ATHLETIC SPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7383, 18 July 1885, Page 6

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

FIXTURES. Senioe Cl'p Matchks. July 18—Auckland v North Shore, Gordon v. Albert, Newton v. Grafton. July 25—Newton t. Ponsonby, Gordon v. North Shore, Auckland v. Albert. Anjast 1-Albert v. Nowton, Gordon v. Ponsonby, North Sh >re v. Grafton. August 8-Grafton v. fonsonby, Albert v. North Shore, Gordon v. Auckland. August 15—North Shore t. Newton. Albert v. Poneonby, Auckl.nd v. Grafton. August 22—Clab ties. INTEBPROTIVCIXL MAT^HFS. July 22— Wellington t. Otago, at Dunedin. July 25—Wellington v. Canterbury.at uhriitchurch. August 29—Otago v. Canterbury, at Chiistchurcn. AQUATICS. July 18— N. Mattersn t. P. Komp over championship couree. Paramatta River, £10} a-eide. 'ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. Batswing, Ponsonby.—Ed *ard llanlan was born on July 12, 1855, and is consequently 30 years of age. FOOTBALL.

The following Wellington team leave home to-morrow, and open their campaign in Dunedin on Wednesday afternoon against the strength of Otago, and play Canterbury on the following Saturday : —Backs : F. Fairbrother, A. Thomson, G. Pearce, F. Leckie, J. Perry, H. Roberts. Forwards: P. P. Webb (captain), D. G. A. Cooper, A. O. Gibbes, J. King, W. R. Holmes, J. Shaw, J. Brown, A, Astill, and Berry; emergencies—Merlet, back j McGowau, forward. With regard to the probable result of the matches, both, of the home teams are very sanguine of their ability to cope with the black-and-golds ; but as their good luck— ehali I call it ?—is proverbial, and although we hear little of the team that will start to-morrow, there is no telling what Wellington may do. At any rate, up here I think I may aay that we all wish they may win, for upon that happy result it may pretty certainly be concluded that Auckland will be visited before the season is spent. As to the men Wellington is sending, there seems to have been a good deal of pretty open dissent expressed at the selection, and that may account for the meagre details we receive of football in the Empire City. However, we shall know what they are composed of by Wednesday night next, and then Auckland may probably have to prepare for the fray.

At the costume m&tch in aid of the funds for the Wellington trip £65 was taken at the gates. Between three and four thousand were preeent, amODgat them the Governor. Amongst the costumes worn were—Maori girl, pantaloon, clown, Kerryman, French officer, harlequin, Topey, boneless wonder, French fool, evening dress, Chinaman, nigger policeman, and fat boy. Secretaries of clubs are requested, when sending in reports of Saturday's matches, to chronicle any accidents, trivial or otherwise, which occur during the play, noting the name of player and nature of injury. The sanior matches this afternoon for the Association Cup are Auckland v. North Shore, Gordon v. Albert, and Newton v. Grafton. The last named contest should be the most interesting, and a good game is anticipated. It will be remembered that the tirst match between Grafton and Newton was drawn, no ecore being made. Auckland should on present performances record another win at Devonport, but I hear that it ie doubtful their being able to raise a team as five of their best men will be absent, while Gordon on the form they have been displaying of late, should carry the day against Albert, although the first match was a draw. No club has picked up form again so fast as Gordon, and, with the exception of a little reckless passing by their backs against Newton on Saturday last, the team played a tine all-round game. Newton, who have been credited with having one of the heaviest and best forward teams, were completely non-plussed in this department. On both sides there was a tendency on the part of the winjz forwards to play off side. It is not only against the rules, but it is unfair and unsportsmanlike to do so time after time, when ordered back by the umpires. The following table shows the result of matches up to date for the Association Senior Cup :—

Members of the New South Wales Contingent who aFe footballers have been entertained at dinners and banquets on all sides by their clubs. The honoured guests related their "scrimmages" with the Soudanese to the delight of their comrades. Essendon are at the top of the tree in senior club matches in Melbourne, with four wins, having scored 33 goals against 9. A Wellington city councillor the other day characterised the footballers of that city as mainly composed of larrikins. At the conclusion of the costume match at the Wellington Union match, the Trial Fifteen v. Twenty All Comers, was played, which resulted in a victory for the former by three tries to love, and they had all the best of the game.

The second of the tour trial matches for the interprovincial match was played on the Caledonian ground, Duucdin, on July 4, when a fifteen met seventeen, when the latter were victorious by a goal and five points to two tries and four points. J. Allan wan absent from the "rifteen," who played but 14 men. Murray, Bee, and Fraser were in fine fettle for the probable reps, behind the scrum. The " seventeen'e" try was obtained through a misunderstanding, and Bee, to give him practice in place kicking, converted it into a goal, otherwise the result would have probably been different. At Ch/istchurch on July 4 a trial fifteen met a twenty, which was in reality but seventeen, and the play which had been anticipated would have been pretty even with a full muster of iimprobables, was all in favour of the selected, who won by seven points (a goal and a try) to two points (one try). CRICKET, When Mr. Robinson's Eleven was at Chriatchurch in January, a trip of a Now Zealand Cricket team to Sydney was discussed, and favourably taken up at the time, but nothing definite was done except a tacit understanding that the trip was to be arranged, if possible, to oome off next summer. Well, since nothing further has been done, and if the project is not to be abandoned, it is quite time soma active steps

