CRICKET.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 3, 4 January 1896, Page 2 (Supplement)

CRICKET.

The New Sonbh Wales team of cricketers are expected to arrive in the Manukau late this evening. Tbey play the fifth and last match of their tour on the Domain Cricket Ground on Tuesday and Wednesday uexfe, when they meed an Auckland eleven. So far they have had a successful tour, although they did not defeat the New Zealand eleven. It is nob expected our cricketers will defeat the Cornstalks,but the Auckland eleven should make as good a show as the Southern repa. Ib is unfortunate for Auckland bhab H. Gould is unable to obtain leave to assist the local team, for his performances with the ball in the matches played by the Wahoa team laab week show thab he has lost none of his cunning. The game commences afc half-past ton punctually each day, and those who de3ire to see first class cricket should endeavour to bo present.

Tho New South Wales team will he entertained at a fishing excursion tomorrow, and local cricketers are invited to attend. Tickets may be obtained from the Secretary of the Cricket Association (Mr Groville) or from any members of the Committee.

Ih looks as if centuries are to become unusually common in Auckland this soason. On Saturday lash George Mills scored tho coveted throo figures, making 130 at North Shore for the marine suburb. This is the first century ever made on the Shore ground, and the fourth recorded in Auckland this season.

The New South Wales cricketers leave for Sydney on Wednesday evening next.

In commenting oo the chances of tha Dunedin cricketera who were nominated for tho New Zealand team, a Duneilin sstibo saye, 'lean hardly see Rains in the team while we have Fowko.' Yob tha Committee who selected tho New Zaaland team have ignored tho claims of E. Wright, of Auckland, who isafar superior wicket keeper to Fowke, while as a batsman the latter is nob in the same class aa Wrighb. I'm afraid the gentlemen who selecf.edothe New Zealand team can know nothing whatover about the form of Auckland playors, and in future tho Auckland Crickeb Association should see thab we are given one man on the Selection Committee, otherwise none of our cricketera may expacb to be included in a New Zealand team.

Tho New South Wales team consists of twelve playere, says a Christchnrc'u scribe, and, so far, during the tour the man who w.ho has notbeea included in tho eleven has stood umpire. I do nob wish ib to be inferred that I think one of the visitors would givo an unfair oeciaion, but it does nob follow because a man is a good player that ha is a gooJ umpire, and if some capable outsider could be obtained for tho Now Zealand match next week I am sure ib would give more satisfaction to all parties concerned, I notice four CHago batsmen were given out leg before wicket on Friday and Saturday, which is rather a high percantage. A mistake by an umpire often alters the result of a game. D. Reese, who bowled co well for Canterbury against New South Wales, is only ]6 years of ago. The team of cricketers representing Northorn Wairoa which visited town last, week wore beaten in the two matches they played against local elevens, but they gained an easy victory over the Wanukau Association rep?. Elliott, Kansell and Fitzpatrick handled the bat well, while Gould waa a host in himself with the ball, Elliott performed well aa a wicketkeeper, while Campbell distinguished himself by his quick and neat work in the field, where it may be said all the visitors did well. The fo'lowing fixtures have been arranged by the Waipa Crickeb Association for the second round : — January 4.—Alexandra v. Tuhikarftmea, ab Alexandra; Te Awamutu v. Hamilton, ab Hamilton.

January 11.—Hamilton v. Alexandra, at Hamilton ; Cambridge v. To Awamutu, at Cambridge. January 13.—Tuhikaramea v. Hamilton, atTuhikaramea.

January 22.—Cambridge v. Taupiri, ab Hamilton.

January 25.—Hamilton v. Taupiri, ab Taupiri ; Te Awamubu v. Alexandra, ab Alexandra.

February s.—Hamilton v. Cambridge, ab Hamilton.

February B,—Taupiri v.Te Awamutu, ab Hamilton. -

February 15.—Cambridge v. Alexandra, ab To Awatnahu.

February 22.—Alexandra v. Taupiri, at Hamilton ; Te Awamutu v. Tuhikaramea, at Te Awamutu.

February 29. — Cambridge v. Tuhi karaunea, at Hamilton.

March 7.—Tuhikaramea v. Taupiri, at Hamilton.

ATHLETICS.

The seventh annual athletic championship moating of New Zealand, held in ; Christehnrch on Saturday lost, does not appear to havo produced many exciting finishes, the great majority of the events bom;; won easily. Aa was anticipated, Canterbury on its own ground won the Championship Banner, but its reps, did not gain many first places, the only two which fell to their lob being the long jump and throwing the hammer, in which there was little competition. Considering the strength of their teams both Dunedin and Auckland scored well. Had Brady, Beero. T. B. O'ConnoV and Kallonder been able to visit Christchurch, I fancy Auckland would have again secured . the banner. T. Roberts accomplished the moat noteworthy performance at the meeting in the 440 yards hurdles championship, which tho Aucklander won in the fast time of 61 pecs, which equals the worlJ's record, held by himself. The majority of Auckland's points were gained by F. H. Creamer (with two ea?y wins in the walks), VV. H. Martin (120 hurdles and second in tho 440 hurdles), and T. Roberta, who won the 440 hurdles and finished third in the 120 hurdles. M. O'Connor ran up to hia beet form in the mile, which was won in 4min 31 3-sth soc. O'Connor finished third. Davies ran disappointingly, while ifc is hard to account for the poor display of our crack sprinter, A. Jones, who only finished third in his boat in the lOOyda which was won in the slow time of 11 l-sth ccc. The times in the longer- sprint, 250 yds, were not too difficult for Jones; he has beaten these times repeatedly on the Domain. Dunedin possess two fine athletea in W. Low and I

