CRICKET.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 295, 12 December 1891, Page 2 (Supplement)

CRICKET.

Local oricketers bad. another glorious day last Saturday, and I fully expected to see one at least of our players roach- the coveted three figures ; bub beyond '.Howlebt's scor e of 63, nob out, few of bho ol hern gob far beyond the half-century.

The United made a vory tpoor show against Auckland, and blib for Miller's brilliant stand, their score uould have been very small. Miller treated! the spectators to a good display of hard hitting- in compiling his 43, which waa just half the Unitedtotal, made with tho bat. ) Miller is bhe only batsman that I have se<en this season play our crack bowler with a'.uy confidence. G. " Walker was showinjg very free cricket wheu ho put .! bis leg in

front and paid tho penalty, "j Mumford was in a considerable timo for sa very useful half-dozen, when he went otijt to Noil] and the Rev. I. Richards did tj;he rest. The veteran B. J. Yates bad the-. 1 , misfortune to be run out after adding 4 to ijthe total. It. Neill did not havo such a go.od analysis as in previous matches, hub, nevertheless. 5 wickets for 58 is a first-rato; performance for senior cricket. A. M. [Beale's three wickets only cosb him 9 apiecO. Auckland have made a very good start'i in their first innings, and, unless something very extraordinary happens.*, must scores their fourth win. Howlett played olte of his best innings for 63 not out,,! his cutting and pretty driving being veryjeff'ective. O'Brien, for bhe second'tim_ this season, lost his wicket through being tun out, but it was gross carelessness., nob on his own parb, that it occurred on Sabunday. J. Arneil looked as if he vtere going bo cause a lob of trouble M_i.cn- he got too anxious to punish s» \ooie one, and was cano-hb very cleverly by Midler. T? Neill, after a very slovenly opening, settled down in fine stylo, and he scored very rapidly, especially froim his of!" strokes, till he was caught for 3(5. j United batted one shot-it, the absentee being W. Stem.son, who lis one pf those lucky fellows that catch yverything thab comes along, I don't mean cricket balls, but small things like typhoid fever or bhe influenza. I noticed th. c fast brundler on the ground, however, and' he expects to be recovered enough from -the prevailing epidemic to be able to don tihe flannel's toWhat has come over thu Gordonites this season? On last yeari.s .performances they looked to have a big itnorltgage on the championship this year , but they have been beaten—and very bhdly beaten at that—in the two matches bhat they have played, and on" Saturday ; last could only make 139 against St. Mar.v's-Onslow. Of that total four of the players and " extras amassed 126. They ™<§* S°° d with H. B. Lusk and N. Williams, and 49 for one wicket looked very encouraging, bub beyond Fowke and Goitlsbone none of tha-others could play Lund on at all. H. B Ln»k and Williams botJ.h scored very rapidly and displayed good cricket, butone ot the best inoinge played on tl,e ground was that of the popular Gordon skipper (Fowke), who showed goeat patience for his 47 nob out. ij never saw "Johnny" bat so cautiously More. Gouistone Jo shaped well and pUyed a real y hi.rh-class inning. Lundon bowled with good judgment throughout; be changed his pace nearly every ball, and thereby eeonred

most of his wickete, His performance with the ball, taking 6 wickets for 31 runs, is a one. Howjs and Stone also trundled .well. The last named had very hard luck in not securing a wicket. The ball that Rowo dismissed Moresby wibh was a trimmer. Why does the latter stand so far away from his wicket? St. Mary's—Onslow had the misfortune to lof.ejDt.Egan and Rowe before time was called. The former was bowled off his pvads, while Bowe, after making several very clean strokes, was run out. [ ■A. O'Brien, who has been batting exceptionally well this season,- has had very hard luck in nob making a large score. He has batted in four innihgs, with the result thab he was bowled once, twice run out, and once not out, withithe following scores:— 3, 10, 50 and 16. I

What is the matter wibh D. J. Cobberill ? for in the four innings that he- has batted, he has only made two runs. We all know that he can bat, but 0, 0, 2,0, does nob read very well for a senior cricketer, and one who had such a good reputation in Christchurch.

