FIELD SPORTS AND AQUATICS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 4124, 22 September 1883, Page 5 (Supplement)

FIELD SPORTS AND AQUATICS.

(8-0 (BY ACTiEON.)

Aquatics.

Opening o£ Boating S-ason October Krag Champagne Cup November 2nd Wnau Regatta November 9th Rowing Association Regatta November Auckland Intercolonial Regatta .. January 29th Athletics. Robertson v. Strong (wrestling) Sept. 29th fcdwards-Scott walking match. .October 5 and 6 Athletic Sports November 9th Cricket, Ponsonby v. Thames October 6th

The arrival of Southern papers containing the report of the Auckland-Wellington football match wired by the Press Association has been anxiously awaited here, but they are now to hand. That the strictures of the various journals on the gross partiality shewn by the writer were justified is proved by a perusal of the precious report iteelf. In the first five lines, the author betrays his animus by the statement that "it was generally admitted by the most impartial of the spectators that the Aucklanders in disputing the try were simply determined to win the game by taking advantage of any point that could be raised." A brief discourse on the weather and the match keeps this verdant youth out of trouble for the next twenty lines, and then he is carried away by excitement again, when he says :—" It was taken for granted that Wellington was bound to be beaten. But how dreadfully sold those who held that opinion must have been when they saw the second spell, in which Wellington was simply forcing the Auckland men down, while for only a couple of minutes did the local team allow the leather to come withoutthe Auckland2syardsmark." This isnot by any means consistent with the reports in the Wellington papers. This amateur in the art of football reporting then launches into one of the most confusing and ridiculous "descriptionsof the play " that it has been my lot to read. The report is remarkable for the number of points scored by Wellington, and which would appear to have been forgotten in the general reckoning, for the heroism and undaunted bravery with which the Wellington men are credited, and which the Press Association man may fancy will eoverthern with endless glory, and for the wretched play and want oi spirit displayed by Auckland. Reading onward, I find that O. Campbell seized Carter and turned him a complete somersault, but the statement had as much weight with mo as it would have with any of my readers. Again the writer displays feeling when he says : —" The first scrimmage now took place, and this was well within the Auckland twenty-five line. The visitors played the same off-side game as they did down South, which called forth so much disapprobation. The Wellington people were not slow to notice this, and Auckland were hooted from all sides of the field." How creditable to Wellington was all this hooting, and how pleased would they have been had they been similarly treated on their visit to Auckland two years ago ! The youth who describes the "offside game down South" which he never saw is a prodigy, and it is fortunate that some vent has been found at last for his genius. It would be monotonous to follow this " vapouring " very closely, so I will skip to the following:—"Whiteside, the Northern ' crack,' was rather disappointing, and the opinion was freely expressed that if the form he showed here was his usual game, Wellington had two or three men who could 'lick' him." However willing the critic might be to perform this dirty operation, it is doubtful if Whiteside would consent. Again, I read that "after the first ten minutes, the crowd again hooted Auckland for their off-side play, and there was a continual disputing (on the Auckland side) of the umpire's decision.'' Of course there was. At this stage, it would almost appear as if the writer had been "toasting " his friends too freely. His report becomes disgracefully muddled, and the best I can make out of it is that Auckland hasn't a footballer excepting Warbrick, that the Wellington men are the most gallant in the colony, and far and away the best footballers, and that A. Cooper and his captain are personal friends of the writer. Probably they will not boast of the acquaintance. The record of Cooper's exploits winds up with the following reference to " our boys":—"Here the wretched off-side play of Auckland was again noticeable, and the visitors were hooted on all sides for what the most uninterested footballer must have decided was unfair play." With the interval of a sentence, he again says:—"Here again the crowd hooted Auckland for their off-side play, and there could be no doubt that) it was deserved, as Auckland was continually questioning the umpires' word, and the ball had to be returned." Soon afterwards, he is compelled to record a goal by Warbrick, and he tells his readers that the general opinion was that it was a poster, and also that the ball touched Brown before it went over.— Then he adds for the third time within forty lines:—" Auckland was still being hooted for their unfair play, and at one time it was doubtful if they would not get mobbed." In the concluding part of his report, the weakness of the critic's intellect is made apparent :—" Inthesecond spell Wellington were ten to one better than Auckland in the scrimmages, and the touches-down were exemplary. The goal which A. 15. Thomp- j son kicked was in itself the masterpiece of the game, and although surrounded by opponents, young Thompson landed what is the prettiest goal seen in this town. The decision was given against the visitors, who, although playing the meanest game ever played here, tried to gain an advantage. The real result of the game is : Wellington two goals and a try to love. There can be no two opinions about the game. Had it lasted half an hour longer, Wellington could have walked over the great Northerners." TheChristehurchjournal which published this report thus expresses its opinion of the nonsense : —Really we give this report up as a bad job. Clearly unfair all through, the writer has evidently gone off his head towards the end. We print the concluding portion of the report just as we received it, and our readers are welcome to puzzle it out for themselves. We have omitted portions of the report which are evidently of so partial a character that no reliance can be placed on them.

