ATHLETIC SPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7656, 5 June 1886, Page 7

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

FIXTURES.

Auckland rugby UNION MATCHES, {North Shore v. Auckland \ Albert v. Gordon f T , ,„. Grafton v. Newton f United v. Ponsonby ) (Albert v. Grafton "V Gordon v. Newton ' T . 0 , Auckland v. Ponsonby f u United v. North Shore / (Grafton ▼. Gordon "J Newton v. Auckland I Ponsonby t. North Shore f An * ust 7 United v. Albert ) .tumors. Return matches ! Nelson v. Athletics ) Ponsonby v. Gordon [ oi Grafton V. Waitemata \ July 24 Manukau v. Auckland ) / Ponsonby v. Graftou "J Waitemata v. Athletics f T „,_ 1 Auckland v. Gordon f JulV 31 V Nelson v. Manukau J (Nelson v. Waitemata "J 10 1 Ponsonby v. Athletic? f a.,-,,,* 7 3one 19 Grafton v. Auckland ( August 7 Manukau v. Gordon ) August—Auckland v. Now South Wales. AQUATICS. Beach v. Teemer for tho championship of tho world. ANSWERS TO CORRESrONDKNTS. SrORT writes : 'l hack a man to pot a goal, he cuing In the team when I made the wager, but on the day of the match drops out. Do 1 lose my wager ?" Yes ; utiles" yon stipulated that he should be in the team on the d»r.

FOOTBALL.

It will be of interest to know that at the meeting of the Rugby Union of England Mr. Sleigh, of Dunedin, mentioned the matter of the visit to New Zealand of a team from the " Londoif' Rovers," and asked for some information respecting that club. From what he had heard he believed his Union had been the victim of a hoax. Mr. Sleigh promised a cordial reception to auy English team who mic;ht visit New Zealand. Mr. G. Rowland Hill, secretary of tho Rugby Union, stated that ho was unaware of the existence of a club known as either the Rovers or the London Rovers, and could not therefore give the requisite information. It will thus be seen that tho expectation of having a, team from England in Australasia this season has collapsed (if it ever had any foundation), and it has been left to either New Zealand or Australia to take the initiative in establishing international matches.

Among tho incidents of the match between Ponsonby and Newton last Saturday was that, after some time had been wasted, owing to there being no ball, a horseman rod# off and procured one. In future this ■hould be avoided, as it was dark ere tho game was finished. The absurdity of lighting a match to discover the mark to place the ball in for the try at goal was indulged in. The football match Duuedin v. Inveruargill, played at lnvercargill on May 123, was won by the home team by one goal and one try to nothing. The play was in favour of lnvercargill throughout. The try obtained by Ring for the Athletics V. East (Jhristchurch, at Lancaster Park, and which decided the match in favour "Wellington team, has been disputed by East Christchurch, and the matter is to be referred to the English Rugby Union for their decision. It is stated that King never touched the ball down. Mr. J. P. Firth was referee, the Rev. J. Hoatson umpire for East Christchurch, and Mr. Dumbell for the Athletics. At the March meeting of the Rugby Football Union of England, the following amendment to the laws of the game was unanimously adopted —"That in law 4t3, after the words ' may not charge until it has ?t>een kicked,' the words be added, 'incase of any infringements, the referee shall, on a claim by the opposite side, order a scrummage to be formed at the spot where the '"fair catch" was made.'" a motion proposing to alter law 7, by making the scoring by points, was, after discussion, deferred till the October meeting, when a report on the matter would be brought up by the committer. The proposition was warmly supported, amongst others by Mr. Sleigh, of the Otagc Union, who stated that since the system of scoring by points had been adopted in the colonies the game had increased largely in popular favour. He further said that in New Zealand and Australia there were fully 10,000 players who follow the code of the Rugby Union, the laws of which were strictly followed.

