ATHLETIC SPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8916, 3 December 1887, Page 6

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

FIXTURES CRICKKT. Dec 3.—Auckland A v. United Auckland B v. Hollands Gordon v. Parnell Auckland 11. r. Gordon II National v. Alpha Hollands 11. v. Onehnnga United 11. v. Waltamuta AQUATICS. Dec. 10—Rowing Association's ilegatti January 29— Auckland Regatta January—World'* Sculling; Carnival, Syflna CRICK IST. Owing to the disarrangement of the pro. gramme of the olub fixtures, by which the teams were restricted to one day for their matches, none of the games played last week were finished on Saturday, but were settled on odd afternoons during this week. In the Gordon-Hollands' match L. Meldrum showed the best form he has displayed this year, and defied the efforts of the' Hollands' bowlers, carrying his bat for a fine innings of 41. The balance of the eleven, however, did not make much of a stand, only Williams (11) and Newton (12) getting into double figures, and the innings closed for 85. Hollands were unable to finish their innings, and at the call of time had got 75 for 6 wickets. The game was resumed on Thursday evening, and Hollands succeeded in getting the required runs without the loss of any more wickets, but continued batting, and put on another score before being finally disposed of. '1 he Gordon Second v. United Second matoh commenced last Saturday, and was finished on Wednesday night, Gordon Second winning by 12 runs. The scores were : Gordon, 133; United, 121. The highest scorers were Cato 44 (not out), Clayton 32, and MoLeod 14 for the winners, and C. E. McCormick 31, A. Braund and Newcombe 24 each, and G. Lankham 12 for the United. The United only fielded with nine men. The following teams have been chosen to represent their several clubs in to-day's matches :— . Parnell v. Gordon.—Gordon : C. Z. Clayton, J. Down, H, P. KiasliDg, H, B. Lusk, A. L. Meldrum, D. Meldrum, J. M . Moresby, Newton, J. W. Ryburn, J. R. Sykes, N. Williams, Auckland A v. Unitkd.—Auckland A : J. Arueil, A. Atkinson, W. E. Barton, A, M. Beale, A. Howard, A. Morrison, R. Neill, A. O'Brien, C. F. Reid, Rev. I. Richards, A. C. Stewart,

Auckland B v. Hollands.—Auckland B : K. C. Beale, W. A. E. Clendinneu, Dr. Davy, J. Gill, F. Earl, F. H. Harrison, M. H. Laird, D. M. Martin, H. A. Morey, J, J. Roaoh, W. W. Robinson. Holland : W. Beard, R. Whiteside, E. Mills, G. Mills, H. Thomas, Holle, Dunfcley, D. Berry, King, Walker, F. Brighton. Hollands Second v. Onehunga.—Hollands : A, Rowe, W. Rowe, E. Mell, J, Mills, J. B. Mell, G. Sexton, E. Wright, Morgan, W. Verney, J. Hobson, F. Willstead.

In the recent match between Shaw's English team and the New South Wales Eleven the bowling talent was far and away too good for the batsmen of both teams, the Englishmen compiling only 49 and 66 and New South Wales but 94. In regard to this matter a Sydney exchange remarks —Our bowlers, Turner and Ferris, showed that they have lost none of their cunning. Taking the totals throughout the match, Turner secured ten wickets for 45 runs, being an average of 4£ runs per wicket; while Ferris obtained nine for 59, equal to 6 5 9ths runs per wicket. While we have such bowlers the cricketing reputation of the colony is safe, not merely against the other colonies but against the flower of English cricket. . . . Lohmann proved to be the mainstay of the English bowling. His total analysis for the match showed 205 balls, 35 maidens, 38 runs, and 5 wickets, an undoubtedly excellent average. FOOTBALL. A meeting of the Executive of the Auckland Rugby Union was held on Thursday to consider the letter received by the secretary from Mr. J. Lillywhite, the well-known cricketer, on behalf of Messrs Shaw, Shrewsbury and Lillywhite, concerning their intention of organising a football team of English players for an Australasian tour, anil asking the support of the Union. After some deliberation as to what terms could be offered by the local Union, it was finally agreed that the secretary should reply to Mr. Lillywhite stating that Auckland would be prepared to give 50 per cent of the gross takings at any matoh with an English team. I have to acknowledge tho receipt of a copy of a splendid little football song, entitled "On the Bill," by Mr. E. W. Seeker, of Palmeraton. It has recently been published in Wellington, and is very popular there. Local footballers will remember that the Canterbury team, when here in August, adopted it as their motto song, and sang it frequently with great spirit. AQUATICS. The great subjeot of discussion in aquatic circles during the past week has been the Beach«Hanlan championship matoh, and the great majority of our local oarsmen expressed gratification that the Australian had won. The files from Sydney containing a detailed account of the match are anxiously awaited, as the exceptionally fast time has given all the impression that the race must have been a "clinker."

Beach's aotion in resigning the championship to his friend Peter Kemp the day after the match caused some surprise, though, as he had frequently expressed his intention of not rowing again, it might have been expected. Later telegrams show that Kemp, in taking Beach's mantle, has not been allowed to wear it long without his right to do ho being challenged, and the gauntlet hat already been thrown down by Clifford, while a match with Triokett is on the tapis. These will probably be followed by challenges by Hanlan, Gaudaur, and Teemer, who are all, if I mistake not, a bit too good for Kemp, while Neil Matterson is sure to have another " go" at his old rival, Kemp is greatly improved during tho past couple of years, and may manage to preserve his easily acquired honours, but I am of opinion that before another twelvemonths have passed it will be held by one of the trio aboveinentioned. Tho splendid entries received for the various races of the Auckland Rowing Association's Regatta for next Saturday give every promise of the 10th inst. seeing tho best display of local oarsmanship yet wit - nessed in the harbour. The race that attracts most attention is tho Champion Gig Race, for which the North Shore, Ponsouby, West End, and St. George's Clubs have entered crews, All these have been In hard training for some weeks past, and tho race will probably be one of the toughest contests of the day. The West End have tho same crew with which they were so nueceasrul last year in gig races, and are faulted greatly by many, hut in the Ponsonby crnw they will find foemen worthy of thoir metal, while the North Shore and St. George's aro also highly spoken of, and it would not surprise me if either furnishod the winner. Although but two crews have entered for the Senior Whaleboats, viz., North Shore and Waitemata, yet a contest between these old rivals is always a big race, and the winner is very difficult to pick. The Association oommittee have decided that the races shall be run in the following order: —1, Maiden Whale boats at 2.30 p.m. ; 2, Champion Gig, 2.50 ; 3, Canoe Race ; 4, Maiden Gi«s, under 10at, 3.10 ;5, Senior Whaleboats, 3.50 ;6, Scullers, 4.10 7, Junior Gigs, 430; 8, Senior Whaleboats, 5.10 ; 9, Maidens over 10at, 5.30 ; 10, Senior Bonafides, 6. MISCELLANEOUS. Billiards," Thames, writes; — "If in taking aim at a ball the player touch it with the point of his oue, is it a foul st roke According to the strict rules of playing such ix stroke is certainly a foul one, but unless in a match, it is rarely insisted upon by amateurs," Jason,