PEACE CELEBRATION SPORTS

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 172, 22 July 1919, Page 9

PEACE CELEBRATION SPORTS

BIG- DAY IN THE DOMAIN. TRACK EVENTS AND FIELT) GAMES. How many people the Peace Day procession lured to the {rates and environs of the Domain is one of tile problems upon which local statisticians have agreed to differ. Anyway, the aftermath of tho procession t-rowd "that resisted the meltin" influence of a noonday shower, Rot pushed oIT a congested tram service lending to suburbs, home, and dinner, and euTriiieed their desire for a set meal at midday to make a restauranteur's holiday, was still a great assemblage. It may have been 20,000 souls who lunched <.n the lemonade and cakes to be obtained at marquees on the "Do." and in peanuts, midwinter pedestrianism. and football matches, well sauced with excitement: and they deemed themselves well repaid ;for the loss of a table lunch and for the slight seasonal discomfort of damp and muddied footwear. The weather, after the one aforementioned shower, held pood, so that tile sports programme went well. Track event- in .Inly must of necessity he uncertain, and running and cycling on a turf which was heavy and |i yielding gave the victory rather to tho; runner whose light physical build was J; suited to the conditions than to him j trained to make speed on elastic cinder path or summer turf, and to the cyclist •who had something more than mere drivSng power. Consequently the votaries of pedestnanism found the distance handicaps complicated by conditions which •were l«-vond the "arrangement of the tinndienpper, and some surprises were sprung. For football, however, the conditions were not exceptional, though the ground was heavy, and the. two main games, tho Rug-by and the L»cajrue matches, between representative soldier teams and Auckland rep. teams, with fho best soldier players left out were fast and full of excitement. The spectators were blatantly partisans of the whether in the maroon of Rugby or the red, white and blue of I League, and were well pleased when their ihampions won in each case by a narrow , margin. Curiously enough, tho result in each game was exactly the same, a win for the Diggers by 20 to 24. Being a New j Zealand crowd, the spectators almost entirely devoted tlieir interest anil attention to the games in which the Rugby element prevailed, but a section of people who had lively recollections of the Home-1 land sports cheered on a soccer struggle between Diggers and others, which resulted eventually in a draw, neither sido '.scoring. There was also a hockey trial ■natch, Auckland v. The Kest. in which the former won by four goals to three; j and a gymnastic display by a V.M.C.A. | team, while band music was supplied: which filled in the intervals pleasantly. ATHLEXR-.S. ?. H. PHIPPS (.JETS MOST POINTS. I The pedestrian events, which earrietl alonjr the interest of the crowd for thp early part of the afternoon, resulted in some good finishes, and most points were (won by S. }1. Phip|is. The committee responsible for this part of the programme were: Messrs. \V. liloniiield, T. Long, t'urrie, Jas. Carlaw, F. J. Ohlson, A. Murdoch, G. Eliott. F. H. Burbush, and N.I Jones. The results were: — inOYds. Handicap.—Final: R. ruffe. 7yds, 1- XV. Koberlsou, oyds, A. ilaliday, Syde, o. Half-mile Handicap.—C. r. Francis, 40yds, 1; .1. Nicholson, ;X>yds, J. A. Jamleson, 45yd9, U. Half-mile Cycle Handicap.—S. 11. rhlpps, ser.. 1; A. J. JJreunan, OOvds -; A. W. llltliam. 3 ' " ITJOYds. Handicap.—Final: R. F. W. Fordliam. Byd*. I: W. Robertson. 10yds, -'; J. A. Mi-K. Wallace. 12vds. :!. One Mile Handirap.—J. Nicholson. 75v<ls. l: J. V. Oliver, 70yds, 2; C. C. Francis, GOycls, 3. One Mile Oy.-le Handicap. — P. H. Phlpps, scr.. 1: G. Horscroft, 100 yds, 2; A. J. ißrennan, 120 yds, 3. 4-M>Yds Handicap.— C. .T. Steedmnn. l."yds, 1: V. K. Bond, 2; it. K. W. Fordbam. 10yds, 3. Points prize, silver cup valued £■"> won !h- S. IT. Phlpps. with ID points. fif tho other competitors. W. Itohertson scored 0 points, f. C. Francis fi. R. R. W. Fordham. c. C. .1. Stecdman C, It. Cliffe 5, aud J. Nicholson r>. RUGBY FOOTBALL. RETURNED SOLDTOBfi (2R), V. RKI'S. (24). Tho teams were:— DiKk'ers.—Kiucston. W. Hums. Woolley, TwohLll, C. Badeley (captain*. Gasparich, jßoss. P.errick, Wntson, Turner. Marshall, Fletcher, Sims, Sheehan, Sutherland. Auckland.—Minoßue, Wilson, Grierson, Nixon. Uixon (captain), Nesbit, Poison, McCiilloußh, Taylor, Ihiusch, ißillingtuu. Wells, I'rentlce, Conyngham, Thomas. This same quickly opened out into fast play, and the Dingers, playing in clever combined style anions the backs, had Auckland in trouble, Woolley scoring. Auckland retaliated with strong forward work, and a breakaway by Wilson opened up a passing bout, in which I'ni.tic,. wored Vgain Auckland attacked, aud Grierson potl.il v goal, lint the Diggers once more demonstrated their ability to sustain concerted work, and instituted a series of attacks-, one of wliicli ended in Burns landing a penalty Roal. and hall'time came with Auckland leading by 7 points to <i. At the opening of the second spell the game was quiet till the Diggers got into their stride, and tbt-v thi-r. piled on eleven points in quick time by nice hack play, Turner, Badeley and Fletcher scoring, and Burns converting one of the tries. It looked as if Auckland wore out of the running altogether, when they rallied, and Laxon, Nixon, Grierson and Thomas were prominent in breakaway dashes that resulted in tries being gained in quick succession by Nixon, Wilson o.'), Nesbit aud Thomas, one of which il.-Cul-lough converted. With the score now 124—17 only a forlorn hope, but they shook things up in true Digger style. playing better concerted football than their opponents, and general passing by backs and forwards saw first Marshall and then Fletcher put on two more tries for their side. With five mUiutes to go the score wa.s 24—20 in favour of Awklnnd. but tli*» Diggers were right on tbeir handling game, nnd despite a desperate defence, they eventually brokp through wirh a hurst or passing just on. call of time, and Woolley scored a try which was not converted, but which gave the soldiers the win by 26 points to 24. Mr. A. It. C'oltinan was referee. NORTHERN UNION GAME. The League game. Returned Soldiers v. Auckland, provided a very exciting contest and a close finish. The teains^were:— Ketmned Soldiers: Adlam. Nicholson, Dufty. Tnte, Lang, lling, Neal, lielander, lieid, Thomas, 'Haddou, Cargiil. Avery. Auckland: Delgrosso, LHividson. Jles, McGregor, Mitchell, Cadmau, Keenan, 'Cross, Lawry, Newdick, Francis. Castles, "Wynu. The opening incidents of the game were not particularly lively, although one or two rather good flashes of individual play were made. VeTy early in the game tile soldiers had to save themselves by a forcedown, and ji while later, after unsuccessful attempts at passing bouts by boLh sides, the rc-nimeti men had iigiiiii u> force. Ntsul, the soldier linlf. wns playing line, and it whs liv who notched the ftrst try of the the ball from the soldiers' twenty-live into Auckland territory, -where lie nipped it up and slid over between the posts. Tills kicK vrsß missed, and it was followed iv quieit time by a win for Auckland, through Delgrosso." who fielded a long kick, raced up into the open, anil passed out to Davidson. The wing went oil aiui punted over the line, sprinting "P to gpt the tiT- which he Roiled himself, prvine Auckland the lead. Next the soldiers made another score, the trjfollowing a s"n<i run by Keennn, from • wiich. the soldiers recovered, and made a

