ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 899, 19 August 1910, Page 7

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

FOOTBALL

WELLINGTON AND AUCKLAND. HOJIK TKAM'S FORM.' The interest in the great Rugby game of thu year between Wellington and Auckland is growing, anil the chances of the contesting teams are being eagerly discussed. The'future location ot the Ranfurly Shield depends on this match (says tne Auckland '-'Herald"), and u great many local people consider that after next Saturday tno trophy, which has been held by Auckland since 1905, -will be iu the grasp of the Empire City footballers. The .Auckland team, however, is not so weak as some imagine, and it is quite on the cards that the Wellington contingent will return disappointed. The game' will be strenuous, and the team selected to defend the shield may return from Alexandra Park as the winners on Saturday afternoon. Opinions may differ as to whether the local fifteen is the strongest that could bo picked, out, 'in any case, the added strength by changing would bu problematical. The alteration in the arrangement of the local backs .is for the best. O'Leary, who replaces Millar at full-back, is a much stronger man in that position. Magee at centre three-quarter is a. sound choice, while the placing of Wilkes at five-eighths has. added dash to the attacking department. Wilkes played in this position at collcgel The composition of the pack has been freely criticised by followers of the game. "Many consider that TrcsiiM should- have replaced. Tyir-r in the front row. and O'Brien put in place of Grafton Maguire. Both Ihe players mentioned, however, aro skilled forwards, and arc,playing in, fine form. Francis's ankle is better. . He is able to race his mates and also indulges in tho strenuous pastimo of jumping over fences without feeling pain. The pack, as at present constituted, is probably tho strongest in New Zealand, having skill, dasti. weight, and condition.. The Auckland team, summed up briefly, may lie said to.. be composed of a strong pack, which will do no end of damage to the opposing, pack : and thus destroy the attack of their backs, and a strong defensive back team. It is, therefore, 1 , reasonable to take an optimistic view of the Auckland team's chance of retaining the shield. The -AYellington team will stay at tho Eoyal Hotel during their visit to Auckland. .-

TO MEET WELLINGTON.

,"FORWARDS FAST; BACKS ; /. UNSURPASSED." My Teleeriioii-H'te'a Assucintipn.i. '■■■'■■ N e w Plymouth,.August 18. The final mateli of the Taranaki Rugby* Union championship series was played to-' day, when . Wainiato. won for the third year in succession defeating Stratford .by six points to three. ' '■ ' '■ The Taranaki team to meet 1 . "Wellington on Thursday next consists of M'Leod, Roberts, Stohr, Cameron, Dive, Mynott, Brown, Taylor, Cain, Osborne, Tamil, Smith, J..-Martin, Pini, and Whittington. .ThisJ-is .a. much faster pack than has represented the province in this season's matches,-nnd possibly the back. division is unsurpassed in recent years. WHAT FEILDING: CONTEMPLATES. Says tlie Feilding "Star": In view of the fact that the. MaiiawatU Eugby Union Managcmerit Committee are. doing their best;to-injure football 1 in Feilding, it has' been suggested .that it: would be a- good idea for the Northern Union team from Auckland,, who-are going on-, a' tour,- to play a match at Feilding for'the purpose of showing, local enthusiasts whether it is advisable: to play amateur/Northern Union football here next season. The idea (says the "Star") is one worthy of consideration, and steps are being, taken to ascertain if a local team can bo got ■together.

NEW AMATEUR DEFINITION.

'ADOPTED IN-SYDNEY. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.

.-••..' ; ' Sydney,.' August 18. At a meeting of " the Metropolitan Rugby "Union, a motion to adopt tho new amateur definition cabled on-July 28 was carried'with only three dissentients.

Under the definition a Rugby Union player will have to be an amateur in all departments of sport.

ASSOCIATION

"THE .CO-MING OF OTAGO.' In ! Association ..football circles -considerable interest is attached to the Brown Shield match,, which is to be played between Otago and Wellington • on the Basin Reserve on Saturday. Wellington, by, u series of wins in the tournament in IUOB, wrested the shield from Otago, and, despite many accepted challenges, it managed to retain its hold on the trophy. Otago did not venture its ■ strength last season, and Wellington was therefore hot put to tho lust against the Caledonians, but .tho southern selectors have now chosen an eleven which is leaving Dunedin fully determined to take the shield back as portion .of their belongings. According- to local authorities, who can look back upon many years of "soccer" football, the impending match should prove one of the most strenuous games yet played 'in the Dominion, Wellington's selectors were also alive to the fact'of their chosen eleven having to..meet a formidable opposition, and seem to have chosen i\ combination which will be hard to break up. . Fifty per cent, of the proceeds are to bo devoted to Mrs. Wilford's Children's Hospital, and this fact, together with a good exhibition of "soccer" football, should draw many odd shillings to the Basin Reserve. Lord Islington has signified his intentlion to. be present, and it is just possible, if ■ Sir Joseph Ward is not indisposed, that he will also be in attendance, as well as tho Mayor, members of the City Council, and also members of tho Cabinet. Provided the- ground is suitable, and will not interfere with the. "big" match, a curtain-raiser will be played between Wanderers and Porirua Mental Hospital, commencing at 1.15 p.m. During the afternoon the result at half-time.of the Auckland-Wellington Eugby match will bo announced.

