SPORT IN BRITAIN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19478, 23 December 1925, Page 5

SPORT IN BRITAIN

LEADING TWO-YEAR-OLDS DISCUSSED

CRICKET, GOLF, FOOTBALL, BILLIARDS, BOXING

[Special tc “Chronicle.” —All Rights Reserved.]

THE TURF

THE YOUNG ’UNS HOW THEY STAND. LONDON. Nov. 5. Most important of the events decided on the final day of the last Newmarket meeting of the season (writes “Centaur,” our‘racing correspondent) was the Free Handicap for two-year-olds. The Free Handicap, of course, is the yearly estimate on the part of the principal official. Mr T. F. Dawkins, of the youngsters who have shown some form on the racecourse. It is usually a most valuable guide to the following season’s classic races. Last year Mr Dawkins placed Saucy Sue, Picaroon. Manna, and Solario at the top of the handicap, and how justified he was has been amply proved, seeing that Saucy Sue, Manna and Solario captured thclassics between them, while Picaroon prevented from competing in all except the St. Leger by an unfortunate ail ment, has since confirmed the high opinion formed of him as a two-year-old, and indeed is looked upon by a large number of good judges as the best horse trained in this country at present. Whether that be so or not will be shown next year in the cup races, when he conies up against Solario. At the head of this year's Free Handicap, Coronach and Legatee have been bracketed equal. Coronach won all his races except the Middle Park Stakes, which he lost by a neck to Lex, but as he was found to have a temperature afterwards, and, as he had previously well beaten the other colt in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster, the handicapper rightly estimated him at 41bs. the superior. Legatee has made only one appearance on a racecourse, but he won in the style of a high-clas stwo-year-old, though the stable in which he is sheltered is said to have a preference for another inmate in Apple Sammy, who is'officially placed on the same mark as Lex—that is -lilts, behind Coronach and Legatee. The latter, unfortunately. is not eligible for next season’s classics, owing to the fact that his breeder and nominator. Sir Edward Hulton, died and thus rendered the entries void. Legatee, when the dispersal sale of the that owner took place, was bought for 9100 guineas by Mr Courtauld, and placed in the care of Basil Jarvis, the man who trained Papyrus for the Derby. Clever Winner.

Monks Way. in the same ownership as Coronach—that of Lord Woolavington, owner of Captain Cuttle — and in the same stable as .Manna, is reckoned at Gibs, inferior to the top-weight, and the equal of an undefeated two year-old named Tolgus. hailing from Atty Pcrsse's stable, which in Review Order has another colt of much promise. Last year, a filly—Saucy Sue—was at the head of the list, but this time they arc thought to bo behind the colts. Anyway. Colonel Fairfax’s Bella Minna, ami the Aga Khan's Moti .Mahal. are put Slbs. behind Coronach and Legatee, Lord Zetland’s Spinel Kuby 91bs., amt Lord Astor’s Short Story lOlbs. Dcvaelion, a sister to the flying three-year-old, Diomedes, is held to be Hilbs. inferior, but this estimate is likely to bo further out than any other, for the filly has since demonstrated that she, at any rate, is gifted with much of the speed of her distinguished relative. The horses above mentioned are undoubtedly the best of the year, and it

will be surprising, indeed, if there is not a (dassic winner of two among them. None of them made an appearance in the actual race for the Free Handicap, and so top-weight was carried by a good second-class colt named John’s Son. He had incurred a penalty since Ihe weights were published, and undoubtedly this extra bit robbed him of the spoils of vi story. He was only beaten a head, and a short head, and he was possibly a trifle unlucky not to win outright. Finglas. from Gilpin’s stable, would perhaps have scored at five furlongs so comfortably was he going. He continued to go well, but when really pressed in the Dip. and in the last phase up the hill, he hung slightly, and he did not give John’s Son too much room. Phaan—in the same ownership as Solario—had enjoyed, a clear run, and, served by rhe fact of receiving 171bs. from John’s Son and J libs, from Finglas, he held on to win a trifle cleverly, rhe actual favourite was Mr Sol Joel’s Pantera, a well-grown though •mmewhat leggy colt by Pommern. He never gave the idea that ho might justify his market position, and one can only conclude that he had not reproduced his private form, which has caused him to be so much fancied. Pharan is quite an attractive colt by Phalaris, the sire of Pharos and Manna, and had been backed on one or two previous occasions, though a long starting price this time scarcely suggested any considerable stable expectations. In the circumstances, it was a highly meritorious performance on the part of John’s Son, who is a fine big colt by Irishman, and cost 400 guineas as a yearling. He is not in the classic races, which is unfortunate, seeing that lie gives every promise of developing into a stayer!

