SPORT IN BRITAIN

Evening Star, Issue 21993, 1 April 1935, Page 16

SPORT IN BRITAIN

[Pkoji Ouh English Correspondent.] LONDON, February 14. ATHLETICS, When the nations of the world foregathered at Los Angelos for the Olympic Games in 1932 it was freely stated that three countries—lrish Free State, Italy, and Japan—were anxious to have an Olympiad in their midst. The next, games had been already fixed for Berlin. A decision will shortly have to be made as to the venue for those of 19-10. It is now reported that Signor Mussolini, speaking on behalf of Italy, has withdrawn from the competition. Japan will be celebrating the foundation of its empire, and has offered to bear a big share of the expense involved by European countries. Even so, the western nations may not readily accede to Japan's request. They point out that three years ago some of them had to make a journey of 7,000 miles each way. Britain was weakly represented, .the total number of competitors in all sports being barely seventy. It is quite certain that unless public interest can be greatly stimulated she will be even weaker if the Olympic authorities delude to take the tenth ■ Olympiad to Tokio. BILLIARDS. Joe Davis is giving' further proof that he stands unchallenged amongst English professional billiard players. The Gold Cup tournament now in progress is a sealed handicap, so that the Tarts the Chesterfield man is giving to the other contestants are unknown. Oh can hardly imagine, however, that the veteran, 'Torn Recce, can have sufficient “ punch ” for him to* hold his own with the champion. At the moment of writing the latter has actually scored' 6,300 to Reece’s 1,300. In reaching those figures Davis ms given a most attractive display. Alien he put up a break of 2,002, beatug M'Conachy’s world’s record of 1,943 mder the new baulk-line rule, he did t, not by continual recourse to nursery ■annotis (a game which is apt to become vearisonio to onlookers) but by beautiul all-round play. Such achievements is that of Davis yesterday will bring hack to the spectators’ seats those who were inclined to desert them because they “ wanted something more excitng.” CRICKET; Old-timers stand aghast at what they consider the freakish captaincy of R. E. 8. Wyatt in the West Indies. Win the toss and bat is the generally-accepted axiom in England. That is not Wyatt’s way. He has been lucky in the, spin of the coin and has generally put his opponents in. The said old-timers think lie lost the second test, but is it not far better to trust the judgment of the man on the spot, who, after all. alone can form an opinion of the conditions? Most remarkable, of course, in all Wyatt’s gems of captaincy has been his declaration in the match with British Guiana, just concluded. It appeared a painful experience for England to declare after making oiily 41 for five wickets in response to Guiana’s 188 for eight. But Wyatt’s gamble turned up trumps. His own bowling and that of Paine dismissed Guiana for. 57; and the wonderful batting of Walter Hammond (106 not out) and D. C. H. Townsend did the rest. BOXING. . Followers of boxing were very anxious to see how the world’s fly-weight champion, Jackie Brown, would shape on his re-appearance in the ring, from which he had been absent for as long a period as nine months. They need not have been. In knocking out the Italian, Orlando Magliozzi in four rounds Brown showed all his old skill "and fire. His footwork was still perfection, his punches had the same speed and force as before his temporary retirement. It was a clear-cut win and greatly pleased the champion’s admirers. Fortune follows victory, and Walter Neusel finds himself in demand. Like those of so many others in the front ■rank, his eyes are on Max Baer and the championship of the world. Also like those others, lie is finding a match with Baer for the title not easy to come at. There are qualifying bouts in the way. Still Neusel has the satisfaction of knowing that these will help him to earn his bread and butter. The latest offer to the German is that he should cross the Atlantic and meet ex-cham-pion Primo Camera, the bait held out being the sum of £3,000. SOCCER. Arsenal’s progress towards the ” double,” League and Cup, was seriously checked last Saturday, when Birmingham beat them by three clear goals, the heaviest defeat the champions have suffered all this season. This reverse did not deprive them of the leadership, for, although Sunderland beat luckless Leicester City, they and Manchester City, who for successive weeks rattled up six goals, are still a point behind the leaders. Everton and Derby County (who meet in the cup this coming week-end) still threaten danger. The latter, who have not been beaten since Christmas, Day visited Tottenham Hotspur, who have won but one of their last eleven league matches. The Spurs put on two goals, and at half-time looked easy winners; but they let the county take the initiative, and in the end were lucky to draw. There are still at least ton chibs in the relegation danger zone. Chelsea, after a revival, are slipping back again, and Portsmouth, following their disappointing cup experiences, are sliding down the table. The clubs never were so level in, point of merit as they arc to-day, and force is certainly given to the proposal that more than two should go from one division to another at the end of the season.

