SPORT IN BRITAIN

Evening Star, Issue 21170, 2 August 1932, Page 12

SPORT IN BRITAIN

[From Oub English Correspondent.]

LONDON, June 22. CRICKET. Jack Hobbs, the veteran who plays for Surrey, made another century when playing against Somerset at Taunton. This was his third successive innings of over the hundred mark, and it enabled him to score over a thousand runs for tho season. Given a few more years in first-class cricket and Hobbs may set up a record of over 200 centuries. Already it looks as though he will pass the 190 mark this season. With Sandham playing an innings of 215, the Somerset bowlers and batsmen had a hard time of it. It remained for Sutcliffe and Holmes, of Yorkshire, to supply tho biggest record of tho season to date. Playing against Essex at Leyton, they made 555 runs for the opening wicket, a record partnership, and one more run than made by Tunnicliffc and Brown, also of Yorkshire. Sutcliffe made 313 and Holmes 224 not out. Having beaten the record. Sutcliffe opened his shoulders in an effort to hit a 6, and, missing the ball, ho was howled by Eastman. Tho Essex men were very tired after their long spell of fielding, and Verity got five wickets for 8 runs and Bowes four for 38, so that the homo innings only produced 78 in response to Yorkshire’s huge total for one man out. A TEST MATCH. The North v. South match at Manchester was a test to decide the make up for tho England side to meet India. The South had the better of matters, K. S. Duleepsinhji 128 and Hammond, of Gloucestershire, making 130, the total being 447 for eight wickets, when the innings was declared closed. The North responded with 242 and 307, Sutcliffe being the master with two fine efforts of 96 and 110 not out. It cannot be said that the Selection Committee showed the best of judgment, as Duleepsinhji is an Indian, whilst G. O'. Allen, another selection, is an Australian, and D. R. Jardine (also playing) is a Scot. True, the match ivas North v. South, but the idea is to find suitable players to represent England. Many sportsmen think this should mean English-horn players only, and there is much to be said in support of this idea. The selectors have other views, and Jardine has been nominated to captain England against India, a very strange idea to those who think England should stand alone in these matters. The selectors caii be congratulated in at last recognising tho merit of Ames, the Kent wicketkeeper. He did not shine as brilliantly as Duckworth in tho North v. South match, but his record as a keeper regarding the men he catches and stumps throughout the season is fully equal to that of the Lancashire player. Then, in addition, he is a far better batsman, and that should count. GOLF. Although British golfers failed to keep the English open championship title in the country, some of them have been playing very well since. A. J. Lacey won both the French and Belgian titles, a very good double, as the opposition was excellent. He won with aggregates of 295 and 291 respectively for the seventy-two holes. More good golf was shown by P. Allis, the Wanstead professional, when playing in a four-ball exhibition match on "his home course. He was round in 68. equalling the course record held by himself. Hodson (71) and Mitchell (72) also played well. ATHLETICS.

Fortune is not proving kind to British athletics this season, several notable performers, considered to possess a chance for the Olympic Games, being on the “ crocked ” list. Dr F. Reed, who resides in Edinburgh, comes from South Africa. He is English born, and is one of the outstanding sprinters who is nursing an injured muscle, otherwise he would be a fancy for the 200 metres at Los Angeles. He may yet pull round, though when once a sprinter goes wrong there is always a risk of another breakdown. Nor can one feel very hopeful about R. H. Thomas, the English mile champion, who is resting because of a strained Achilles tendon. He easily put up a 4min 20sec mile four weeks ago, but broke down at his next outing. He will indeed be fortunate if he is able to show his best at the coming A.A,A. championships. More misfortune came along during the southern championships at the White City track. London, last Saturday. G. T. Saunders, of Reading, broke dow’n when 15yds from the tape in his heat of the 100yds, and yet staggered over the line to win in lOsec. He beat S. C. Fuller, of Yarmouth, in doing so. and Fuller got into the final through winning a cross-heat in 9 9-10 sec. The latter made a real good effort in the final, being less than a yard behind J. C. Heap, the winner, who registered 9 4-ssec to heat E. L. Page, the English A.A.A. champion, by a foot. Heap has improved 2yds in 100 since last season, but Page appears to be no better. The tragedy is in regard to Saunders, as, but for his breakdown, he might have won, judged through Fuller’s sprinting. The furlong served to show what a “ find ” England has in F. F. Wolff, of the London A.C. He easily beat his rivals in 22 l-10sec, and looks like making a great quarter-miler, this being his distance. RAMPLING GOING WELL.

