SPORT IN BRITAIN

Evening Star, Issue 21078, 15 April 1932, Page 11

SPORT IN BRITAIN

[From Our English Correspondent.] LONDON, March. 2. RUGBY. DEATH OF “ DICKEY ” OWEN. The untimely death of 11. M. (“Dickey”) Owen has cast a gloom over British llugby circles. He ranks with the greatest of Welsh players, arid he gained international recognition thirty-five times. It was his clever work as a, half-back and carefully thought-out plan which enabled Wales to score a try and inflict the only defeat on the New Zealanders when they first visited England as the All Blacks. He and a colleague drew the defence across the field, and then sent a long pass to the other wing, which led to a score. Owen is often cited as the greatest half-back Wales ever had. It was the brilliancy of the forwards that gave Ireland a win against Scotland in the llugby international at Murrayfield last Saturday. It was the fiftieth match between the two countries, and Ireland’s success _ (by 20 points to 8) was the fourth in succession on Scottish soil. It must be remarked that Scotland lost the help of W. D. Emslie, the fly-half, in the first half, which led to the home side having to depend on seven forwards during the greater part of the game. When will the governing bodies alter the conditions and live up to the rules, which call for the same number of players on each side? Opinions may differ, but many will agree that sportsmanship calls for equal numbers to ensure a fair test. Simmers scored a sensational try (converted) in the last minute, or Scotland’s defeat would have been even worse. SOCCER. The London followers of Association are wildly excited over the possibilities of two metropolitan clubs being concerned in the final of the F.A. Cup at Wembley. It was hardly expected that both Arsenal and Chelsea would prevail when called on to travel to Huddersfield and Liverpool respectively for the sixth round of the cup last Saturday. Yet they did, and as the luck for the draw for the semi-final has kept them apart they may both appear at Wembley. Having beaten Huddersfield and Liverpool (on the ground of the defeated clubs), there is reason to thiuk Arsenal can beat Manchester City at Birmingham and that Chelsea will prevail at Huddersfield against Newcastle. Wonderful gates were the order for the four matches of tho sixth round. Upwards of 67,000 people paid £4,882 to see the Huddersfield and Arsenal tie. The Liverpool v. Chelsea match drew 57,000 spectators and receipts of £4,170. Nearly 58,000 attended the Newcastle v. Watford tie, receipts £3,846; and the Bury v. Manchester City match attracted over 28,000 spectators; the receipts being £2,372. Well may it be said that the Football Association competition represents a gold mine to some of tho lucky clubs. THE TURF. Lord Aster has met with a bad stroke of fortune through a mishap to his colt Mnnnnmead. At the finish of a training gallop at Manton early this week it was noted that the colt was lame, and J. Lawson, the famous Mauton trainer, is now doubtful if it will bo p-wsibla to train him for the GuL„aj and Derby. As Mnnnnmead ruled second favourite in the betting on the Derby, this is indeed a bad stroke of luck, both for owner and trainer. The colt won all three of the races in which he competed as a two-year-old. Mnnton also shelters Orwell. the present Derby favourite, which must be some consolation for Lawson. Possibly Manuamcad may be got right for the St. Legor, even if compelled to miss tho Guineas and Dsrbv. GOLF, Two American golfers played a prominent part in the success of Oxford University sgß;iv;t Royal Mid-Surrey last Saturday. C. Sweeney halved his match against W. A. Murray,, and 11.

Sweeney beat W. C. Carr by 6 and 5. The brothers also won their foursomes match. , 'A. J. Lacey and J. Donaldson, of the Croydon Alliance, played great golf when beating A. Perry and Gus Falkincr in a thirty-six holes match at North Hants on Saturday. The winners had a best ball score of 9 under 4's for tho sixteen holes played in the afternoon. They never got the lead until the thirtieth hole, so that their finish was impressive. ATHLETICS. The results of the ’Varsity sports at Oxford and Cambridge suggest that the Cantabs will again prevail in the annual clash, and perhaps by seven, events to four. The sports are of particular interest this year as indicating what help the ’Varsities will be to the Amateur Athletic Association when the Olympic team has to be selected. Whilst the performances were generally good, having regard to the unsuitable time of the year for track athletics, it is doubtful if any athlete other than J. F. Comes is up to the Olympic standard. The old Clifton boy won the 880yds at Oxford in Imin 59 3-ssec, and followed this up by taking the mile in 4min 22 3-ssec. In neither race was he called on to show his best, and this may well be the season for Comes to do something sensational. He registered 4min 17sec two years ago, and appears to have improved, so that a British record may yet stand to his credit. Several good performances were seen at the Cambridge ’Varsity sports. E. J. Davis, from Eastbourne, just beat A. Munro, from St. Andrew’s College, South Africa, in the sprint, with the watch showing lOsec. The wind _ was helpful, however, and we must wait to see if Davis is a real “ even ’’ timer. It was pleasing to see E. G. Perry, from Monkton Combe, put the weight 43ft, and he ought to improve on this. A pole vault of 12ft 3Tin_by H. W. Behuke, from Yale University, was another excellent field event, but as he is an American it does not help Britain from an Olympic Games point of view. Still another American athlete in V, Munroo, from Harvard, easily won the 440yds. J. St. L. Thornton has developed into a high-class hurdler, as shown by his 15 l-ssec for the, 120yds race and 25 2-ssec for the furlong event. Cambridge has three fine runners in F. T. Horan, J. E. Robbins, and E. W. Denison. The first named had an easy journey in the 880yds to win in Imin 59 2-ssec, and ho will make Cbrnes go all ont. Then Robbins was not extended when doing 4m in 24 2-ssec in the mile, whilst Denison’s 14min 49 4-ssec suggests he may beat Fellows, of Oxford, in the three miles. As usual several overseas athletes will bo competing, and Oxford will depend on J. P. Scott, of Wyoming, for the sprint and K. Kurty, of Yale, for the pole vault; whilst J. B. Lovelock, of New Zealand, and J. C. Mahoney, of Australia, will support Comes in the mile. CROSS-COUNTRY CRACKS, The Southern, Midland, and Northern Counties’ cross-country championships on Saturday drew enormous fields, testifying to the popularity of the game. L. H. Wetherill, of the South London Harriers, again won the southern event at Beaconsfield, finishing over 100yds in front of his club mate, L. H. Humphris. The South Loudon Harriers also retained the ■ team honours with 90 points, the Aldershot Command Harriers being second with 115. Private J. Archer, of the 2nd Royal West Kent Regiment, easily won the junior championship, his unit taking the team race. Had he run in the senior race the Aidershot Command might possibly have defeated the South London team. The northern race at Sheffield showed J. H. Potts, who is the national champion, to be in fine form. The Saltwell harrier ran very strongly over the last mile to beat G. W. Bailey, the Empire steeplechase champion, and other good men, including T. Evcnson. The team race again went to the Salford Harriers, with Sheffield United Harriers next.

