LATE SPORTING

Evening Star, Issue 19638, 18 August 1927, Page 9

LATE SPORTING

RUGBY LEAGUE. ST. GEORGE CLUB’S VISIT. (Special io the Stae.'J AUCKLAND, August 18. The Auckland Rugby League has invited the St. George Club, Sydney, to play four games in Auckland on September 3,7, 10, and 14, or alternatively September 10, 14, 17, and 21. The Auckland representative team will tour tho south after the final match with St. George. TROTTING. FORBURY PARK DATES. [Special to the ‘ Star.’][ CHRISTCHURCH, August 17. “Mascot,” in to-night’s ‘Sun,’ writes: Tho decision ot tho Forbury Park Trotting Club to adhere to the original dates for its Spring Meeting takes it into the same troublesome waters that partially submerged its spring fixture in past seasons. There is no denying the fact Unit the big stakes offered by the Otahnhu Club appeal to Canterbury owners, and statistics show that the Forbury Club’s spring fixture lias suffered much through dashing with the meeting at Auckland. U is not only tho fact of perhaps seven or eight horses going from Canterbury, but tho trainers, who, when away at Auckland, cannot attend Forbury with other representatives of thoir stables, and it is plain that where trainers cannot personally attend to tho racing of their horses they’ leave thorn at homo. The Canterbury owners have shown a preference for meetings at Auckland, where they maintain that they can win more with one horse than they can with three or four at Dunedin, so it is obvious that by holding its meeting at a period when trainers cannot supervise tho winding-up portion ol tho preparation of their horses that could race at Forbury, the southern officials are standing in thoir own light. It was thought that when the Wellington. Trotting Club had relinquished October 1 that the Forbury Club would seize tho opportunity of bolding its spring function on September 28 and October 1. These dates would have been suitable to owners and trainers in Southland, Otago, and Canterbury, and would not have clashed with any mooting. It is a pity the 1 Club lias slipped back into the position that lias proven! unsuitable to manv associates of the sport and unprofitable to the club concerned. CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP. S AVI DA N RETUR NS. [Special to tub ‘ Stab.'] AUCKLAND, August 17. _ The Auckland athlete, J. W. Savrdan, returned to Auckland by _ the Marama yesterday. Ho speaks highly of the standard of distance running in Australia, and of tho hospitality he received. The race, Savidan said, was a gruelling encounter. It was_ won by Hyde, of Victoria, and Savidan was only 25scc behind him. It was run over a. course of about six and a-quar-ter miles in Adelaide, and in places the runners had to travel for some distance over loose sand. This severely handicapped Savidan’s style, but did not make so much difference to Hyde, who lias a short stride. Savidan said be felt fairly confident he would win, until he reached the sandy patches, and over these Hyde left him behind, lie was doubtful if Australia bad any distance runners who could suecessfu.ly compete with J?- Rose, of New Zealand, but Hyde, bo thought, should make an excellent showing at the next Olympic Games. LADIES’ HOCKEY. INVITATION TO AUSTRALIA. Press Association— By Telegraph—Copyright SYDNEY. August 18. (Received August 18, at 11.25 a.w.l An invitation has been received from New Zealand for a women’s team to visit the dominion. As it is not. possible for an Australian side to bo sent, the New South Wales Women’s Hockey Association will tho advisability of arranging for a State team to make the tour. GOLF, VICTORIAN CHAMPIONSHIP. MELBOURNE, August 18. (Received August 18, ah 11.40 a.m.) W. A. Edgar won tlie \ ictonan State amateur golf championship, defeating A. Russell, 1 up, alter an exciting match. COUNTY CRICKET. M’DONALD ~~ T GAGEMENT. LUAiiON, August 17. (Received August 18, at 12.30 p.m.) It is officially announced that .'.[’Donald will remain with Lancashire .■ounty for two years after his original greement expires in 1929.