were taken in the matter. The Cricket Associations, at the suggestion of Mr, Robinson, of Auckland, or Mr. Wilding) of Christchurch, should place themselves in communication. If organised, there can be no doubt that a team would hold its own against any of the leading cluba in Sydney, and also pay its own expenses if properly managed. Otherwise we shall, I suppose, look forward with pleasure to a visit of an eleven representing Canterbury, under Mr. Wilding, to xVuckland about the end of the present year. Still it is to be desired that it should not be said that the Sydney trip fell through because of apathy. Surrey has beaten Leicestershire by an innings and 55 runs, notwithstanding that Whewler made 23 and 107 for Leicestershire. W. W. Read made 94 for Surrey, and Maurice Read nil. In a match on May 18 between England and Cambridge, after two of the former's wickets had fallen, it was discovered that the wickets were a yard and a-half too far apart. Consequently the game had to bo started afresh. Maurice Read speaks in high terme of praise of the hospitality extended to Shaw's team, especially in the up-country diatricts of Australia. He says that the work throughout the tour was very heavy. W. W. Read, the Surrey amateur, who was in the colonies in 1883 4 with Ivo Bligh'g team, was in great form in England with the bat during May. He played three innings for an aggregate of 249 runs, and twice had passed the century. Gunn also was scoring well when the last mail left. Hβ bad played five innings for a total of 251 runs, an are* rage of 50. MISCELLANEOUS. Neil Matterson and P. Kemp try conclusions in outriggers over the champion course, Parramatta River, this afternoon, for stakes of £100 a-side. Clifford met with an accident recently by slipping down the steps at his training quarters, Gladesville. The injuries received to his spine compelled hie removal to Ilia, warra, and the anticipations of his friend* that he would be able to compete in matches with the champion and Matterson are not likely to be realised for some time. The Beach Testimonial Fund, which amounts to £1939 2s 9d, has been handed over to a committee for its permanent investment, for the benefit of the champion and his family. Beach gave an exhibition of rowing at Lake Bathurst on June 26, at a regatta. He con* eidered the course better than the Parramatta, and expressed his willingness to row a match on it. What about that asaertion to Uanlan, that he would row nowhere else than on the Parramatta for the championship ? " It was (says Bell's Life of May 9), we confess, with a feeling of regret that wo learnt that the once invincible Canadian ir&s fairly beaten on hie merits, and beaten Iso ridiculously easy, too, that we are convinced that on that day at least he must either have b en amiss in some way or other, or had lost the splendid form he once possessed." "This seems (says Visor) rather unsportsmanlike for such an authority, Why grudge a straightforward acknowledgment of well-won and deserving merit! Iu the first instance doubt was in a measure excusable, but when Hanlan's own words are quoted, that 'he was beaten by the beet sculler the world ever saw, , and the remarks are continued with a dubious ' should this be the case,' &c, it 3an scarcely be considered * fair play ' on the part of Nunquam dormio." As an instance of the popularity of wheelracing in England, it may be mentioned that there were 63 race meetings advertised for Whitsun holiday*, May 25 to 30. Dinnie and Hudson, ex-champion of New Zealand, wrestled in the Lyceum Hall, Melbourne, on July 1, for £50 a side. The falls vvere five, of which Hudson had the choice, and were Cumberland, Luggie, Cornish, collar and elbow, and mixed. Dinnie won by three falls to two. The crack Victorian yacht Assegai his been pui chased by Mr. bl. E. Murnin, of Sydney, and has sailed from Melbourne tc Sydney. Indeed, it would seem as if all the Victorian yachts of note were finding their way into New South Wales waters, both the Secret and the Taniwha having preceded the Assegai. The Canterbury A. A. Club have drawn up their bill of fare for the sports to be held in the spring, but have not included any 'cyling events. If the club knew the attraction they were at the Auckland meeting, no doubt they would follow suit. The stakes for the match in Dunedin between Hancock and Scott are being regularly put up. Kelly's International £200 Sheffield Handicap commenced at Botany on June 26. On the first day, the ex-champion, Frank Hewitt (17yds), was defeated in the heat in which he took part. It is said that there is no chance of the three-events match between Malone, the champion sprinter, and O'Brien, of Melbourne, coming off, the New South Wales runner modestly admitting the superiority of O'Brien at three-quarters and one mile. Malone, however, is anxious to try conclusions with O'Brien, even at what he considers over his distance, viz., half a mile, and will run for any sum between £100 and £500 a-side. There is every probability of a match being arranged accordingly. Arotjs.

Clubs. Matches. Wins. Losses. Draws. Points Ponsonby .. S 7 1 — 51 Graf t<>n ..7 4 1 2 23 ... 7 4 1 2 15 Newton ...8 3 2 3 8 Auckland _. 8 2 i 2 10 Albert .... 7 15 1 i North Shore ... 7 — 7 — 4