Porpoises Must Ward Off Carried om Informally in Aid of Red Cross Threats of Tritons and Details; Postponements London, Aug. 6. Athletics is proving one of the the Volunteers and the Regulars Owing to the calls of duty both on most popular forms of war-time sport. To start with, it is not a during the forthcoming week, all money-making soort, and in Britain matches in the water polo league has never attracted really big have been postponed a week as from crowds, except at one or two meet-today. This will result in a delay ings. such as the big White City in completing the water polo league, gatherings. The limitation of crowds but as a majority of all teams are has not had much effect on athletics. serving in some unit or other, it And in a> sport where there is not would not be satisfactory to turn out much chance of making money there depleted sides in important matches is little fear of losing any, and which are coming up for decision consequently little inducement to now. close down during bad times.
The match between the Seaforths Another effect of the unimportance and the Surreys, down for decision of crowds to a sport is that when at the Army pool yesterday was post-they are missing it carries on as poned until today, owing to the wea-usual, and that is the case with ther yesterday, the Army's open air athletics. When a crowd turns up pool being unsuitable for playing off the Red Cross benefits from the water polo matches in heavy rain. receipts: if there is no crowd the This postponed match will take place sport goes on just the same, at 6 pin. this evening at the Army pool.
Informal Today's two matches, between the Porpoises and Walrusses and inci-In the London area one of the dentally a deciding match in the biggest contributions to the main-league, has been held over until tenance of the sport is being made August 27, as has the match between by The Combined Clubs, formed the Area Details and the Rowing from three clubs whose ranks have Club, also down for decision today. been depleted by the calls of the On Monday, A.S.F. were scheduled Services. Every week they have a to play Seaforths, and their match match against some well-known will take place on August 19, while clubs, or combination of clubs. The on Tuesday, Seaforths were due to matches are informal in atmosphere, play the P. and. Surreys the and last-minute cancellation of leave Rowing Club, both these matches beand other factors sometimes vary ing postponed to August 20. On the programme. On one occasion, August 14, Walrusses were scheduled for instance, there were only two to meet Area Details, and that match starters in the three-mile event, has been held over til August 21. which was cut down to two miles.
Porpoises Threatened—Reuter.
The water polo league position indicates that the Porpoises will win and retain the shield they won last year, but they have lost one match in the season—that to the Walruses—and on Tuesday they drew with the Area Details. They have to meet the Walruses again and this will be the decisive match of the season, for although Walruses by virtue of their defeat at the hands of the ASF. twice and a draw twice with the Rowing Club, are out of the running, Area Details are still contenders as are ASF. and the Walrus v. Porpoise match brings the matter to a head.
The season will close later this year than ever before and some matches will take place during the period usually reserved for the swimming off of championships. However, polo matches take place during the midweek and should not materially affect the training or swimming off of heats for the Shanghai championships.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.