ANCHORING WALTER LINDRUM

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19344, 19 November 1932, Page 16

ANCHORING WALTER LINDRUM

EXPERIMENTAL BILLIARDS CHANGE Help to Englishmen Walter Lindrum has stated that the new experimenal baulk-llne rule now operating in England has placed a handicap on him. This is natural. However, it cannot be accepted as definite proof that it will continue to do so to the same degree as at present, though the object of the rule is to curtail the high-scoring and speed of Lindrum in compiling his breaks. “Hazard," one of the best authorities in England, discussing this baulk-line proviso in London “Sporting Life," says:—“Tom Newman and Clark McConachy may be said to have made billiards history when they commenced their fortnight’s match under the experimental rule which lays down that during the course of a break the cue ball shall be made to cross the baulk line at least once in every 100 points scored in the break. “From what I have seen of this new j idea it is inevitable that for a time ! at least it will lesson the phenomenal scoring to which we have become ac- j customed since the universal adoption j of the nursery cannon game.

That it will do so altogether I have my doubts until I see how Walter Lindrum will counteract a. method that is believed cons derably to lessen his ehance of scoring that 5000 break, under the previously prevailing conditions, on which he had set his heart. Knowing Lindrum, I can easily visualise him smiling at the idea of being officially handicapped from attaining his ambition, and so once again causing the Council furiously to ,1V nk.

“To an extent Tom Newman, who, having discussed the whole matter with i Mr. Blissett. proceeded to practise . under the experimental rule, has already disclosed a method of counteracting it. During the initial stages of his match with McConachy he was at the top of the table playing in his most attractive style. He was “warned” by Charles Chambers, the referee, at 80 that he had yet to “cross the line,” but he went along quite unconcerned until he was but six points from his first three figures. “Then, having obtained position for a simple red winner, he played it boldly with a lot of screw and running s'.de to pot the red, run down the table

Lion, and the resumption of play on Saturday saw Star pressing home | their advantage. Moore in compiling 32 attacked the | ; Star bowling, showing glimpses of form, reminiscent of his play several seasons back. The Star bowlers secured great figures, Styles taking four for one. The former secondgrade representative player is to be congratulated on his excellent average, and his form, when opposed by stronger batsmen, will be closely watched. School v. Celtic:" School are to be congratulated on their fine win«over last season winners, Celtic. Much of the success gained by the students can be attributed to the fine all-round display of McDougall, who. by his accurate bowling, greatly troubled the oppos ng batsmen, and by his aggressive, innings clinched victory for his side. The School bowler is now showing fine form, aad should perform well in the coming representative fixtures. Wilson aga n bowled well, to take five for 17. This young bowler with his slows, had the majority of the Celtic bat .men continually on the defensive. Apart from the batting of S. Mason. Eaten and Purcell, Celtic gave a very mediocre display. Purcell, in making 26, batted in good style, but will have to brighten up his running

between the wickets, if he wishes to make advancement in the game. Re- : quiring 75 to win, School'succeeded in scoring the necessary runs for she loss j of five w ckets thanks to the efforts of ; McDougall rrd Soufcer. MVDougTl j gave a fine display of aggressive batt- i ing. executing some powerful s rairh; ! drives. Souter, ii come 1 ng 23, re- j gr.tered a very meritorious perform- | ance, which greatly contributed to h s , team’s fine win. Kane was the main- j stay of the Celtic attack. Purcell j secured the best figures for Celtic, securing three wickets for 8 runs. Th’s young player shows distinct promise as a bowler.

Second-Grr.de: The outstanding match on Saturday was the fine batting d splay given by Celtic and West End. In th ”dtic team’s total of 153, Kent contributed a well-played innings for -59. West E id at the close of play had r cored 85 for the loss of six wickets, of which total Turnbull 23, Bracefield 17 and Arnold 17 showed good form. “Onlooker” is pleased to note that the form now displayed in the secondgrade competition is a decided improvement on the first of the season’s showing.

