SPORT IN BRITAIN

Evening Star, Issue 19892, 14 June 1928, Page 14

SPORT IN BRITAIN

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LONDON, May 2 SOCCER.

Remarkable results well describe the happenings in the struggle going on in the first division of the League, it looks now that Huddersfield will slip up on the championship, yet a lew weeks ago both this honour • and the F.A. Cup looked possible. It was a good performance to visit Leicester City on Saturday and win by the odd goal in three. Evertou also gained a great victory at Burnley—s goals to 3 —so that the relative positions of the two leading clubs remained the same. Disaster fell on Huddersfield when receiving Sheffield United on Monday, however, the success of the visitors by the only goal of the match making big alterations in the situation. It gave Everton a three-point lead, and whilst Huddersfield still have a match in hand the superior goal average of Everton may be enough to turn the scale. At the moment it certainly appears likely that Everton will win the League Championship. The victory of Sheffield United enabled the club to climb above the danger zone at the wrong end of the table, and it has put Tottenham Hotspur in a bad position. The last match of the season is going to be a thriller for several of tho lowly clubs, and interest will bo maintained to the very end. A 6 goals to 1 victory of Manchester City, when at home to Southport, has greatly improved the prospects of the Manchester club winning the second division championship. Although Chelsea gained a 2 goals to 1 win at Wolverhampton on Saturday, the spurt comes late, and Leeds United will no doubt gain promotion with Manchester City. Although Glasgow Hangers only drew when visiting Bo’ness on Saturday (1 goal each), it is assured that the Scottish championship will go to tho present leaders, Celtic being 5 points ahead.

Apart from the exciting league struggles much interest centred in the amateur international between English and Scottish teams at Hampden Park, Glasgow. The home side prevailed by the odd goal in five, and some critics thought the visitors a bit unlucky to lose. WONDER GOLF. Archie Compson is a golfer with unbound confidence. He also has lots of energy and took to heart what Walter Hagen said about British golfers not practising enough. This all played a part in his victory over Hagen in their seventy-two holes match at Moor Park, Rickmansworth during the week-end. The American had little time for practice after arriving, but that was really his own affair, and it was up to him to make his arrangements accordingly. All the same, most British sportsmen would have been better pleased had the Moor Park officials agreed to his request for a few days’ postponement. The golf played by Compson was so wonderful, however, that he would have won under any circumstances, and to beat a player of Hagen’s ability by 18 holes up with 17 to play stands as one of the greatest wins on record in first class golf, Hagen played really well, as his score showed, but ho happened to meet another first class player in wonderful form. Compson has been practising steadily for weeks, and on his latest form he seems to have developed into a player worthy to compare with Harry Vardon and Bobby Jones at their best. His rounds were (17, 66, and 70, or 203 strokes for 54 holes. He took 4 for the only hole of the fourth round, and his grand total of 207 gave him a lead of 19 strokes over his American rival. Of the 55 holes played, Hagen only won 6, which illustrates how Compson dominated the situation. He drove a very long ball, and at one hole actually reached a water hazard, which is supposed to punish a bad second shot, Compson has issued a challenge to play any other player in the world _a match for a big money stake, and it is thought that T. _ D. Armour may take him on. Nor is it unlikely that Abe Mitchell will oblige and try to repeat bis win of last year, when bo beat Compson 9 and 8. Hagen was naturally subdued, but be accepted his _ defeat like a good sportsman and paid a hearty tribute to the remarkable skill of his rival, Compson’s win adds interest to the corning open championship, when Hagen and several other notable players from overseas will compete. ft is pleasing to be able to state that England has several young amateurs coming right to the fore. The native championship at Lytham ended in a triumph for a new discovery—J. A. Stout, of Bridlington, who defeated T. P. Perkins, the holder, in the final over thirty-six holes by 3 and 2. Stout made brilliant recoveries on several occasions, and is evidently a player who is not easily daunted. Being a big man he hits a long ball, several of his drives being over 300yds. His putting is also good, his weakest point being with his approaches. Being a busy man (be is a surgeon dentist) he has little time for practice, which makes his form all the more remarkable. BOXING. There was an excellent gathering at the National Sporting Club on Monday night to see Alf. Mancini, of J ondon, and I. Lnffincur, of France, meet in a twelve-round contest. They weighed in at the welter-weight limit, the visitor being champion of his country. Maneini is usually very aggressive, but after having taken the measure of his rhal ho appeared to ease up and content to hold the upper hand._ This led some critics to think 'lie I.ondcn man did not show his usual form, nor did he, but he did enough to win comfortably on points. Mancini was thinking of the future and his coming match against Jack Hood for championship honours. Tims ho was probably wise to save himself as far as possible, for be will need all bis reserve when he tackles Hood. The quick win of Jack Sharkey when faced by Jack Delaney at New York (his week has given British followers of boxing something to talk about. The aggressiveness of the winner suggests that he will bo a candidate for a match against Tunney in due course, unless, of course, the unexpected happens, and Tom Hceney comes out on top when ho meets the champion. Tho New Zealander is big enough, and he will be well advised as to methods. His great need is to develop speed, which means a harder punch. Perhaps a frame of mind which demands victory, and not too much of tho genial disposition, would also help Hcency if that can be cultivated for the great occasion. ATHLETICS. The annual Stock Exchange walk from London to Brighton, about fiftytwo miles, provided a big surprise on Saturday. It was expected that S. M. Ayres, winner in 1927, would again prevail, and perhaps beat the record for this particular race. Workers on the London Stock Exchange have been very busy in recent weeks, however, and training has been short in consequence. This bad a bearing on the performances and times ruled slower than usual. Ayres made a plucky effort, but bad to rest content with second* place, the winner turning up in W. F. Bascombe, a novice, making his first appearance in the event. Ho was coached by T. A. Hammond, a past winner and bolder of the London to Brighton and back record, besides many other “bests.” Hammond’s coaching was a valuable help, and Bascombe went through the journey very well, finally winning in 9h 24min 45sec, Ayres being nearly twelve minutes behind. The winner