Scotland defeated Wales under Association yules, at Hampden Park, Glasgow, on April 10, by four goals to one with what was conaiderc 4 a weak team. Since 1575, tie inauguration of the matches, the Scots have been victorious over the Cambrians. A well-known authority on the game sends the following re the Ponsonby-Newton match: " Flay was stopped live minutes before the time was up. The new system of umpiring •was tried and worked fairly well, but umpires and referees require practice, as well as players, to work properly together. While on the subject of umpiring I cannot help referring to 'Fiat Justitia,' whose letter appeared on Saturday, and for an inconsistent production commend me to it. I will quote one line, The Ponsonby captain did not show up well in referring so trivial a matter to the referee. The trivial matter was a throw.on of three yards, so the referee explained."

CRICKET.

The Australian Eleven matches have been exciting a large amount of interest of late in Auckland. They were strong favourites at the opening of the campaign, but popular feeling has changed considerably, and short odds are now given against the Australians. County matches in England were fixed to open on Easter Monday by Surrey meeting Gloucester at Lords ground. Nothing has been heard recently in regard to the Cricket Association cups for their successful teams. It has been suggested by a correspondent that the question was going to stand over till next season. The Notts County Eleven selected to play against the Colts on Easter Monday, was as follows ;—Attewell, Barnes, Fiowcis, Gunn, Shaw, Sherwin, Shrewsbury, Scotton, Selby, Shacklock, aud Walter Wright. As far as the tour of the Australian Eleven in England has proceeded it cannot be said that the visitors have come out up to the form displayed on previous visits at the opening of their campaigns, and certainly the question arises, what is the cause ? Looking at the team it cannot be called an inferior re* presentative eleven of the strength of Australian cricket. It would seem, then, that the elements have been playing a prominent part in the matches by providing heavy wickets—the reverse to the fast ones Australia's sons have been accustomed to play on—and the scoring on both sides has been equally small. England has no doubt profited fay the results achieved by the third and fourth Australian teams, and is pitting her strength against the visitors ; still the scoring has been so comparatively small that it is difficult co hazard an opinion at this distance from the scene of play as to what the result will be under the sunny skies and fast wickets. To the time of writing six fixtures have been contested, of which victory has smiled in one, two lost, and two drawn, and the sixth abandoned on account of rain. Jhe match with the Gentlemen of England is now being played. The Australian* have attained a lead on the first innings, and at present seem to have the advantage, but there is no telling what the fickle goddess who presides over the destinies of the game may decree.

MISCELLANEOUS

Mr. L. ft. Manger, of Detroit, road fifty in 3hr 2min34sec on a 57-inch bicycle, at New Orleans, on the Ist April. This is claimed to be the beat road record in the world, but inasmuch as the performance was done on an asphalt track, it cannot be admitted as a record. The best thoroughlyauthenticated fifty mile English record is that of Travers in 3hr 15min 39sec. The champion swimmer of England, James Finney Salford, has had a challenge taken up by W. Beckwith, his old opponent, and a 500 yards match was being arranged when the mail left England. , "Pegasus," in the Hews of tne World, writes as follows " Wallace Ross challenged Largan for the championship of England Challenge Cup after the Irishman had beaten Pearce, of Australia, and Laycock. Since that time Ross issued a challenge to row Hanlan for the cup, ana therefore he was justly entitled to first claim to row for it. Matterson deolined to ratt'iv hi. Parramatta challenge to Ross by SSJ. him on the Thames. and the on chance of a meeting between tfie pa.r Ot ■\lattarson wins) was in obtaining Koss consent for a match between Perkins and Matterson for England's eh.mp.on«h«p and the cup given by a contemporary. \\ith this concession I have also rec °' vt i formal instructions from Ross to challenge of the match, for £200 a-side and the cup, according to the usual conditions, »nd VY.

