THE CHINA MAIL, APRIL 19, 1939
RUGBY
ROUNDABOUT
The Thirteen-A-Side Suggestion Discussed
Taking Divots
By BEST BALL
***
One of the reasons for so many flubbed iron shots is that the player does not hit then decisive- ly enough, This is due largely to the player's hesitancy in regard to his control over the shot. No doubt he may fully realize that to gain best results he should hit down hard but he flinches -úncon- sciously over the task. Naturally an actual round of play is a poor place to try and overcome this hesitancy. Here oftentimes the player is intent on his score and he is apt to spare his stroke for the sake of greater accuracy.
In consideration of this angle, the player stands a better chance of improving his shotmaking if he will carry the issue to the practice fairway. Here, with no fear of a mounting score, he can hit down on the ball with the irons and hit hard, dispatching the ball as the club- head goes on through and takes turf. The fairway of a National Open tournament resembles IL. miniature, battle insofar as cut turf is concerned and Johnny Re- volta, above, shows how the divots are taken in the above illustration. A strong grip, as well as strong determination, is helpful in gain- ing a mastery over all golf shots. (Copyright 1938, The Bell Syndi cate, Inc.).
Friday Willie Turnesa,
ARCHIBALD WINS
Providence (Rhode Island),
To-day.
GRAPHIC GOLF
DONT FLINCH FROM ·
HITTING. DOWN HARD WITH IRONS
HIT BALL FIRST-
TAKE PIVOT AFTERWARD STRONG GRIP AN AD TO SMOOTHNESS ON ALL SHOTS
Perry And Budge In Marathon
14
over out
RAISED BECAUSE OF MODERN NEGATIVE METHODS
When Walter T. Pearce's colleagues on the In- ternational Board read the speech he made a few days ago at the annual dinner of the Bristol Old Players' Society they must have registered consid- erable astonishment. The two Scottish members of the Board probably made indeterminate noises. at the back of the throat and then threw their news- papers aside,
Mr. Pearce is said to have expressed national games but he and Morgan the wish that he would like to sees often opposed the famous England teams reduced to 13 players, and his skipper in club matches.
England's Tactical Victory
actual words, though not as emphatic as reported,`` were:-"In view of the present schemes of sheer frustration in evidence in many games, I wonder at times if a statutory formation of seven forwards, two half-backs, three three- A. D. Stoop told the story years ago quarters, and a full back might be tried of how wing forwards could be effec- in order to, bring back the older prin-tively dealt with. Mr. Pearce will ciple of Rugby football.",
know it but it may interest readers of
camo
cer-
For many years, and particularly this column to tell it now. When, on January 2, 1911, Scottish Rugby en- between 1929 and 1982, when he was thusiasts were recovering from their president of the Rugby Union, Mr.
that Hogmanay celebrations, they got an- Pearce made frequent appeals nothing be done to fundamentally alter other headache when the news the game in any way; that no change from Paris that Scotland had been de Los Angeles, April 4.-
be made which would result in the fented by France. It was the first in- With the gallery of game becoming merely a spectacle for ternational which the Frenchmen had the onlooker so that it could only be ever won and there was consternation 300 people as worn played by highly trained athletes. He everywhere in Britain. How Scotland preached the old gospel that Rugby lost 18, immaterial now but one reason with excitement as the most remain a game for schoolboys and was that the French team included two Stoop was England's captain then, players were with exer-youth enjoying strenuous, exercise on a exceptionally fast wing forwards.
Saturday afternoon.
He read the graphic accounts in the tion, a gruelling five-set
90 Why Mr. Pearce, who has long French papers of how Scotland had Joey Archibald last night retain-match, which lasted three stood four square against any introduc- lost. He heard much, too, from
tion of Rugby League formation or tain Scottish players. So when France at Twickenham, ed the featherweight boxing cham- hours, was called off rules, should make this 13-a-side sug- were due to appear
gestion is a mystery. The explanation, England prepared. Before the teams Leo Rodak, of Chicago, on points when it was seen that the ion will never be made public, but went out, Stoop told his forwards they match obviously could it may have to be made when the In- must scrummage fiercely and get the ternational Board meet in Edinburgh ball back quickly. He told the backs they were simply to handle, run across without attempting to break through, It was the first world champion-not be won by either side next Friday. ship ever held on Rhode Island.. with any margin of skill. Members of the Board presumably and then kick the ball back to the sido have the right of free speech, but while of the field where the scrummage had The match was between Fred Per- the matter may not be taken seriously been. For 20 minutes England pursu- Archibald кав the aggressorry and Donald Budge and Ellsworth as in politics, a member of the Governed these tactics. throughout and landed more often. Vines and Keith Gledhill, The scores ment is expected to be discreet and not He withstood the punishment hand- were (Perry and Budge second and make unauthorised statements. Perhaps ed out by Rodak in several spirited fourth sets):-5-7, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 19-19. at the Board meeting it may be put to Tho final set lasted more than an Mr. Pearce that he ought to have sug- rallies.
