CRICKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7002, 26 April 1884, Page 6

CRICKET.

The season is dying ; cricket for 1883-4 it almost over, and last Saturday saw only fa*, matches proceeding on the Domain, jv weather was splendid, and the turf very fair order. The feature of the noon's play was the large score of Alpha T Eden, in which Nesbit, who went in tw carried his bat all through the afternoon, and was not out when time was called, aaj had compiled 121 by good steady play, com. bined' with free hitting when the bowla» was. at all. loose. This is the first time (J several seasons back that a second eleven player has made his "century." The it will be remembered was made three yean ago by R. Woods for West End Second ElevjJ against Onehunga. : The contest between the A'.C.C. and 0.8.0.C. was resumed, but not at the hour when it was arranged that p!» should be continued, consequently the match was not finished when thestumps weredrwi and the game was decided in favourof Qorßoji by 15 runs in the first venture. W. George and Arneil continued the batting, bat tot latter was soon dismissed, and George raised the total to 26, iyhen the latter was caught at short stop by Anseane, after contributing a useful 22. Dunkley was alsj caught, and had 14 to his creSß. J. George. 13, and E. Yates, 13 (riot firffi), were gj other double-figure mea,^and n the venture closed for 85 runs. This left tfie A.C.0.101 runs to get, and hardly an honrS&nd a half to make them in—a feat whicfi?in the bad light then coming on, did not seem easy to accomplish. With two wickets down f m nothing, and three for two runs, things did not look, very bright. However, Roid and O'Brien put a different aspect on affairs, znd the score rose to 30, when the former was caught by Mills off his own bowling, O'Brien played a good innings for 24, in which were several good telling strokes. McKinney along with Ansenne made mitten lively for a time, and soon knocked together 20, when he had to retire to Mills. AnWiue played carefully, and carried Ms bat for 23 along with H. Hall, the last man, and time was called with still 20 runs required, ani only one wioket to fail. Oar Boys thui claim the match on the first innings; and the season doses with them with two wins to their credit. . The Australians have arrived in England, and will of course settle down to regular practice until the 12th proximo, when they open their campaign at Sheffield Park against Lord Sheffield's team. The cable says a matoh has been arranged with the Linrpoc! Club for the end of June, one of the vacant dates for matches on the programme. The opeoing matoh will be a tough ona for the colonials, as Lord Sheffield's Eleven will be a very fairly representative one. The team have taken up their quarters at the urns hostelry—the Tavistock—as the previoui one. Of course the greatest interest will centre in the three coot eats arranged to play the strength of England. A New South Wales team played a matci at Brisbane on Easter Monday, which wai won by the latter by 73 runs. There is a probability of the Hon. M. B. Hawke accompanying the professional team sf English orioketers who are preparidg to visit Australia next season. The Australians were, if it could be arranged, to have played a matoh at Colombo on their .way to England. - The team was to have been composed of several of the officers of the Sutle], the special correspondent of the Age, and members of the Eleven. The last three innings "of Murdoch, prior to his departure for England, were three " duck eggs," he, r.trange to relate, beisg bowled each time with the first ball. Playing recently for Warrnambool against Hamilton, for the Salt Challenge Cup, Frank Allan, the celebrated Victorian cricketerout of a total cf 280—scored 137, whioh.it seems, is the first century ever mads in Warrnambool. He also took seven wicketi for 20 runs.

