THE AUSTRALIAN ELEVEN AS "SPOETS."

Press, Volume XXIX, Issue 3894, 15 January 1878, Page 3

THE AUSTRALIAN ELEVEN AS "SPOETS."

The Sandhurst correspondent of the Melbourne " Argus" makes the following reference to the qualifications of some of the Eleven in other matters than crioket, and. to their conduct in the match played there :— During the dinner given by the Combined Australian Eleven to the "Bendigo players, which took place at the City Family Hotel last evening, the subject of pedestrianism cropped up in the course of conversation. The team have amongst them one or two smart runners, and our representatives were not to be outdone, and offered to find a Bendigonian to run either Charlie Bannerman or Spofforth. A good deal of breath was wasted in blow, but at length a match was made between Spofforth (who is considered one of the amateur peds in Sydney) and A. Allsop, distance 150 yards, for £10 a-side. The race took place on the Back Creek Cricket Ground this morning in the presence of a large number of spectators. An excellent start was effected, but at 80 yards Spofforth was beaten, and he could not make the little one travel, who consequently won comparatively easy by two yarde. A good deal of betting was indulged in, ana the visitors, who of course backed their man, lost their money, much to the delight of the backers of the local man. Spofforth states that he is not in condition for running, bnt that ii he had been in proper trim he could have won by 10 yards, which assertion ie not credited here. Subsequently Charles Bannerman offered to run the winner the same distance, but he modestly asked for £15 to be staked against his £10, which was declined. Whilst writing about the combined Eleven, I may be permitted to remark that their conduct yesterday was the theme of admiration. They played the game of cricket truly and faithfully, and did their level best to win, and I em glad to say they did win. What would have been easier for the Eleven yesterday afternoon than to have bowled loose, so that the Bendigonians could have scored well, instead of doing their best to put them all out. Had they taken .the former course, and allowed say six or seven batsmen to get about 100 runs, what would have been the result to-day? Why, hundreds would have flocked to the ground to see the completion of thejjame, in the belief that the local men would eventually win it. What was the result to-day, although it was announced that a one-innings match would be played, and that the Eleven would go to the wicket first, and that Allan would also play? Why, a miserable array of empty benches, only between 200 and 300 persons being present. Such patronage on the part of the people of Sandhurst is simply disgraceful, whilst the manner in which the Eleven played and won is highly creditable to them.