Howlett, who made 68 (not oub) againsb United, lefb for Melbourne last Wednesday on a holiday, so that he will be an absentee to-day, and his innings will be uncompleted. Howlett expects to be back for the Auckland Club's next contest. O'Brien has also gone for a holiday to Mercury Bay, while Miller will be missing from United's team, as ho left for Sydney on Wednesday. He will also return aftefi the New Year.

I The wretched 'wicket on which Parnell played their scratch match with fifteen of the Auckland 11, prevented a good display of batting. Some of Gaudin's deliveries " bumped " very dangerously, and tew of the batsmen felb anything bub comfortable while at the wickets. Young, who is batting very consistently this season, made another tidy score of 47, while Holle also made some rattling strokes in compiling 27. Garjiiner, Pritchard and Mills justy.roached douible figures. Gaudin was the most successful bowler and secured 4 wickets, i Auckland 11. have lost 9 wickets for 71, Harkness again asserting himself for 35. The North Shore havo given Gordon 11. a bit of a surprise, as they havo an advantage of 21 on tho firsb innings. For the Shore's botal of 98, Harden played a sound innings for 33, in which were included several well executed and vigorous strokes. A. Lankham (15), and Chapman (not oub) 11, also hit carefully and with good judgment. Kissling secured 5 wickets for 38, and Kenderdine the same number for 46 ; Orbell's ono over cost him 11 runs. Of Gordon's score of 77, three of the team — Gillillon (46), Gome (15), and Kenderdine (10, not out) made all but- six of the runs. Gilfillan's score was made in first-clues style. Gorrio was well set when ho had | hard luck in boing given out off a bum-ball. Kenderdine displayed his usual patience in contributing his quota. Tho Shore field--ing was very good, and nob an extra was given. Lankham secured 3 wickets for 39 : Coupland, 3 for 26 ; and Goudio, 2 for 8. The Wanderers gave the '.Star, an afterI noon's leather-hunting, tho tenth wicket falling shortly beforo timo was called. All the Star's bowlers got severely handled, bub when fourteen catches are dropped it is only to be expected. The fielding of the Staiut-hs was nob up to second juYiior form, and bhey paid tlte piper for ib. Nearly .all the Wanderers' eleven reached double figures. W. Kowe (ofi, nob out), W. Whelan (38), and H. Thomas (11), displayed the best cricket for their respective scores. Parnell 11. were badly handicapped,on Saturday hy tho absence of their thi\ee best men, F. Brown, Buchan, and C. Elloy, and, in consequence, Grammar School have a very sofb thing on. Parnell batted first for 73, Rybnrn (31, not out), Mclfugh (10), and Sadler (12), being the principal run-getters. Ab call of time Grammar School had lost 5 wickets for 131. Mr Turner was the largest contributor with 45, compiled by a i very vigorous display of batting. J.Ball, 40, and O. Ball, 24 (not oub), played in good style for thoir runs. Victoria look like scoring their second victory, as they have secured a lead of 23 over St. Mary's 11. on the first innings. The latter batted first for 80, S. Rowo being the only batsmuti to causo much trouble. Crabtree bowled exceedingly well for Victoria, capturing 7 wickets for 46, all clean bowled. Of the Victoria's score, Holdsworth, 20, McKillopp, 19 (nob out), Layers, I 17, and Crabtree, 16, were the double figure scores. it-'iwo and Morgan met with ihe mopt success with the leather, securing 4 wickets each. Now thab tho date is definitely fixed for the Wellington match, I would suggest to the Cricket-Association the advisability of at once selecting say 20 probables, and let them indulge in neb practice in the centre of the ground during the evenings. I heard many complaints of the bumpy state of the practice wickets this week, the Parnell especially 'being very bad, and a number of players got severe knocks about the arms and body. There are plenty of first-class wickets to be obtained near the centre of the ground, and the Association should commence preparations for the forthcoming contest without delay, as it iy only about eight weeks to the mutch, aud we must nob forget that the last timo Auckland played Wellington the latter won, and by 10 wickets. Lawrence, a son of one of the ''fathers " of Victorian cricket, who has been making .some