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Evening Star, Issue 22571, 12 February 1937, Page 7

SOCCER. No sporting fixtures are associated with such eager interest as the draw for the third round of the. Association Cup. Though nominally the third round of the competition proper it is for all practical purposes the first, since not until then do the 44 clubs of the first and second divisions of the league, 'plus three club specially exempted to that stage, come into the draw with the 17 clubs which have fought their way through the earlier rounds. Much depends on the luck of the draw. Normally, when two clubs of equal merit clash, the club having the fortune to play on its own ground may expect to pass on. But in the games to be played on January 16 many, of the “ giants ” have to visit the “ pigmies,” and do not expect to be put out of the competition. By a curious freak not one of the four semi-finalists of last season will play before their own supporters. Arsenal and Grimsby ought to triumph at the expense of Chesterfield and Cardiff City respectively, but the progress of Fulham, who have to visit Millwall, and Sheffield United, who go to Nottingham to meet the Forest, is no so assured. A leading position in the league engenders high hopes in the cup. Charlton and Derby County, which stand first and second, have both to travel, and ought to get the better of their opponents, Coventry City and Bradford respectively. Brentford has one of the best matches of the round in enter--tnining Huddersfield, while Chelsea has also had the good fortune to be drawn at home against Leeds United; There are two other matches between first league clubs. Wolves v. Midlesbrough and Stoke City and Birmingham. In both cases choice of ground should decide the issue. The meeting of West Ham and Bolton Wanderers recalls that memorable cup final of 1923, when the crowd became almost unmanageable. Then, as now, Bolton was in the top division of the league, and West Ham in the second. Only one amateur side is interested in the third round draw. That was Walthamstow Avenue, which, having beaten Northampton had to get the better of Exeter City before it could hope to meet Oldham Athletic in the third round. It failed, however, by the odd goal of five in the ireplay cup-tie to-day, and thus 64 teams in the third round will be entirely professional. Charlton’s record of rising from the Third Division through the second to the top of the First Division in two and a-half seasons is beyond all precedent. Last Saturday’s victory over Everton gave it a one-point lead over Derby County, which won at Birmingham, but Arsenal and Sunderland, which are right up close, have played a match fewer than the other two. The testing time of the Christmas matches is at hand, and when the new year dawns we may be much nearer in finding the ultimate champions than we are to-day. No club is playing better than tho Arsenal, as proved by its smashing victory by 5 goals to one at Portsmouth. Bury could only draw at home with Notts Forest, and so have, handed over the Second Division leadership to Blackpool. Plymouth’s 3 goals to 2 defeat of the Rovers at Blackburn was a noteworthy achievement. RUGBY. An unfortunate injury to Cliff Jones when playing for Swansea' a fortnight ago seemed to have dealt a serious blow to Welsh hopes of the Rugby international championship. The old Cambridge “ blue ” is probably the best stand-off half in the four kingdoms. Happily W. J. H. Davies has come back into the game. He was associated with Jones’s usual partner, H. Tanner, for Swansea against Bridgend, and gave such a display as must have been most encouraging for the Welsh selectors. Another Welsh international, V. G. Jenkins was in brilliant goal-kicking form for London Welsh against Aberavon. The famous full-hack converted every one of the seven tries scored by his side, and also kicked a penalty goal. Jenkins scored from • all angles with a heavy greasy ball. In county football he turns out for Kent, which just managed to win the leadership of the southeastern group by drawing with Sussex. This takes it into the semi-final, where it will have to meet Gloucestershire, winners of the western group, the other semi-final being contested by counties from the north and Midlands respectively. The defeats suffered by Edinburgh Academicals and Watsonians by Cambridge University on tour can scarcely be held to tarnish the fine record the Light Blues have set up this season. Illness kept several key men out of the side, and the Cantab's owe their recent successes far more to team work than to individual brilliance. The match between Blackheath and Leicester was particularly attractive because several prospective internationals were on view. In spite of the fact that the Midlanders had the Gadney-Auty combination at half-back they lost, though the margin of 13 points to 12 cannot be considered convincing. Newport , came to London and simply overwhelmed Richmond. Though they were a little weaker than usual through injuries, it was very surprising to see a club with such an excellent record this season thrashed by 35 points to 5. LAWN TENNIS. Every lawn tennis enthusiast has heard with interest of the probability of a visit from a team of Australian women. If those whose names have been suggested as likely to make the trip—Miss Joan Hartigan, Miss Thelma Coyne, Miss Nancy Wynne, and Mrs Westacott—come over we may expect some very fine tennis from them. We have not forgotten how Miss Hartigan beat our Miss Round in the fifth round at Wimbledon in 1933. Young Miss Coyne, since she is bracketed first with Miss Hartigan in Australia, is obviouslv a great plnj-er. England may have ail her work cut out to win the international match which is being suggested as one item of the tour. RACING. Sportsmen have noted with great satisfaction that it is the intention of the King to continue racing in the manner of his father. During the period of mourning for George V., King Edward ran no horses in his own name, such of hi.s horses as ran on the flat appearing in the colours of Lord Derby. The present King’s first runner since hi* accession was Ma rconi, who was thought to have a good chance in the New Windsor Steeplechase. The crowd was disappointed, for Marconi’s rider had hard work in preventing him from finishing last in a field of mire.