AQUATICS.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 143, 18 June 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

AQUATICS.

Juno 21.—Five-mile Amateur Race from Onehunga. July. 1887.—Hanlan v. Teemer. United States October i.— "Thistle" races for the America' Cup. Nov. 26.—Beach v. Hanlan for the Championsnip of the world on the Nepean.

At tli3 start of the season I expressed the opinion that Grafton were out of the running for the Cup, but it has turned out otherwise, and as yet their matches have been an unbroken series of victories. They were blessed with a couple of comparatively soft matches at the start, and thin gave them time to pull themselves together, and they are now almost as strong as ever they were ; at least a great many think so. They did the Gordons properly last week. lam afraid that the blacks are very deficient in pluck when it comes to playing an uphill game ; nothing like what they were once. In the second spell the maroons held them penned the ; whole .time, and they were thoroughly beaten, although the score, when analysed, does not showto much advantage. George Johnston and Brown were both successful in potting goals, while Gardiner obtained a rather doubtful try. The Grafton forwards played a fine game, and Binney was the only one of the other side who seemed to have savee enough to fall on the ball to stop the rushes. As usual, Gordon's passing did not come off, doing more harm than good. The match next Saturday between the Grafton and Ponsonby is attracting a great deal of attention, and is bound to attract a large crowd. Ponsonby went through the Waitematas to the tune of 37, points, as one of the losing side aptly put it, " a grand practice for kicking goals." The Ponsonby 11. were also victorious, and after a very tough game beat the Waitemata 11. by G points to 2. : . *7\\

Graf ton 11. beat the Gordon by 16 points to nil. J'

In reading the reports of the matches on a Monday one feature of the,,, play is very noticeable now, namely, the number of goals kicked from the field. At least. 9 were kicked in the various matches, and that o» a greasy groimd. 1 can commend the suggestion re a Footballers' Insurance Fund to the hearty sup-* port of all local kickists. It is what has been wanted for a long time, for there is no, telling when a serious accident might happen. Luckily, they have been few and far between as yet. Six matches are played under the auspices of the Union every Saturday, and if a subscription of 6d was levied each week from every player, at leasj>, £4 10s could.be raised, and, this.isutjsidised from the funds of the Union, would soon form a fund sufficient to stand any calls likely to be made oh it for some time.

A great many of our local, players feel" themselves aggrieved because they do not get a " show ". in this column,, and are rather apt at times to call " Action" hard names. lean, however, assure them that they have no one but themselves to blame. I cannot be everywhere iat the same> time, nor can I possibly expect to get in a great amount of original news unless the sporting , public will assist. If Tom makes a good run, or Dick has something of especial im-, portance to the sporting fraternity on his mind, or Harry has done something.very smart, let them send it before Wednesday to "Aetceon," and' then they,will have no cause to growl. Verbum sap. There's a chance of the Gordon F. 0., Sydney, paying New Zealand a,, visit; ,this season. Pretty plucky if they do.j