SPORT IN BRITAIN

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 4349, 25 January 1938, Page 2

SPORT IN BRITAIN

LONDON, November 25, 1937 athletics. People of a logical turn of mind must extremely difficult to understand the vagaries 0/ international quaMcaIfon fn cricket a pure* resident ml qualification seems to be all that « re mured, and Indians have played t k i,d,i I'lipre have been cases of men to‘d”and once a pV'« for the Mother Country or one of the dominions he may not do »f«‘g , other part of the Empire. in football the qualification seenis to be of the flimsiest character, and cases a not rare of a man being offered a trial by one country and playing * or a other. Birth alone counts m »occer, though even here we occasionally „et anomalies, such as those of . Joh c tt ish all and Charles Buchan, who, Scottish through and through, played for England because at the time of their buth their parents were living in this side the Tweed. The situation in athletics ‘is peculiar. Under a specia pro Britain enjoys the services of athlete from the dominions and colpmes. iha is whv J. E. Lovelock, immediate* after his record-breaking achievement at Oxford in 1932 was asked to run for Britain at Los Angeles. The great New Zealander did not decline the invitation until he was assured he would be vv anted by the country of his birth Qiute a number born outside Great Britain have represented her, notably J. London, from the West Indies, and our present 220 yds champion, A. V. Sweeney, who was born in the Irish Free State. Once the choice has been made it is dual. R. H Thomas, the mile ex-champion, would like to run ] for Wales in the Empire Games, but he was a winner for England in Hamilton in 1932. He will, if selected be allowed to run for the Principality in the international cross-country race. Baibara Birke represented Britain at the last Olvmpic Games, but, since she ran for South Africa in the 1934 Empire Games, she must appear for the dominion or not at all, at Sydney. It is. indeed, all very illogical. BOXING. There is a very big following for boxincr in all our 'large cities, especially London. What is particular* popular is what is called a title fight, but unfortunately, the champions do not get into the ring as often as enthusiasts desire, and there is not such a big crowd for the man who cannot boast a championship to his name. London is, however, always willing to watch promising newcomers, and the National Sporting Club is to be congratulated on its match between Tom Martin and the Austrian, Heinz Lazek. Martin, who hails from a Kentish suburb, has been threatening for some time to take a place amongst the leading coloured heavy-weights. Perhaps he has been a little over-anxious to establish a reputation. He certainly went into his fight with Lazek last Monday as if he intended to put his opponent out at the earliest possible moment. But it was Martin who, by his impetuosity, laid his chin bare to the knock-out blow, and the Austrian administered it before the contest had been in progress two minutes! Lazek looks like developing into a top-sawyer. During the brief spell it was necessary for him to be in the ring he showed that he had mastered the elements of the fistic art with Teutonic thoroughness. His stance was good and he used his hands in approved style. England would like to see more of him. Martin, on the other hand, has probably learned a useful lesson. That he can box, we know. The knock-out he received from Lazek will teach him to “ make haste slowly.” SOCCER. Reference has been made in this column more than once to the tremendous influence of money in football. The game is becoming more commercialised every day, and that does not apply to the professional side only. It is equally apparent amongst amateur clubs, at least amongst those amateur clubs which charge for admisison to their matches. The practice of paying amateur players “ expenses ” far in excess of the amount expended or allowed under the laws of the Football Association is rampant and is exceedingly difficult to suppress. Occasionally when the offence is glaring the governing body takes action. The club and officials are suspended, and the chief offenders amongst the players declared professionals, but the check is only temporary. There are ways and means of defeating the prying eyes of the asso- ■ .on. Duplicate books are sometimes kept, and the trustees do not always record the sum actually taken at the gates. This sham amateurism disgusts decent people, who, quite excusably, ask: Why does not the young player openly embrace professionalism instead of lending himself to this hole-and-corner business? One reason, perhaps, is that a youngster with an eye to the future realises that the life of a professional footballer is a somewhat precarious one. In some respects it is all right for those who are skilful enough to assure themselves of a place in one of the leading teams, but even their careers seldom last more than 16 years. For the youngster who fails to make good there is a different story. Professionalism is a full-time job. If the boy is a comparative failure he may find himself cast on the dust heap after three or four years, during which period he has failed to establish himself in the business, trade, or profession which otherwise he would have followed. So long as he plays as an amateur he can follow his avocation and still receive a nice bit of pocket money for kicking a football on Saturday afternoon. Followers of League football rejoice that Portsmouth’s long run of failures ended at last. It was in no halfhearted fashion that the Hampshire club won their match after 16 attempts at a victory. They defeated Derby County by no less than a score of four gotils to nil. Gratifying as the result must be to their supporters, they would I>g well advised not to start crowing. The club is well anchored at the foot of the League table, with only Liverpool (who once more disappointed their supporters by losing at home to Huddersfield) within striking distance, and it may be a long time before they climb to safety. Another record went last Saturday when Coventry City, hitherto unbeaten in the second division, iost on their own ground to Sheffield Wednesday. The latter club have had

