ATHLETIC SPORS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7840, 8 January 1887, Page 6

ATHLETIC SPORS.

:•■*-"?- FIXTURES. ■'■■ f CRICKET. US, TsaikUD aurwi in Australia. Tana sty 7. 8. 10, 11 v. Australian Eleven, Sydney. January 89, February 1, 2,8?. Australia, Sydney* February 4, 6. 7 v. Maltla.d. Maltland. 1 February 10.11,12 v. Novrcastle, Newcastle. senior OUT. Jan. 8 and 18-United v. Auckland, Gordon v. HoiJan. n 22*and Feb. 15-Auckland v. Gordon. United V Fab. and 19—Auckland v. Holland*, United v. Gordon. March 6-AncWandv. United, Hollands Feb. 28 and March 6-Anckland v. United, Hollands • T. Gordon. . .•> ~. "•.'.) „,, . March 12 and 19-Gordon v. Auckland,- Hollan as v March 26 and April 3—Hollands v. Auckland, Gordon v. United. ~r? » BICOKD JUNIOR CUP. Jan. B—Domain G.S. v. Waitemata Snd, A.C. and G.S. v. Roseberry, Richmond v. Gordon 3rd, Kden v. Albany, Alpha v. Alma. Auckland 3rd standi out. Jan. 16 and 22-Domal« G.S. v. Richmond, A.C. and G.S. v. Auskland 3rd, Roseberry v. Gordon 3rd Waitemata 2nd v. Eden Albany v. Alms. Alpha stands ont. _,: ■''■•" ' „-'".- . Feb. 6 and Domain G.S. v Gordon 3rd A.O. and G.S. v. Kden, Rossberry v. Alpha, Auckland 3rd v. Alma, Richmond v. Albany. Waitemata 2nd stands out. Feb. 19 and Domain G.S. v. Eden, A.C. and G.S. v. Albany. Roseberry v. Auckland 3rd, WalUmaU , Snd v. Alma, .Richmond v. Alpha. Gordon 2nd stands out. ..-_•*«. v ... AQUATICS. Jan. 29-Anniversary Regatta. July, 1887—Hanlan v. Teemer, United States. i , CYCLING. WarrrM*Ta Bioycls Club Rohs roa Jakuaby : January 10-Onehunga to tea, leaving Park at 5.30. January IB— Hellers Ray. January Northcota ' January 29—Avondalo. PEDESTRIAN ISM. Jan. 22 and 24—Hutchlns v. Malone, 160, 290, 260 yd», £200 aside, at Syduey.

CRICKET.

The cup matches will be resumed this afternoon, after an interval of three weeks. The game has not altogether been forgotten during the interval, as scratch matches and a trip to Bombay have taken place. In reference to the latter, as might be expected, the city team did not fare well on the local ground, and the eightesn of Mannkau County opposed to them dismissed the eleven for totals of 31 and 33—-not a very brilliant performance, considering there ware no less than five of the Auckland Twenty-two in the team. The county men pat together 67 and 103, of which A. Brown (24), 6. P. Ewing (12), Lusk (15), and A. Mackay (12) showed the best form. The brothers Evans bowled uncommonly well in both innings, and the fielding was very good. For Auckland Moresby was entrusted with the ball in the second innings, and secured no less than six wickets for 16 runs, While Meldrum and Neill were also well on the spot. The next match, I understand, will be played in Auckland, when no doubt our men will have an opportunity of recover* ing their laurels. The visitors speak in loud praise of their enjoyment of the trip, and the kindness afforded to them during the day. In the Auckland matches J, Testro seems to have been in good form, for he scored 38 and 66, not out, in! two matches. To-day Auckland and United are opposed to each other, when no doubt a good match will result The drought has made the ground very hard, and if a little rain fell the wickets should prove fast scoring, but at present there is no prospect of rain, and the ground of course suffers. If Auckland go in they should make a better stand than on the first match, as they have their full strength in batting. United, however, have a good variety in bowling, and may again repeat their win of the first round. Gordon meet Holland again, and the good form the latter have shown against United and Auckland, should serve them in good stead against the Senior Cup winners. Holland possess a very fair batting and" bowling eleven, and should give a good account of themselves, as the majority of the team have been in regular attendance at the practice net during the holidays. Gordon will take a power to beat, and if Holland should aucoeed in lowering their colours, it will be a feather in their