Sheffield United, who lost their place in the first division last May, have done extremely well against the leaders of Division'll., Bolton Wanderers, In October they trounced them by six goals; last Saturday the United went to Bolton and drew, this being only the second occasion this season that the Wanderers have failed to take full points from a home match. It is still too early to prophesy, but it looks as if London would have another club in the highest circle next autumn. Brentford and West Ham stand second and third in the table, and at the' moment are going better than Manchester United ami Newcastle United. Most of the crack clubs got through the second round of the .Scottish Cup. but followers of amateurism noted with regret that Queen’s Park, once finalists for the English Cup, fell at Dundee.

RUGBY. An international match rarely satisfies the critics with the quality of the plav The English filtcen against Ireland at Twickenham last Saturday failed to please its followers quite as much as the “ Soccer ” side had done the previous Wednesday. It is often forgotten that a team plays as well as its 'opponents let it, and it is an undeniable fact that the marking and tackling in an international match are so keen and robust as to make concerted movements difficult of execution. Nevertheless one did expect better work

from the English “ three ” than was seen at- Twickenham. When Leyland and Heaton were brought into close association at centre, one looked for those rapid and brilliant passes that have put Lancashire into the final of • the county championship. ' ■ They were rarely in evidence. CTanmer eventually came inside, but even his opportunities could not take England over the Irish ■goal line. Indeed, the only, occasion on which that was crossed was a try by a half-back, J. L. Giles, in the first five minutes of the game. It was Ireland’s overeagerness that was responsible almost "entirely for the magnitude (14 points to 3) of England’s victory. At the same time one must give credit to H. Houghton (Gloucester) for his magnificent goal kicking. It -.must surely be a record for one man. to kick three penalty goals in an international match. These penalty goals, by the way, have revived the old controversy ns to the relative value of scores in Rugby. There is plenty of backing for the view that a penalty goal should count two points, or, indeed, only one instead of being, as it is now, of the same value as a try. LAWN TENNIS. The question of amateurism in lawn tennis is still a fruitful source of debate. America has come down on the side of those who will believe that an amateur is one who plays for the love of the game. People there are who say that if a man has the 1 ability he is justified in profiting by it. Granted. Nobody contends that no man should play tennis professionally. What supporters of amateurism do maintain is that, in no pastime, whether it be tennis or football—athletics or anything else—should a man pose as an amateur when all. the time it is well-known he is getting his living out of it. ROWING. Whatever be the result of the Oxford and Cambridge boat race on April 6 —and Dark Blue enthusiasts are very hopeful that their rival’s sequence of victories which has run since 1924 will be broken —it will set up a record in that neither president will row. Cambridge will, perhaps, feel the loss the more severely, for last spring N. J. Bradley stroked the crew to victory. A ski-ing mishap in Switzerland resulted in a knee injury which, after Bradley had made an attempt to do some rowing, ultimately on tho doctor’s advice induced him to decide to stay out of tho boat. • RACING. Major Furlong is a lucky man to have two such horses as Really True and Reynoldstown in the Grand National. He is said to be undecided whether to run one or both at Aintrec. Reynoldstown is only seven years old and his owner may keep him back for a year and depend on Really True. The younger horse is being given plenty of racing practice. He was out again at Nottingham this week, and, conceding weight to every horse but two, won handsomely. Reynoldstown has beyond doubt established himself in popular favour, and there will be very considerable disappointment if he is not saddled up at Aintrce. In the meantime, would-be backers, eagerly await an announcement of Major Furlong’s intentions.