ATHLETIC SPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6813, 18 September 1883, Page 3

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

(.Secretaries of club 3 and others are requested to send Information referring, to. matters dealt with in this column to Hkk.ai.o office.] FOOTBALL Now that our representative football team has arrived safely back without a defeat, as an old player I beg to congratulate them. Of course' I, with all other well-wishers, would prefer to have been able to record three wins, and had our men really fine dry grounds, I firmly believe they would have given the Southerners a

I reat deal more trouble to stop them scoring. According to accounts I have gleaned among the team, our men only played up to their form in Eunedin, and on the slippery ground the heavy Scotchmen pushed them all over the place in the scrums, so that it is wonderful they managed to play a tie with the grand team they met on that occasion. In the Wellington matchAVhiteside's absence, and Carter's accident must have been felt, especially as both these players usually work harder towards the end than at any part of the game, and more particularly if there is any dispute which requires settling. Some of the Southern papers have taken up the dispute which occurred in the late match very strongly, and have made a mountain out of a mole-hill. It is vefy like the kettle calling the pot black. Eitser side may be in thi! wrong, and if Northerners and Southerners argue from now till doomsday they will not get any more satisfaction, but engender more ill-feeling than has apparently arisen over this match. The whole thiug seems to me to be summed up in two questions—l imagine each umpire has one side Of the field; that is, one side of the play, to simplify disputes. When an umpire calls a ball back from a throw on,, is that ball "dead?" If so, no try got should count. Again, on the other hand, if one umpire calls a ball back, the players on the oppo:ing side to the tide on which the throw on Occurred naturally do not try to interfere with their opponents, but calmly take a spell, and wait for the ball to be brought hack, no matter whether their own or the other umpire call the ball back. Now, is a side to suffer because an umpire, who is in a better position to see, and immediately calls " Throw on," yet the other umpire and referee, who are not in quite as good a position, from their point of view tbiuk differently. If that is the esse, thesooner umpires are done away with the better, and let there be one referee from a different province to the ones playing, and let his decision, be final, otherwise it tydl be like the old saw, "Too many umpires spoil the match." It is a well-known tact that a throw on may be to the extent of an inch, a foot, or twenty yards as the case may be—how then is every-, body going to see it alike at different angles.' The thing is absurd and impossible. Ini the good old days of Rugby football we seldom had umpires at all; captains settled disputes —and quickly too. Several writers have referred to the ignorance displayed by our, men of the rules, but with the exception of the association penalty of a free kick, which, has been introduced into the Rugby Union,. I fancy our men know and play the game about as well as the rest of New Zealand.'-! The best way to settle this dispute is to refer, it to Canterbury and Otago, and no doubt they will weigh the matter carefully,.. and everyone will then have to rest satisfied, whether they like it or not, until both teams meet again, which I trust will be soon. , ; . 5 .,„ '■'■

Several of the Southern papers strongly: condemn the report of the Wellington ball match issued by the Press Association.': The Duaedin Herald eays ; —"The frees Association has supplied us with a most re-, markable account of the football match Welv lington v. Auckland, The description of the. play is throughout very involved, and.an. exceptional amount of prejudice appears to be displayed by the reporter. Feelinq must have run very high indeed over the m itch to induce such a one-sided report."

Hotham beat Melb<itirne by three goals' and fifteen behinds to three behinds. This, of course, is the Victorian game.

