ENGLISH SPORTING NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, 31 January 1930, Page 4

ENGLISH SPORTING NEWS

STEEL CLUBS IN GOLF.

OPPOSITION OF PROFESSIONALS. (Special to News.) London, Dec. 5. When Harry Vardon was informed that St. Andrew’s had admitted steelshafted clubs into golf he exclaimed. “It- is a shame. The game has got -on very well without them, and it did not require them.” j. jg. Taylor, Braid, Herd, and most of the other professionals are just as strongly opposed to them, and there is no likelihood of their adopting them for their own use. They will, however, have to sell them to their members, and, if the clubs should become popular, their work will be revolutionised. Moreover, it is feared that it will lead to the dismissal of club makers and assistants, who have spent part of their time at the bench in the shop. In their present state, however, the clubs are not likely to make much appeal to the best players, at any rate the irons. A player with American experience, who has tried the steel shaft thoroughly, says: "For driving purposes it may be useful. I have found that in my case it gives me about ten yards further from the tee. Steel shafted irons, however, are a danger. They are too fast; the head comes through too quickly. If you try and check this, the swing gets out of gear. With a driver, it is possible to slow the club down, and the extra whip in the shaft produces a -little extra length.” It is expected, however, that the steel shaft will be improved, and, if the manufacturers succeed in this St. difficulty in controlling the flight of the ball may be great- | er than ever. ' ° j

As soon as the chibs were legalised, we were promised a drop in price. As a matter of fact, the day St. Andrew’s made their announcement they were slightly increased. At present, of course, there are very few on the market, and only two or three firms have been turning them out. As the trade is fully supplied, charges may be reduced, and, unless this is done, there is not the slightest doubt that the British manufacturers will have serious competition j from America. But whilst many golfers may buy the new clubs for experi- [ mental purposes, it is improbable, that ‘ they will discard their old sets, and, taking America as a guide, when the novelty has worn off the hickory shaft will be as much in favour as ever. It is certain that the professionals will do nothing to promote the sale of the new clubs. „ . • THE BILLIARDS CHAMPIONSHIP. KEEN DISAPPOINTMENT. The entries have closed for the billiards championship, and Walter Lindrum, the Australian champion, and his fellow tourists, Clark McConachy and Willie Smith, remain outside it. In the circumstances it will be confined to Joe Davis (the holder), Tom Newman, Melbourne Inman and Claude Falkiner. Needless to say, the public arc keenly

disappointed that, instead of an event that would have surpassed all others in the history of the game, it will bo decided without two and possibly threa of the world’s greatest players, and, to make the position worse, their absence is only due to a quarrel with the authorities on matters which should have been easy to adjust. In effect the three men said: "Do as we tell you, and we will play.” The authorities replied: "Enter first, end we will try to meet you.” Without losing their authority, they could not take up any other attitude. Further, it was out of the question to allow the Australians to play on a table which they arc using during their tour, and, moreover, one which Smith has played on for several years. To do so would have been equivalent to giving them a substantial start from the other entrants.* Lindrum has been pleased to air another grievance in respect to the championship. It comes too late in the season, he says. He might be stale in April. But this is the date when the event has always been held, and it is the first time a complaint has been lodged against it-. What Lindrum means is that, if he were to enter, he would arrive back in Australia too late for the Australian season. His play continues , to be as wonderful as ever. He is at present engaged in another ‘ match with Smith in London, and as a result of the first week’s play he has yS gained an advantage nf 3000. Already he has twice exceeded e thousand, his best break being 1725, and in addition he has had two over SOO and three of 600. Smith, too, has played extremely well, as- will be realised from the fact ' that he has scored 1490, 757, 630 and 603. But he cannot keep pace with the Australian, whose wonderful nursery cannon play is the mcsf pleasing feature of his game. '

ENGLAND’S RUGBY-■-TEAM.-, ROOM FOR. NEW BLOOD. Team selectors can never hope to satisfy everyone. Those responsible for the "choice of the ' Rugby fifteen were generally criticised last season for their omission of W. ,W. Wakefield from the forwards. Jilf Wakere had led the pack, England would have won' the championship,” it was said. Now they have decided to give the old captain the opportunity to show that, even in international football, he can still hold his own at an age when moet players are on the point’ of retiring. Wakefield is,to figure in the first of the trial matches, and on his form for the Harlequins his inclusion would seem to be justified. His personality and his inspiring leadership must count for', a good deal, even though a slight falling off in pace may make him less formidable in the. open. The old ranks of*English Rugby are now very thin. Cbve-Sinitli has-, retired, Voyce ie beyond his -best, and. Aarvold is not available. In'fact, the national team will have to be rebuilt, and will be largely a new one. “That the authorities realise that is indicated by their choice for the trial. Almost a clean sweep has been made of the men who played last season.' At any rate, only eight of the thirty selected were in the side a year ago, and of these eight only A. L. Novis, Die centre threequarter, seems certain of his place. It lias often been complained that northern players have been ‘ neglected, but they are now to have their opportunity. In fact, many of those who have been picked are almost unknown in the south. No doubt the southern players will get their chance in the second trial, which is to be played at Gloucester, when, alflo, the members of the two university fifteens may be called upon. England’s choice of players is far greater than that of any of the other countries, but it is doubtful whether this makes the position any more favourable. Tho difficulty is to get the right blend. This year the selectors have departed from the practice of picking the beet of the previous season’s team, and building round it. It is probably felt that the form last year was not good enough, and that it is better to make a new fltart.

ENGLISH CUP COMPETITION. ENTRIES NUMBER OVER 500. - Froni the public point of view, the football association competition starts only in the New Year, when the giants of the League join in.- That is not until the third round. As a matter of fact,the competition attracts over five hundred entries every year, and the process "of reduction begins almost with the start .of the season. This huge total is mainly made up of amateur clubs who take part in the preliminary stages. Not. until the first round proper do any of the members of tM League take part. The teams of the third division are called on first, and, with a few clubs outside their own circle who have survived the early stages, they complete the first two rounds. Round number one has just been decided, and it has resulted in a further clearance of the amateurs, who are always ccriously handicapped, in meeting the thoroughly-trained professionals, through lack of stamina. Amateurs are fit enough to last through their own o-ames, but they find that the pace of the professionals is far greater, and at the end of half-an-hour most of them begin to lag. The Leyton amateur club, however, gained a notable victory,-.: beating Merthyr by four goals to one. This reverse was a most serious' one for the Welsh team. They are at the bottom of the southern section of the third division, and every-year they are. engaged in a desperate struggle to balance their finances. Indeed, jhey are only able to do so by the money they receive through the transfer o their players. They also hoped to benefit from the cup competition, but- now they have passed out after their first tie, and the match with Leyton did no bring them much over £lOO. M cr . *7 will get through the season, but; doubtful whether they will be a e carry on beyond it. Other clubs, w looked forward almost as the Welsh club for • wMWI from th cup, have experienced the «« W pointmeot, and for them 1 .. case qf ,pinching and scraping end of the season.