FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 108, 9 May 1896, Page 2 (Supplement)

FOOTBALL.

Our various football clubs held very Batiefactory practice mdtchos On Saturday lasb, when Bomo very good play was shown. Newton and Ponsonby had a trial match and each team played their hardosb and the result showed there was litblo to choose bobwoen them. Braund, Lsndrum, R. Masefield and Gallagher wero playing well on bho Ponsonby side, while A. H. Freeman, the champion sprinter (who has beon shifted up bo bhree-quarter and promises to make a gosd man in thab position), T. Roberbfi, Hobson, Beck, Williamson and Heffernan ware to the fore for Newton.

Grnfton and City held a practice on tho adjoining ground, and although neither wero represented with thoir full strength, it was a fairly even game. Surinan and Abßolum wore playing well for City in uttack, and they promise to be a formidable pair thw season. During the latter parb of the game two of the Graftonites fell on Absolum'a foob, and he had to be assisted off the ground. Hiß foob was sprained and ib is likely bo proven!; him playing for a few weeks. The Hawke's Bay Rugby Union has a credit balance of £110 9a 6d. The attendance of »pectators at Lancaster Park has been very poor so far this eoason. Oa the opening day, the Canterbury Rugby Union's sharo of the gate was a littlo over £4, and lasb week £2 more was the result. The firab mabch for tho Taranaki Rugby Union championship was played ab Hawera on April ISth, when the Waimato and Hawera Clubs tried conclusions, the former winning by 21 points (3 goals and 2 tries) to nothing. Tries for tho winners were scored by Jacob (2), Forayth, C. Young, and Braithwaite, Hamilton converting two aDd W. Lambie one. Two international matches wore played on March 14bh. Scotland and England meb at Glasgow, when the former gained a decisive win by a goal and bwo trios to nothing. Of tho 23 matches played, oach country has now won eight, and the remaining seven were drawn. The other match wag between Ireland and Wales, Dublin being tho scone ot action. Tho game was evenly contested, Ireland winning by S poinbs (a goal aad a try) to 4 (a potted goal). This victory gives Ireland bhe International Championship, aa they had previously boaten England, and played a draw with Scotland.

I havo bo acknowledge the receipb of the Canterbury Rugby Union's Annual for 1896 from Mr W. G. Garrard, the Honorary Secretary ot the Canterbury Rugby Union, and a gentleman well knowa to tha Auckland players who toured tho South laet season, for he acted as referee in several of bhe matches in which they played. The Canterbury Union's publication is tho.mosb complelo annual issued in New Zealand, and Mr Garrard and his assistants deserve great praiso fur their up^to-dato production. The annual is full of interesting matter to. footballers, for, besides containing a phota block of tho Canterbury reps., the rnlos and tbo new case laws, there are several well-written and chatty articles on different topics oE interest to footballers by various Chriatchuroh writers. The editors of this year's annual aro to be congratulated on their publication.

<B>. Riley, the well - known Ponsonby three-quarter, will play centre threequarter for the crack Sydney team Randwiok this season.

11. Whiteside has commenced his twentythird season ab football (says * The Cynic' in the Sydney • Keforee. 1) He played a first-rate game for Randwick on Saturday, agaiceb eighteen ef Petersham. Age sits lightly upon his youthful looking head.

The ' Auckland Rugby Union's Annual' was published this weok, and is now on sale ab 6d per copy, The annual contains the by-la we of the Uniou, laws of the game, e.aee law, table showing tho results of paßt>