Third-Grade: Great interest is being centred in the meeting of Manchester Unity and Star, j to-day. Both of these teams are among the leaders of the competition, and a close contest should eventuate. Friendly Match: A commencement will be made today, when the Police Club will meet the Umpires’ team, in a series of friendly matches being arranged by the Cricket Association. Included in the teams selected for to-day’s match, are many ex-representative players. Two additional teams, the Veterans and the “Press” will also take part in the se Ties ol matches being arranged.

across the baulk line to return to ideal position for a continuance of the break. This, I believe, is the method that mainly will be adopted by such artists, and I am afraid that it may lead to greater concentration on the top of the table game—which is less attractive to the majority of spectators than the “rocking” cannons so universally exploded during the past two seasons — without lessening the magnitude of the breaks. “If this should be the case we shall eventually see Lindrum, Willie Smith, Newman, Davis, and McConachy again passing the thousands, but taking a much longer time over the operation. Certainly there wll necessarily be more variety than is now the case, and there will be increased interest in anticipating in what manner a player will regain position once he has settled down to the “pot-cannon-pot” game that must now almost automatically supersede the delicate and extremely skilful close cannon manoeuvres. What must be remembered is that it is an experimental innovation until December 31. when the views of the leading professionals will be taken on it. It is only natural that those affected are, as yet, unprepared to express an op nion as to the effectiveness or otherwise of the innovation.” As against all this Walter Lindrum by his attractive billiards lifted the game out of a common-place rut and re-created it as a first-class public at-

traction. Some Of the English profess onals. had done much to reduce the status of the game in the eyes of I their public, by puerile quarrels and j their methods of play. But when ! Lindrum stamped himself as immeasurably superior to any of them, both as a player and one the public desires to see, some of the professionals appear to have clamoured for rule changes aimed specifically at curtaili ing Lindrum’s great breaks. If, as | Lindrum says, it is unduly handii capping him, the English professionals

and those with whom they seem to be more or less linked in business may, in the end, be the greatest losers. Early in September Willie Smith whom Lindrum badly defeated in Australia, was out with a challenge to Lindrum. with the stipulation that the rules be altered to help him. This was a candid admission that he stood no chance of defeating Lindrum under the same laws as those under which he (Smith) made his name in England. Lindrum had humiliated him with a disastrous drubbing. There was nothing to indicate that billiards was suffering in any way frem the big breaks made by Lindrum. On the other hand there was much to prove that the Lindrum I breaks and play were magnets to people

who pay at the doors. Tom Newman has expressed approval of the change in the rules. It is not, as yet, a permanent change, being on trial until the end of the year. Then, if the experiment is deemed a success, it will be permanently incorporated ! into the laws of English billiards. It would have been better to have | stipulated the “baulk-line” change ! after every 200 instead of 100 points. Tinkering with the laws can be over done. It looks as if the malady has infected those empowered with the oversight of the laws of billiards. There is always a risk in legislating to meet en individual case as in that of Walter Lindrum. What billiards needs in England is an authority composed of sportsmen uninterested in the financial aspects of the game, invested with vital power to make and amend the laws. Billiards business interests have no right lo any standing on such a body.

English Girls for Australia:

For the first time in history an EngLsh girls’ cricket team may visit Australia in 1934 and fight for the “Ashes.” The New South Wales Women’s Cricket Association has been in close touch with the All-English Women’s Crlcktk Council regarding the matter, and there is a distinct possibility that their efforts will meet with success.

His Diamond Wedding: Sir Charles Clegg, president of the Football Association, and Lady Clegg celebrated their diamond wedding at Sh'ffieid on September 2. They are both 89. years of age. Sir Charles was a TVfJLknown footballer, and was rhrirman of the F.A. for many years before being appointed pres dent in 1923. A solicitor by profession, he was i ii‘ rr ht''d in 1927. He has been a life- !■ t teetotaller. His brother, Sir Willie m Clegg, also a well-known footballer, died in August.

Bowls’ Slow-Coaches: Not even the game of bowis has escaped the English critics this summer. In a tournament recently at a famous rea-side resort, there was a plea for the players in the pairs not to make the competition "too funereal.” This seemed a justifiable appeal. After the four men had “felt” the green by sending up 32 trial woods, play in the final commenced, and after an hour and a half only half a dozen ends had been completed.

Constantine Makes Merry: In the Watson benefit match between the Lancashire County cricket team and a team of professionals from the Lancashire Cricket League, the county side scored 304 runs for five wickets, declared, in the ideal weather of * the first day. E. Tyldesley made 125 not out, after being missed at 2 and again at 62. W. E. Merritt got one wicket, in 17 overs, but it cost 73 runs. On the second day. when there was only 65 minutes of play, the League professionals scored 138 for two wickets. Merritt, who went in first wicket down, was out for a duck. Then L. N. Constantine. famous coloured all-rounder, went !in and scored 106 not out. The West I Indies player scored 51 out of 70 in j 20 m nutes, and reached 100 out of 122 ! in 44 minutes. He hit five sixes and 1 14 fours-