Spencer has deposited £25 to bind the match on behalf of Ross. It is sincerely to be hoped that Perkins will make a good 1 show' in the forthcoming matches on behalf of the old country,' and having thus materially assisted" in the revival of aquatics on tho Thames, I shall continue to do my best in order : to bring about a meeting between Beach, Hanlan, Ross, Teemor, Matterson, Perkins, - Gaudaur, and any other scullers who will enter for the open competition for the sculling championship of the world, and will keep our readers duly posted with the details. A sweepstakes of £100 or £200 each, with £300, £400, or perhaps £500 added by a few patrons of rowing, is tho idea I have long had in view, and intend to carry out, in order to satisfactorily and conclusively decide (on the Thames) the title of champion of the world." Neil Matterson, the Australian scalier, who is now in England, has been elected a member of the Cobdun Rowing Olub. In connection with the visit to England of the Australian scullers, Beach, Matterson, and Nelson, the New York Spirit of the Times announces that it is not at all unlkely that Teemor, Ross, Gaudaur, and Hanlan may cross the Atlantic to meet these visitors from the antipodes, and, if so, the relative rank of the world's foremost scullers will bo definitely established. I have received the following letter : — Several letters have appaarcd in the local pipers expressing disappointment with tho football matches this season, anil, unfortunately, all who have attended them share the samo opinion. One reason for this opinion ari:e3 from tho fuel that we hail not till last wttflc adopted the latest rnvisious of the Kngllsh Rugby Union iu referenco to umpiring. With the near advent of visiting teams, it would lie wise for lis to select competent umpires. The duties of an umpiie are hard, and lu'cesssarily so, but In several cast's lately one cannot fail to coma to the cor elusion that, waiving the consideration of coincidence, umpires hive shown a distinct leaning in favour of tho team they represent, » fact much to be deprecated, and which, in ca«e one umpire should be impartial, materially affects tho gams. 1 was very much amused by the construction that an umpire put on his duties is a recent match. " 1 consider,' lie said, "'that an timp.ro'a duties consist in looking utter tho interests of his stile." lie admits he does not. know much about the rules, but has probably been a spectator at the early matches this season. Had l»tj known the game bitter, I havo no doubt ho would do his duty by looking after tho Interests of both sides, with no rcspsct for one or tl'.e other. An umpire or referee should not give a decision unlass he is iu a position to do so. To illustrate this, let mo refer to the Gordon-North Shore match of last Saturday, in which 1 umpired. Near the end of the same, the Gordon men dribbled tho ball quickly up, right clcss to the touch line, which was crowded by spectators. Newman kicked the hall when it was about a yard from the touch line, followed it up quickly, and got a try. Being on the spit. I can say that it touched no onlookers, who corroborate me in my decision. Neither Mr. Sims, tho North Shore umpire, nor Mr. Henderson, the referee, wis present. The North Shore insisted that it mint have touched somebody, and Mr. Sims, comln? up, gate his decision as such. Mr. Henderson wa3 then appealed to. and admitted he had not seen tho matter in dispute. but as the Go.-don team wore then supposad to bo leading, sai Ihe would give tha P 01 ? 1 in favour of North Shore. By the dicisiou of tin Union, I notice that Gordon's goal points stole ta«-n away. If Air. Henderson were appealed to now ro i\u>v.nans try. what would be his decision ? 1 sunpess the Union arc quito right in their ruling on the tirst matter, re disallowing goal and ordering that the match be pHyed over again. Protests, however, should be mads at the right time, and it was tho duty of Mr. Buricas, in case of doubt (which, by-tha-by, he does not soom to hare had), tn hare immediately walked up to tho two umpires, and requested their verdict. Tho b<>ll. howover, was kicked off from the half-way post without dolav, both Gordon and North Shore teams being in ignorancc of the real state o( tho game till lire minutes after it was finished, whon it was discovered that had 1 been asked 1 should have given it no goal. 1 will quoto extracts from regulations No. 3 anil 4 for guidance of umpires and referoes : —" No. o. Appeals must be mado immediately after the the points occur which cause them, otherwise they cannot be attended to by umpires or referee. No. 4. The umpires must not interfere in the came, unless appeals are made to them." The appeal in question wis mule to me neither immediately nor at any time during the game. —1 am, &c., W. E. Barton*.—Auckland, Jano 4.