a deplorably bad season after their j descent from the top class, and their triumph at Coventry came as a great surprise. It was the lack of stay in the City’s forwards that let the sidedown,’ and the club manager, Mr H. Storer (the old Derby County international and Derbyshire cricketer) will have to strengthen that part of the team if it is to retain its leadership of the second division. At present its supremacy is threatened by Sheffield United, Aston Villa, and Chesterfield, and the first-named of these has excellent prospects of overhauling the leaders. Arsenal have found themselves at last. Their 3to 0 victory over Charlton was in no small measure due to the restoration of Bastin to the outside left -iL on in the forward rank. Both die Football Association and the Arsenal have for a year or two been trying to convert a great natural footballer into an inside forward, but, aligh lie could not be written down a failure in that position, there is no loubt that Bastin is at his best on the wing. Drake’s reappearance at centre, after two months’ absence •rough injury, also told in Arsenal’s favour. Brentford’s 1 to 0 success at Grimsby increased _ their advantage over Chelsea to 3 points, the Stamford Bridge club having to be content with a draw at 2 goals each, with their visitors, Manchester City. Anything may happen in this topsy-turvy season, when teams beat one another with the utmost impartiality, but the manner m which thev are playing just now suggests that Brentford, with a little luck, may well be showing the way to the others at the end of the season. RUGBY. Whether the trial matches serve a I useful purpose is a debatable point. I | is contended that the five English selecI tors, having watched probable candidates for caps all the season, have probably made up their minds on then ultimate choices and are not likely to change them on the form shown in a trial match where one man may play much above his normal form and another much below his. On the othei hand, it does give the selectors a chance to judge a man’s temperament under the strain of a big match, and, what is more important, to see how the various parts of the machine hang together. The trial at Gosforth on December 4 cannot be regarded as representative, inasmuch as no university players are included. It is certain that several men from Oxford and Cambridge will be in the England fifteen when it takes the field. One very interesting selection is that of I • N M‘Rae, of St. Guy’s Hospital. This youngster was born in South Africa, and has connections in England, Scotland, and Ireland. All three countries might have been glad of his services, but apparently he is content to follow in the footsteps of that other great South African, Owen Smith, and turn out for England. Next Tuesday we shall have the annual battle of the blues. Both sides are well up to average strength and while the trial games have not clear* demonstrated the superiority of either, the balance inclines slightly in favour of Cambridge. Last Saturday they well beat Blackheath, who had lost to Oxford bv only two points, whereas the Dark Blues were beaten by 18 points to 11 by Harlequins, who had drawn with Cambridge. In this latter game A. G. Butler. Harlequins’ international three-quarter, suffered a knee injury which will keep him out of the game for some time. Club rivalry was at is keenest in the match between Old Millhillians and Old Paulines. They are amongst the strongest of our old boy combinations. A year ago they drew Last week-end the kicking of a goal from a try decided the game in favour of the Paulines by 8 points to 6. GOLF. Sport oyves much to the Press, and although the obligation may be to a great extent mutual there is no questioning the help British newspapers have given to outdoor games. Several bier competitions are associated with periodicals. Another has just been added to the list. It is for women, and will be open to all who hold the Ladies’ Golf Union handicap certificate. The tournament will be decided on stroke play on handicap, and will be divided into two sections—one for those with handicaps up to 18 and the other for those yvith handicaps of U and above, the limit being 30 When the competitors have been reduced to 36 in each section they will meet over 36 holes at Wentworth Club in July Such a competition should do much to stimulate women’s golf, particularly amongst those who have little 01 no hope of becoming champions. LAWN TENNIS. It must be quite an exceptional occurrence for a tennis player to appeal in three finals in one afternoon and lose them all. Such, however, was the fate of F. H. D. Wilde at the palace covered court tournament at Torquay. In the singles final it was a brilliant R. A. Shaves that defeated Wilde. It lie keeps up the form the winner mav fulfil the prediction that he was a Davis Cup player in the making. Wilde plaved his best tennis in the men s doubles, wherein he and his partner. D. W. Butler, did not, however, overcome the accurate services and fine volleying of the Czechs, J. Siba and f. Cejnar, yvhose win by 7-9, 9-7, 6-3 was thorough*' well deserved.