SPORT IN BRITAIN

Evening Star, Issue 19522, 1 April 1927, Page 13

SPORT IN BRITAIN

[Fkom Our Excuse Correspondent,]

LONDON, February 16.

RUGBY INTERNATIONAL

Forty-five thousand spectators saw England win a sensational game over Ireland in the Rugby international at Twickenham on Saturday. A goal antf a try gave the home side 8 points, whilst Ireland scored a penalty goal and a try, 6 points. The Irishmen went off with a great rush, and for twenty minutes the English defence was sorely tried. It was equal to it, and it is now clear that England has a worthy full-back m K. A. Sellars, of tho Navy, who did everything that was correct. ' Ireland gained the load when Stevenson scored from a penalty, the ball actually dropping on the crossbar and bouncing over. - , Twenty minutes of the second half had claused, when Laird tried to drop a goal from the field. He missed, but Crawford, the Irish full-back, fumbled when gathering the hall, and ho was at once tackled by two English players, Periton passing to Laird, who went over tho line, the try being converted. Soon after this tho Irish forwards made a tine rush, and M'Vicker scored a try, the only time the Irishmen crossed the line. Ireland now led by a point, and the English players roused themselves for a last effort. They certainly stayed on better than their rivals, and during the last ten minutes the home pack was easily superior. Attacking strongly, the ball came to Young, who ran we'll before passing to Gibbs, who scored a try and so enabled his side to win a great game. Had tho referee noticed two bad breaches by Irish players when near their own goal, it is likely England would have t added to tho score through penalty kicks. The match suggests that _ England has a great chance of heating Scotland for tho Calcutta Cup. With Wakefield back in the pack, and perhaps one other change, the forwards will show up better. A better formation among the three-quarters and paying more attention to Gibbs > on the wing will also strengthen the line. Tho material is right enough, and improvement in tactics may mean much. Scotland and England have now each won two matches, and claim 4 points each in the table. As to the series between England and Ireland, the former claims 30 wins to 13 by Ireland, with 3 drawn games. Space does not permit of much further reference to Rugby matters, but mention must he made of what Sir Rowland Hill said at a dinner given by the Wasps R.F.C. on Saturday. This great stalwart of the game said: “Yon know how passionately I am attached to the idea of having one game—one set of laws—wherever Rugby Union is played. I am keenly anxious 'hat wo should do everything in our power to bring the colonies, or the dominions, into line with England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.” What he meant was the dominions and the _ tolonies, although his actual words might suggest that South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, and Canada only come., in at the tail. That, of course, was not his intention, and his opinion on : his matter may hasten the day _ when these overseas parts of the Empire will have equal voice on the International Board with other countries concerned. ASSOCIATION.

England has not done well at Soccer of late, and something must be wrong with the method of preparing the international team.

Individually the players look imposing, but they do not blend, and frequently a first-class dub team would make a betteh showing. The match at Wrexhain on Saturday produced six goals, of which Wales got half, so another draw was seen by a crowd which overflowed the ground. A. G. Bower, of the Corinthians, led the English side and strove hard to infuse co-operation, hut the visitors never showed quite tho same combination as the Welshmen.

As ft noted critic remarked, “The English players were fine as individuals, but as a side the visiting eleven did not run like a well-oiled machine.” The opening goal by the Englishmen promised well, but th.e Welshmen evened matters three minutes later, the custodian hanging on to the ball too long, and being hustled almost into the net. Again England gained the lead, but a penalty enabled Wales to draw level again. Tim English captain and others were certain that the foul was on the other side, but the referee calls tho tune, and in this case it cost England tho day. Wales got another goal, when a player slipped up on tho sticky turf when about to head tho bail away. A fine rally in the last few minutes ended in England scoring, and so making it 3 all. Of the last five matches played, Wales has won two and drawn two, though in the whole series England has gained 30 wins to 5 by Wales, with 9drawn games. LEAGUE FRAY. Defeats for three leading teams on Saturday has evened matters up, and Huddersfield again look to have a great chance of winning the championship. Newcastle had to visit Sheffield United, but found the homo side in great form, the Blades scoring the odd goal in three.

