SPORT IN BRITAIN

Evening Star, Issue 22228, 4 January 1936, Page 8

SPORT IN BRITAIN

[Feom Oue English Cobiiespondent.] LONDON, November 14. ATHLETICS. A mucli more progressive policy has been associated with athletics at Oxford and Cambridge during recent years that was formerly the case. The new era may be said to date from the presence at Cambridge of H. M. Abrahams, D. G. A. Lowe, and Lord Burghley, all of whom became winners at Olympic Games. The good work has been carried on at Oxford in particular by J. E. Lovelock and K. S. Duncan. Extra field events, like the javelin and discus, are now encouraged, and in duo course one may expect both Dark and Light Blues to furnish their quota in these contests to British international teams. • . Whoever was responsible for the inception of the inter-University Freshmen’s sports must be congratulated in his inspiration. Certainly at the first meeting last Saturday at Fenners Cambridge more than justified expectations, not only for the public interest it evoked, as evidenced by the number of spectators, but what is more important, the standard of the performances achieved. Perhaps the outstanding fixture was A. Pennington, who has come,up to Oxford from Berkhamsted School. Last vear Pennington won the junior sprint championship. Against the Cambridge Freshmen he ran 100 yards inside 10.2 sec, and a quarter-mile in SO.lsec. In both cases he was practically unchallenged, and this fact, coupled with a consideration of the time of year, makes his performance a remarkable one. The hurdler, J. P. Knight, won for Oxford in 15.9 sec. Both these youngsters will find places in the Dark Blue team to meet Cambridge at the White City next spring, and one hears that their names appear on a provisional list of those who are to be asked to train specially for the Olympic Games. T. F. Klein won both the long jump and the weight for the Cambridge freshmen. Klein comes from Czechoslovakia, and is, very keen on qualifying to represent his country at Berlin. BILLIARDS. Walter Lindrum’s new record for Canada of 859—249 better than the previous best, which also stood to the credit of the famous Australian—ngikes lovers of billiards all the more anxious to see Mm performing in London again. The fact has not been made generally known, but an authority of some standing has stated that there 'is a distinct possibility of Lindrum coming to London to defend his title to the Empire championship against Joe Davis, and any other challenger. It is-safe to say that no billiards hall will he large •enough to accommodate all those who want to see Lindrum in action. Meanhis nephew, Horace, continues to make many friends in the Old Country. At present he is engaged in a match at Glasgow with Davis, with whom an engagement has now been fixed up for a snooker match in London beginning on December 2. The stakes are £IOO a side, and one hesitates to forecast the victor. BOXING. During the past few days there has been a feast .of heavy-weight ’ boxing. Don M'Corkindale’s fight with the coloured American, Ohio Walker, went to show that while the South African retains all his old indomitable spirit, time is beginning to take its toll, and Walker won with a certain amount of ease. If M'Corkindale followed the advice of his father-in-law and . manager, Ted Broadrihb (the only British boxer who ever beat Oarpentier), he would forsake the ring, but the boxer himself has other views, and says that as he has only been six years at ■ the game there is no reason for his retirement. Open-air boxing drew a very big crowd to Wembley, where everybody was anxious to see how the boxers from the dominions—Ambrose Palmer, Eddie Wenstob, and Maurice Strickland—would fare.- The first two were in opposition, and Palmer showed on his initial appearance in the Old Country. that he is all that Australia has claimed for him. Certainly the Canadian, Webstob, who truth to tell is still very crude, was no match for Palmer, though the contest went the full 10 rounds. So did the fight between Strickland and Tommy Loughran. The latter delighted the onlookers with a glorious display, Nohting could have been finer than the way be conserved his energies against his younger opponent—Loughran . is 33—and Strickland must have realised how much he has to learn before he can become a world’s champion. CRICKET. Lord Hawke’s appeal to the Australian Board of Control to fall into line with England, New Zealand, and South Africa over the Ibw rule has gone unheeded, though seeing how much less bad play there is on the dry. wickets of Australia than we have had on oui: sticky pitches, it is difficult to see why. Meanwhile, it is curious to note that in both his innings for South Australia against M.C.G. the great Don Bradman was out for obstruction. One suspects that he has not yet got his eye in after his long illness. SOCCER. , Such are the demands of League football that it is only when international matches are played in midweek that Scotland, Ireland, and Wales can field their strongest sides. England is more happily placed, for the Football Association can call on any player at any time. For yesterday’s match at Edinburgh with Scot-