CRICKET

LANCASHIRE CAPTAIN RESIGNS. Jack Sharp has just resigned the captaincy of the Lancashire County cricket eleven. The game, he says, takes up so much of his time, and he is so often away from home, that hp cannot give the attention to his business that it demands. This is probably the main reason, but another, which lias no doubt weighed with him, is that last summer be could not find his old form, and felt that he was not pulling his full strength in the team. More than once he stood down in important games on this account. It may be remembered that last summer he had trouble with a section of the spectators who are in lhe habit of attending the games at Old I ratlord. Manchester. In a match against Middlesex, he dropped an. easy catch in the first over, and for the rest of play he was shamefully barracked. He was not the first member of the side who had been similarly treated, and. in making a stand against the barrackers, he declared that he would not play on the ground again. Though he carried out his threat for a week or so, lhe matter was finally settled and lie now stall's that this inciidcnt is forgotten, and has had nothing to do with his decision to retire. Sharp has a remarkable record. He first won distinction as a professional footballer lor Everton, and was capped for England on several occasions. He also played cricket as a professional for Lancashire. Thon, on giving up football. he went into business in Liverpool, and he was accepted as an aniateui cricketer. In no other game is a man’s amateur status restored quite so easily, but, as captain of the county eleven, Sharp has proved that this course may bo safely adopted. A fine batsman, his most memorable performance was to score a century gainst the Austarlians in a Test match at the Oval. He once told me:

“I used to dream that I might do this, but I never though it would come true.” As one of the select circle who have played for England at both cricket and football, his retirement is generally regretted. He is now a director of the Everton Football Club.

GOLF

THE BIG MATCH. The challenge match in golf has gone out of fashion. “We don’t fly at each other’s throats in these day; we leave that to the boxers,” the professional will tell you. But after long negotiations, a match, which will have all the elements of a challenge, is to be played next week between Abe Mitchell and Archibald Compston over the Sunni ngdale and Wentworth courses. Wentworth is a new chib, where George Dunean is now stationed. Mitchell °is really the challenger, and it is the first time in his career that he has been put in this position. Indeed, Compston is really the only man who has ever twice beaten him. The first occasion was in the final of the Gleneagles tournament, when he was five down at the end of the first round, and then made an amazing recovery to win by two and one. It was a fluke. Such a result could never happen again, it was said. But a month or so ago the men again mot in the professional match-play championship, and once more Compston was successful.

Straightaway the strings were pulled on behalf of Mitchell for what has been called ‘‘a real test 7 ’ between the two pros. Compston has the highest respect for his rival. A ery frankly he has described him as ‘‘the best golfer in the world.” But he is not afraid of anyone, and, when he was asked to play Mitchell, he readily consented. But Compston has reached the pinnacle of golf in this country, and he wanted his price for the match. I do not mean to say that, like the alleged champion boxers, he demanded money on the win, draw, or lose principle, but he insisted that the stakes should be substantial, and that he should not be called upon to provide any of the money. It was on this account that the negotiations have been so long drawn

out. At last, however, the money has been privately subscribed, and the match definitely arranged. It promises to be one of the best that has been played since the war.

