WOMEN IN SPORT

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 245, 6 January 1928, Page 13

WOMEN IN SPORT

PROWESS IN FIELD INTEREST LN CRICKET The formation of a women's cricket association, which has just played a match with the Dartford Physical Training College. has raised the question of women’s athletic activities in Great Britain. There is a general belief that cricket is not played at all seriously by our women and girls (says an English sporting writer), but while this may be true, it is regularly played at many schools and by the women of Oxford. Cambridge, and London Universities. This fact is overlooked for the reason that there is little publicity in connection with their various encounters, and none is desired. In other sports matters are somewhat different.

So far as cricket is concerned, several seasons before the war a team of women players toured the country. But although they attracted consideraole attention, the large numbers who witnessed their exhibitions were attracted more from curiosity than with any idea of seeing a serious game. It has been suggested that cricket among women has been played for generations. It is true that in “The Taming of the Shrew” Shakespeare writes: “Our very petticoats will catch them,” and in “Measure for Measure” is the phrase “Let me bowl thee gentle three,” but there are grave doubts as to whether the bard of Avon was thinking of the great national pastime at the time he penned the words. Grace’s Helpmate History has given us one or two facts that prove the interest taken by

women in the game. Ur. W. G. Grace, of immortal fame, attributed much of his success 10 the encouragement of his mo then "She bowled to me night after night in a net in the garden. - he has told us, “and there were few matches in which I played in my younger day’s that she did not attend and take the complete score and analysis.” And, what is more, whenever " W.G.” played away, his first duty at the end of the game was to telegraph his individual achievements to her—whether Le scored “o” or 100 — and there were few of these messages that contained the single cypher. We are also told that a sister of the famous Foster brotherhood was as good, a cricketer as any' of them in their youth, and there have been many other instances where, in a keen cricketing family, the women members have been equally enthusiastic. Several centuries have been scored by' women players at various intervals, and there have been many who have bowled quite effectively in the orthodox over-arm manner. Not a Serious Pastime It cannot be said. however, that cricket—generally speaking, of course, for there have been many exceptions—has been taken up at all seriously by our women. The attraction of lawn tennis has been too great a lure, and although in the summer months the sporting womanhood of the country may participate, as they do. in athletics, rowing, and cricket. there is little doubt that the “Wimbledon” game is the great magnet that attracts them. As I have said, while cricket is played here and there in the country, it is doubtful if it is taken as seriously as other pastimes—eliminating altogether lawn tennis, which stands pre-eminent in the affections of the fair sex. Women as Rowers We have recently witnessed a boatrace between the women of Oxford and Cambridge; the formation of many new bowls clubs for women—in spite of the protests of a few peculiar specimens of manhood—and we have seen several daring women prove that their sex is so versatile as to become in-

trepid airwomen. Among these are Lady Bailey, wife of Sir Abe Bailey, | and Mrs. F. C. Elliott Lynn, who rej cently remained in the air for over two hours and a-half. and reached an altiI tude of 6000 feet before descending. Shooting and Athletics Women also have excelled in b: _r game shooting, alpine climbing, yachting and within recent years have won steeplechases in competition with men rivals. In athletics such girls as the Misses. Green. Hatt, Gunn, and Haynes. ;among many others, have proved themselves superior to rivals from overseas, and are rapidly approaching a high standard. Three lady golfers, the Misses Joyce Wethered. Cecil Leitch | and Mile. Simone de la Chaume, all champions, would defeat the majority 1 of men golfers on level terms.

These instances are sufficient t? prove that, although we may never see women playing serious cricket at Lord’s or the Oval, they are taking a big part in the sport of the country, and. vhat is more, with the exception, perhaps, of lawn tennis, they are generally able to d£fy the challenges of women of ether lands.