ATHLETIC SPOUTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9029, 16 April 1888, Page 6

ATHLETIC SPOUTS.

FOOTBALL.

On" Saturday afternoon a large number of footballers and spectators assembled at Potter's Field, Epsom, to witness the practice matches played by several of the senior club*, and also the halfmile race of the Auckland Football Club. lids last event brought out a good field of 13, and a first-class struggle ensued. The scratch man, B. Owen, however. was too good for his comrades, and eventually won with a bit in hand from T. O'Connor,, who came in second, with J. Miller ne:rt.

The Grtfton Club held a practice match between teams captained by Messrs. Lecky and Madigan, ana judging from the vigour displayed by both sides the players are making strong efforts to get into form for their cup match on Saturday next. The Gordon also had a scratch game, -which was contested with spirit, while at the conclusion of their race the Auckland team joined with the Waitemata Club, and played hard for an hoar or morethe forwards doing good work. In the Domain the Ponsonby Football Club held their annual half-mile races for the first and second fifteens. In the former about a dozen went to the post, and A. Eraund (40yds), made the pace very hot for about '250 yards, when W. Hobson, who bad been coming up strongly, passed him. Near home the scratch man, Baxter, came with a splendid rush, but could not catch Hobson, who won by five yards from Baxter, R. Whiteside (10yds) gaining third honours, while H. Stevenson, the other scratch man, was close up, fourth. The time as taken as 2min 15sec. The race for the Second Fifteen resulted in a win for A. Bruce (39yds), Purdie (25yds) being second, and R. Bruce (60yds) third. Pilkington (60yds), the limit man, led the field till within 60 yards of the tape, when he collapsed, and A. Bruce, taking the lead, won by about five yards from Purdie, who came with a spurt in the straight, closely followed by R. Bruce and H. C. Poulaen. The time for the half mile was 2min lfeec. AUCKLAND BOWLING CLUB. There was a good attendance on the rounds of the Auckland Bowling Club on Saturday afternoon, when the usual practice matches were played. The following are the details of the scores :— No. 1 Rink. W. C. Mir fin H. Green W. S. Jones J. Pa-terson J. Billiogton W. Gorrie C. Kiajswell (skip) 21 J. Scott (skip) _ _ 14 No. 2 Rink. M. McJDerraott J. Miller J. Hardie J. Lyell J. Winks C. Cuff 3. Kirkwood (skip) 21 W. Tait (skip) „ „ 6 No. 3 Rink. D. Ross J. Lawson Rev. S. Baker W. K. Bennett T. Ching W. H. Duthie N. Barker (skip) .. 16 W. H. Skinner (skip) 21 No. i Rink. C. Cnff J. Winks W. Tait 11 J. Kirkwood .. .. 0 By Scotch files we note results of the Glasgow Freemasonry Bowling Match, the first prize—Sir Wm. Pearce's Cup—being ■won by Lodge St. Andrew, 465. Play began at half-past four o'clock, and was concluded before eight o'clock. A large number of the brethren assembled at the hall of St. Mark's Lodge, Buchanan-street, to hear the result. Brother Charles Wilson, of St. Mark's, expressed the hope that the brethren would assist in promoting public bowling greens. In this respect Edinburgh showed a good example, having had two such greens for the last quarter of a century.