Essendon and South Meinour ne played a draw in their third match this season. The former got one goal and eleven behinds and, the latter one goal and fifteen behinds, ;;.£■■■'

Geelong beat South Yarra (23) by five goals and ten bohinda to two goals and seven behinds, after a good match. ■*.'-.,' ,'

CRICKET. ' X: The Gordon Cricket Club had a most successful season. The appended report speaks for itself, although special mention may he msde of William*' excellent average ;q! 22 and 27 over, while Meldrum's analysis of 3j and a fraction of a tun per wicket is capital.' This young club deserves success, as the members are most sonstant at practice, and they will be reinforced this season by both* Meldrums. The report nays : —" Niueteen' matches have been played. Of these, 10 were won, 2 lost, 0 drawn, and one was tied.'. As this is only the second season of the club," members are to Be congratulated on the position it has attained. Toe success ca'i only be attributed to . the constant' practice, which it is to be hoped will be continued during the ensuing season.'.'. The following are the batting average? •'-— N. William, 2227 ; E. McCausland, 112; J/ Ansenne, 10-12; G. A. Kissling, 10 II; E. Clayton, 9'; H. Kissling, B's ; W, Ryburn, 8-4; H. B. Lußk, 7"3; Diddans, 7"1 ;W, Meldrum, 7"; A. V. Harington, 63; H. Whitaker, 6.1 ; Sykes, s*l. Ko.nderdineJ 3-10; C. H. Gould, 34. The averages of members who played jn less than four matches not included iu above list. Tho bowling analysis of N. Williams was 7"5; G. A.' Ki3sling, 77 ; H, B. Lusk, S-; C. H. Gould/: 6-5; \V. Meldrum, 3-8. J ■% » : %'-T'^J

aquatics, v r sf; The Regatta Club have settled to have a. five-oared whale boat race, and it is. anticipated in addition to the Auckland boats a crew from the Thames and another from Wailara w:ll compete, A prize Of £40 will be offered, which should insure a good competition. I hear a new whalcboat club has lately formed in: St. George's Bay.. Twenty-one members have been enrolled/ and an order for a boat has been given to a well-known builder ; so the North Shore and other clubs must look to their laurels. The St. George's Bay Club are putting, up a shed, which is expected to be finished by the time the boat is ready.

The Rowing Association will hold their annual meeting in October. Jft is expected they will arrange for the regatta early in the season. Competitors need not belong to any rowing club, but must be a member of the association. The subscription fof members is ss, and for non-members 10s.

The Auckland Rowing Club have a temporary boat shed near the new dock. Beach beat Irickett in their match in wager boats, for £150 a-side, over the Champion Course, in the Parramatta River. This is the second time Beach has beaten the ex-champion. On this occasion the latter went very well for three-quarters of a mile, but Beach kept at hiin, and rowed him down, finishing "easy all," in the capital time of 20mius. 44secS,

Wallace Boss, who beat Hanlan in a regatta, when the latter was very much put of form some years ago, has just suffered another defeat at the hands of the Canadian wonder, who beat him a quarter of a mile in four miles in the fastest time on record. The official gives it as 27mins. 7hseca.. t and Ross' time 28min8. lOsecs. Courtney was judge for Ross; but the Canadian pocket Hercules asked Ross as a favour to choose someone else, but he declined to do so. Hanlan, as usual, stopped, talked to the people on the referee's that it was lonesome where he yrna ; he. also took a drink of water. George Lee pulled out to bring Ross along, and the people imagined they were the two in the race, and that Ross had w6n. The wrong signal Was given at headquarters. For some reason Hanlan pointed to Courtney, and shouted out "Send out that big fellow and I'll make an exhibition of him." It seems a verbal now Occurred afterwards. Hanlan offered to pull (Jourtney on any American water for 5000dols. Courtney asked Hanlan how much be paid for getting his boat cut at Chantanugua. HanlEn said he was a liar and a thief. I have not heard ! what occurred next.