interprovincial matches, etc. The book, which ia of a handy Eize to be carried in one's pocket, also contains a plan showing the boundaries of the various club?. The footballers who have tried the • Referee' brand of football, manufactured by Mr S. E. Wood, of Poneonby, speak in high terms of the shapo and quality of this production. The Rugby ball is made in six pieces, and the cost is 13a 6d, while the Association ball, which is made in eighb piecaa, ia 14s 6d. I hear that the majority of our clubs intend using bhe Referee ball this season. Mr Wood also makes footballs of all eizea suitable for juuiora of all ages, CRICEET. The Marlyebone Cricket Club have engaged Albert Trotfc, of Melbourne, as ground bowler, and he is qualifying to play for Middlesex. The Australian eleven play the nrsb match of their tour on Monday nexb ab Sheffield Park, where they will be opposed by an eleven selocbed by Lord Sheffield. The fixtures for this month will be found ab the top of this article). I had the pleasure of renewing my acquaintance with Mr L. A. Cuff, the prominenb Canterbury athlete, this week. He cerbainly looks to mo to have grown younger since I saw him last, Which was on the occasion of hia short stay in Auckland while en route with the New Zealand toam of athletes for England. Mr Cuff does nob intend to take office on any of our athletic bodies, bub he will bo always willing to assist or advise in any possible way. Mr Cuff, of course, has been asked to join different cricket clubs, bub he has not yeb decided which club he will assist. The majority of our cricketers will ba ploasßd bo hear that Mr Cuff is a believer in .assisting the weak, and ib is probable that noxb season the crack Chriatchurch batsman will be found playing with the United C.C. Mr Marshall, who has recently received an appointment in the Auckland College and Grammar _ School, is also a prominenb Chriatchurch cricketer, and he, too, may throw in his lob with United. Those who have the beeb interests of the game ab heart would dearly like to see the three exChriatchurch players, Cuff, Labatb and Marshall, battling with our senior Club, for tho United Club is the oldest in Auckland. With three such additions, the United first would easily hold its own againsb Auckland, Gordon and Parnell, and the senior championship next season would prove one of the raoeb interesting ever played in Auckland. I sincerely hopo the United Club will secure the services of these noted players. The Australian Eleven selectors are H. Trobb, G. tiiffon, aud S. E. Gregory. The latter iv the ballob beab F. Iredale by one vote. Mr F. W. Christian, a gentleman well known to Aucklanders.haa contributed an interesting article on "Cricket as sho is played in Samoa' to the * Sydney Referoe.1 In writing about the umpires, Mr Christian says : ' The tricks of native umpires, like those of tho heathen Cbinee, are rather peculiar, bub disputed decisions are almost unknown. Tbo umpires are usually four in number, generally solected from the elders of the community, standing two at ench end, leaning upon their staves, or batons of office. They are called Faamosinos, or judges, and very queer judgments they give occasionally, Umpires' decisions are given with much deliberation. Here'a the way it's done:— • How's that ?' (Faapefea) sings out the bowler in a confident tone. * For whab reason ?' (I ni a) demands the Villngo Elder. 'Leg before wickeb (Pupimi le olo)e.g. blockading the fortroas,' suya the bowler, stating his grounds of appeal. 'Out' 11/aindtc). 'He ia dead,' replies tho groy-bearded man in tho corner. And tho herald repoats in a sing-song tone : 'John, tho son of his father, is dead ; ho hath gotten a hen's egg.' (Un math loane • ia tc ia lejua moa.) Hens uro commoner than ducks here, and Samona are nothing if not literal I Cricket matches between tho various districts produce keen rivalry, and are kept up. for weeks, until all tho piga, and yarns and nuts are pretty well cleared out. Of late years, the thrifty Germans haver bean fairly alarmed at the number of cricketing parties on tour going around tho country like a swarm of locusts, devouring all they could lay haside on. North Shore C.C. The following are the batting and bowling averages of the members of the North j Shore First Junior Eleven. The team played aevon matches, four of which woro won and three lost. George Mill? heads; tho butting list with the fine averaga j ot 6537 for eighb completed inninga. Mills' aggregate is 523 run?, which is 19 runs more than tho oEher twelve players have made. Ib will bo noticed that bhe three veterans, H. Chap-, man, \V. Swongon, and George Lankham, ' are well up in tho list, and their success this season has been well received by all' cricketers. I doubb whether any other team In this colony taking parb in championship matches, can boasb of having three such veterans in their ranks. JVH1 Lankham is now 65 years of age, and his batting averogo shows that) he can still mako runs with tha ' youngsters ' of today. I am informed thab the combined ages of these three is 171 years. Batting. In. N.O. H.S. Runs. Avjfe. G. Mills .. - 11 3 *IM 523 65 37 H. Chapman .. 3 2 *16 33 33 W. Swan =on ..10 1 VI 131 14 55 J. W. Hurtress .. 7 2 *J0 55 IV2 Geo. Laskham ... 6 2 *J8 40 10 R. Wynyaru ..7 0 13 53 8-28 I<\ Stubbs .. ..7 1 16 .42 7 A. B. Burgess ..70 14 38 5.42 C.Don by .. .. 10 1 12 24 . 377 A. N. Sncddan ..81 8 23 3.28 E. R. Jones .. ..80 6 23 287 W. U. Qoudio ..8 0 8 19 237 J. C. Webster ..41 6 7 2,33 "Denotes not out. Bowling, O. M. \V. R. Avge. R. Wyiiyarcl .. 80 25 21 132 5 5 A. N. Sneiiden .. M 4 7 10 5.71 A. H. i'.uvKcss .. Hi 10 21 li' 2 o.EO Geo. Wills ... 314 33 39 2JO 5.89 C. Donby .. .. 29 6 2 72 36 The North Shoro A second junior team played nine matches, five ot which were won and four lost. In fcbe batting, bbo following are the six highest on tho list: — N.T. N.O. H.S. Runs Avcre. G. H. Bronprliton 1 0 13 i>3 13.25 H. Chapman .. .11 I£s ]24 12.4 Kent 8 2 18 61 10.16 W. Walker ..10 0 ,% 57 9.7 H. Harris .. ..13 I 33 93 8.25 S. Walker ~ ..11 2 132 63 7.55 ■.Denotes not out. Tho following were the moat successful bowlers :— Overs Witts. Runs Avge. H. Harris .. .. 06 20 102 5.1 G. B. liMSUßhton ..32 7 36 5.14 W. Walker .. .. 24 8-44 5.5 H.Pitts 77 27 157 5.81 J. Conley .. ..65 15 95 6.33 It will be noticed that G. H. Broughton, the Secretary of the Club, is on top in batting and second in bowling. Tho North Shore B. second junior t6am played nine matches, three of which were won and six lost. The four leading batsmen are : F. G. Goring, with an average of 8-37 for eight completed innings; Allen, 7#l tor tan innings: S. C. Cave,7 for eleven inning*; and A. Sutton, 6"2 for fifteen inning?. , Tho last named has the beßb ageregnto, viz., 93 iuns. W. Clark has the best bowling figuree, having captured 21 wickets aba cost of 3*33 runs each, F. G. Goring is second with 19 wickets at a coab of s*l runs, and S. C. Cavo secured 19 wickets ab an average cost of 5-21 runs. Auckland 11. C.C. The following are the batting and bowling averages of tho members of the Auckland • 11. Cricket Club, which tied with Belmonb for second place for the First Junior Championship. The team played seven matches, five of which were won and

