LONDON SPORTING LETTER.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20274, 7 April 1934, Page 17

LONDON SPORTING LETTER.

Novel Golf Contest—Scenes at Wimbledon —Billiard Prospects—Soccer Club on Down Grade —Wales Beat Scotland.

(Special to the “ Star.”) LONDON, February 18. Sunningdale, one of the Prince of Wales’s favourite courses, is among the few where women players are not allowed to play regularly. But I hear of an interesting foursome competition that is being arranged there for the spring in which ladies will be allowed to participate. It will consist of “ mixed ” foursomes in every sense of the word, for almost any kind of partnership will 'be permitted. Two women may play together if they wish; alternatively, two men professionals or two amateurs may do so. An amateur can enter with a professional, and either an amateur or a professional can pair up with a woman plainer. A general system of handicapping has been decided on. So it will be, in everything but name, an open tournament. Women will all receive four strokes, amateurs will play from scratch, and professionals will play from the plus four mark. Getting Ready. Wimbledon is a busy place just now, and the busiest of men is Dennis Maskell, the all-England club professional. For all our best women players and some of the best of the men are spend- J ing every moment they can spare to remedy their weakest strokes. Miss Katherine Stammers spent a lot of time on the classic courts before she left England for warmer climes. She has been trying to instil a little more sting into her backhand stroke, which, reliable as it may be, is still not up to the standard of her other strokes. Miss Betty Nuthall, too, who must be tired of reading the number of double-faults she serves per match, is busy perfecting a new service which, although it appears to sacrifice something in speed, may prove more reliable. Other players seen almost daily are Miss “Billie” Yorke, Mrs FearnleyWhittingstall, Miss Freda James and Mrs King. Miss Scriven, too, put in a lot of work at Wimbledon before she left to play in Portugal. American Newcomer. Miss Alice Marble, the American lawn tennis player, has let it be known quite definitely that she will come to Wimbledon this year. We in England have not yet seen Miss Marble on the courts, but our Wightman Cup representatives, who played against her in the. States last summer, formed a very high opinion of her game. Alice Marble is America’s No. 3 player, being officially ranked next to Miss Helen Jacobs and Mrs WillsMoody. California is clearly a great nursery for lawn tennis stars in America. The climatic conditions in general tend to make the game possible all the year round. Miss Jacobs, Mrs Moody and Miss Marble all come from tfiat part of the continent. Miss Jenny Sandison, the Indian player, is also proposing to visit us this year. She is the best player there is out in the East. She has already played in Britain twice, but without much success. She does not seem to get going at Wimbledon, which is disappointing for a player who has travelled many thousands of miles with that one tournament in view. Perhaps she will do better this time. Lin drum and Billiards Championship. Walter Lindrum, who holds the billiards championship and who has declared that he intends to retain the cup until some one goes to Australia and beats him, has made a new proposal in regard to this season’s event. He says that he is prepared to enter on condition that, if he does not visit England to compete, his fee of £SO should be returned to him. I know that the authorities are anxious to do everything possible in studying his interests. Indeed, they have always suffered a great deal of dictation from the players, and have repeatedly altered the conditions to suit them. But that they can conduct the championship withoyt definitely knowing whether men are going to take part in it is doubtful. Arrangements have to be made some time in advance. There is, for instance, a hall to book, and it is scarcely likely that they will undertake this and other expenses without knowing \yhat matches are to be played.

Golfing in Thunderstorm. I fancy we have not heard the last of the dispute between the Ladies’ Golf Union and the Royal and Ancient in the matter of sheltering during thunderstorms. The L.G.U. think that, when a competition is in progress, players should be allowed to “ take cover ” until the storm abates, especially in view of the danger wnen lightning is about. But the R. and A. say “ No,” and temporarily the L.G.U. seem disposed to give way. Not so the individual players. They point out that men can go out on to the links much better equipped to defy the elements than is possible in the case of women. Moreover, they definitely challenge the fairness of the Royal and Ancient rule. They maintain that, if competitors in an open championship, or other event, have to go on playing whatever the weather may be, it does not give everyone an equal chance. On the contrary, it definitely penalises those who have to play in a hurricane. The Arsenal’s Reign. The Arsenal have been supreme in Association League for four or five, years, but for some time it has been said their reign was bound to come to an end. Sooner or later, it is declared, every club has a bad time. It is inevitable. The players grow old and have to be displaced by younger men, and this period of transition is always dangerous. Before his death, Mr Her. bert Chapman, the manager, realised the troubles which lay ahead, and he was not sure how they would be overcome, but he had such amazing confidence in himself that he felt all would come right. It is to be feared that his passing has hastened the break up of the team, for them have not only lost their last three games, but they have surrendered their leadership of the First Division. The new leaders are Derby County, and everything suggests that they are likely to be a strong force in the game during the next few years. It is notable, too, that in many methods of working Mr George Jobey has much in common with Mr Chapman’s ideas. An old player with Newcastle United, Mf Jobey is a most astute tactician, and "he has brought his players to a wonderful state of discipline. They have been drilled in practice to take up positions and interchange them with of the team, for they have not only .exceedingly clever in manoeuvring, but I they invest their attack with thrust and vigour. Revival of Welsh Rugby. I One was suspicious that the Welsh Rugby team, who were so patently I overplayed by England, did not truly represent their national strength. Many experiments were made, and there was every indication that the authorities had erred in their judgment of the players. In the circumstances, it was not surprising that, for the match with Scotland in Edinburgh, they should recall their more tried men, and the transformed fifteen gave an astonishingly improved display. In fact, they eclipsed Scotland in much the same way as they had been eclipsed by England, and were successful by two goals and a try (13 points) to a penalty 'goal and a try (6 points). J All that can be said in extenuation |of Scotland’s defeat is that they had i to make three changes in their side on (the morning of the match. This undoubtedly weakened them, but Wales , were so far superior in every phase of ' the game that they would probably have won in any case. Not for some seasons have Wales been represented by such a fine set of forwards. It is true that they had too many penalties given against them, but these were mostly for feet up in the scrum, and [possibly they might be accounted for Iby the referee’s reading of the rule on the point. The pack were not only [as brawny as ever, but they played with intelligence, and they held the mastery throughout. It followed that .the Welsh ousides had ample scope, and they took part in several passing movements which in their speed and certainty recalled memories of the great days of Welsh Rugby. The Scottish backs, in spite of their deficiency, always played under the handicap of having beaten forwards in front of them, and although they defended strongly, both tackling and marking their men well, they had few chances to attack. During one period of the second half the Scots rallied, and the enthusiasm of the 60,000 spectators was roused by the possibility that the match might be pulled out of the fire. But the Welshmen took command again, and won in most convincing style.

English players are anxious that Lindrum should defend his title, and they would agree to make everything as easy as possible for him to do so.