the Midlands race ended in still another triumph for tho Birchfield Harriers so far as team honours went, a score of 51 points enabling the holders to heat Tipton Harriers by 53 points. .1. Winfield, of Derby, the holder, finished third, J. T. Holden, of Tipton, and A. Bourton, of Birchfield, heading tho field. Potls and Holden both appear to have improved, but we often see reversals of form in the National. It is doubtful if any of the cracks named are up to the Olympic requirements for tho 10,00') metros race, but some of them would make good Marathon runners if they seriously tried.

BILLIARDS. Clark M'Conachy, of New Zealand, has completely altered the look of things for the coming championship. General opinion favoured the chances of Joe Davis, the 1930 champion, but now that M'Conachy has evolved “ a turning movement ” for use when playing close cannons, ho becomes a big factor. As described last week, he does not work the balls past tho pockets,_ as others do, but contrives a turning movement, and makes his cannons between pockets. His 297 cannons a fortnight ago set up a new record, and led to the New Zealander suggesting that some legislation might well bo introduced to check this form of play, in the interest of the game. Making billiards interesting is all important, from the professionals’ point of view, or a “ gate ” will not. be forthcoming. Thus M ? Conachy is talking on business lines when he suggests some limit, just as the jam and anchor stroke was barred. , . That he has by no means reached the limit of the “turning movement” in connection with consecutive cannons, was further shown when Davis and M'Conachy commenced a two weeks level match at Manchester. During the compiling of a four-figure break at the second session, ho made 424 consecutive cannons, easily beating his own record. In consequence he gained a lead of oyer 1,000 during tho course of the opening day, and it is clear that Davis will be up against a stiff proposition when they meet for the championship. Davis looked well placed to win their two weeks’ match at Thurston’s Hall (which ended last Saturday), until the final day. When play opened at the afternoon session, the New Zealander was 1,775 points in arrears, but breaks of 550 and 901 unfinished, enabled him to get within 347 points. He failed to improve on his big break when resinning, but made another of 990, and ultimately won on the post by 473. It seems clear that M'Conachy is playing better than over before, quite apart from his discovery regarding the ‘ turning movement,’’ and he may soon prove that he ranks second to Lindrum. BOXING. It will be something new to have a British boxer taking part in a contest with the world’s championship title at issue. It seems, however, that the request of the British Boxing Board of Control that the United States authorities will put up a boxer against N. Tarleton, of Liverpool, for the featherweight title, will lead to business. The cabled reply, “ that a man will be selected and matched against the Englishman,” has given much satisfaction here, and should no hitch happen we may see Tarleton striving for the highest honours before 1932 is over. Probably every follower of the boxing game knows that Len Johnson, of Manchester, is a coloured man, so that tho idea of his gaining a black eye when boxing may sound strange. He is of mixed white and coloured parentage, and not so dark as many boxers we have seen, hence the mishap, which happened when he was boxing with D. M'Corkinclale, of South Africa, a few clays since. The latter has been training with lighter and speedy boxers with a view to acquiring quickness. Larry Gains, the Canadian coloured boxer, on the other hand, has been cultivating a heavy punch, and his sparring partners have been wearing very substantial head protections. At the moment four boxers from different countries are candidates for tho Empire heavy-weight title. Apart from the South African and Canadian, we have George Cook, the veteran Australian, and R. Meen, of England. It would bo pleasing to be able to say the lastnamed has a big chance, but so far as the writer can judge the possibilities point to M'Corkinclale ultimately gaining the honour.

Mention of South Africa is a reminder that Willie Unwin has enhanced his record since he reached England. Ho was easily on top against D. Bartlett at Carlisle last Saturday, the latter retiring in the fourth round with an injured hand, though he was well beaten at the time,