SOCCER

TIH] NEW FOOTBALL. When it was decided to alter the offside law in Association football, in order to give the forward more liberty, it was generally assumed one result would be that more goals would be scored. This expectation has boon realised. Taking the first two months of the season, ami comparing them with lhe corresponding time of last year, the number of goals registered by tin' eighty-eight clubs forming the four divisions of the League is higher to the extent of nearly 750. Though this works out at an average of only 1 1-3 goal a match, it is in the aggregate a very substantial increase, am! it is beginning to be thought that goals to-day have lost a good deal of their value. Moreover, the new conditions have made the play very fluky. A team will win one day by a huge wCirore, and lose by the same overwhelming margin 1 the next. For instance. Manchester City defer ted Burnley by eight goals to three, .ami immediately afterwards went to /Sheffield, and lost to the United with the figures reversed.* Such scoring feats never occurred under the old

conditions .except in very unusual cir cunistanc.es. The new rule has had an other important effect. Should a playei be hurt, ami have to leave the field, the side is thrown into a state of com plete disorganisation. It used to be possible to maintain the defence b? taking a man out of the forwards am: converting him into a half-bar!:. Now however, the loss of a player is a crip pling handicap, and the game is mined For example, last week-end two of the Tottenham Hotspur players were injured in the first five minutes of the game at Leicester, and the football at once became farcical. Indeed, a good case can now be made out for the admission of substitutes.

BILLIARDS AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP. Entries have closed for the amateur billiards championship. The names of the entrants will not be disclosed until they have been scrutinised, but it is officially stated that the response, under the new conditions which are to be put in force, is highly satisfactory. In order to widen the scope of the championship, ami induce new players to compete, composition balls instead of ivories are to be used. Sidney Fry, | the holder of the title, as previously (stated, has withdrawn from the event on this account, and other leading London players have followed his example. But it has been a complaint that in the past the championship has been too much of a. London affair. ’The I reason given by Fry and others for their absence is that, being accustomed to play with ivories, they cannot hope to do themselves justice with the composition balls. But McLeod, a Middlesbrough player, who had learnt the game with the latter balls, reached the final at the first attempt, and, moreover, . won the next two championships. The 'change in the conditions has been made I because it is considered that it will be lin favour of the majority of players, i At a. rough estimate composition balls I are used in a proportion of at least ton | sets to one ivory. Indeed, in the provinces, ivory balls are hardly used at jail. Tn the circumstances, the groat [majority of competitors will bo from outside London. Already one hears of very firn' players who have never boon seen before in open competition. There is a Sheffield youth named Staples, who frequently makes breaks of two hundred. ami Earlam. of Oldham in Lancashire, has a break of five hundred to his credit. Both are to play in the championship, and it is expected that much talent which has hitherto been hidden will bo revealed.

IN THE RING BOXING AND BOXERS 1-ie For at least twenty years (writes Eugene Corri) Birmingham has plodded away in the hope of producing a boxer and lighter worthy of the City. I believe that, in Jack Hood, she has developed the very man that has for so long been searched for. He came to the National Sporting Club at the beginning of the week, and by the manner in which he beat Joe Rolfe, still a possible champion despite his defeat, captured and pleased immensely the most exacting of the many critics who sat around.

I can recall few youngsters, making their first appearance at headquarters, who have made a deeper impression than Hood, lie is only 21 years of age, but he boxed and fought as though he were steeped in experience, and had been battling for ever such a long time. In a physical sense he is a magnificent : specimen of a welter, carrying unusual strength in his shoulders, having a rare reach, and so arranging himself as to have tan almost periect balance. There was something of the pyrotechnic about him, and much fury; but, whilst he was spectacular, there was the thorough “artisan” stamped all over him. He met Rolfe when the Bermondsey youth was at his best, and, honestly, I feel that Rolfe last Monday night had it in him to disI pose of men of his own weight. Bui lhe could do no more thlan merely rattle | Hood. All the time it was plain to see that the Birmingham youngster must win, because he did his punching straighter and had a keener sense of distance, and, what was most encouraging for his future, withstood blows to the body which would have perhaps broken up an every-day boxer. A Hard Fight.