. The attendance at the CanterburyWellington match, which was for the benefit of Pooock, was not large on either day. East Melbourne has bean doing some heavy sooring against the South for the MoLeaa Challenge Cup.' The East in .their fink innings made 234, against the South'* 171 In, their second venture, East had loit nini wioketsfor 344 on April 5. Principal scorer*: Horan, 45 ; Trapp, 53 ; Gronbe, 89 (not ont); and Gordon, 69 (not out). A .Norfolk Island correspondent writes.:— Cricket has been waning, bnt lately hM taken a fresh start. Two very interesting matches were played by the two local clnbi last week, and the week before, and next week a combined team tackles the Bishop ca his own ground. FOOTBALL. (Secretaries of the various Auckland clnbi ar» * qne-ted to send a complete lirt of their rastcW w ttui office, and items of Interest, which ttOi be gl»«V ■ published.] Some of the senior clnbs of Auckland promise to be well reinforced this seasca wiu fresh talent The Grafton will have four fresh men in their fifteen this season, viz., Blanohard and Shiels, a couple of Christcharca men (the former was first emergency man in the match at Christehurch against oat reps, last season); Cooper, a Wellington player, and Dr. Bond is another new member, who is a University player of some repots. With the above quartette Grafton should,be pretty strong this season. Auckland na» lost McCausland and Bindon ; the former tr» the only full-back they could at all rely on last season. I have not heard of anyne* blood for .this olub during the coming season as yet. • However, they were to have hell their annual meeting on Thursday, and a deasion come to as to whether they would play this season. Ponsonby, who had an unbeaten record last , season, and are entitled to we oup which was spoken of, hare lost «&» services of two of their best forwards—F. aa* J. Clayton. The former has been eleotw captain of the new club, the Gordon, and tw latter has gone to Gisborne. It is *JJ° probable that Arneil will play behind t&e scrum for his fifteen, so that the champion light weight club of last season will, it is probable, not have it all their own way this year. Ponsonby will have the services of N. ■* n "*j son and J. Young. The former, brother « J. Anderson, played a fine game for WeU&%ton College last season; and Young is a goon forward, and will be remembered as played for Wellington against Aac J?'S| in last, year's memorable match. " or T Shore are said to have a strong fifteen ■- • prospect for this season, bat I have n heard of. their new men yet. Last, bnt n least, as I think it will turn out, w .«" Gnrdon Club which commences °P e f*H„ this season with F. Clayton as their leaflg who when in form is, without doubt, one ot«n best forwards Auckland possesses. Amws™ the members are Barton, of cricket itm ' Smith, a Wanganui man of good wp»*L» Vv\ Ansley, R. Wood, and L. Meldraß, who have seceded from the Grafton, ssn MoCaualand, late of the Auckland. *" Gordon intend to join the association, ■?*_ will arrange matches with the B™** clubs. The Albert, a junior club last seasw also intend joining the Associationandplay"* senior clubs. Looking ahead, it promises to a busy season in Auckland this year, ~ will not be' interrupted, as last vear .i«~ with the Southern trip. Of course. will be the contingent for only five men go from Auckland the Bin*"" should not be much interfered with. t^eea A most interesting football match betf <*£ teams selected from the employe* « local hardware and soft goods n° will take place this afternoon »' ltotf North Shore Recreation Ground. «" teamß and a considerable number < tators are expected to leave by the two o'clock p.m. boat. • -The # teaiw «".-. below :—Hardware : Moginie, »£*,,,. , Crauch, Hobson, Leei, ; Anderson, °£ field,. Mcllwraith, George, . »jw*»* *£ Start, Colborne; Millar and Goodacre >** genci.s. Soft Goods : ™«> Daniels, Davy, Binney, Talbot, Cham^

Crocker, Clark, Simson, Chapman, Hewin, burgess, Charter, SkeenQuaid; emergencies, W.Davis and Goldy. At the meeting of the Pcnsonby Football Clnb held this week, the club lost an old and enthusiastic member in the person of Mr. E. Forder, who, after holding office almost since the formation of the club in 1876, resigned his position as Secretary on Tuesday sight. In his day, Mr. Forder was a smart forward player, and during his term of office, proved himself most popular and indefatigable. In the report read of last season's -natches, it was shown that. Pontonby ocoupied the position of premier club in " Auckland, never having been beaten. On February 20,. S. Bructon, a boy of fourteen playing in a second fifteen school match in England, performed the feat of place lucking thirteen goals in fourteen attempts. The Oxford University team up to Fob. 27 had played 21 matches, of which. 20 had been won, and one drawn, that against , Gloucestershire. A South Australian fifteen is expected in, Sydney when the New Zealand team is in the New South Wales capital. Otago has announced her reps, for Sydney. Messrs. J. Allen, J. O'Donnell, and G. S. Robertson are forwqrds ; and H. Braddon and J. Taiaroa backs. They all played against Auckland last season with the exception of Taiaroa, who was incapacitated through a broken collarbone. Robertson was captain of the Otago interprovincial fifteen last season. The football season opened in Melbourne on April 5. There is a proposal on foot to have a Rugby Union at Napier. At the annual meeting of the Greytown Club it was resolved : " That the delegates should briDg the following motion before the Union—* That in the event of a' player running back ten yards or more to force down, his side be compelled to kick out from their goal line instead of being allowed 25 yards." South Canterbury played East Christchurch at Lancaster Park on Easter Monday during the luncheon hour of the cricket match, Wellington v. Canterbury. The local team won by three goals (13 points) to a try (2 points). The feature of the game was potting at goal which the winners did with good effect. . There was an absence of dribbling all through the mateh. Sydenham sent a, team to during Easter week a couple of matches. They played drawn game with the Zingaris, and : the Pirates defeated them by a try to nil. jT, The Gordon age the first to begin operations this season, aru) ; a practice match was played in the Domain hollow on Saturday last. As there were nqt, sufficient members present for full fifteens,, on each aide members of other clubs joined in and sides were picked. The play, however, was not very brilliant, but it is too early yet to form an opinion as to the strength of the new club. Pcnionby has a practice match in the Domain this afternoon. Most of the clubs have now held their annual meetings and the season will be ushered in as soon as the programmes are fized upon. ' AQUATICS.

