SPORT IN BRITAIN

Evening Star, Issue 20983, 23 December 1931, Page 13

SPORT IN BRITAIN

[From Our English Correspondent.] LONDON, November 4. RUGBY. It remained for the South of Scotland players to find out the weakest link in the chain, as represented by the South African touring side. The big score piled up by the Springboks against most of their rivals in previous matches must have led them to suppose they would gain a further triumph 'against part of Scotland at Montrose last Saturday. That the Scots succeeded in making a pointless draw of it was l due to the splendid rushes by the forwards, in which department, they were superior to the South Africans. Behind the scrum, the visitors were stronger, but resolute tackling by the Scots saved the situation. There were six internationals in the South of Scotland side, and the result will encourage Scottish Rugger enthusiasts to hope for a win when Scotland meets the tourists in the international. That the Oxford and Cambridge ’Varsity teams are extra strong this season was shown by th? big wins they gained last Saturday. The Dark Blues scored 26 points without response when receiving London Scottish, and even a better performance was represented by the 26 to 6 points success of Cambridge against ' Leicester on the latter’s ground.

SOCCER. Followers of Association football who used to watch such brilliant dribblers as G. 0. Smith, W. A. Bassett, Albert Shepherd, and other stars of tne ’nineties, are rejoicing over the wonderful success of Everton. The leaders of the League are not depending only on the kick and rush methods, so much in vogue nowadays, and Dean and his Fel-low-forwards are not afraid to try a dribble. Perhaps we shall see more of this since Jack of the Arsenal scored a goal against Aston Villa last Saturday in which he beat the defence “all on his own.” To return to Everton, this team has scored twenty-five goals in the. last four matches, and the attack is really brilliant. The Newcastle defence could do little against tlie Everton men last Saturday, as a score of 8 goals to 1 clearly suggests. ATHLETICS. The athletic movement among women is making great progress in England, and so far there is no reason to think it is harmful. On the contrary, most of the women and girls who have taken up competitive athletics say they have enjoyed better health in consequence. One of the problems of atlfletics is to prevent the youth of both sexes undertaking too much before reaching full development. At the annual meeting of the Women’s Athletic Association last Saturday, an attempt was made to debar girls from strenuous racing until they had passed their eighteenth birthday. It would be a very excellent thing for the welfare of the nation if this wise rule were enforced for both boys and girls. Unfortunately it is difficult to get those concerned to look on these matters from a national point of view. As a compromise, it was agreed to make the age for racing sixteen years, this course being advocated because the executive of some of the clubs said they would lose many young members if racing were confined to those over eighteen. What might be done, is to' confine juvenile competition to certain events and limit the number a boy or girl may compete in on a given 'day. The senior and junior sports at Oxford and Cambridge Universities during the past few days have shown that both seats of learning have some splendid new talent.

Cambridge expect much from an American runner named Munrde, who may get inside 49sec for 440yds when he gets used to the English climate. Naturally Cambridge count onßehnke, another American, to, win the pole vault next March, seeing that he has already beaten 121’t. How times have changed. Back in tho ’eighties, England showed the way with pole vaulters, Tom Ray and E. L. Stones, of Ulverstone, being capable of a bit over llift.

With a desire to improve the pastime in tho United States a great supporter of athletics in Mr Gus Sachs, of the Manhattan A.C., invited Ray and Stones to vist America as his guests. In consequence, American pole-vault-ing soon improved, and now the best exponents can clear 18in higher than the leading English pole-vaulters. It will give general satisfaction should Oxford bo able to field a team capable of holding their Cambridge* rivals at tho next Oxford and Cambridge sports, as too many successive wins for Cambridge rather detract from the interest. It is clear than 11. W. Lynn, who hails from Rhodesia, is a quarter-miler above the average. He was not really extended when he won tho Oxford senior 440yds race this week in 50 l-ssec, and yet that represents something extra good for this time of the year. Another overseas athlete in C. A. L. Steere, from Adelaide, looks' like developing into a class hurdler. Some of the overseas freshmen also appear to he exceptional, J. E. Lovelock, from New Zealand, is a fine middle-distance runner, and may do big things at both the “half” and “mile.” Of the homo men, the performances of Lord John Hope and H. J, Riddle in the 440yds and 880yds events show that these products of Eton and Harrow respectively are likely to be of great service to Oxford' athletics during the next three years. T. W. Green, of Eastdeigh, is generally regarded as a walker who shines at distances over twenty miles, hut he has more pace than many supposed. He proved this when winning the Highgate Harriers seven miles road walk last Saturday, beating C. W. Hyde by lOsec. Green covered the course in 53min Bsec, which suggests he would be hard to beat for the seven miles track championship if he cared to lay himself out for this honour.

