1939-01-21 — Page 20

THE CHINA MAIL, JANUARY 21, 1939.

England Has Eight New 'Caps'

Meet Wales To-day In International Rugby Classic At Twickenham

"SAFETY-FIRST" POLICY IN BACKS DISCARDED

Welshmen's Improved Pack

The first of the International Rugby Championship matches will take place, this afternoon at Twickenham, where an England fifteen, including eight new "caps", will meet Wales. whose fifteen has not yet been announced, but who are reported to be very strongly represented in the pack.

The eight new "caps" in the side are Guest, Hancock, Carr, Cooke Walker, Teden, Berry, and Watkins. After all the disturb- ing effects of the trial matches, in which all three senior sides were beaten, the England selectors have gone for "new blood" with a

vengeance.

It must be a long time since as many as eight new "caps" were called upon

in a single match. Only three of the side that play- ed against Scotland in the clos- ing international engagement of last season retain their places: They are Toft, Harold Wheatley, and Marshall, though Prescott and Huskisson were picked and withdrew through injury.

"SAFETY-FIRST" DISCARDED

The back division shows that the old policy of "safety-first" has been dis- carded. There is no more brilliant at- tacking centre in the country than Heaton on his day and few better goal-kickers. Trial form clearly sug- Hancock gested that he, Guest, and would find places in the England fif- teen.

and of

ENGLAND'S XV

The England team is as follows:- H. D. Freakes (Oxford University); R. H. Guest (Liverpool University), J. Heaton (Waterloo),

G. E. Hancock (Birkenhead Park),

and

R. S. L. Carr (Old Cranleighans and

Manchester);

P. Cooke (Richmond) and

G. A. Walker (Royal Air Force and

Blackheath);

R. E. Prescott (Harlequins), H. B. Toft (captain) (Waterloo), D. E. Teden (Richmond).

T. E. Huskisson (Old Merchant Tay-

lors).

H. F. Wheatley (Coventry), J. T. W. Berry (Leicester);

R. M. Marshall (Oxford University),

and J. K. Watkins (Royal Navy and

United Services),

}

SCOTLAND'S SCRUM-HALF

AGAINST WALES

INTRIGUING POSITION

REVEALED

(By AIR MAIL)

In the final Scottish Rugby trial held at Murrayfield last Saturday (January 14), the opposing serum- halves were both members of the same club-Hèriot's F.P. W. R. C. Brydon, the Club's second string, played in the "Scotland” fifteen, while E. O. Kollien, the Club's senior scrum, was in the "Rest" team.

There is little between them ac- cording to Club selection, but Kol- lien, as the man in possession, has kept his place in the first fifteen. Now the Scottish Rugby Union selectors may beg to differ! T. F. Dorward, who WO6 Scotland's scrum-half during last season, was absent from the trial owing to in- jury..

F.A. CUP 4TH

ROUND TO-DAY OF CHOICEST VINTAGE

Series of Sparkling London Ties

譬

The fourth round of the Eng- lish Cup which takes place to day, is of choicest vintage. The

of

The advantages of height weight probably told in favour Freakes at full back..over, the stockv Birkenhead Park man, G. A. Hosking. Freakes, who captained Oxford against Cambridge, was said, after the Universumed playing since his return to this draw has produced a series sity match in December, to be giving country, but he jumped into form im-sparkling ties. London is to have up all games for some time to study for a degree. An injury prevented Frenkes, from starting football this season until the programme was well] advanced.

mediately.

DOUBTFUL HALF-BACKS

two of the best "local derbies," as Chelsea and Fulham and West Ham and Tottenham have been

in

at

S. African Second Test Comment

HAMMOND'S LATE DECLARATION

CRITICISED

(By AIR MAIL)

Capetown. That South Africa fought a magnificent uphill battle to save the game is the general-opinion of the critics after the second Test match. W. R. Hammond's delayed declaration comes in for criticism.

Some of the comments are:-

Mr. N. 0. Norton (president of the South African Cricket Asso-

is. too jciation) :—“The batting

good for the bowling in my opinion. Not until the final Test, which is played to a finish shall we get a definite result."

nor

Rand Daily Mail:-"Without rain, neither England

South Africa has the bowlers to dispose of the The batsmen twice in four days' team winning the toss has a big ini- tial advantage, but, so far, Hammond has not combined his luck with a spirit of adventure."