ball scores; for ihe Alameda Club of San Francisco, and was also one of the best bowlers in that city, passed through Auckland last week en route to Melbourne. During his short stay here ho vHted the Domain Cricket Ground, where Mr McKinney invited him to a game at. tho United net. The visitor gave a splendid display of batting, and when bowling repeatedly beat. Yates wibh a good log break. McKinney saw a titling opportunity to work jn one of in"? jokes, and introduced j Lawrence as a new member, and the j United were in testacies ab their good j fortune in securing the services of such a i firsb-class man. When it transpired, how-I ever, that he was only a through paHsanger by the mail steamer, and had departed again, they were very wroth, and swore vengeance on their secretary. Dunlop, the old Canterbury representative, and his brobher have been performing well in Melbourne. Playing for the South Melbourne Second against the Melbourne Second, tho former team batted all day, scoring 319 for nine wickets. D. Dunlop played a fine innings for 97, and J. E. Dunlop scored 58. George Gifien has played twenty-five completed innings in Club maiches since 1885, and has an average of 77 runs por innings! Lord Sheffield, who heads the English team of cricketers now at Adelaide (says the Sydney " Bulletin "), is a little podey man, almost as broad as be is long. The crowd laughed hugely when he waddled across Adelaide Oval wibh bwo or three of his sturdy players. Tho Earl is cleanshaven wibh "the exception of a straggly, half-moon Irish beard under his chin. He spends plenty of money, and threatens to bo very popular. AQUATICS. In the "National Press," published in Dublin, under bhe head of "Irishmen" in the "Sporting World." I find the- following. :__" Sullivan, the New Zealand sculler, challenges Stanbury, the world's champion, to row for the championship on the Parramafcta River." Lambert beab Bubear easily in a sculling match over the Raymond Terrace (N.S. \V.) course on November 28th. Edward Hanlan, the erstwhile champion oarsman of the world, appears to be regaining some of his old form. He had all the best of the-lue_ in his race with Charlie Stephenson. By latest files Hanlan was arranging anobher match with Alex. Mc-

Lean, the champion oarsman of New Westminster, whom he beat last October. Hanlan's vicbories are beginning bo make him leb .his tongue loose, and he is indulging iv some very tall talk through the American papers. An Aucklander i\i British Columbia, who is a staunch supporter of colonial athletes and oarsmen,\ writes me as follows :—"Hanlan was training at our Club-house, so I had manychances to talk to him. He had ihe front'! to tell me that he could beab any man in •; Ausbralia, it they would row him on American waber, When I bold him bhab Tom Sullivan or Jim Sbanbury would lose him over a three-mile course, he answered that I was like all' Australians—noted fcr\ my cheek. I only wish you you could per- . suade Tom to let Stanbury go and coma over here. There is far more money in it, and if he and Hanlan met, you can depend that I would get back all tho money I lost on Stephenson, with about 200 per cent, as interest." About 15,000 spectators witnessed the sculling match between H. Peterson, of San Francisco, and C. Dutch, of Australia. From American papers I gather that Dutch had all the worst of the luck. He had the misfortune to get his racing shell broken by an uriforbunate accident r.o bhe express car which was conveying ib to 'Frisco from Victoria (8.C.), and a now boat which he had ordered from New York failed to arrive in time, and Dutch had to row in a boab borrowed from an American oarsman for tho occasion, but it was perceptibly inferior bo that of his rival. Dutch lost the spin of the coin, and was compelled to row in rough water, while Peterson had a still water course. Again, the Australian misunderstood the starter, and Peterson gained nearly two lengths' advantage at bhe start. When a mile had been covered Dutch evened things up, and'was half a length in the lead, when he slowed down and maintained his superiority to tho turning buoys, where, however, he made a fatal blunder, lor he went round Peterson's mark instead, and then noticing his mistake cut across bo hi 3 own buoy, bub wi doing so was caughb in the ebb tide, and before he had rounded,his