land, Ireland, on paper at all events, had a better team than had-represen-ted her for some time. It included five men playing with English clubs. Scotland included three Anglo-Scots, one of them, Hastings, of Sunderland, being the only new cap on the side. The Scots, having failed to do better than draw with Wales, were particularly, anxious to beat Ireland in order to remain in the running with England for the international championship. Play, generally ruled even, and the Scots’ 1 supporters - had many anxious ' moments, especially when, after a goal* less first half, . Ireland took the leadScotland equalised in time, and had the satisfaction of scoring the winning goal, through the wing man, Duncan, in, the closing minutes of a hard fought game. v With the three leading clubs locked together there are bound to be frequent changes in the leadership of the League. For the third consecutive week last Saturday’s results brought about a change in the order, Sunderland had a shock when Preston North End led them by 2 goals to 1 at the interval. Thanks, in a measure, to the sprightliness of a reserve winger. Duns, the Wearsiders scored three times in the second half. This victory carried Sunderland . a point ahead of Derby, County, though the latter were probably quite satisfied to extract a point from Arsenal, each side scoring one at Highbury. For the time being the. champions seem to have lost much of their forward, thrust. One victory in . five matches is not good enough, and' Arsenal are now" five points behind Sunderland. Followers of football have been asking, what is wrong with the Villa? They must now transfer their inquiry to Sheffield WednesdayIn three successive games the cup-f holders have had no fewer than 17| goals run ■up against them, five each by Sunderland and West Bromwich, and seven by Leeds United. The lastnamed result was all the more amaz-, ing by reason of the fact that in their 13 previous games Leeds had averaged but a goal a match. . Aston Villa’s acquisition of Griffiths,' the Welsh international, strengthened the side, but it could not save them' from defeat at Liverpool, where thelocal club on the run of play should have won by more than the odd goal of five. Chelsea signalised the appointment' of Mr Charles Pratt, so well known.in sport as a life vice-president of the Amateur Athletic Association, to the chairmanship of the club, by defeating Middlesbrough by 2 goals to 1. This also was the score in the Stoke V. Bolton Wanderers game, but as the Wanderers were credited .with the only away win in the .first division they must have full marks for a creditable. achievement.

Muddy grounds often mean heavy, scoring. It was so last week-end'. The palm must go to Coventry City, in the third division (south), their promotion rivals. Crystal Palace ? being swamped to tne tune of 8 goals to 1. Nottingham Forest, in the second division, Tranmere Hovers, and Oldham Athletic, in the northern section,all put the ball in the net six times ( without response. Beading did well to, notch five goals on Newport’s ground,: thus maintaining their place at the head of the southern section. Nor was' there any change _in the leadership of the _ second division, Leicester City gaining a two clear goals victory oven Port Vale, while Tottenham Hotspur were sharing four goals equally with,' their deady London rivals. West Ham United. Each of the three leadingclubs in the Scottish League was playing away from home, and while Celtio and Rangers won, Aberdeen had to bo content with a goalless draw with St* Johnstone.' Nevertheless, they are still' a point in front of Celtio. THE ALL BLACKS. The AH Blacks have added two victories to their list. Then match with Oxford University was a tremendous affair, fought out on a pitch inches deep in much The Dark Bluea came within an ace of achieving fame, for. once again the New Zealanders won by but a single point. Both t fifteens gave a wonderful display in the prevailing conditions/ The All Blacks time and again threw all their weight into attacks,' and the rushes of the forwards, who so often come in for criticism, were something to see and admire. Gilbert’s goal kicking was fine, and it was a wonderful effort of his from the touch line in the closing minutes that gave the tourists success by 10 points to 9. _ Bournemouth had not entertained an internatiohal side until the All Blacks appeared there on Saturday against • fifteen from Hampshire and Sussex, _ I* was another thrilling game. Quite often the Counties showed superiority in the scrum. Behind, however, it was a different story, for while the Counties “threes” were slow and clumsy, the -All Blacks gave the spectators some splendid bouts of passing. For once in a way Gilbert was not at his best when, taking goal kicks or the margin would have been greater than 14 points to 8. Hampshire and Sussex deserved all the praise they reaped for a plucky display. Everything points to a desperate eh* counter when. Oxford and Cambridga meet in a month’s time/ The Light Blues began indifferently,... but last Saturday they showed something of their true metal when they trounced the formidable Leicester side by 21 points to 9. Oxford, on the other hand, went down before Blackbeath, 8 points to nil, though after a gruelling match with the All Blacks the Dark Blues must not be judged severely. Richmonds’ 20 points to 8 victory oyer Harlequins was a notable achievement,London Scottish maintained their* 1 unbeaten record at the expense of United Services, who have not won a match this season. The score was 29 point* to 15. LAWN TENNIS. It is very satisfactory to know that a women’s team will tour South Africa, leaving England soon after Christmas. The team, though not the strongest possible, should do well. Several members? of it are experienced travellers, notably Miss E. M. Dearman and Miss M. Hardwick, who in the short space of 12 months will have played teams in Australia, New Zealand/ s Ceylon, India, America, and South Africa. P. J. Perry’s determination to abstain from top-class _ tennis for a time, though probably a wise one, means that he will not renew his duels with Crawford in the Australian championships. These, however, will suffer little in interest as Quist, M'Grath, and Bromage' between them are well able to sustain public,interest in Australia. Neither of these has beaten Crawford in a major competition, but “hope springs eternal.” RACING. The dark days of winter are turning racegoers’ thoughts to steeplechasing and the Grand National. We have already • seen some of the probable candidates in action, and at Aintree, where steeplechasing always draws a bigger crowd than fiat racing, Castle Irwell won the Sefton Steeplechase. This horse was fancied for the Grand National last spring, but was amongst those who fell. Perhaps next March will bring him better fortune.