During last season, Our Boys Cricket Club won C matches, lost 5, and drew 3. Judge Fenton has ordered a sixteen-feet pleasure boat from Bailey. Ponsonby Cricket Club has arranged for its annual match with Thames on August 6th. ° C. Frith, the Otago bowler, lias chano-ed his residence from Dunedin to Auckland and has joined " Our Boys" Club. ' Is not someone going to growl because the rob roy canoe race is omitted from the Regatta programme for January, 1884 ? The Whau Regatta Committee intend to charter one of the ferry boats for u«e a.* flagship on Prince of Wales' Birthday. English sporting men intend to raise a subscription foB the family nf ru * • Matthe^- Webb, the famous dimmer!

Clare is building a new whaloboat for the Parnell Rowing Club, intended for entry at the Auckland .Regatta.

The Auckland Football Association has offered to rofer the disputed result o! tho match at Wellington to the arbitration of the South Island Associations.

Dannie Holland has given Bailey an ordor for a now four-ton risking yacht, with centra board, built to the following dimensions: Length, 23ft. ; beam, 7ft. ; depth, 3ft,

Hanlan, Courtney, Rosa, Lee, Hosmor, and other professionals were expected to take part in a regatta at New York on August 14.

A bicyclist named E. H. Corscn has ridden down Mount Washington, a distance of 11 miles, in 1 hour and 50 minutes. He used the American star bicycle.

A single-scull race between Wm. Elliott and George Gaisel took place at Newark, N.J., on August 6th, when Elliott, contrary to expectation, won easily.

AVilliam Muldon, a wrestler, who has been attracting some attention in NewYork lately, is going to Australia at an early date.

Hanlan says he can name six oarsmen who will defeat Courtney, and Courtneyhas responded by depositing §1,500 for the six matches.

Hanlan, of Torronto, Lee, of N ewark, and Hosmcr, of Boston, rowed three miles with a turn at Fulton, New York, on July 20. Hanlan won easily ; Hosmer second.

Greenwood, the excellent wicket-keeper who played for Otago against our last representative team, is in Auckland, and will remain here if he can secure an engagement.

Several members of the Regatta Committee wished to fix the first prize for the whaleboat race at £70, but "were out-voted and had to submit to £40. This, however, should ensure a really good race.

An interestingracebetween two Auckland' built boats too!: place at Suva last month. The competing craft were the Eunice, built by Bailey, and a boat built by liatcliffe. The Eunice won easily.

There was an unusual scene at the meet' ing of the Auckland Regatta Club last week, when Mr J. Waymouth, sen., failingto carry a certain point re the " whaleboat " race, resigned and left the room.