stake, Peterson' had a lead of fifteen seconds. Dutch f-ethled down to the chase in great style, and. with his long, sweeping stroke, he gradually lessened the ' gup, bub ab bhe winning post was six lengths or three seconds behind. The San Francisco papers consider that but for the mistake Dutch made at 6he turning buoy?, he musb havo won. The Tangaroa and Manola we-re sailing in company aboub the harbour on Saburday last. The former was getting bhrough tho water much faster than W. Holder':!;- crack. Our yachtsmen were again favoured with splendid weabher for cruising last; week, and nearly all took advantage of bho (opportunity. \ The May, Mapu, Spray and Taweira had an interesting race from Waiheko lasb Sunday, and albhough bhe wind was very flukey, there was only about fifty yards difieronce between tho threo first Kiamad when they were opposite the North -Shore Wharf. The Tawera was leib a bomb bwo i miles in tlio rear. Messrs Laird, Lewis, and Carminor, who have leased tho May, had bheir first cruise last week, and I hear thoy are more than satisfied with their bargain. They intend getting her properly fitted up with bunks, fore-hatch, etc., while she is also to be treshly painted, black. The owners of tha Spray, Mapu and Manola have been this week gathering particulars as to the besb manner and means of transit for bheir invasion oi the Southern regattas. It is very probable that Captain Gibb will take the Spray tc Lyttelton to compete in the firsb class yacht race ab ibheirregattaon January 1. Holder considers that £10 is too much freight to pay for bhe Manola, when tho Spray can be conveyed far that amount. The Manola would! weigh about a ton, and an she is only 24 foot long could be carried on the davits of one of tho Union boats. It certainly seems odd bhat i the Company should ask bhe same freight for the Manola as tf-.ey want for yachts with lead keels, like the Spray and Mapu. If the matter was laid before tho Shipping Company in this lighb,. I am sure they j would make a reduction; ' The marhle column to- be erected at the Brothers on tbe Par.ramatta River in memory of tho late Henry Searle, champion J oarsman of the world, has arrived in Sydney, and was to have bean placed in position and unveiled on Tuesday last, it being the second anniversary of the noted oarsman's death. The Queensland crew. wVu'eh won the eight-oared intercolonial race this year, was coached by Mr S. IT. Gollan, the wellknown Mew Zealand horse-owiver, who i« said to have improvedibheir style- and speed greatly. The yachb Wenona 2s now on her way to Wellington from Samoa, under bho care of Captain Austin, of Auckland. Si-e called I in at Vavau bo repair her canvas, as she had been cuntrht in a gale after leaving Samoa. The Wenotm mado a very smart passage of threo days between Samoa and Vavau, The Stanbury crowd are lalidng ot backing Lambert against Tom SuSHvart, provided thn latter concedes 10 seconds, or lays £300 to £200. THS KSNG. Rob Fitzf.imrnons t'te Australian.hHpo p j another challenge to young IW,i;vh-«!l, of j America, to fight, in the Pacific Club, San j Francisco. | Williams, light-weitrlit champion.of Ans- | bralia, having received a, good offer *yi ao to j England, has forfeited tho deposit for a return m.itch with 'Dawson, of Sydney- I A match hai b™o,n fin n(tfy nt-ranc-ed. between Frank P. Siatvin and Peter Jackson j for tho puree of £2.000 ofitred by the Na- | tional Sporting Club, of .London. The match is to take place in Mit.v nex f . A match has bef.n airrangdd in San Francisco between Joe Cho.ynski and J. Corbett. The fight to a finish betwfen Billy Murphy, of Auckland, and Ji'tm Burge, the "iron man," took place in the Sydney Amateur Gymnas-tio Club on Nov.2ir.ber *23, when, after '29 rounds had been fought, the i referefl ordered tha m<»n io desist, and declared it " no fight." Mnvphy immediately stepped for v/at-d and .said, " I've done my best, and am willing to continue." He wont on to say that ho had gone to America, fought all always fouerht hard, and he bhoujyht it waa hard upon him to declare it no fight. Burge left the ring without speaking,and'. Murphy quickly foliO\ve r l him. The "Svdneyßf.feree" make? the following remarks on.tho eon teat.; —" For twentyfour rounds bhe fight was. a crood one, for Murphy made it willing tand interesting. Under ordinary