SPORT IN BRITAIN

Evening Star, Issue 19698, 27 October 1927, Page 13

SPORT IN BRITAIN

[From Oub English CoKEcsroNDENT.] LONDON, September 21. CRICKET ENDS. Hammond, of Glostcr, may be termed very unlucky not to reach 3,000 runs during the season just over. But for rain in unusual quantity, he must have done so. Still, with an aggregate of 2,900 and an average of 60.04 ho has had a line season. It falls to the lot of.D. R. Jardine, who plays for Surrey, to claim the highest average of the season, his figures being 92.60 for a total of 92G runs, scored in a dozen innings, two of which were not completed. Hallows, of Lancashire, and Mead, of Hampshire, had a great season, with averages of 75.58 and 74.53 respectively. A. E. E. Chapman, who has an average of 66.04, is the second amateur in the table. Eifteen batsmou scored 200 or more in an innings, the highest of the season being 277 not out, by Sheppard, of Surrey. Turning to bowlers, Howell, of Warwickshire, holds pride of place with an average of 16.83 for thirty wickets, though Larwood, of Notts, has a far more imposing record with 100 wickets, average 16.95. Parker, of Glostor, claims most wickets, his bag being 193, average 19.91. Top place among amateurs is held by J. C. White, of Somerset, with 113 wickets and an average of 15.55. SOCCER. West Ham may prove the host of the southern clubs this season. Called on to visit Leicester on Saturday, the London club scored three out of the five goals registered, and away matches have yielded the Hammers some valuable points this season. Arsenal also brought off a fine win when at homo to Sunderland, the two goals to one success sending the North London club well up the ladder, whilst checking Sunderland. Newcastle managed to share the lienors when at home to Evcrton, each scoring twice, and this point made the tally 10 for six matches, cue more than Arsenal. West 11am have secured 8 points for live matches, so look good at present. Bury is another club well to the lore, us following a goal to nil success when receiving Sheffield United on Saturday, the Lancashire club gained a big triumph, 5 goals to 2, when at homo to Liverpool -on Monday. This raised the total of points to 10 for six engagements, a record equal to that of Newcastle. —Second Division Changes.— Clapton Orient went to the head of the second division table ou Saturday through an excellent performance when meeting Chelsea. Being at home naturally layered the Orient players, u..d they made full use of this, winning a grout match by the odd goal in three. Bristol City trounced Reading by 4 goals to 1, but failed badly ou Monday when visiting .Port Vale, the homo side prevailing by 6 goals to 1. This is the first reverse of the season for Bristol, the only unbeaten club in the division being Clapton Orient. Glasgow Rangers made a gain in Scottish circles on Saturday, winning against their Airdrieoiiiau visitors by 2 goals to 1, Celtic had to rest .satisfied with a draw when visiting Dumforline Athletic, each scoring a goal. Motherwell did well to score three times to onco by Kilmarnock on tho latter’s ground. This leaves Rangers on top with 13 points lor six matches, Celtic claiming a like number of points, but for au extra match.

UUGBY. The opening match of the New South Wales Itugby team suggests that tlio visitors will Jiavo a great season here. They were opposed by a combined Devon and Cornwall side in the opening engagement on Saturday, and gained a pronounced victory. For half an hour tho visiting forwards were not particularly good, but during tho second half the team settled down and showed dazzling form. The forwards are men of splendid physique, and it will try tho homo unions hard to find their equal. T. Lawton, who was so prominent when at Oxford, seems (o bo a very inspiring member of the Waratabs, and A. C. Wallace, who has played for Oxford University and Scotland, showed all his old ability when ho settled down. Among a brilliant lot of forwards J. Ford stood out prominently, and ho is likely to bo of great service to tho Australian team. Tho combined counties failed to cross their rivals’ line, their d points being tho result of a penalty. On the oilier hand, the Waratabs registered three, placed goals, three more from penalty kicks, and three tries. ATHLETICS. Tho South London Harriers staged a very attractive athletic, meeting at Konningtou Oval on Saturday, when some excellent performances were seen, in spite of the turf track being very heavy from much rain. C. Ellis, the one-mile champion, easily scored in the 880yds and one mile races, which were included in tho ititcrcluh contest between the promoting club and the Birchficld Harriers This proved a very exciting affair, the Birchficld men winning by a single point.

