SPORT IN BRITAIN

Evening Star, Issue 21742, 9 June 1934, Page 8

SPORT IN BRITAIN

[From Our English Correspondent.} LONDON, April 19. SOCCER. “ It’s only goals that count.” How sadly the many thousands of Scots who visited Wembley for the last and greatest of the season's internationals must have reflected on this truism after the game. Although the result of the match could have no bearing on the championship—Wales had already made sure of that with victories over Scotland and. England and a draw with Ireland—-the game lost nothing of its old appeal, and the attendance, 92,963, witli receipts of £20,173, was a record foi an international in this country. Better and more scientific expositions of Soccer have undoubtedly been seen, but nobody could doubt the keenness and enthusiasm of the teams. Scotland could, without dispute, be written down as unlucky. In the first place injuries to star players prevented her fielding her strongest side, and then, when her chosen representatives proved themselves the equals of their opponents at the finer points of the game, fate and the magmficnt defence of Moss, the English goalkeeper, and the backs, Cooper and Hopgood, robbed the, visitors of their desserts m the shape of goals. In some measure, of course, their failure to score must be laid at toe door of the Scots themselves; for, brilliant as their approach work was, once inside the penalty area their skill deserted them. This was particularly the case in the first half-hour of the second “ fortyfive,” when the visitors strove might and main to neutralise the, goal which Bastin had scored for England a few minutes before the interval. Every minute it looked as if the English citadel must fall; but a granite defence and good fortune kept it intact. Then, favoured, as some say, by a referee’s error,- the Southrons scored again through Brook, and all was over. In' a somewhat listless finish the English centre, Bowers, headed another gjood .goal, and Scotland had lost by 3 to 0 a game in which, if midfield play alone had counted, England could hardly have been declared the winners. Speed and dash had once more overthrown “ science ” —in other words, the typically English style had proved superior to the typically Scottish. Arsenal are almost in harbour. It had been felt that, having to take the field without the three men who were playing for England at Wembley might mean the sacrifice of 2 points to Liverpool, who, being in danger of relegation, were badly in need of them. It was a testimony to the reserve strength of the champions that they visited Merseyside and left it victorious by the odd goal in five. It will now be surprising if Huddersfield, who lie second, ever recover the leadership, although they beat Newcastle United, and so kept the latter well in the danger zone. Most followers of football will be extremely sorry if Newcastle forfeits its first-class status, which it has held without a Break since the later years of last century. Sheffield United are doomed, but it is still on the knees of the gods, which of Bolton, Brentford, and Preston will accompany Grimsby into the first division.

RUGBY. While the majority of Rugby players in London, their season having closed, are impatiently awaiting the .advent of cricket or grass-court tennis, the game, goes merrily on in the provinces. The Gloucester XV., for instance, seems to be' just as keen as it was at the start of the season, and .on Saturday last recorded its twenty-eighth victory —a record in the long history of the In the meantime, considerable discussion is going on in Rugby circles as to the chances of the breach between the British unions and France being healed. It is, of course, imperative that relations should not be resumed until the authorities on this side of the Channel are convinced that there will be no recurrence of the unsavoury incidents that brought about the split. On the other hand, many feel that no time should‘be lost in taking steps to prevent the further spread of professionalism in France. That this has already been considerable is shown by the fact that our Continental neighbours were able to put a team into the field against our Rugby League on Sunday last and were not disgraced in suffering defeat by no more than 32 points to 21. Nearly 20,000 people saw this game in Paris. ATHLETICS.

There was indeed quite, an international flavour about Parisian sport last week-end. At the Jean Bouin Stadium Corinthians beat Stade Francais by 4 goals to 1, part of the game being played during the progress of an entirely new kind of relay race, titty representatives of each of fourteen clubs took part in this event, which was run on the right and left banks of the Seine on the road, the relays vaiying between 135 metres and 1,000 metres. The English Universities Athletic Union sent out a strong team, including J. E. Lovelock, C. P. Stanwood, J. F. Pilbrow, D. L. Rathbone, and A. B. Leach, who had done so well in the Oxford and Cambridge sports. They found worthy foemen in Stade Francais. The lead changed, hands several times during the race, and it was Only a glorious effort by Leach, who conceded his opponent in the fortyninth relay something like 60yds, start, that gave the English, team a victory. Over here another kind of relay was decided—London to Brighton, . withten running for each club. Birchhela Harriers have always done well m tms event, but last Saturday could only finish third. Belgravo Hamers ran consistently throughout, and scored the first success credited to a England Club since Surrey A.C. won the initial contest in 1924. Polytechnic Harriers did extremely well to finish second.

GOLF. Two events have stirred the golfing world. First the decision that only

writers on golf whose usual profession it is may take part in the women’s golf championship. This raises the old burning topic: What is, an amateur? in an acute form, and it is not, easy to prophesy what the outcome will be. The death of Andrew Kirkaldy hat robbed the game of its oldest professional and a real character. The famous old Scot although he finished second in the ‘‘open.” fifty-five years ago when he was only nineteen years of age, never reached the height of a golfer’s ambition, and may justly be regarded as the finest player, who was never _ a champion. Among “ Andra’s ” puput were many men famous iii society, including the present Prince of Wales himself. .. , Is this to be Abe Mitchell’s championship year? He showed in the big professional tournament over the MidSurrey course that he is playing as well as ever he did, and, despite a recordbreaking second round of 68 by W. T< Twine, neat the latter and A. G. Havers by a couple of strokes—l 43 to 145. Even Homer nods and Henry Cotton, who could do nothing right, actually had a round of 80. , BILLIARDS. At the moment there seems small likelihood of Joe Davis making the journey to Australia to fight for the championship, which Lindrum so unexpectedly declared he would only defend in his native laud. A United Kingdom championship has been established, with the proviso that the trophy attached thereto must not be takea out of the country. Davis and i'e'vinan are now playing for this, ifia Chesterfield cueist has a slight lead at the time of writing, and most people expect him to be the first winner of the championship. boxing. Georges Carpontier’s reappearance ia au exhibition bout created but, a minor flutter of excitement, and nothing will be more surprising than that the hero of a dozen years ago should stage anything like a serious come-back.