Rolfe went for him hlammer and tongs. Hood, seeing that it had to be a fight without any sort of compromise, jumped in and fought Rolfe with the very weapons which he himself had decided to employ. A most hectic affair it was from the first gong. Not wild, or a thing done anyhow and without method. Each knew precisely what he was about. It wlas as though the two had conspired to make the bout bristle with possibilities—something which might produce any result. Rolfe swore by his good right hand. Hood used both of his with equal felicity. And though Rolfe was out to do or die, Hood never turned a hair. Anu when, in the third round, he doubled up Rolfe, and had him in a bad way

on the ropes* the only question was whether Hood would complete the job properly.

Rolfe was freshened by the rest given to him by the bell, and kit the 1 beginning of the next round came very Xear landing a vicious right to the point. But ho missed the target by ever so little, and then Hood brought the eml in a manner hardly to be expected of one so young. Rolfe was so punished that a halt was called. There was more genuine boxing and fight.ng in this short-lived contest than I. It ve over twenty rounds. I would not have seen in many that have been spread over 20 rounds. I would not have missed seeing it for worlds. I There can be small doubt that in Hood Birmingham, in the no distant i future, should have a considerable I chlampion. There were many at the ringside who < <lared that he is th n I best Birmingham fighter sent to town | since Owen Moran. Could their be : higher praise? There is always a danger of such a performance, by one in ; point of experience is a a beginner, be--1 ing a flash in the pan. but. 1 do not ithinkthat Hood fought above his natural self. In every way he suggested that ho is an exceptional young fellow, and one wo have long waited fur His fixture I shall follow with the closest possible interest. And of Rolfe I would say this. He is so game, has such an obvious liking for fighting, and is so determined to | climb to the top of the tree, that lie should yet make completely good. He is not of the type to whom defeat suggests that the bottom of his own particular world has dropped out. You can not. break the fighting heart of Joe Rolfe. But without discouraging him in the least, I am afraid hr will not. go so far as Hood. Their display did much to help us to forget the disappointing news that the m'atch between i Phil Scott and Frank Goddard, due at | Holland Park on the 16th of this month, was off. ■ Mr. Lionel Bettinson told the nv m- ' bmers that, certain conditions had not ■ been fulfilled, and that his committee had decided a cancellation of the m’atch was in the best interests of

sport. His announcement set. everybody wondering what had happened. I assume—l may, of course, be wrong—that the contretemps had to do with side-stakes. But whatever the reason for the match falling through, it is an unfortunate business. Mind, I did not expect, that, if Goddard and Scott got into the ring, we should have witnessed lanything like a great exposition. But. oven so it would have cleared the decks in the matter of the heavyweight eha m pi on sh ip. The Lonsdale Belt. At the moment, Goddard may claim to be champion, and. without wishing to disparage him, I am bound to say that he is not in my view the best heavy-weight in Britain. I r.ea a e>all is being made for the return ot Joo Beckett, but if he did come back I question whether the heavy-weight position would be made more satisfactory than it is to-day. Scott will no doubt be sympathised with. Ho. is unlucky in being denied, for the time being, at any rate, an opportunity of trying for the Lonsdale belt, a trophy which nuict be coveted by every boxer, big or litlo. But there it is. Heavyweights cannot hope to hold the stage for an indefinite period. But if there were no ead of employment for them. I doubt whether they would make for the betterment, of the game. Their qualities are so very moderate. More’s the pity, of course, but, if Scott is far and away our best and most formidable big man. it must bo admitted that, although he had done most things asked of him. ho has yet to show that ho is >a champion in the best and highest, sense of the term.

Scott, being an industrious as well as an ambitious fellow, will, ot course, continue to look round for fights. He is not the kind to remain idle. But at homo, at all events, the opposition is no more than very small fry. Tt would bo interesting to learn the point of view of Goddard. Boos ho. still hope for matches? Ho, has been credited with a fondness for a bout with Beckett, but. T ’am afriad that there arc few. if any. promoters who would entertain such a match at the price which would probably be demanded. It seems very likely that we shall have to carry on without the big follows. Still, wo have any number of little men to keep the flag flying. And wo should not complain.