A 100 metres scratch race was one of the features, and tins ended in favor of A. W. Green, of Birmingham, in 11 l-oscc, not bad going on the heavy ground. Another good win was that of B. T. Ashby, of Coventry, m tho two miles interteam race, his time being Dmin 4Usec. Mention may also be made of tho excellent half-mile run by N. J. M'ilachern, of the Clonlilfc Harriers, in the last stage of the one mile medley relay, his time being just under 2min. it was this which enabled the Irish team to win the event, a popular success and well deserved. —[facing on the Continent. —• Lord Bnrghley lias been very prominent in races at Paris during the week-end. Ho scored in hurdle races at 110 and 200 metres on Sunday, his limes, being 15 l~sscc and 24 3-ssec. Better still was his victory in tho 400 metres hurdles on Monday, his 54 0-oscc representing good going. Dr O. Peltzcr, ot Germany, was another star performer, and iio appears to have regained his best form. In beating 8. Martin, of Paris, in the 1,000 metres race on Sunday lie set up a new record of 2min 25 4-sscc, which is fast running for bettor than 1,090 yards. He also defeated Martin the following day in tho 400 metres race, his time being 48 4-ssec. American sprinters were also prominent, Cummings and Scholz being first and second in a IUO metres race, the time of 10 3-oscc showing tho class of the winner. * An old favorite in P. Nurmi, of Finland, has also been showing form, his ].4min 54sec for the Finnish 5,000 metres championship being equal to 14mm 24scc for three miles. BOXING. It scorns that Frank Moody, of Wales, is a better boxer than many good judges have thought. He made short work of Dave Magill in their bout at Liverpool this week, tho Irishman failing to last two rounds. It was Moody’s fight from the start, a right punch in tho opening round sending Ids rival to the canvas with a crash for a count of five seconds. Magill never really recovered, and Moody proceeded to drive in heavy punches at will, whilst he was hardly touched. Tho referee stopped the bout before two rounds ■were over, it being clear that it was all Moody. The latter made the weight, 12st 91b, when wearing his ordinary clothing, but Magill failed to do so and had to pay forfeit. Another interesting bout this week was tho one between Kid Socks, of London, and J. Hanna, of Belfast. The

latter recently defeated Phil Lolosky, of Loudon, and his aggressive tactics in that affair, prepared the spectators for some hot work. They - were not disappointed, though Socks refused to bo unsettled by his rival’s tactics, but stood away and boxed cleverly. After a hpt opening round, in which neither gained any advantage, Socks appeared to bo weighing up his man. Unfortunately a mishap then happened which ended matters. Whether from a blow, or contact of heads, which was difficult to determine, Socks had his eye badly cut, and the injury bled so much that the referee stopped the bout. It was a bad ending to what promised to bo a splendid liout, and a return will be welcome.

The country training quarters at Harlow which Willie Smith selected did not suit him, and ho has returned to London. He did not relish some of the discomforts associated with_ rural England, and he feels happier in the Metropolis, hence the change of plans, lie is doing his boxing and indoor work at Dyer’s gymnasium in the Strand, the very heart of London, and pleasing himself and his advisers. BILLIARDS. 'Willie Smith and Tom Newman have botli been showing good form of late, and billiard lovers are hopeful that they will soon come to agreement regarding the proposed matches between them. Smith easily conceded 4,000 points in 8,000 up to T. Dennis iu their match last week, and in doing so registered some line breaks. Newman lias not yet opened the season with a public match, but in exhibition games with tried rivals lie has registered breaks above the 500 mark. Apart from these cracks, Joe Davis is likely to be very much in the public eye. He is the snooker champion, and prepared to defend his tide against any player in the world. In addition, hcolfcrs to concede 12 points per game in a series of games to any player bar Willie Smith. Snooker is gaining in popularity, and its high position is largely due to the ability of the Chesterfield .player. During the present season there will bo snooker championship competitions, as well as billiard championships, [or both amateurs and professionals. _ The professional billiard championship is decided laic in the season, the entries not being closed until February 1, so that it is too early to speculate as to the contenders. It would, however, give much satisfaction if Smith would accept the conditions (which appear fair to all) and enter. GOLF.

The unfaii - ami unsporting stymie rule was well illustrated in the opening round of the match stage of the one thousand guineas tournament, now being decided'at Walton Heath. G. Duncan and Chas. Whilcombo bad a splendid struggle in their match, and being all square at llio eighteenth it went to the twentieth. Duncan appeared to be winning this, as whilst Ins approach putt scut the ball within 2ft of the pin, Whitcombc was fyds away. Whitcombo putt again, and Jiis hall' came to rest between Duncan's ball ami the hole, with the result that the latter was beaten. Merit, and not luck, should decide, and how sportsmen can tolerate the stymie, unless set by the player, is astonishing in a land where “a fair field and no favor” is supposed to find support.