hour, and all four players were on gested the adoption of the professional the verge of collapse when the game game in its entirety and been done with was called off.
pionship of the world when he beat
in a 15-round bout.
The boxers began the 15th round about even, but Archibald charged out and battered Rodak to win what many thought was the deciding round. Reuter.
FAMOUS SPRINGBOK'S DEATH
Budge was limping from cramp, Vines crashed into a wall and injured his back, while Gledhill appeared to bo nearly fainting. Perry, though not in such a bad state as the others, was visibly weary.
it!
The Playing Field Problem
Run Off Their Feet
In
4
Those speedy French wing forwards went after the ball like greyhounds. Their pace and agility were amazing. But their wind couldn't last, and long before half-time they were ran off their Only legs. England's time had come. six of the visiting pack could raise o gallop, and France was beaten by five goals, two penalty goals, and two tries If one took Mr. Pearce's remarks (37 points) to nothing. Prior to this, Budge had beaten seriously one would immediately ask Anyone who saw the Calcutta. Cup Perry by 6-1, 6-2 in a singles match, what would happen if teams were re-match last year at Twickenham could the sixteenth of the series between duced to 18-n-side. There would pre-atate a case against any tinkering with but would team formation as a means of making these two players. Budge now leads sumably be more teams, by thirteen matches to three.--Press they exist? Playing fields are none Rugby more attractive. a fairly Association..
too plentiful. Providing pitches for all long experience one cannot recall Johannesburg, April 6.-Dr. Steve
their teams is an ever-present problem finer and more open game to watch. with every club. Playing memberships Mr. Pearce, one admits, would be high- Joubert, the famous South African Rugby player, has died here at the Paul Roos. In his carly playing are ever increasing, and one has only ly appreciative of the brilliant running to consider the somewhat precarious and handling of the Scottish backs. He aged of 51.
career he was a fine all-round back, existence of some of the junior clubs in may have been depressed by the in- Joubert was a member of the first and later became one of the finest the district to realise that a reduction competence of England's attack behind Springbok team which went over- full backs South Africa has proof team formation would in the end forwards who got an overwhelming mean that many youths would be, de-share of the ball from the scrums seas in 1906 under the captaincy of | duced Reuter.
prived of their game.-
though, the splendid tackling by Scot Hundreds of old players could readiland's defenders would be recognised. ly affirm that the deterioration of back But, one asks, how could anyone after play which there has undoubtedly been watching that match believe Rugby cannot atill be as fine a game to, play during the last decade because of spol-and attractive to watch if the players ing wing forwards, can be cured with
care to make it so? qut any tinkering with the laws or re- duction of teams. ~
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All that the game needs at present is a simplification of the laws, à revision Is Mr. Pearce unaware that quite of the scrummage rule as regards put- recently A. D. Stoop, England's famous ting in the ball and nothing more. The captain of prewar days and himself a wing forwards can be dealt with by in former Rugby Union president, said telligent opponents who care to employ the remedy for the troubles which exist their wits and all the variations of for lies with the players themselves? Award play. clean quick heel from the scrum, and a fast accurate pass to the stand-off
JOCK M'AVOY'S KNEE INJURY
London, April 7,
standing wide will, he said at the Sure roy Diamond Jubilee dinner, defeat the most nefarious of wing forwards." Mr.
The British Boxing Board of Control Stoop ought to know since he played stand-off long enough for Oxford Unie will discuss to-day a new date for the versity, Harlequiths, and England. And, British middle-weight, championship It must be mentioned, at a time when fight between Jock M'Avoy (Rochdale), these classic wing forwards, C. H; Pill-holder, and Ginger Sadd (Norwich).
WHITEAWAY, LAIDLAW & CO. LTD. or Morgan were, at the M'Avoy has an injury to knee eRP,
height of their fame. Pillman several and it is expected that the original date times alded and abetted Stoop in inter-of April 24 will be changed.