cap. The recently-formed Warehouse Association will inaugurate their matches to-day for the possession of the Silver Challenge Cup, presented by the commercial travellers. Messrs. Sargood, Ewan, and Co. have decided to call their club the Standard C.C., and have elected the following officers :— President, Mr. J. Ross; captain, Mr. A. E. Tomlin ; vioe-captain, Mr. A. H. Collier : hon, sec. and treasurer, Mr. D. W. McLean. Sargood, Ewen, and Co. will be represented against A. Clark and Sons this afternoon by the following:—Collier, Hunter, Jeffery, McLean, McMaster, Ronayne, Ross, Smith, Tomlin, Veale, and Whittaker. colonial and inter-national cricket seems to have lost a great deal of interest during the past two years in Australia, judging by the meagre attendances that grace the important matches of the season. Where thousands used to gather in the M.C.C. Ground, and the ■ Association Ground, Sydney, only hundreds are to be seen now. The question naturally arises, what are the causes? Many think that the intolerable length that matches are now spun out to have-a good deal to do with the laok of public interest in the game. The matoh just played in Melbourne between the All-England Eleven and the Australians occupied no less than four days, and then it was not completed, and a draw has to be recorded. Three days used to be ample time to play a big contest, but now four days do not seem to be sufficient. The scoring is not any heavier, but the play is less interesting, as the bowling is so good and the batsmen equally so, that runs are difficult to get. Some writers on the question suggest that either the bat should be made narrower or the wicket widened, while one is of opinion that a little less attention should be bestowed upon the preparation of the wickets, thus enabling bowlers to get more command over the ball. . Whether any of these sugfestions will be adopted or not, it is not nown, but it is quite apparent that some measures are required to revive the interest that has been displayed in cricket in Australia. I think, however, that the game is like all other sport—it has been overdone, and it is now finding its true level as the distinction and honour of possessing a team that could journey to England and defeat the flower of cricket in the Home Country has worn off. If we turn to racing the sport is rapidly in the ascendant ! all over the colony; what is the oause? It is not from a love of true sport I venture to say; but it is the gambling spirit that has been engendered, and in New Zealand that spirit is fostered by the huge betting machine—the totalisator. Cricket, and football happily have not this adjunct to bolster them up, and, it is to be hoped that ere long the great summer game will recover the public support and interest which it is justly entitled, to. V. j ■ ■ ■ , Thirteen balls were delivered in an over on Lancaster Park the other day. Seven of ■ them were wides, ••■■t i . -. > '" \-«

F. Willis scored 84 for Leeston against Lancaster Park O.C. just before the holidays.. Leeston scored 186, and the Park replied with 188 for eight wickets, just two ana ahead. AQUATICS. With the holidays over till Anniversary Day attention will now be tamed to the Annual Regatta which is always the great aquatic event of the year on the Waitemata. The Champion Schooner Race, which for years was the event of the day,, has now been displaced by the Champion Whaleboats. The W alternate were the champions at the last regatta, and, after a great race, appro priated the prize from the Hauraki crew, but in the match subsequently the Uaurakis turned the tables on the victors and returned to the Thames amid great rejoicing. Whaleboat crews are now beginning to dot She harbour, and another great race is expected, as although Hauraki are virtually the champions, .the Waitemata having won the race at each regatta hold the champion cup. During the next three weeks matters in connection with the forthcoming ovens should go ahead, and the Regatta of 18S7 be made a worthy successor to that of ISB6. 1 notice that the Torea, the hero of many a race with the old Transit, whose timbers are now bleaching on the shingle at Napier, is I?ing in harbour. The captain of the City Rowing Club, Mr. A. J. Vogan, has resigned the position on account of being unable to devote the necessary time to the office. For the intercolonial yacht race the Janet will give time allowance to the Magic and the Waitangi, and it is. considered that the Victorian crack will be too heavily handicapped. She has had , eight tons of outside lead pat into her as a padding on her garboards. It is* asserted -that this is not an improvement, and that the yacht is not near ■ so lively.^.f--' : -"-•'■-.. '■■'■< - H ''■-•■-'•••'•'••• Great satisfaction was expressed in Sydney when it was known that Hanlan had announced his intention of accepting Beach's ' terms for the match to take place on the