Tllis morning the Otago representatives arrive froni the south, and will put np at tho Hotel Arcadia during their stay here. The visiting team will be the guests of the 'Wellington Football Association at the King's Theatre this evening, and to-mprrow evening, after the match, will be entertained at dinner at the Y.M.C.A.,

OTHER FIXTURES.

Other Association fixtures for to-morrow aro as follow:—Fourth Division: Y.M.C.A. v. Newtown Congregational, at Newtown Park (1.45 p.m.), Mr. T. Thompson, l'ifth B Division: Swifts v.-Y.M.C.A. B, at Kelbnrnc (2p.m.), Mr. F. O'Conncll. Sixth Division: Porijua v. Rrooklyn, at Bbspitnl, Mr. E. Windley; Y.M.C.A. v. Manst A, at Kclburne (1 p.m.), Mr. E. A. Anderson. Second Division, ' final: Wanderers v; Hospital, at Basin Reserve (1.15 p.m.), Mr, H.' Yeoman.

GOLF.

MIRAMAR CLUB. Tlle following is the draw for tho Miramar Clubs medal comnetition on Saturday afternoon, play commencing at 1.45: —P. C. Freeth (3) plays W. E. Fitssell (9); C. R. C. Robieson (10) plays A. A. Chapman (4); E. H. Liddlo (10) plays 13. L. Taylor (2); E. Y. Mills (0) plays J. .0. Peacock (14); M. W. Horton (scr.) plays R. L. D. Kidstoi? (scr.); R, C. Wallroth (4) plays L. F. Watkins (9); P. Stevenson (4) plays A. Erskine (10); Geo. Toogood (24) plays V. Rhind (10); F. C. Hjorring (10) plays T. R. Boves (24); A. H. Barnett. (20) .plays. Geo. Shnml (18);. P. Spraggon (24) plays R, Wilson (18); Dr. Boyd (15) plays W. W. Cook (24); W. C. Haggitt (21) plays.N. A. Robieson (IG); T. Ward (20) plays R. E. Bennett (24); AV. A. Leitch (1G) r.lavs W. E. A. Gill (24); W. H. Mackenzie (18) plays E. A. Liddlo (18); C. H. Mackenzie (10) plavs W. R. Doughty (20).

WAIRARAPA V. WELLINGTON.. Wah-arapa players meet Wellington Golf Club at Trenlham on Saturday. The following is the order of play;—J, C,

Bidwill olnys A. Duncan; 11. Druce playsj A. I. A'bbott; C. C. Holmes plays W. Reid; Yv. H. liobicson idavs Balneavis; W.-K. Bidwill nlnvs Dr. Hales; G. P. Fenwick nlays A". il'Cosh Clark; A. 13. Lawrence plays F. G. Dalziol; W. H. Booth plays W. E. Lees; B. Booth plays G. Uidsburv; A. ft. Kclandevs plays C. Gore; G. F.'AUen'plays R. \V. Kirkby; h. L. Winter nlavs E. H. Rawson; A. I'. Toogood plnys h. S. Pcxrcc; P. Bladen plays A. M'Shane; C. Perry plays C. Nathan. . AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP, By.Teloßra»li-Prcs'jAp!o?!atian-Conyright Adelaide, August 1?. M. Scott defeated J. D. Howden in the final of the Amateur Golf Championship ot Australia, ten up and eigm 10 play.

, ATHLETICS.

WILSON'S WALKING RECORD. • lily Telei!i-apii.-l J res3 ,\s6uciaini«.; ' Auckland, August 18. At a meeting of the Auckland Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association held to-day it was decided, owing to the New Zealand Associations refusal to pass D. Wilson's walking record, made at the last amateur championship meeting, to forward an appeal through the proper channels to the Australasian Council.

BOXING

RUDD MAY MEET GRIFFIN. The Hawke's Bay Association is endeavouring to match Rudd, tho local heavy-weight amateur champion, who is willing to cross over to the professional ranks if sufficient inducement offers, with "Jim" Griffin, the contest to take place next month if arranged.

A LETTER FROM CULLEN. • . A letter has been received in town, from "Dick" Cullen bearing out a report that ho is thinking of returning to San Francisco in September, but qualifying that' statement by saying that if a satisfactory match can be arranged for him in the Dominion he will break his journey an" stop over for • it. The Wellington Association will most probably go into the matter at its meeting on Monday night.

CRICKET.

■ENGLISH COUNTY MATCHES. By Telegraph—Press Association—Cunyrlgl>t. .' London, August -17. In the county' cricket ! match Middlesex v, Yorkshire, Middlesex scored -72 ■and 311, and Yorkshire.l 99 and 61. J. T. Hearne, playing, for-Middlesex, took six wickets for.'ls runs in-the first innings and six for 20 in the second. , Notts defeated Essex by 30.1. ; Iremonger; for Notts, in the second innings 'of Essex, took six wickets for seven.runs.

LAWN TENNIS.

' N.S.AV. LAMES vO QUEENSLAND. By Telegraph—Press. Assiiriutioii-Oopyri^iil. . Brisbane, August IS. ■ At tennis the Indies of New South Wales" defeated Queensland by three rubbers to one.