As against the unfortunate happenings, it is pleasing to be able to say that G. L. Rampling appears to be nearly right. It was only his second race since his long rest from running, due to hospital treatment, yet he simply strode round the track to win easily in 49 4-ssec. He is the greatest quarter-miler England has ever had, not excepting H. C. L. Tindall, E. C. Bredin, and W. Halswcll. In spite of the great records put up by Eastman, of California, Rampling has a chance for the Olympic Games 400 metres, providing all goes well with him. Tom Hampson also ran nicely to win the 880yds in Imin 55 2-ssec, though J. ,V. Powell, of the London A.C., ran him to a foot. Much may be hoped from A. Lye, of Seycnoakes, an unknown man who was right with the other pair until the final straight, and he was only Gyds behind at the finish.

J. F. Conies had to run hard at the end to beat J. W. Moore by inches in the mile. 'The time was 4in in 20 3-ssec, and there must be eight or nine athletes in England to-day who can ‘‘touch” 4min 20sec. A very fine struggle was seen in the three miles, C. K. Allan, of the Highgate Harriers, another of this season’s finds, just beating J. W. Follows, of Oxford University, in the last few strides, the time being 14min 34 l-osec. Follows returns to America shortly. TUNING UP.

What sort of performances to bo expected at the Olympic Games may be judged by some of the reeprdbreaking feats accomplished in various

parts of the world during the last few days. Finland has found a real successor to Nurmi in Lehtenen, who won the 5,000 metres Olympic trial in 14min 16 9-10 sec, beating Nurmi’s world’s record by 7sec. Nurmi’s record for 3,000 metres was also beaten by Kusocinsky at Antwerp on Sunday, the Pole’s time being Smin 18 4-ssec, which is 2sec faster than Nurmi accomplished. Larva and Purje, of Finland, are equal to 4min llsec for a mile, so that Europe will be strongly represented at Los Angeles. it is also interesting to note that J. E. Lovelock, the young New Zealand athlete at Oxford University, continues to show fine form. He easily won a 1,500 metres race at Antwerp on Sunday, with the watch showing 3min 57 4-ssec, equal to a mile in 4min 15sec. As R. M. S. Tisdale won tbe 120yds and 440yds hurdle races at the Irish championships held at Dublin in 15 l-ssec and 54 l-ssec respectively, it is plain that the old Cambridge University crack is regaining his best form. If right lie will want a lot of beating in the 400 metres hurdles at Los Angeles. CYCLING. C. W. Horne, of Norwich, lost his title when defending it in the 25-milo National Cyclists’ Union cycling championship at Derby on Saturday, the holder failing to get a place in a field of twenty-five. His brother Dennis came to the rescue of the family, however, and prevailed after a fine struggle. He beat J. E. Sibhit, of Manchester, by a length at the finish, the time being 58miu 41sec—quite good for an unpaced race. That Horne is riding very fast just now was further revealed by his win in a half-mile level race, P. Wylde and F. H. Wylde, of Derby, being his nearest rivals. Sibhit is fancied to again win the sprint championship of Britain, but he may yet find Horne too fast for him, the Norwich rider having developed a fins “ jump ” this season. BOXING. One reason boxing flourishes so strongly in Britain is because the boxers and spectators usually accept the official decisions in a proper manner. That referees sometimes make mistakes is natural, but as a rule their good faith is recognised and errors of judgment overlooked. Of late, however, there have been several “scenes” over decisions, and this is doing boxing harm. At The Ring, Blackfriars, on Sunday, for example, there was a big outburst when Matt Wells, the referee, decided that J. Gordon, of Darlington, had gained a technical knock-out victory over Kid Farlo, of London. Just at the end of. the eighth round Gordon got in a blow which knocked Farlo through the ropes, and he would have fallen but for spectators catching and supporting him. With some assistance Farlo got back to the ring, but the referee held up Gordon’s arm in token of his win. Supporters of Farlo say that as the round was ended he should have been allowed the usual one minute rest. It may be urged that being assisted back into the ring was quite sufficient grounds for disqualification. Boxers are often helped back into the ring when knocked through the ropes and the average referee allows the man to go on if able to do so. A REAL FIGHT. , Some hard punching was seen in the contest between Jack M'Avoy, of Rochdale, and Sandy M'Kenzie, of Glasgow, at Royton on Saturday. No sooner did the bell signal a start than M'Avoy went for his man like a whirlwind. The Scot was equally willing, and a terrific slog was seen. The pace was too fast to last, and the round had not progressed far when M'Kenzie was seen to' stagger and his arms dropped to his side. He was practically “ out,” but M'Avoy showed no mercy but sent in a right to the jaw which caused M'Kenzie to fall forward on his face, “ dead to the world.” It was a dramatic and quick contest, and showed M'Avoy to be a very hard puncher. Another contest in the same ring saw J. Casey, of Sunderland, knock out Billy Thomas, of Bargood, inside three rounds. The respective winners are to meet shortly for the middle-weight championship of the North of England, and judging by what was seen at Royton there will be some thrills when they face each other.