BRITISH GAMES TEAM

Chronicle (Levin), 17 September 1949, Page 5

BRITISH GAMES TEAM

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuter.

Not More Than 70 Likely To Come To N.Z.

Copyright)

Received Fridav,- 8.50 p.m. LONDON, Sept. 16.' Provisional invitations to 30 men and women athletes who may represent England in the Empire Games in Ney Zealand next year were issued this week and are expected to be returned in about one week's time. As soon as the acceptartees have been :feceived it is likely tKht the Amateur Athletic Association Couneil will issne its provisional list. Other sports concerned — ^lioxing, fencing, cycling, rowing, swimming, weight-lifting and wrestling — are also preparing to issue invitations and the full provisional team, wh'ic.h is likely to number about 70, is likely to be. completed next j month. Tlie deadline so far as the Empire Games Couneil is concerned is October 31. By that date all the provisiopal lists must be complete so that . the Couneil and sports bodies concerned can get down to the n'ob of deciding the team's final eomposition. At.the moment. as indicated in a statement issued by the Empire Game|, Couneil earlier this week, it appears that the fiuances avaflable will. restrict the English team to not more than 70. Tf, however, the resnlts of the present appeal for funds prove more encouraging than at present it is anticipated that the number will be extended. This seems unlikely, for at present even with the £5000 guarantee promised by New Zealand the fnnd stands at only a little over £10,000 — and a minimum of £20,000 is required to send even 70 competitors. Most of rhe competitors will go bv sea, leaving England on December 1G, while those who are fiving will leave about the middle of Japuary. Although neither the A.A.A. mile champion, Bill Nankeville, nor the hurdler, Don Pinlav, can spare the time to represent England at the Empire' Games they may be invited to take part ip some of the Ameriean indoor meetings. The trip to Ameriea flying both wavs would not require more tlian two or three weeks' absence eompared with the three or four months involved for New Zealand. Nankeville, who is considered the best British miler since "Wooderson and Lovelock, is an adaptable type of runner and should do weli on indoor tracks. Einlay, who is 40, would be a sensation in Ameriea where topline athletes generallv Tetire from the sport when thev leave university. When the New Zealand crieket. team leaves for home in the Rangitata on September 23 they will have as a travelling companion t'he New Zealand Olvmpic runner Douglas Harris who is sailing a fortnight earlier than he intended in order to give himself a longer period of preparation for the 1 Empire Games. Harris intends to comI pete in the New Zealand championships at Napier on December 31 and January I 1. Harris has not vet deeided what events he -will enter for at the Empire Games, but he will probablv coneentrate on the 440 yarrls and half mile. Reid the All-Rounder. The Glasgow Herald 's cricket writer considers that J. R. Reid, the New Zealand wicketkeeper and all-rounder, I is certain to be listed bv Wisden's next ! year. Reid was fourth in the New Zealanders' list of batting aevrages on [ the tour of Britain, proved himself a I useful deputy opening bowler as his 13 | wickets for 30 .runs indicate, while he I was also a first-elass wicketkeeper. "To ' have batted, bowlen and kept wieket , in a test series as Reid did is a feat ! not performed by many, " savs the Herald. British Rugby Tourists. The English Rugby TTnion season has openod on what might almost be called a batsman's wieket, and in some cases matches scheduled for this weekend have been cancelled because of the hard and dusty grounds. This promises to be an exceptionally interesting season as some time in January the seleetors will have to make up their minds about the eonstitution of the British , team to tour New Zealand and Australia later next year. An invitation to act as manager of the British touring side has alreadv been sent to Surgeon Captain T. B. Osborne, R.N., who was appointed to the selection eommitfee last year and who is at present its acting chairraan. Tt is much too early to attempt to predict the probable strength of the British side, but there is every indication.among clubs, particularly in Wales and the South of England, that a lot of young and comparatively unknown material will have to be tested. British Rugby liko most other sports suffered a slump after the war and today is a largely (unknown factor for the purposes of comparison with standards in New Zealand and Soxith Africa. Judged on last season 's standards as disclosed in internationals its greatest problem will be to find fast penetrating inside backs and sufficient seoring speed on the wings.