long forward dash out in Uic open. H. Avery was the scorer. and no goal was registered. .Inst before half-time Aiu-k----laiiil nmde another attack, and McGregor. takinj- v pass near the line, put Auckland ahead, and the spell ended— Auckland s Returned Soldiers li The next half foetfilll witli the snldiers attacking, and they penned their opponents till Lulng shot over, and this kick ms also ; missed. Again Auckland came at it, and lies cut in and scored, bcinjr followed soon by Davidson with another try. whirl, was Coaled, putting Auckland seven points up. Yet another try. a soaled one this time, came to Auckland, and then Nicholson limited and sprinted, adding three to the .soldiers , points. After this Thomas scored, ainl a forward movement added five more points to the soldiers, whirh brought them jus: a point behind. By this time the trauio was very exciting, and thero was plenty of >joml passins. lies notched another try. leaving Auckland, nt 24. whiolt wa.s :i-- many as they were destined lo jret. The sol.Hers scored two more trio* iienr the end. ami so the -mine closed Returned Soldiers 2Pi Auckland 24 Mr. A. Ball was referee. ASSOCIATION. The teams were:— Diggers.- J. Crawford, <;. Snrapßon, W. Toild. K. .lacksnn, V. Bilker. <;. Haycock. W. Stewart, A. (Jirlins, F. Peeling, J. OTonniir. A. Woolc.v. ! Auckland. -Wostenholme. SUipwith. Alpe. M'ottlc. Cooke. S.-ott. Harrison, Kegar, jTrpmaln. H.icre. Innes. i This Kami. wa« very closely contested throughout, and ended iv a draw, neither side prorlnc. Mr. P. (.'. Jacobs W;is referee. HOOKEY. * A trial match. Auckland v. The Kent, wag played, and the inline was a very i-losely-contested one. resulting 111 :i win for the reps. !>y- four to three. .Tonus V2\. Ilnnn.in :ind AI."-x»uder scor.-d for tlie winners, and W. r.arrard. Fletcher, and Mackln for the others.