two lost. They scored 1,099 runs for the. loss of 99 wicketa, average 11*1, »Kainß* 916 runs scored by their opponents for lib wickets, average 7"8 runs. Batting. In. N.O. H.S. Runs. Avf»e. W.Thompson ..2 0 46 80 40 A. G. Holland ..9 1 92 268 33 5 J.H.ColwilKGapHH 2 27 126 14 C.F.Reid 7 0 28 78 111 R.T. Hamilton.. 5 1 *25 42 10 5 H.1).Hi11.. ..11 i' *« 103 10-3 G. W. Robinson.. 5 1 *18 36 9 A.Selby .. ..12 1 25 83 8 9 F.Marsdea .. 3 0 12 25 8;3 E. C. Beale .. 11 2 15 62 6 8 K. W.Allen .. 11 2 U 62 , s'? *Denotes not out. 'BOWIiINQ. R. W. O. M. Avse. E. C. Bealc .. 152 24 70 1? 6;3 M. St. Paul .. 229 32 89 10 "71 H. D. Hill.. ..136 17 63 15 8 J.H.ColwiU ..80 10 39 11 8 K. W. Allen .. 255 27 72 7 94 In the match commenced in Sydney on April 25th between the Glebe and University teams, the former lost one wiokeb for 246 rune. As the batsmen are known fco Aucklanders I give the scores : E. G. Noble, c cub, b Garrett 76 O. Youll, not oub ...136 L. Poidevin, noil oub ... 28 Sundries .». •••. 6 Total for one wicket 246 Noble and Youll pub on 185 fpr the first wicket. ATHLETICS. The departure of Mr J. F. Logan for England on Tuesday next, will be a great loss to the various athletic institutions in Auckland, for Mr Logan is a gentleman who has been connected with all branches of outdoor sports for many years, and has rendered great service to those bodies in many ways. He has been closely allied to the Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club for several years. As Vice-Preaident and Presidenb Mr Logon has always taken a warm interest in the Club's welfare, and the members will especially regret his departure. Be also holds the position of vice-President to the North Shore A.A. a,nd C. Club, President of the North Shore Crickeb (.Hub, Vice-President of the Auckland Crickeb Association, VicePresident of .the North Shore Football Club, and local officer of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Asaociation. Mr Logan has so closely allied himself with these institutions and been of bo great a service to them, thab Auckland athletes will find it difficult to geb another gentleman to render the assistance that he has given.