The Secretaiy of the Ponsonby Rowing Club has written to Mr Chas. Dacre for dimensions of the whaleboats to be used at the forthcoming Auckland Regatta. The Waitara Rowing Club has made a similar application, which has been responded to.

Canoeing is likely to attract a fair number of patrons during the summer. Carr has received four orders during the week, three of which are for Messrs Honghton, Shalders, and Shaw. These craft will measure 15ft. in length, 27in. beam, and 6 in. deep.

In view of the proposed reclamation to the westward of Queen-street Wharf, the Auckland Rowing Club has determined to erect only a temporary shed on the dock site. The building will be about 40ft. long, loft, wide, and 7ft high, suitable for the accommodation of four club boats.

The cutter race at the following Auckland Regatta should prove the most numerously contested event of the day. Why ? The Rangatira has departed. Therefore is the grief of Tenetahi very great. The Regatta^ Committee can drop the "handicapping" question now —the " cause " is "no more."

A rather amusing blunder has been committed by the Auckland Regatta Club. At a recent meeting it was decided to make the large yacht race for vessels S tons and upwards, -.with the view of admittingthe Arawa. Is"ow it is found the Arawa measures only Ih tons, and a further alteration is necessary. Speaking of the glove contest between Sullivan and Sladc, the "Police Gazette" says that it was plain to all that tne Maori " turned tail " when Sullivan forced him to the ropes, and that Slade ran away. Slade. is to meet Mitchell, the English champion, during the present month. The latter is decidedly the favourite.

In the Plumbers' Football Match last Saturday the scores were :—Parker's team, 10 points; Branston and Foster's, nil. For the winners, Lecky played a grand game, kicking two goals from tries obtained by Fuller and Danks. Besides these, Makin, Webster, Downey, and Millis played well; while for the losers, Smart, Pritchard, and Ripley were most conspicuous.

A " champion " cutter and " champion " schooner is wanted for Auckland. It is a remarkable coincidence that both the Transit and Itangatira, which proved such '■terrors" in their respective classes in every regatta, should have succumbed to the briny element during the same year, acd within a few months of each other. Let's drop a tear over the departed, for such fine craft cannot be found in every port.

Another effort is to be made to induce the Australian yacht squadrons to enter several of their large vessels in an international competition to be held in this port. Mr Thos. Henderson,jnn., who was a passenger for Sydney by the mail steamer this week, goes over the water on a holiday trip and during his absence from Auckland lie intends to make proposals to the various clubs with reference to this important matter.

Before the yacht Rita again enters the brmy element several important alterations and improvements will have been effected both internally and externally. Bailey's workmen have already started on her. She is to be newly coppered and all her lead placed outside of the keel. The cabin is to be fitted with swing-back seats and cushions of horsehair and crimson velvet, all of which will be movable, in order that there may be more room than formerly, and that in event of important races she may be easily and speedily cleared of such luxuries.

I sincerely regret that the writer of outdoor pastimes in the Canterbury "Times" —which journal has the reputation of being one of the best sporting papers in the colony—should have allowed his personal spleen against the Auckland Football Team to carry him so far as it has evidentlydone, if I may judge from paragraphs which have since appeared in the column over which he exercises control. This gentleman (?) has a reputation for snobbery throughout the length and breadth #of Canterbuay, and is held in detestation by members of the profession to which ne belongs. While the team was in Christchurch he attempted to patronise our boys." They, however, declined the patronage of the lisping dude, and subsequently he was taken to task somewhat severely for his unwarrantable interference. Following the if.1? .*° Dunedin, by fawning «•* tosL™S he endeavoured to Ingratiate himself with several of our men, %ut they would have none of him ; and on one occas.on during the Christchurch match he narrowly escaped collision with Whitosiae tor putting in his spoke where, it n°* wanted. I merely write these mcts because persons knowing the high Wfg™^™ "Times" might unwittingy.K"e F^ence to the insidious and malicious inuendo* contained in the last issue.