Bradford City (3-1) on visiting Manchester City. It was only the previous week that Sunderland had given Bradford 1 an awful beating on the latter's ground, which shows the uncertainty of tho game. Another reversal of form was seen at Sheffield, where the Wednesday team defeated Oldham (5-0), so partly making up for their 10 coals to 0 defeat by Aston Villa a few weeks ago. Another big scoring game .vas seen at Derby, where the home side trounced Sheffield United (5-1). One of the features of the g;;me was the splendid play of Steve Bloomer, the veteran scoring three goals. Still another match in which goals were frequent was the fixture at Middlesbrough, whers thj locals we'r.t down before Liverpool by 4 goals to 3, the visitors getting the odd goal in the last few minutes.

The South Africa i Rugby men had a rar3 time in the Midlands. They gave the best display of the tour the Midland Counties at Leicester, and bad the place-kicking been a bit more accurate they would have surpassed their total of points against Glamorganshire. The poor showing of the Midlanders came as a surprise, but really the true, explanation lies in the fact that the Springboks excelled themselves. More than one sound critic now openly states that there is no longer any need to refer to the fine ability of the 1906 team. A dry ball and light"turf suited the- Springboks, and, getting into their stride at Tmce, they made the home side-look very second-rate. Their passing looked reckless to many, but the mistakes were few, and even when they did happen the forwards were usually handy to make good, one of the tries coming this way. The visitors enjoyed themselves in other ways, the Leicester sportsmen showing them round in good style. ■ Not the least pleasing part of their-entertainment was a

■visit to Stratford-on-Avon, a luncheon rat the Shakespeare Hotel, and a visit to Mason's Croft, where Marie Corelli entertained them at tea. Whilst at Leicester W. A. Millar (captain) took the opportunity of saying they were having the time of their lives, and lie had no possible complaint to make. This, of course, referred to what one has heard about the visitors being stinted in a few small ways. It appears that some, of the Springboks found fault with what they considered a too careful expenditure of cab fares to and ftpm their matches. It. was not the wish of the home officials that this should be so, and any little friction which arose appears to have been duo to misunderstanding as to the rule regarding expenses covering the tour.

The Cambridge Fifteen were no mitch lor the Springboks 'yesterday, though if. was by no means a one-sided struggle up to half-time. Soon after the interval, KSwever, one of the 'Varsity players was injured, and forced to retire. The heme side wer> only 8 points behind when this happened, but naturally they fell away afterwards. The Springboks were flattered by the score (24 points to nil), for tho Cantabs eertaiiiy put up a good struggle under difficulties. IN GENERAL. Inman gained a very easy win over young Smith in the second heat of the Burroughes-Watts bilhaid tournament. The victory of Mustapha in the Grosvenor Cup at Liverpool appeal's to have surprised the stewards, who held an inquiry into the running. Drinmore just beat Mustapha in the Cambridgeshire, and there was nothing strange in the gelding turning the tables when meeting on 31b better terms. E. Ray, of Ganton, the open golf champion, gave another fine exhibition of golf at Worplesdon on Saturday, when he won a 36-holes competition from J. Braid and G. Duncan, his score of 74 being two better than the course record. Tho Yorkshire team fared badly against Middlesex in the intercounty lacrosse' match, the score being 12 goals to 5 in favor of Middlesex. Hard hitting was the order in the boxing match between J. Summers and Young Josephs on Saturday, the latter being knocked out in the sixth round. A fine race was seen' between 0. C. Godfrey and S. Garrett in the one-hour motor cycle event at Brooklands on Saturday. They finished within a few feet of each other., the distance covered being 60 miles 1,370yd5. Hockey seems to be flourishing at Cambridge, the University players defeating the powerful Hampstead team by 4 goals to 2 on Saturday. Reece made two successive Breaks of over 300 yesterday in his heat of the Bur-roughes-Watts. billiard tournament, which put him on good terms with Peall.