BRITISH NEWS

Chronicle (Levin), 12 November 1949, Page 5

BRITISH NEWS

{ N.Z.P.A. -

—Reuter.

Scotland Leading For U.K. Soccer Crown

Copyriaht)

Eeceived Friday, 8.10 p.m. LONDON, Nov. 11. Chief interest in the British Rugoy world at the moment centres on the annual Oxf ord-Cambridge University match rather than on the team that will go to Australia and New Zealand. This Unive-rsity game, which will be played at Twickenham on December 6, is the first "big" match of the season and it receives close attention not only of ttie students past and present but of thousands of club footballers and schooiboys who cast aside dull work for the afternoon in anticipation of seeing Rugby at its best. At any rate they know that at this time of the yeax Oxford and Cambridge are among the best sides in England. So far Oxforu have captured most of the attention ror they have won six xnatches, seored 11 15 points and have not had their iine erossed. They have several South Africans in the side including Van Ryneveld and Hofmeyr, both of whorn played against the Nhw Zealand cricketers last summer, and the All Black, J. Botting. Recently Oxford made some sweeping ehanges among their backs removing Hofmeyr from stand-off haif to fuliback, bringing Van Ryneveld in to stand-off trom inside centre, and inoving Boobbyer, another cricketer, from fullback to outside centre. Oxford beat Trinity Oollege, Dublin, by 24 points to nil and earned universal plaudits. Cambridge, however, su far has not impressed the critics. They lost to both Bedford and London Scottish and tlxough they beat Guy's Hospital 9 — 0 in their latest match and were on top for most of the time they did not make the most of their chances. At the moment Oxford are favourites for December 6. Women Attend Meeting at Lords For the first time in 135 years two women have attended a committee meeting at Lord's! They are Miss llollv Hide, captain of the England team to tour Australia and New Zealand, and Miss Amy Bull, who represented tne teaching profession. With 38 men this week they sat down to discuss the future of cricket ixi England. Three standing committees deaiing with playing facilities, coaching and finance, were established aua it was announced that at the suggestion of the Duke of Edinburgh a joint committee of the M.C.C. and Playing Eields' Association has been formed to examine the problem of finding an artiiicial pitcli suitable for match play or for practice where natural facilities are not available. " it is a big step forward in the history of women 's cricket," Miss Hide remarke,a when coinmenting oii the meeting. Among the annixal output of cricket books next spring will be one by Norman Yardley, former England captain. It will be called "Cricket Campaigns" and will eontain 90,000 words. It will be mainly a cricket autobiography with some backstage information on recent cricket history. and test touring. Scotland 's Chances of Soccer Crown Scotland are well on the way to retaining the international Soccer chainpionship of the United Kingdom. They have already beaten Ireland 8 — 2 and Wales 2 — 0. They now have to defeat England next April at Hampden Park. Bill Steel, Scotland 's inside left w*io plays for Derby County, seored two goals against Wales and without hxs roving genius the Scottisli attack would have looked verv ordinary. Scotland, it is stated, were the more cultured footballers but for snort periods the Welshmen showed more brilliant combination. The Football Association is plannxng a festival of soccer as part of the festival of Britain in 1951. The support of Scotland, Ireland and Wales is being asked. One suggestion is that the season should be extended for a fortnight into May so that international matches can be staged between England and overseas countries. The 1924 All Black, Ces Badeley, who has been on holidav in Britain with his wife and returns liome next week, will see his fourth Rugbv match in England on Saturday wlien Ilarlequins play Richmond. He doesn't think he can take baek any "secrets" which may assist the All Blaeks in their px*eparation for meeting the British team but he thinks the English are rather too pessimistic about their Rugby. From what he has seen he believes Britain will send an excellent side to New Zealand.