The eight-oar race between Victoria and N.S.W., at Melbourne, on April sth, which was won by the former, was the finest race that has been rowed in Victoria. The pace from start to finish was very fast, and the stroke was never lobs than 40 to the minute. The time was the fastest on record, and the course was covered in 24mins. ssecs., lmin. lOsecs. qaieker than in May, ISS2. It is said that the agents or proprietors of St. Jacob's oil are about to arrange a contest in Sydney for all oarsmen, the total prizemoney to be £500. George Perkins offers to row L. Gibson level over the Thames championship coarse, or take lOaecs. start of J. Largan. The Rob Roy Canoe Club closed their gaason on Saturday afternoon last, with a procession down the harbour. About a dozen boats left the shed soon after two o'clock, and by the time the wharf was reached the number was swelled to eighteep, when aline was formed, and the lot paddled past the end of the Queen-sfcreet Wharf, forming quite a pretty sight as all the paddles were dipped almost simultaneously. A cricket match between the club and the officials of the Harbour Board has been arranged for this afternoon, and if the cricket of either side is not all that could be desired, a most pleasant afternoon should be spent. - Seven intercolonial eight-oar racen have now been rowed between N.S.W. and Viotoria. The latter has won five, and N.S.W. two. A boat race between the open sailing beats Ely and Vic is to come off to-day. The stakes are £10 a-side, and Mr. J. Waymouth has been appointed umpire, starter, &c. The vexed question of who was to blame in the Senior Whaleboat Bace at the recent Fonsonby Regatta has been at last settled by the committee (which met yesterday) deciding that the race shall be pulled over again on this day week, and that the rules or the Auckland Regatta Association will be strictly enforced. This is, perhaps, under all the circumstances, the best way of settling the difficulty, although there can be little question bnt that the Waitemata Club were fairly entitled to the race, having won it honestly, and in their pulling of the race complied with all the rules of boat racing. During the past week efforts have been made to get up a sweepstake race between the larger open sailing boats of the Dream, Maseotte, &c., class, but as the owner of the Dream does not feel disposed to enter the contest, so far the matter has fallen through, j This is a pity, as a race bet «veen these boats in-a-good breeze would not only prove interesting, but be the means of settling a point at present in dispute—which is the best boat. The Whangarei regatta took place on Thursday lajt at Whangarei and from information to hand it passed off with great mccests. The s.s. Waitaki acted as flagship. It & high time that the Auckland Rowing o!ub Association inserted a rule in their by which, where turns in rowing races •re decided upon, that each crew shall have - separate turning buoy to go round. If Jhis were strictly enforced it would do jway with a lot of illfeeling and room for protests. . MISCELLANEOUS. . George* Poulton, who became the champion st ornamental swimming by a victory ,at Holborn Baths, London, England, July 1, 1845, and held the title for thirty-eight years, retiring an undefeated man, July-1, 1883, recently celebrated his sixtieth birthday. A Sheffield Handicap of £300 has been arranged to be run at Bourke, N.S.W., on the 26th May. Sixty-four entries have bean received, and it should be the most important meeting yet held in the colonie3. ' A swimming tournament took place at Balmmn, Sydney, on April 5. There were thirteen events on the programme. The amateur championship of Balmain was won by a swimmer named Knight. At the champion meet ng of the St. Hilda Swimming Club, the 560 yards championship race was won by F. W. De Little, in 9mins. 43Jsecs. .

There is a man in Wellington, according to a local paper, who can lift 1771bs above his head with one hand, that is only 31 bs less than the famous. lSOlba weight which Professor Miller lifts. W. Sibbin, late of Auckland, competed in a 100 yards race at Dunedin at the Bports in aid of the Benevolent Institution, but was not successful. Tihe bowliDg season in Auckland, which has aeen very popular-this year, is almost orer. A few players torn' up still for play at Grafton-road, but the matches are now all over.-.' Moris. Victor defeated Thomas at Melbourne on April 2in a wrestling match for £10. Victor has challenged Donald Dinnie, The bicycle season commenced at Sydney on April 5 with opening runs by the various clubs. ' This seems very late in the year to atart riding. What have they been doing all the summer ? On Good Friday, A. G. Clarke, of the Remuera B:C, and J. Fitton, of the A.8.C., went to> Mercer and back during the'day, starting at half-past six, reaching Drury at nine o'efuck, where half an hour's stop was made ; proceeding on to the foot of Pokeao Hills, where the first practical dismount took place,, reaching Mercer at half-past twelve. Starting on the return journey at three o'clock, it was done, in- five hours' riding, neither having had a spill daring the journey! As there have been some questions raised as to the measurement of the track ridden in &» bicycle sports on Easter Monday, Mr. Sesrell, of the Pioneer Bicycle Club, Christchuroh, and Mr. J. Fitton, measured the track With a Chesterman's steel found it two ,■ chains over the" quarter mile, thus making 11 miles ridden in the championship.