SPORTS AND PASTIMES

Evening Star, Issue 18589, 21 March 1924, Page 6

SPORTS AND PASTIMES

[From Oxjs English Correspondent.] LONDON] January ?0. RUGBY. The brilliant victory of Franco over Scotland at Paris in the first Rugby international of the season led many' critics to antilipahe big things for the' Frenchmen this year. Thus when the French team crossed over to Dublin for the purpose of meeting Ireland general expectations rather favored the visitors. Unfortunately France Lacked the service of Jaurreguy, Gonnet, and Cassayet, three players who were big factors in the success against Scotland on New Years Day, In addition to this the travelling has to be !aken into consideration; consequently it was not so very surprising after ail that the Irishmen managed to win. To crown the misfortune of the visitors, Craboa broke his leg a few minutes from the end, the mishap to the French threequarter detracting from the enjoyment o; the match to those concerned. Mishaps were more frequent than usual, though Crabos and Collopy, of Urn home team, wera the only two players who had to retire. It was the energy and tirelessness of the Irish forwards which turned the scale. The loose rushes of the Irishmen were excellent, and it was mainly due to this that G. V. Stephenson and A, P. Atkins were able to score tries. Apart from tho excellent work of the. Irish forward, H. W. Stevenson was largely responsible for_ the Irish success. He showed splendid judgment in the way he saved the forwards by finding touch, and he is going to be of great assistance to Ireland this season. —Guy’s Players In Form.— Guy’s Hospital, with six South African players in the team, showed to advantage When receiving tho Glostor fifteen at Honor Oak last Saturday. Save that Glostor forwards held their own, there was not much during the match for the Westerners to enthuse over. When it came to play behind the scrums, Guy’s wore much superior. An early try came from a brilliant effort by G. L. \Steyn. This South Africfln athlete can run 100yds in lOsrc, so that when once fairly started he takes a lot of stopping. He made a fine run, and twice confused the opposition by giving the “dummy,” and then going on himself, finishing up by crossing the lino. He scored another trv, whilst Holloway and Schofield also got over, Guy’s finally winning by 12 points to 0. —Oxford and Blackheath.— Oxford University have an unbeaten record on the Rugby field this season, but the Dark Blues came near losing this when meeting the Blackheath team on Saturday

Certainly Oxford were not at full strength, probably duo to underrating their rivals.

The early stages favored Oxford, and this may have sot up over-confidence. Still, with a lead of 14 points to 6 nt the interval, the Dark Blues had some reason to feel that they held the whip hand. The Black heath men then played up so well that they got on terms, following which I. S. Smith, an old Winchester player, scored the best try of the match. Once more Oxford seemed likely to win, hut right nt the end Blaekheath equalised, “no side” sounding with the score 17 points all. The Oxford team included seven overseas players, six from the dominions and one from the United States.

Harlequins made no mistake when meeting Cambridge University, the speed of the three-quarters, combined with excellent passing, leading to the defeat of the Light Blues by 26 points to 6. A notable feature of Scottish Rugby on Saturday was the appearance of E. H. Liddell "in the Edinburgh team against Glasgow University. The British champion sprinter decided not to play Rugby this season, wishing to run no risk, in view of the Olympic Games. As his 'varsity had difficulty in picking a satisfactory tcom to meet Glasgow, however, he agreed to turn out. As it happened, he was not called on much, the Edinburgh players winning by 8 points to 5. ASSOCHATION. Cardiff City continues to enjoy a good load in the League table, and if the p!avers avoid serious accident the prospects of the championship going to the Welsh Hub will bo excellent. Cardiff received Arsenal on Saturday and scored 4 goals without response. Meanwhile Huddersfield gained a narrow win (1-0) when at home to Chelsea. Another prominent team in Sunderland made a draw of it (1-1) when visiting Sheffield United, and Bolton went under (1-0) when tackling Aston Villa on (he latter's ground. The Villa players arc just now showing to advantage, and. though perhaps tun far down the list to stand a chance for League honors, their many supporters rather fancy that the E.A. Clip may again go to this famous team. Cardiff's lead of four dear points over Bolton in the table, and also with a couple of games in hand, makes the prospects of the. Welsh Club appear very hopeful.

OLYMPIC GAMES COMPETITIONS. There was much of a picturesque nature in connection with the opening ceremony of the winter section of the Olympiad.