The farewell social tendered to Mr Logan on Thursday last by the athletes of Auckland was a greab success, while the memento which was presented to him in the shape of a nicely-bound album, containing an illuminated address and the photos of the officials of the Auckland and North Shore A.A. Clubc, and the signatures of the members of the Auckland, North Shore, and Cambridge A. A. Clubs, the executives of the N.Z.A.A.A., the Auckland Crickeb Association and North Shore C.C. may serve to keep green in hia memory the many athletes in this colony who are grateful for tho valuable services ho has rendered them. In wishing Mr Logon good-bye I also join with Auckland athletes in tendering my besb wishes for the happiness and prosperity of himself, Mrs and Miss Logan in the big city of London.

The Cambridge Wost Amafeour Athlotic Club hold their third carnival on Monday, May 25bh. The programme of events appeared in Wednesday's Stab. Entries close this evening. Mr W. C. Speight, the Secretary of the Auckland Club, is receiving town entries.

Ab the sports held in Wanganui last week in aid of the Hospital Furnishing Fund, A. H. Holder won the 440 yds handicap from scratch in 55 3 sth sec. In his heat of the 220 yds one of A. H. Holder's shoes burat, and flaw of his foot just as he reached tho tape. The quarter and the 120 yds Hurdles were both won with ridiculous oasp by this athlete, who waa in grand fettls (soys ' Victor,' the Wanganui Bcribe), and it was a great pity thab the track was 80 heavy as to prevent any attempb at record breaking. Had the going been ab all good Holder intended to have a cut ab tho world's record for 440 yds Hurdles, but unfortunately this was out of the question.

Ab the annual general meeting of tho English A. A. A., held ab tho Grand Hotel, Manchester, on March 14th, all the records sont up for acceptation were passed with the exception of the twelve miles walking. Tho records br passed stand as follows : — Walking.—Two miles: W. J. Sturerees; time, 13tnin 44sec, at Windsor and Eton, Soptember, 1895. Polytechnic Harrior'a Sports, ab Wembley Park, December 26th, 1895—Eleven miles: W. J. Bturgess, lhr 29min 32 4 sth ccc. Thirteen miles :B. Knotb, Ihr 45tnin 6 4 sth sec. Fourteen miles : E. Knotb, Ihr 53min 36 2-sth aec. Fifteen miles: E. Knotr, 2hr 2min 57 4 sth soc. Hammor Throwing (Northern record) —W. J. M. Barry, Wit B£in, ab Whitburn, August sth, 1895. High Jump (British record).—J. M. Ryan, 6ft 4£in, ab Tipperary, August 19th, 1895. An application from Mie Kiver Plate (South Amorica) Athletic Association for affiliation to the parent body was accopted,

The Hubjocb of which ia tho faster for a hundred yards from a standing start, a ped or a cyclist, has been a good deal discussed of Into, saye a writer in the Sydney ' Rofereo,' and the supporters of each branch of sport are certain that their side would come out on top in tho event of a match being niado on the terms mentioned. A pod who had an idea that J. Marsh would bndy beat any cyclist was somewhat surprised last Saturday, when he pub the watch on Martin at the commoncemont of a race, to find that the Yankee covered the first hundred yards in quarter-second.

At the intercollegiate competition between Trinity College (Cambridge) and Keeble College (Oxford), the former won eiglib events out of nine. Davenport won tbo half-mil<s in linin 69oec.

Ab tho Wost Coast Amateur Athletic Carnival on April 22nd, Mowbiay, tho gxAucklartder, run seoond in the 110 yds Handicap from scratch. 'Tho winner's time wan Msec.