CYCLING. The Bicycle Clubs open the cycling season on Saturday week, when there will be a joint meet of the Auckland and Waitemata Clubs, at the firebell, near the bottom of Grey and "Wakefield Streets. The procession will wheel down Queen-street to start with ; the remainder of the run has npt been settled definitely. It i 8 expected, there will'be fifty 'cyclists, attached and unattached. The Auckland club wear, nayy blue serge, and the Waitemata will don their new giey Mosgiel tweed uniforms, which will look very fit. I believe they have also adopted the Zingaree red, yellow; and black for their monogram, with the talk of adding a blazer to their uniform. A few nwmbers of the Waitemata

club took a spin last Saturday to get into, a ; bit of form befpre the opening day. One knight of the wheel tried to jump idbg; result—a toss and. a buckled driving-wheel. As it was a 58 inch roadster it must have . been rough on the dog. Mr. Service his just turned, put a 54' inch bicycle on the Coventry Club, principle for Mr. Kinder, with all the latest improvements. This machine does Auckland credit. One of our leading merchants has imported three tricycles for his daughters'! recreation. Possibly we shall soon see our Auckland ladies doing their shopping in a threewheeler. MISCELLANEOUS. The Parnell Grammar School Athletic Sports, which were held in the Domain on Friday last, were well contested, and the times in the races, were very good for such debutantes. The drop-kick, of 5S yards 10 inches, by Pirrchas, was a. good one, but I think in future it would be well tp have tWo kicks, one with each foot, and to be kicked within say the width of a goal. Quick proved himself the beat all-round man, and took the champion medal. The mile race was a fine one, Poulsep, running with great judgment, made a fine rush at the finish, aud got up to Quick's shoulder, who had been lying back to let little Short win, who ran very gamely, but mistaking the winning po3t, the little fellow stopped running, and the result was a fine finish between Quick and Poulsen, the former winning by about a foot. The boys under 15 and IB each made good time in their 100 yards races. Hesketh, who ran second in the Under 15, is a pn.-t:y runner, and will no doubt be heard Of again.

What has become of oar Auckland Athletic Club. Do they ever mean to have another meeting? Possibly, the cyclists might amalgamate with them, and give a joint show.

The Lacrosse match, between South Melbourne and was won by the former, the only goal during the match being sluug by Mr.Gordon. Soon after the hit off>the rubber was driven down to the Melbourne goal, where good play was shown by both sides. At last, Statter made a good sling towards Wiahart and Gordon, Who had both been playing well, and the latter by a good shot, drove the rubber between the posts. This was the only score during the msstch. By the bye, what has become of the Alexandra Lacrosse Club, in the Waikato.

Mr. Alexander has won the President's Trophy at the Ballarst Gun Club match, grassing all his birds. He keeps the valuable prize permanently, as this is the third time o£ asking, and it is notable that he only, missed killing twice io, the three cpntests.',,ij, ..;.„...-,;

Lyons won two out of the three matches played between the above cuist and Ay/lfitc. ~i; There are about a dozen ciclyst clubs in Melbourne, ■p

:, Oar : Messrs. Da.rgaville apd McDonald have wiped off the football score .with i.Dunedin. by beating the Southern members. at lawn tennis. The East Coast member has a very hot service when in f0rm.,.;'^,,...,-'-.-';sKA6 GeeloDg ah eleven a-aide quoit match took place betweeu the Town and Country, the former losing by only five points after a capital game.;:. Scores : Country, 285; Town, 280.- In a previous match the present victors had won by 200 points. The writer saya that duiing the evening there Was more \' : t pitching ." done than during the match. "It is said that the walking match between O'L-;ary and Edwards was for £100 3. side, but to. make up the £500 a mutual friend of put up £300 to. make the affair look'geuuine. .;.

?f I see by telegrams that Nelson and Wahgahui have beeu having a.' lively bout at football with exactly the same dispute that took place between our men and Wellington, only with a different ending. iiJJLsee.Laycock has broken his leg and will not-row Hanlan. Goodman as the Shark Islander is he would have no show with the Canadian if the latter was m form. Argus.