Another important walk was decided at Hayes, in Kent, on Monday, this being the Stock Exchange twenty-five miles race for the Murrano Challenge Cup. So well did H. A. Hake perform that he beat his eighteen rivals by upwards of 14min, and finished the course in 4hr Grain 17 3-ssec, about 2min bettor than the previous record for this particular event. CYCLING, Although amateurs can heat professionals at many sports and pastimes, it is not so in the cycling world. Since S. Cozens, of Manchester, regarded as the fastest English cyclist over sprint distances, went over to the ranks of the professionals, ho has discovered that he has much to learn. He competed in the Grand Prix de la Toussaint at Paris on Sunday, but ,had to strike his colours to P. Hansen, of Denmark, in his heat and subsequently in a consolation race both competed in. Although Hansen holds the professional championship title, he met his match in Faneheiix, a new French star, who has perfected the ‘* jump ” at the finish to a fine art.

BOXING. Larry Gains, the Canadian coloured, boxer, has advanced further towards the top of the heavy-weight class by his victory over Soren Petersen, of Denmark, at Leicester this week. Neither boxer was eager to start aggressive fighting, and the referee asked them if they were in earnest. There is no occasion to hurry boxers in the opening round, as naturally a man may desire to lay the foundation of his attack and find out any weak spot in his rival’s defence. The Dane had a very useful left, but he has not learnt enough about the hard-fighting methods so necessary to attain success in these days. Once Gains set himself going in real earnest it was soon all over. During the fifth round he landed a heavy body punch which sent Petersen down for eight seconds. This was the beginning of the end, for, though the Dane made a, gallant attempt to continue, ho appeared dazed when he rose, so that Gains put him out with snappy right and left punches to the jaw. Gains is a good man, and the only heavy-weight in England to-day who may give him a real fight is Don M‘Corkindale, of South Africa. A recent series of boxing contests between police cracks of London and the Irish Free State proved that the latter are very “hot stuff.” From what some of the leading sportsmen say the Irish Free State will bo prominent in boxing and athletics at the next Olympic Games should all go well. Dr P. 0. Callaghan is counted on as a likely winner of the hammer-throwing event, and R. M. S. Tisdall is another super-athlete, as he showed by winning four events at the last Oxford and Cambridge sports. We shall soon know more of the boxing possibilities of the Irish Free State stars, as they are to meet a team of amateurs from the United States. BILLIARDS. So well did Clark M’Conachy play during the first week of his match against M. Inman that he led by 634 at the halfway stage, and that after conceding ex-champion 8,000 points start. Tlie New Zealander appears to have benefited in health as a result of his lengthy stay in Bournemouth during the months when billiards are “out of fashion,” and his improved form suggests that he is likely to make some big breaks during the next few months. Having overhauled Inman so quickly, it ivas agreed that the second week’s play should constitute a separate match, Avith Inman receiving 6,000 points start. The dominion player again shoAved splendid form Avhen resuming, making breaks of 521 and 597 during the day, Avhilst his aggregate of 1,613 for the tAvo sessions ranks high. [M'Conachy Avon.] Willie Smith succeeded in conceding Sidney Smith 10,000 points start in their tfvo Aveeks’ time limit match at Bunvat Hall, London. When the end came on Saturday ho held the narroAV margin of 71 points, Avhich slioavs the handicap alloAvanco Avas Avell chosen. Willie Smith is playing Avell this season, and it is unfortunate for the interest of billiards that he Avas unable to accept the challenge from Joe Davis.