Johannesburg. Star:-"Hammond's late declaration played into the hands of the South Africans. Eng- land missed a grand opportunity of seeking victory by not closing the innings late in the afternoon of the second day, when the South Africans were tired and demoralised, There is not much wrong with the quality of the cricket, but the safety-first spirit behind the game is open criticism."

to

Natal Mercury:-"Nourse proved himself an even greater batsman than we in Natal (Nourse's province) accounted him. If unable to claim the honours, South Africa proved that its cricketers are keen and ade- quate."

A. J. Pienaar (president of the

The half-back position is less clear. Haydn Tanner, the Swansea and Welsh paired. inside-half, may make an appearance OBOLENSKY OMITTED

while W. G. Morgan (Cardiff) and First Division clubs were his luck, and most of them are It is unfortunate that room could not Geoffrey Davies (Aberavon) are

most prominent challengers.

clubs that home. Most of the be found for the flying Russian-born Prince A. Obolensky. In Saturday's At outside-half there also is doubt. got through their Third Round -trial he displayed a resource and de- W. T. H. Davies, the Swansea out-side-Tie last Saturday week at the

fensive stability that must have sur-half, now studying at the Carnegie prised many of his critics. Carr did College, Leeds, is an unknown quan- first time of asking are at home. not distinguish himself on that occa-tity, and the great probability is that Wolverhampton (favourites for Western Province Cricket Union), in sion and his selection can be counted his strongest contender will be W. E. the Cup) will be glad that they justifying Mitchell's slow batting, the only surprise.

Jones, the brilliant young Neath half- Walker fully earned a place, and back.

are at Molyneux when they meet said: "Many people, are ready to cri- ticise when a batsman has not played Cook the scrum-half, who toured the Some adjustment of the forwards Leicester City. Preston North in the manner they wished, but they Argentine with the British team in seems necessary, and possibly W. E. End, last year's winners, oppose are the first to applaud them on the 1986, secured preference over J. Ellis Harris (Swansea) can keep his place Aston Villa. (Wakefield), probably on the score of in the second row of the serummage,

The following is the draw:- orthodoxy. Cooke prefers the long though normally he is in the middle pass from the scrum, whereas Ellis is of the back row, and there credited Notts County v. Walsall,

Swansea's likely to attempt more individualism. with having changed all after the manner of the late Arthur prospects by making the scrummage Young,

solid. It is a moot point whether Ellis and

The point is, however, that Wales is Walker would not be the better com-gaining in confidence because there is an improvement in the general stan·l- ards of play,

bination.

FORWARDS AS EXPECTED

The forwards are much as expect-

ed, with the claims of Toft as hooker

Portsmouth v. West Bromwich Albion Sheffield Wednesday v. Chester, Middlesbrough v. Sunderland. Liverpool v. Stockport County. Wolverhampton Wanderers v. Leices-

ter City.

(Continued at foot of Next Col.)

results they achieve."

Sir Abe Bailey (who saw England bat on Monday):-"Hammond played a fine innings, but he declared too laté."

Hammond's use of the heavy roller,

which appears to have evoked a good

deal of unfavourable comment in Epṛ- land, has aroused little interest in the South African Press. The "Johannes- burg Star" merely mentions that Ham- mond used the roller with the object of causing the wicket to crumble, but

again deservedly recognised. Watkins. SPECIAL OFFER IN CARPETS & RUGS that it had no noticeable effect on the

on Saturday, played with a virility and enterprise that literally forced him in- to the national team, and he completes a pack that should be capable of pro- ducing scrummaging solidity and live- liness in: the open. One notable ab- sentee is R. J. Longland (Northamp- ton), who, after 19 appearances, passed over.

ig

PROBABLE WELSH BACKS Regarding Wales, their probable three-quarter line is A. Bassett and Wilfred Wooller (Cardiff). Idwal Rees .(Londón Welsh). J. F. V. Ford (Welch Regiment), or Elvet Jones (Llanelly). There is thrust in the centre of..this line and speed and cleverness on the wings. Bassett and Wooller arg old caps: Jones went to South Africa with the recent British Tourists and creat- ed a great Impression, so that it will be no surprise if he is choson outright for Wales. He has only recently re-

AXMINSTER

BRUSSELS

AND

INDIAN

CARPETS & RUGS

ALL LESS 15%

wicket.

Everton v. Doncaster Rovers. Blackburn Rovers v. Southend United. Birmingham v. Chelmsford City. Millwall v. Grimsby Town.

or Tranmere Rovers. Leeds United v. Huddersfield Town. Cardiff City v. Newcastle United.. Preston North End`y. Aston Villa.

WHITEAWAY, LAIDLAW & CO., LTD. Chelgen v. Fulham

West Ham United v. Tottenham Hot-

spur, Shoffield United v. Manchester City,