Bennett. The former as usual won the double, 440 yds and halfmiie, while Bennett), who is quite a junior, annexed the one and three mile runs in line style and fast times. The one mile was run iiu4min 31 3-th sec, and the three miles in 15min 30 3-sbh sec.

The annual sports carnival of the Auckland Caledonian Society, held on the Domain ground on New Year's Day, proved a great: success. The principal ovenb, the Caledonian Handicap, was won by D. Somers, who finished first in the 100 and 200 Yards events, thus gaining 10 points, while A. J. Goldabury, by winning the 150 Yarda and running second in the 200 Yards, secured second money. T. Speer gained third mdney with 4 points. The majority of the amateur events ab the Caledonian Society's Sports were bub poorly contested, the fields being small in each event. In the half-mile Jas McKean accomplished a fine performance by winning from the 15 yard mark in 2min lsec. George ran well in the 440 yards, which he won while he also stuck gamely to McKean in the half mile.

For some time past there has been a lob of talk by tho supporters of J. J. Bradley, of Thames, and Jas. Eyre, of Mercury Bay, about arranging a 100 yd race between tho pair for £100. Id is now most probable that the pair will meet at an early date, as Eyre issued a challenge through the Star to raeeb Bradley in four weeks at Mercury Bay, and the Thamesite has replied signifying hia willingness to meet Eyre either on tho Auckland Domain or Thames (allowing expenses to the lattar). Bradley tells me ha is unable to geb away from his employment to visit Marcury Bay. He has deposited £5 with J. Gallagher, mine host of tho Metropolitan Hotel. AQUATICS. Seldom has Croll's Bay, -Waiheke Passage, presented such a lively appearance as was the case on New Year's Day, when between fifty and sixty Auckland yachts assembled there for tho annual ro ; zafcta and sports, ijpveral of the yachts had been down Waiheko way since the day boforo, bub by noon all the others had roiled up in bi'me for the handicap yachb race, About a dozen boats composed in tha yachb race, which was round a mark boat off Rabbit Island, twice round. The Moana and Volunteer (yaw!) had tho besb of the srarb, and huggqd each other very closely all the way. The result was «o close a finish that some fancied the Volunteer had won and others tho Moana, bat the judge decided in favour of JVlr Wilson's craft. On tima allowance, however, the race resulted : Kangatira , 1; Moana, 2 ; Thetis, 3. The dingy races were well contested, and yachtamon were pleased to SBO Miss Nellie Ruth win the ladies' pulling contest. She was accorded quite an ovation.on passing the flagship. The Yum Yum and Keefcrol had a difference at the Waihoke Regatta on New Yoar's Day, as to the rule of the road, with the result thab Mr Jeffrey's yacht had to retire minus her jibboom, and with a hole in her mainsail big enough bo let the Yum , Yum through.

Ouryachbamen were favoured with perfect weather for the Christmas and New Yoalr holidays, and needless to say they have taken advantage of thß opportunity to wander far from town. Several yachts journeyed north, while others visited tho Barrier, Kawau, Mnhnrangi, Matakuna, Waiwera, Coromandel, Cabbage Bay, Thames, Wairoa, and the various baya around Waiheke.

On Boxing Day the new five rater Ida and Mr Kilfoyle's Aorero had a most excibing race from Rnth's Island to town, a distance of about 24 miles. Tho two yachts weighed anchor simultaneously and they kopfc nido by side, the Ida to windward, on the long load bo Brown's Island buoy, where the Aorere was half a length ahoad. On tho run up the harbour to their moorings ab Judge's Bay the Aorere gained an advantage of two lengths, which was the difference between tho two yachts ab tho finish. Trnly a grand race. The yachts occupied 2 hours and 55 minutes over tho purney, while tho excursion steamer Argyle waa exactly ten minutes longer.

Now tbab tho holidays are over our yachtsmen and oarsmen ore preparing for tho Judge's Bay and Auckland regattas. The former evenb takes place on Saturday, January 25th, jusb four daya prior to the Auckland regatta. The Committee have issued &v attractive programme, and I hear thab all our besb yachts intond competing.

SWIP.ir.IiNG.

Tha Auckland swimmers who intend vhitmrr Sydney for the purpose of composing in Uie various cfunivaig to bo held in the New Koubh Wales cnpital this month leave by tho c.c. Wailrora on Wednesday livening nox!:. The Auckland boam will coiisiso of 11. J. Bailey, Hoey, Dixon, and tho long diver Allen, while R. W. Sb. Clair. A. Goirtwator, and several others will isccompany/bhe swimtnere.