NOTES FROM ENGLAND BY THE MAIL. In Notts v. Middlesex the former made 242. Shrewsbury, 42; Earnes, 86; Flowers, 95; Scotton, 20; Selby, 12. G. B, and C. T. Studd are playing for Middlesex, and C. T. Studd, I. D. Walker, A. J. Webbe were out for 22. For Surrey v. Kent, W. VV". Bead made 61 out of 274. For Kent,. Lord Harris, not out, 27; Hon. Jvo. Bligh, L Here is a nice little score for a one day's match :—Thorubury v. Newport -(Wale's); E. M. Grace, not out, 207; W. E. Gilbert* 20; W, G. Grace, not out, 151; J. Cranston,"'llo; extras, 26 : total, 514 for two wickets. ■'-";-. ■; .

.' Of'course the second day (July 14) of Eton- and Harrow cricket match was wet, the'attendance fashionable, and about 14,00.0 at half-a'crown eich, and the cricket good forlads but no better. Eton had the best of the wickets and the light, but I think Harrow were in for a long score in their second iunings. 1 ■ Harrow have now wfln 24 out: of'sß matches; Eton, 25; nine have been lest unfinished*

« ; At Lords, on July ISth, Surrey, who won the first match, were beaten by 10 wbkets *m the'return with Middlesex.

•:: pnf*July Uth, the Half-mile Amateur Swimming Championship was won for the third time by David Ainsworth, captain Serpentine Club. For the race, which came off in the Brent Reservoir, called the We'hh Harp i: Lake, at Bendon, six miles from the prizes were—first, silver cup (£3o);.and gold medal (£5) second; third and fourth, medals. Twelve started. Aiasworth, time 14mius. (fastest amateur record),"!; A. E. France, Myddelton C, 14ojins..; 40isecs., 2; W. Henry, Zephyr, 15mins. lsec, 3. Dunniore, captain Alliance C.; Bands, captain North London; Bootle, captain Cygnus; A, Bettinson, Henley, captain St. Mary's, &c, also started. Ainsworth, who has been racing for thirteen years, is an overhead stroke swimmer, and faster than ever, and now takes the cup right out.

.-.■■!: The brothers Renshaw Were the last pair left in for the Lawn Tennis Championship at the■': Wimbledon courts, and on July 16 William beat Ernest, Won. for the third year, and became absolute owner of the cup by scoring 3 setta to 2. Previous winners from 1877 were S. \V. Gore, P. F. Hadow, j. T. Hartley (two years), and W, Renshaw (three years).

; At Lillie Bridge on July 16, J. W. Kaby beat Arthur Hancock for two hours' walkiug championship. Hancock, who was. out of condition, retired when Raby had walked 8 miles in 68 minutes, very poor time. Kaby is the young carter from Elland. Yorkshire, who beat the American, E. E. Merrill, for the 1880 amateur champienghip, and afterwards turned pro. H. Thatcher, of Southwark, has challenged Raby. Saturday, July 14, was a big day in 'cycling. The bi and. tri cycle people have amalgamated in a National 'Cyclist Union and bold a championship meeting at the Crystal Palace with the following results : — One inile—Standard. 2.48, Final heat :H. W. Gaskell, Ranelagh Harriers, 1 ;. A. Thompson, Sutton, Surrey, 2 ; P. Sutton, Edgbastou, tell, 0.. Time, quarter-mile, 'lhompsori, 463eca, ; half, 1.30 2-5 ; threequartets, 2,15. Mile, Gaskell, 2.55 2-5. The fastest heat took 2.46. C. E. Liles, London Athletic Club, won the ten mile tricycle championship, beating Lowndes, of Coventry, in 33min. 45secs. Sutton, Who would hare -won the mile but for tailing, is very unpopular, is UDder suspicion of pulling, and the.sort of fellow to jeer at his men when he wins. Oh the same day at Leicester, Bred Wood, of Leicester (very like H. L. Cortia in face and build, but Bmaller) beat Howell, Wolverhampton, lately champion, and F> Lees, Sheffield, for the 20 miles bicycle championship, in Ibr. 2rnins, 40sees., the fastest professional time, though Cortis has twice run the distance under the hotir.