Burnley came a worse cropper at Derby, going under to the Peakites by 4 goals to 1. Another startling failure was seen at Sunderland, where the home club could only score twice to three times by the West Ham team. Huddersfield profited by these slips, and just got the better of their Sheffield Wednesday visitors, securing the odd goal in seven. As a result Newcastle still heads the table, 37 points for 28 games, but with 36 points, also for 2S games, is now again well in the running, Burnley claiming 35 points. Another surprise on Saturday was tho sudden improvement of West Bromwich Albion when receiving Tottenham. Tho London club failed to score, whilst the “ Throstles ” registered 5 goals. For a 'club at the bottom of tho table this stands as a fine win, and West Bromwich may yet avoid going down. The leading clubs all proved successful in the Scottish League,-so there is no change of importance to chronicle. Motherwell visited scored three times without response, whilst Celtic accomplished a fine performance by heating Dundee 2 goals '.o 1 on the

ground of the defeated club. Rangers were at home to St. Mirren, and displayed good marksmanship, as shown by a 4 goals to 0 success. These results leave Motherwell with 39 points for twenty-eight matches, but Rangers, with' a point less and three matclies in hand, leally hold a bettor chance of winning first place. Celtic will also have to bo considered, with 34 points for twenty-four games. BOXING. Jack Hood, of Birmingham, considerably added to his reputation when outpointing M. Primer, of France, in a twelve-round contest at Tho Ring this week. He came in as a substitute for Lea Harvey, who was unable to box on account of tho death of his mother. The welter-weight champion is hardly lit for a real contest, yet he shaped so well during the opening six rounds that an early finish looked possible. <Vfter that ho eased up, being well in front on points, so that he was a good winner at tho end. Hood is a good man, and may train on to gain high lienors in the middle-weight class. A notable scries of bouts between Army and police cracks was the big feature of amateur boxing during the week-end. A decided surprise was provided by P.C. Pitcher, who decisively outpointed Lieutenant Lister in . the light-heavy class. The winner is almost unknown, and he should make a name in amateur circles. The police had the best of matters on the series, and won the Duke of York’s Shield. BILLIARDS. Both L. Steeples, of Sheffield, and H. F. E. Coles, of Cardiff, won their heats in the semi-final of the amateur championships, and showed such good form that a great final may be expected. Steeples beat E. Hughes, ot Bristol by 755 points, tho heat being 2,000 up, and averaged 16.80 for the game. Coles did better still when beating T. E. Booth, of Manchester. He made a break of 233, which is a record for amateurs under the new rule restricting the scoring off the red ball. His average for thi; session was 36, and although he was not so prominent at the last session he won by 229 points. Booth played up well at the finish, a fine break" of 151 enabling him to close the gap. As Coles averaged 17.51 when beating W. P. M‘Leod, of Middlesborough, twice winner of the championship, in the second round it is evident that Steeples will meet a worthy rival in the final. Willie Smith has again been showing remarkable form, and he certainly stands out, as the best British professional. He was successful in Ids match against Davis at Huddersfield last week, conceding 1,500 in 9,000 and winning by 441 points. Smith made a break of 709 towards the finish, and he obliged with another of 636 yesterday during the course of another match against Davis at Derby. This makes the fiftieth break over 500 he has made this season, ids highest record number of such efforts. ATHLETICS. The outstanding feature of last Saturday’s cross-country racing was the victory of W- Beavers, of \ ork, in the Yorkshire championship at Doncaster, run over a course of about nine miles. He waited on E. Harper until tBo last 50yds, and then spurted ahead to win by syds. Harper won the international cross-country championship and also the ton miles flat championship last year, so there is no mistaking tho class of the new Yorkshire champion. Ho will soon have a chance of confirming his form in the northern, national, and international championships, and his admirers are predicting that he is a possible Olympic champion of the future. The team honors went to tho Hallamshire Harriers, with tho low total of 43 points, Sheffield United Harriers being next. Another big fixture on Saturday was the first women’s cross-couijtry championship, run over a 2,} miles course at Luton. All save one of the seventynine competitors finished, A. M. Williams winning by a yard from L. D. Styles, both being from Littlehampton. Miss G. E. Lane, of the Middlesex A.C., was another yard away, whilst her club won the team championship. -—Fine American Athletes.—

Two American athletes in R. L. Hyatt wild C. F. Gates played a big part in the success of Ralliol in tho final of the Intercolloge Cup competition at Oxford. The former won the shot put and long jump, and tied for first place in the high jump. Besides this, he was second in the pole vault and’third in the 100yds, so he had a busy afternoon. His best effort was a shot put of 41ft llin—a good performance in the winter.

Gates scored in the 100yds and 120yds hurdle races, and also gained second place in the shot put. They wore the main factors in Balliol scoring 40 points and so winning the cup, Christ Church coming next with 25. Some of the Cambridge cracks are also showing form, J. W. Hinkle winning tho 100 and 440 yards races and the shot put for Clare in the match against Emmanual. Another good effort at Cambridge was a shot put of 41ft lOin by R. L. Howland, and ho will make matters interesting when he meets Hjvatt in tho intervarsity sports.