Eighteen nations took part in the. parade and the interesting swearing-in ceremony. This latter consists of a representative. of cadi nation taking an oath (on behalf of his nation! to conduct competition in a fair and honorable manner. So far ps the actual competitors are eonrerned. history shows that this is the ru'-e. as there- have onlv been -two instances of wilful fouls in the last three Games, so far as applies to athletics. The comnei it ions decided to date show that Finland may he counted to do great things. _ Sportsmen will recollect tho great showing ot this nation in the track and field athletic events at ihe Stock holm and Aid werp tes tivals. whilst happenings since have shown clearly that Finnish runners are right at the top of (lie tree. Stamina seems to Vie the strong suit, as evidenced hv successes m the 1 ,000. 6,COY and 10,090 metres slating races at Chamomiix. whilst another Finn was second to an American in the 500-me,ie

rare. Naturally nation? hk“ Finland and Norwav, where winter fUicrls may Hap fob _ lowed as extensively ns cricket and foot hall in Brtain. have a hi? advanlage over the atlilnt-ns of iKngland, where skating is an ox'Tplion. Discussing Olympic Games mat tors, the English Athletic Association. through its Abroad Committee, bns made it. known ' that the visits of English at nicies to thy Continent prior In the Olympic (names is not in the lv*st interest. This is taking a. leaf out of the American FnimTs book, though not. coin" cpiite so far. It"is only rceently Unit the Birchfield Harriers sent a r.ror.s.country loam to.take part in an international race at Lyons, and the best authorities agree that il w> cracks are harmed by excessive raouig and travelling. BOXING. The three, heavy-weight, novices who a is being coached Ly Tex O.llytirko made another how to the public this week, hut not with much success. 'll’ongh vet\ slow in his movements. I. Inglctmi, tin' giant, of the trio, managed to heat 1. Ireland, on points in a. t mi- round Font. The other two in the camp \V. Lrcsng.' and L. Price —were beaten. 1 iie tenner only lasted half a, round against P. 0. hpi'lter, this naval veteran gctte.ng home a punch which ended matter.-.. .Joe Mullins, another veteran, way too clever for Price, the Bristol man laec.im science and aggressiveness compared to Mullins, so that he was easily outpointed. It may bo early days to tom any decided opinion, hut so far the tnree selected 'boxers have not startled the Doxing world. They are h;g a.nd pluCnS. which is far as one may go. It as P ! "- hahlo they are too big- lor '•oinetlnm: more than (size and weight are. necessary nowadays. The factor of speed is mop important, as -we have seen so clearly n> the example of (ieorges Carpe.it ier aim further hack in Jim CorlxMl. Prohahly a man sft lOin, weighing Iholb (Idw!. and possessed of real speed, is far more likely to succeed than another ot 6tt 4>n weighing 1801 b, and as slow as a cart nor ' L ' GREAT BILLIARD.'-. No better struggle has Lean se.nyin a billiard match than that between Srni’h rind Newman in (heir latest matcli “i 16 030 up. Smith did so well in the second half of the game that be made up arrears and actually h-d for a cL*>rt- turn on the last dav hut- one. Newman wa soon in Iho pieii.ro again, and rapid.> wiped off Iris'rival's Led. Al one turnSmith hold a lead of 6oh. mamlv due a grand break of Gl6._ Al SO C about reducing this, and ho .i<wl Lit satisfaction of 'making a break ot -’do. the highest of the season, beating ms own effort of 919 against Smith a lew moa.'.i.amo Holding his own at the last two session Newman finally won by boo points. Both Smith and Newman am wonderful players, and slvmkl they conn' tecether in tho thampionslup, »s is pi"m.,hlp we shall certainly see a. rernarkanh ,tni-g!c. for there is really, nothing between' them. This is well .indicated by tho fact that in their fcwl fr.wiuvs tinseneon their aggregates only show a. ter of 40 points in favor ot Nev.man. GOLF. A small sensation was created by the defeat of Miss Joico Wetliered, the champion la-dv golfer, when taking part -n a Cam coutelt at Burhill tins week. She led the Sunningdale team against m.wHinmcwell, am! tho latter won by 2 and 1 Tho champion, was right oft her game, particularly when playing her tec shots, but it is safe to predict that a few m .k weeks on tho course will soon make her fit to defend her laurels. Tbo nows that Gene, Sam, the professional golf nhampion of America mis heateni Arthur Havers, the English champion, is naturally disappouuing, though not unexpected. Altered conditions are a handicap < * SaVa7.cn found himself.™ over here last summer. Havers is a good mtc player, and appears to have, made a ie.il good fight of it. H is interesting news that Saraz.cn hones to again visit .England, and with more experience of the, cmmtry he is quite, likely to omul at* tho wins ot Jock Hutchinson and Walter Hagen lh\ winning the open honors. HOCKEY. Tho American lady hookey players nowin England have not made a very brilliant “start. They lost their opening match badly, tho opposition reaching double figures whilst the visitors scored only one goal. History shows that when Americans take up a now sport they soon ■ make progress, and it is safe to say that American lady hockey players will_ not be so easily defeated in five years’ time. i Bobby: “Is oxygen what tho oxen ; breathe all day?” Papa: “Of course; i ' and what most everything olso breathes. • jßobby; “And is nitrogen what everyone ! breathes at night J”