Nepean river for £500 a side and expenses £100, in Jane next. ~ ■ ."•,",..; Mr. Geo. L. Watson, the distinguished yacht designer, of Glasgow, after a visit to America to study their yaohts, considers that the English yaohts which have visited the States have been nndermaated, as the water is smoother there, and the yachts can consequently carry a greater press of canvass than in England." He has prepared plans of a yacht to race for the cap in the interests of Scotchmen. Sir W. J. Clarke's cutter yaoht, Janet, during her recent voyage from Melbournffto Sydney to compete in the inter-colonial yaoht race, experienced vary heavy weather and high seas on leaving Port Phillip Heads. The yaoht, however, proved to be an excellent sea boat, and weathered out the gale. The ex-Victorian yacht Assegai has been very successful in Sydney among the ten tonners, and has been victorious in recent matches over the cracks, Sirocco and Guinevere, and also the Carina, an imported 9 ton cutter from the Clyde. The following English yachts have recently left home upon foreign voyages:—Steamer Hiawatha (Mr. D. MoFarlane), to Gibraltar ; steamer Lancashire Witch (Mr. James), to Bombay, via Algiers and Suez; Sunbeam (Lord Brassey), also to Bombay ; Miranda (Sir G. Lampson), to Cape de Verde. The English crew which manned the Galatea in the recent international match, do not remain in America but return home. MISCELLANEOUS. Pedestrians are now in training for the Eight Hours' Demonstration Sports, which usually take place on Anniversary Day. Application was made to the City Council for the use of the ground, and the request was granted in the utual way, but the committee seem to have abandoned the project, and this year the Eight Hour system promises not to be feted unless a little activity is shown. W. G. George's visit to Australia iB purely for a holiday, but he will be willing to to meet M alone, and intends to settle down in the United States. He will again visit England before leaving it for good. He will come to Australia via if an Francisco. Arrangements in connection with the proposed Athletic Ground Company are progressing favourably. The ground chosen will in all probability be sure to be on Mr. James Dilworth's estate at Remuera, as that gentleman is anxious to promote the cause of athletics. The Auckland pedestrian, M. Monnock, ran into third place in the principal handicap race of the Caledonian Society's games in Wellington, The match between Hutchens, the great English professional sprinter, and T. M. Malone, the Australian crack, will come off on Saturday, January 22, and the following Monday. The distances will be 150, 200, and 250 yards, and the stakes are £200 aside. The match will be ran in Sydney. Abous.

LAWN TENNIS

The final match of the lady-gentlemen's tournament aft the Government House came off on Tuesday, and was well contested by Mr. Ridings and Mr. Pollen and their respective lady partners. Mr. Ridings' hard hitting was very telling, and though at times more faulty than it ought to have been, was too much for his opponents. Of the lady players both did well, and some very creditable half volleys and volleys were played.

I would remind the clubs generally that the names of their representatives for the single championship of Auckland have to be Bent in to the hon. sec. of the Tennis Association by the 31st January. Each club can send one champion, and the selection of this champion in many of the clubs will doubtless be made by arranging matches beforehand of the best players, and deciding that the winner shall contest the championship with ,the other clubs. Mr. Barton, the holder of the challenge cup, is not required to play until the final game comes off.

As regards the Napier tournament an opinion seems to be prevalent owing to a remark in one of the " own correspondent's" telegrams that the play of the Fenwicks to Mr. Barton was owing to his being found out to be the weaker player, as compared with Mr. Carr. This is by no means the case. Mr. Carr has never beaten Mr. Barton, and he always, as far as hearsay goes, and I believe it is very correct in this particular, acknowledged Mr. Barton to be far and away his superior. The meaning, I take it, of the correspondent was that Mr. Garr, owing to his position at the net, had more opportunities of smashing and scoring than Mr. Barton would hare at the base line, and hence the efforts of Messrs. Fen wick to keep the ball out of Mr. Carr's reach.

I hear that the Napier gentlemen have expressed their readiness to come to Auckland next season, if a good ground can be made by that time. Tae advantages of a tournament here would be many : we should play on our own ground, and we should, I think, have the pleasure of seeing several ladies enter for single and double events. The question of getting and forming a ground is to be brought under the notice of the Tennis Association, bat, in the mean* time, I understand Mr. E. P. Hudson, it* hon. secretary, will be glad to receive the names of gentlemen willing to contribute a fixed sum, say 50s and upwards, until such time as the Association's funds are large enough to pay back these outlays. There will surely be found several enthusiasts and others who would offer, say £5, for the furtherance of this sport, and nothing promotes this game better than a good ground to play upon.

At a meeting of the match committee of the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association on Thursday, it was agreed to postpone the matches till January 20, they being the ladies' doubles, gentlemen's doubles, and combined sets. The draw took place, and resulted as follows:—Northcote plays Government House at Devonport, Parnell plays Devonport at Government House, Auckland Bowling plays Auckland at Parnell, Ponsonby has a bye. Apology.