circumstances fights afc this club are conducted until the referee is satisfied thut to further continue them would be contrary to the hi-Ast interests of tho game, in other words, until he is convinced that one man is practically beaten. In this case there was a stoioth'ation by Purge bhat it should he to a finixk. M urphy tried in overy way in his power lA"> batter Burge out, and, finally finding his hands G-one, he acted well within bis rights by declining to courb defeat when victory was almost impossible. Burge was weak and his legs had gone, and he wouli.l not fight, trusting that Mnrphy would kino.k himself silly and thus ,beab himself. The referee, seeing that one man with no inclination and wibh his ll.egs weak, and the other with hands useless, would never finish affairs, exercised htfs prerogative and stopped them. Murphy uiidoubtedlydvl his level best, but no ra an of his weighV. breathing can thump oub a man who relies more upon his cast-iron head and fhouldfirj. to win him a battle than upon his\ blows. j Murphy looked little the worse yes- | terday for the battle, btU bo'.h his hands! are badly broken up. " Irimbark " Jimmy | got a heavy thumping, an»d showed signs)

of it. ' He, however, is marked more about the body than the head. The committee of the club decided that as the men virtually broke their agreement, the purse or no portion of it should be awarded. They, however, decided to give Murphy a present of £40, as they conV sidered he had done all in his power to fulfil the contract. Peter Maher, the Irish champion, de.l feated Jack Fallon, the Brooklyn strong ;boy, in a fight at new York on October '31st. The American was knocked oub m the second round. Maher has covered the deposit put up by i J. Corbett (who fought a draw with Peter l \ Jackson), and a fight between the pair is '.likely to eventuate. SWIMMING. I The first ahnual of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association is now oub of t.he printers' hands,and is one of the most complete pamphlets that I have seen issued by any of our athletic bodies. The ! book is neatly printed on good paper, and contains -no less than forty-fivo pages of i very interesting to swimmers. On the frontispiece is a first--1 class illustration of tho Calliope Dock, where tho Auckland Club have held most of their carnivals. The picturewas' taken at the time of the local Club'tt Jubilee gala, when over 10,00!) spectators pa.d for admission, and is a splendid repro--1 sentation of the scene. The annual also contains the list of clubs and officials affiliated to the Association, tha second annual reporb, constitutional and general rules, championship event- and conditions, the rules of water polo (which promises :to boom in New. Zealand this season), entry forms for the guidance of competitors, as well as the world's swimming records, botli amateur and prol'essfbnal. Besides all these interesting items, there are many otjier valuable articles, one of which is how to treat a.n apparently drowned person to restore braabhing. The annuals are to be sold for sixpence each, and they are certainly well worth double bhat price to anyone interested in the natatorial art. The boo}- is the compilation of Mr R. Wm. St. Clair, the energetic honorary secretary and treasurer of the Association, and he is deserving of great praise for his work, while.the swim--1 mers of this colony are all truly indebted to him for the very interesting matter that he has introduced inbo the book. Mr St. Clair (as the Christchurch papers say) is undoubtedly the right man in the right place. The annual was pn'mfced at the Staii Office, which should'satisfy anyone as to the appearance of the work. Recently McCusker won .in important sweepstakes in America, and straightway challenged anyone in tho world (Nuttali preferred). Mr Alfred Farrand (Nu Mall's* backer) called ab bhe •' Sporting Life" Office! and deposited £100 to bind >a match for Nuttali bo swim McCusker any disbance from one hundred yards up to a mile in any bobh. Nuttali is prepared to give or take £50(offered by McCusker) and swim either in England or America. Tho match to be for £500 or £1,000 a side and the world's championship. Failing a maiteh wibh McCusker, anyone in bhe world can be accommodated on similar terms. The " Sporting Life," cabled Nubball's' terms to America