E. H. Flack, who won the 800 and 1,500 metres racoa at the Olympic ttitnea at Athens is a native of Victoria and is now twenty-throo yeara of ago. He is a son of Mr Joseph Flack, of South Yarra, and was educated at tho Melbourne Grammar School, wliors his staying powors in long distance races first becaose apparent. He became a member of tlioMalbmnian Haro and Hounds team of crojs country runners, and carried oli numbers of prizes, nob only in Victoria, bub in Sydney. In the ten mile cro»8 country championships, held annually, Flack wasnever successful in securing a first place, his favourite distance baing a mile or under, bub in both 1892 and 1893 he finished third, and in 1894 second. In the last meubioned year ho formed one of the Melbournian team, composed of Flack, Matthews, Barrefcb, Inglis, Sheldon and Coffey, which secured fcha premiership of the colony. In build Fleck is tall and spare, being fully 6fb in height, though under list in weight. He runs, with a free, swinging gaib, and has an enormously long stride. Deapito his being 80 lightly muscled he possesses wonderful "stamina, and all interested in amateur pedestrianistn will remember {says the ' Age,') how in one race he turned immediately on finishing the distance, and ran a full mile back to urgo ou come dallying members of his Club. Flack left Australia for Europe in the autumn of last year. CYCLING. The benefit race meeting held in Sydney i for Megaon and Lewis is expected to realise a profit of £300, wbJoh will be divided between the pair. The meeting held in Melbourne as a benefit to Pursons resulted in a profib of £273 10a ; while.£l3o has .also boon subscribed by a shilling testimonial and all the lieta have nob yet been collected. .