The following part.icul.arti as to Sergeant Mackay, Ist Sutherland, winner of the Queen's Prize at Wimbledon (where, the weather has been very rough), may be interesting. He is 31 years of age, and a small ] farmer living at fJaid Cottage, Tain, in a corner of Ross'shire. He was born at Dornoqfi, and is married. Bis corps is commanded by the Marquis of Stafford, and he has been, a member of it since 1860. To get to drill be has to cross to Dorr.och in a boat, and then walk ten miles, and thiß feat he performs sometimes, twice a week. He has won many prizes in his batta'iioft, including the N.K.A. bronze medal. This is his fifth visit to j Wimbledon, but he has never before been in [ the "sixty," though he tied for a place in. 18S0. Last year ha was second in the Marclhi aggregate, and also took a prize in the grand aggregate. Captain Young, 2nd Ronfrew, was second, Private MoVittie, Ist Dumfries, third. MoVittie has been seven times in the. last .60 without once winning. '•';'■

The Crystal Palace bicycling track is very fastj and .graduated like an American trotting traisk to make the turns easy. On July

in the ..Crichtbn club's "-.four- mile race H ■ * U £ n t5 9 V- *M* t: W ni V**. 37-3..55e C3i ; and tL W. Gaskell (mile champion) thecal in l.lnuns.. 34 4,ssecs. The previ , n3 b, f .t time was llmips. 46 I-os'jCs. Two days later Wilson, who ia a Surrey B.C. mab, Won the 50 miles amateur championship from ten others, at the Crystal Palace. The time was 2 hours 46mios. 27secs. (record, 2 hours 43mins. 5S 1 osecs, by Keith Falconer, 1BS2) but the going was bad. Starting at ffiidniehV on July 21, W. Alfprd and C. B. Gibbs' Stanhope 8.C., rode from London to Salisbury and home, 227J1 miles, on turnpike roads,, in 24. hours, and 250 in 2S. They maintain that if the had not been so bad about they could have done another 20 miles. *■"■■.

The Brothers Renshaw have twice beaten C M. and J. C. Clark (YouDg America Club, Philadelphia, U.S. A.) at lawn tennis at Wimbledon, on J illy IS by three to one, and July 22 by three setts to love. Lawn tennis at Wimbledon on the old Croquet Club's grounds (how very dead croquet ia !). ia fearfully scientific. A gallery stand runs round the court for spectators, all manner, of apparatus is used for scoring,, and the line judging is a matter of fractional nicety, At cricket, Yorkshire and Derbyshire made a draw. Yorkshire, 299 (Hall, "4 : ; tJlyett, 34; LgckwooJ, 2:2 ,- Bates,"l; Ernmett, 49 ; Hunter, tenth in, 51, not out). Derbyshire, 220 (Platts, 55). Notts v. Middlesex drawn. Notts, 342 (Shrewsbury, 42 ; Barnes, SS—he ha 3 been making a lot of runs 5 flowers, 95). Middlesex, 1/0, and 1.21 for two. wickets (A. J. Webbe, 10 and 72, not out; I. D. Walker, 0 and 32 ; A. P Lucas, 22 and 7 ; C. T. Studd, 9 ; .G. B Studd, 74). Shaw bowled well. Kent v. Surrey : Kent, 325 (Hon. luo Bligh. 4; G. G. Hearne, 57; Lord Harris, 65; M. G. Kemp, captain of Qi-ford, 43 ; A. Penn tenth in, 66). Surrey, 274 and IS2 for 4 wickets (J. Shuter captain, 21 and 62 ; W. W. Read, 61, and not out 77 ; E. J. Diver, of Wimbledon, S3 and 9, Chester, a colt, 46). Surrey, on. July 22 at Sheffield, were badly beaten by Yorkshire, who rmde 116 (Ulyett 21, Bates 55) to 31 and 32.

Up to. July 19tb, Georgq Ulyett's total for firat-'olass matches syas 1031, giving an average of 35-16 perinnings. W. W. Read had made 1039, averaging 41-14.