requesting an early reply. A Swimming Club has been formed at Nelson. They intend working under the Auckland Swimming Club's rules. Tho 500 yds Amateur Championship of New South Walos was decided at the Enterprise Carnival at the Natntorium, Sydney, on November 16th. when W. J. Gormley won easily from S. Davis, who was second, and two others. The time was 7min fisec, whioh equals the colonial record bold by W. F. Corbett. Gormley now holds all the *o far created championships of New South Wales. J. IT. Buchanan's starting at the last sports has been freely commented on in athletic circles in Cbriattchurch during the last week (says an exchange), with the result that many of the Canterbury sprinters practise tho " set" mode of starting in all its particulars, some providing- themselves with pistols. I notice in this week's " New Zealand Graphic" faithful picture** of J. 11. Buchanan, J. C. Hutchison, 11. Dacre and J. Selby, who won the principal races at the last sports of tho Amaiteur Athletic Ciub. J. H. B. Bull has commenced training with a view of qualifying himself to represent Auckland at tbe championship meeting in Christchurch. and he has a very good show of being one of the team. Bull should bo careful not to overtrain hixnself thi* time. The entries received for the various a vents for the carnival on the 19th inst. are n timorous, and prove that the programme has met wibh the approval of swimmers.-. There are no* less than 2S entries for the Ladies' Braceleb and seven tor bhe Championship. I was rather surprised at-bhe absence of bho name ot L. Myers from :the list of entrants for the. Championship, as ' the distance (50 yards) is his fancy. As this is the last, opportunity afforded me before tho day of coin petition for dis--cussing tbe merits of the competitors for championship honours, I will vontuire to make a few rewarks respecting bheir respective a bili tier". 'FT. Ba-iioy, our present champion, ia too j well-known to require any comnier.i. at my 'j hands. Ho has only entered for tho chantI pionship rac-'. as he does not intend to do j much pwimming this season. | H. IT. Dacre is a good man over tlte dis-' j tanco, sod will be close up at the finish. j J. A. McLeod, the winner of the lasb I year's Maiden Race,' swims the hand-ovi rj hand stroke and is a flyer for 50yds. TTe j has beon training steadily, and I would nob |'ba tho least, surprised to see him win. IT. N. Gold water is n now swimmer, and, mlthough fast for thedistance_is hardly class .enough. IT. "Nicholson is a very disappointing .swimmer, and I am afraid to say anything labout him. If he takes it inito his head he may be close up. A. Duthie, although a long-distance !<wircimer. will I am sure rentier a good account, ol himself, I will not at prpsent endeavour to pick the winner, hut will wait till Friday next, •.•-hen I will publish my tips Tor the various events. Both baths presenb quitn a lively appearance both morning and evening with ntumerons swimmers training. Several of tbe competitors aro doing too much swimming, and consequently aro getting very weak a:id dilatory in their stroke. I would advise them to desist for a couple of days, and if they are afraid tbab they have not done enough work, leb them do a little fast running instead of swimming so much. The City and Grafton Polo districts appear to be the only teams doing any : practice ab bhe Baths, but other clubs may bo braining afc suitable places in their own districts, Any swimmer, whether a member of the Club or not, is welcome to join in these practices. Those who indulge ivn the - game seem to enjoy i*- thoroughly. I would remind district secretaries ithafc entries for the royal mail race close this evetiing at the Albert-street Baths, and I trust that every district will be represented. A polo ball will be given to the first and second teams. Salt water is now being used in tho Albert-street Baths, and is much appreciated by bathers. It will require to be changed a little oftener than the fresh water. As the Calliope Dock will bo in use next Saturday, the sports will be held in the Auckland Graving Dock, Customs-street. Ample sitting accommodation will be pro- \ vided, so that ladies may rest assured that thoy will be made comfortable. I The people who would have done so and j so, if they had been there, never seem to j gieb there.