The four Australian crack cyclists, viz., ; Parsons of Melbourne, and Megson, Payne and Lewis, of Sydney, left for England in the Oroya on Monday last. Firab they co to England, then the Continent, Recording to whab ia going, and afterwards to America, and homo thab way. In writing of their prospects, a Sydney scribe says : — ' Taking a line from the times which our crack men hava pub op since there were tracks suitable and pacwg provided, and also how they shaped agninsb the International visitors, ib does nob appear as if we were very far behind the besb going. Zimmerman fib and well is out of the common, but they won'b meet many oi his calibre. Time and again Australians have shown that in athletiea they areiat least equal to the cream of the world. We have the same stuff in our cyclists. They only want, a little more experience. 1 On the occasion ot the opening run of the season of the Queensland Cyclists Union on April 25, 300 cyclists, including about 40. ladies, assembled ab Government House, where the Governor, who ia patron of the Union, addressed them. They afterwards rode in a procession to Sandgate, the Governor, Lord Lamingfcon, mounted on a bike, bringing up the rear. Lady Lamington followed in a carriage. Ab the Lancaster Park track, Christchurch, last week, J. O. Shorland was (successful in establishing New Zealand track records for 50 and 100 miles. He did the former distance in 2hr 14min 40sec, and in the latter he made the remarkably good time of 4hr 39min 51sec, which beats the Australasian record by 55min. Shorland waa mosb fortunate as regards the weather, and was well paced on a tandem by a number of loading amateurs. Harold Bickford, the winner of the Druids' Wheel Race of £150 ab the Melbourne Druids' gala on Easter Monday, was a 'novice' until six weeks before the race, when he won his firsb race ab the Adelaide meeting—a novices' race—from scratch in 2min 29£ sec. He wsb racing for a year or so before thab without success, und in the lust Austral Wheel Race received 220 yards start. Biekford is an Adelaide rider, twenty-two years of age, scaling close upon list. The Marquis of Queensberry and Mr U B. Lawes, a famous sculptor, had a tenmile race on an Englieh road recently, the Marquis winning by nearly 2min in 35mm 41see, Both genblemen were notable athletes in their young days: Mr Lawes stroked the Cambridge boab in '65, and Lord Queensberry has chiefly distinguished himself with glovea and acroßS country. A great motor cycle race will take place in Franco next June. The course will be from Paris to Marseilles and back, a distance of 1,652 kilometres (1,026 miles). Travelling by night will nob be allowed. The motor cycles will be divided into two classes, thoso carrying two to four persons in the fireb class, and those for six or more in the second. AQUATICS. Chris. Neileen and George Towns, of the Hunter River, have been matched to row for £200 a side in August. On the seventh day of the Cannes Regatta (March 19th) the Satanita, Britannia, and Ailsa met over a triangular course^ SO miles in extent, for Baron Hirsch's prize. A* fresh easterly was blowing, and the Satanita led all the way, and finished 3min ssec ahead of Ailsa, which was 2min 35aec before Britannia, The members of the Auckland Yachb Club held a mosb enjoyable social evening on Wednesday last, when the prizes won during the se»Bon were presented to the owners of the BuccosEful yachts. In responding to the toaßb of 'Yachting,' proposed by the Commodore (Mr J. L. R. Bloomfield), Dr. Coates, the owner of Ladye Wilma, who has had considerable experience in yachting, made a fine speech, in the course of which he said yachting had made wonderful strides in Britain of late years, bub taking tho population and the meang of the people of New Zealnnd into consideration, the development here waa marvellous. Ho had visited the various ports of Australia, but nob one place took puch interest in yachting as Auckland. The majority oE our yachta have dismantled for the winter season. Several yachts, however, were away Jasb week, bub the short evenings do nob allow them to go far. Our yachtaronn wore favoured with a fine breeze on Sunday. SWIMMING. According to an exchange, a rather exciting scene took place at one of FitzI Gerald's Circus performances inLaunceston (Tas.) on the 18bh of bho month. It appears a man named Blades had taken up Profensor Peart'a challenge for a high divinij contest, and when the time came for the nien to meet, Mr Dan Fitz Gerald said that as BladoH had accepted Peart'a challenge he wished to inform tho .audience that he would nob hold himself responsible for any accident that might happen, and be would require Blades to sign a paper to that effect. Ho would take every precaution to guard against any injury to him. A largo mattress used tor tumbling by some of tho acrobats was placed ab the opposite side of the tank, and »omo padding pub on the ground around it, whilst the male members of tho troop stood in a circle with canvae stretched tight to catch him if he missed the water. Blades signed tho paper, and was hauled up to the platform amidst defeaning applause. After he had taken a look round he addressed the audienco, and said thab from above the tank looked exceedingly small, and pro&cntod quite a different aspect than from tho surface, adding ' that ho did .nob like it.' There was a cry from all around the tenb of 'come down, don'b do it,' whilst one or two in the pib wenb so far as to call him a ' cocktail.' Mr Firz-Gerald then requested Blades to come down if he did nob like attempting the feat, aa he might niias the water and perhaps maet his death. The local man then said he would leave ib to tho audience to decide, and they at onco gave their verdict in favour of his abandon-! ing bho ides*, and ho wa» lowered into thoi tiny;. Mr'FitzGorald than announced that; Blades would dive Pearb from bho Cataract Bridge at three p.m. next day. A collection would be taken up, half to go to Blades and the remainder to a charitable institution. Professor Peart said thab during tho seven and a half years he had been doing tho feat, this was only the second time his chnllenga had boon acceptor!.

Owing to an aunouncemenb that a diving contest/ between Professor Peart, of Fitz' Gerald's Circus, and a local man named Alfred Blades, would take place ab tho Cataractßridce(Bays bhe Lftunceston' Daily Telegraph ' of the 21sb ult.), a crowd variously estimated at from 1,200 to 1,500 people thronged bhe approaches to the bridge ab 3 p.m. yosberday, the bridge ibaolf being kept clear by Sargeanb Bain and assistants, the officials and reporters alone being allowed thereon, with the solitary exception of Harry Nicholls, who has many a time successfully essayed the foab of finding his way into the river head h'rab awd finding ib out again. On the divers stripping for the contest they were loudly cheered. Blades acknowledged Peart's superiority in greater feate, bub expressed his intention of trying to get into the water from the top rail as neatly as Peart could, and ab the firab dive, in which Blades led off, ib seemed as though he would succeed, the judges giving honours equally divided. la a second attempt Blades mads an even better display than ab his first, and cheers were given as he gracefully cleft the water ; bub when Pearfc, disdaining to use his hands, which were clasped behind him, dived again, describing a beautiful curve through tho air, the emphasis of the applause Bhovrod unmistakably the opinion of the crowd, and the judges had no option but to award the decision in favour of the man who holds a medal as tho neatest? direr in the world. :