“GILLIGAN’S MEN DO NOT PRETEND TO BE TEST SIDE.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18959, 3 January 1930, Page 4

“ GILLIGAN’S MEN DO NOT PRETEND TO BE TEST SIDE.”

Sporting Notes From London : Golf Professional Has A Lean Time

(Special to the " Star.**) LONDON, November 21. The tendency on the part of golf clubs towards their professionals in recent years has been to appoint men who would spend their time on the course, giving lessons and attending to the work of the shop, instead of going round the country competing in competitions. Indeed, young assistants have lately secured several of the jobs. The Sandy Lodge Club, which is situated on the northern outskirts of London, have, however, taken the old view that a first-class player was what they required, and they have just appointed the ex-champion Arthur Havers. The son of the late steward to the Royal Norwich Club, Havers started to swing a club as soon as he was old enough to toddle about the links. When still in his teens, he became attached to the West Lancashire Club at Blundellsands, on the Lancashire coast. Almost immediately after winning the championship at Troon in 1923, Havers came to the Coombe Hill Club, London, and he left it a year ago in unfortunate circumstances. He had arranged with George Gadd to visit the Argentine during the winter, and he was under the impression that he had been given leave of absence. There was, however, some misunderstanding, and it was left for him' to decide between leaving Coombe Hill and fulfilling his contract to go to South America. He chose the latter, and he has not had an engagement in the meantime. For five years Havers has had a most disappointing experience. Six years ago he was at the peak of his game, and he appeared to have the brightest prospects. At the end of that year he went to the Pacific Coast with James Ockenden, and he has done nothing of note since. That a player with so many natural gifts could lose his form so completely is amazing. All the time he has remained one of the biggest hitters in the game, but his play with the irons has been very poor. His fellow professionals have tried to put him back on to his game, and he has practised most diligently, but there has been no lasting improvement. Occasionally he has shown something like his old form for a round or so, but he has not been able to regain his old mastery with the irons. Possibly the new change will help him. English Cricket Tourists. That an English team, which does not include more than two or three prospective test match players, should be good enough to beat some of their State elevens will give the Australians to think furiously. The side under the captaincy of A. H. Gilligan really went out to play in New Zealand, where the demands made on them were not expected to be as high as in Australia. Whilst thoroughly sound, they did not pretend to be fully representative of English cricket. In the circumstances they have far exceeded expectations, and, so far as the bowling is concerned, it is important to note that most of the work has been done by the fast men. The success of Barratt has been very pleasing. As a Notts player he largely contributed to the winning of the championship last season. He sends down a very similar ball to Larwood, which goes away quickly, and leads to catches in the slips. Barratt, too, is useful with the bat. Indeed, he was responsible for the most spectacular innings of last summer. It was in a critical match with Gloucestershire, who were making a bold bid for the championship, and Notts were in a most unpromising position. The Gloucestershire spin bowlers had played havoc amongst the early batsmen, but, on going in, Barratt at once pro-

ceeded to hit them off their length, and gave a truly wonderful display, scoring over seventy in twenty-five minutes. Inasmuch as Notts won the match by only two or three runs, it will be realised what Barratt’s innings meant to them. The Englishmen have soon come up against the Melbourne barraeker> who, whilst giving a bitter point to his comments, usually mixes them with a touch of humour. On this occasion, however, the reports suggest that the spectators were inconsiderate to the tourists in practically forcing them to bat when the light was not good enough. It was, of course, the Melbourne crowd who gave LarwcJbd such a bad time during the last tour. Another English team are shortly to leave, being bound for the West Indies, where they will be prepared for serious opposition. Hendren is one of the members, but, as in the case of the men in Australia, none of the other players are likely to be called on for next season’s tests. Wilfred Rhodes has gone out, at the special request of the West Indian authorities, and another veteran of the side is George Gunn. The captain is the Hon F. S. G. Calthorpe. Landrum and the Billiards Championship. Professional billiards has always been a hotbed of dissension. With the visit of Walter Lindrum and Clark M’Conachy, the Australian and New Zealand cracks, we were promised one of the greatest seasons in the history of the game. But hardly had they entered on their programme of matches, before trouble started. The championship is the cause of the quarrel. Before Lindrum and M’Conachy arrived, it was stated that they would not be able to stay long enough to compete for the title. It is now evident that this is not the reason which has governed their decision. Their contract, it appears, is with one of the table-makers, and a condition of it is that, during their stav, they must play on only one type of table. In the circumstances, if they are to be held to the contract, it follows that the championship must be played on the make of table they have stipulated to use. Needless to say the authorities do not intend to be dictated to, as to which table shall be used for the championship, even to let the Australians into the event. Willie Smith, who is under a similar contract, has also stated that he will not enter. In his case the question of table has not been raised. His grievance is that the championship is not to be played in a hall which he considers large enough. It Is very unfortunate that Lindrum and M’Conachy have allowed themselves to be dragged into the trouble, and their attitude will not make for the success of their tour. Their billiards has, however, been wonderful. We have seen nothing like it. Lindrum has dispelled all doubt that he is the finest player in the world, at any rate so far as exhibition billiards is concerned, and it would be extraordinary if he could not maintain the superiority which he has shown in a championship heat. It is scarcely an exaggeration to say that he seems able to produce a thousand break like a conjurer bringing a rabbit out of a hat. In one game against Smith he had two runs of over four figures, two in the nine hundreds, and altogether thirteen over five hundred. This scoring has been startling. Even such a fighter as Smith has wilted as the points have been marked up against him. Joe Davis, the champion, has had a similar experience in games against M’Conachv. The improvement in the play of the latter, since he was last here, is amazing. Indeed, it is possible that he ranks second only to Lindrum.

C. G. F. C. Hamilton, who played so well for Canterbury in the Brafoin Shield match, is expected to leave for Wellington to-night to take up a position with W. D. and 11. O. Wills, Ltd. He is the youngest son of .Mr and Mrs F. J. Hamilton, of Redcliffs. The family are all cricketers, and the youngest bids fair to become one of the best of them. After his recent batting displays it can be said that Canterbury is losing a very promising young cricketer. He recently left College, and has been a consistent scorer. Some of his scores were 145 against St Albans second eleven, and 87 not out against the Dunedin High School, and 78 against Boys High School. His average for the season is about 110.

The continued absence of E. H. Bowley, the well-known ex-Auckland coach, from the cricket field is cause for much regret among followers of cricket. Bowley is one of the best players in the M.C.C. team, being a fine batsman and a clever bowler. With him in the team, the Englishmen would have their lot lightened considerably, especially in the tests, but he is under treatment at Rotorua, and there is no news as to

when he will be able to rejoin the side. E. T. Benson, one of the wicketlceep ers, and G. F. Earle, the vice-captain, were injured in the South Canterbury game, but Earle has presumably recovered, for he was playing against Otago. It is to be hoped that Benson, who split a finger, is ready to play again, for the absence of players through injury throws a greater strain on the remaining members of the team, through having to play more often without the chance of a spell.