is almost sure to show further improvement, and he ought to develop into a class performer. —Cambridge Cracks v. All England.— It speaks well for the strength of Cambridge in the athletic world that a team of past and present ’Varsity athletes is to meet an A.A.A. team in n series of events at Cambridge early in Juno. The Cantabs will be able to call on J. W. Rinklc, D. G. Lowe, H, B. Stallard, Lord Burghley, and G. R. Weigbtman Smith, besides other notable cracks. Thus the England team will need to bo very strong, and the meeting will bo a splendid trial for Olympic Games purposes. It becomes more and more plain that the British Olympic athletic; team will he a very fine one, and at least a dozen really “ top notchcrs ” —that is, men with a possible chance—will be included. ft is unfortunate that Eric Biddle, winner of the 400 metres in 1924, will not bo able to return from China for the Games, as he would have greatly strengthened the team. Still, there will be other fine runners for the distance, including Lowe and Rinkle. CYCLING. It seems that W. F. Hansen, of Denmark, is a very fast cyclist, and he is likely to figure prominently at tho Olympic Games. He made his first appearance in England last Saturday when turning out in a 1,000-mctro scratch race at Herne Hill, London, for the Dunlop Cup. Like most Continental riders, ho has cultivated a great finish, and it served him so well that ha won the final, riding the Inst furlong in 12 3-ssec. Hansen also beat J. j). Sibbet and L. Theaker in a special contest, the heats being one lap and a lap and a-half. As Sibbet and Hansen each scored a win, they met in a decider over one lap and a-half, and the Dan© won comfortably, strengthening the opinion of the experts that-he is a real champion, who will bs bard to defeat for Olympic honours. Another feature of the Herne Hill meeting was the riding of W. J. Bailey, an ex-amateur champion, and now in .the professional ranks. Although now a veteran, he is very speedy, his attempt to beat .J. S. . Benyon’s halfmile standing start record for the track being successful. The figures were 58 4-ssec, and Bailey got well away to -pass the “ quarter ” in 29 3-ssec, whilst he' finished in 58scc, so accomplishing his mission.