ATHLETIC SPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9076, 9 June 1888, Page 6

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

FIXTURES. Football. June 9—Ponsonby v. Gordon. June 9—Orafton v. North Shore. June 9—Gordon Second v. University. June 9—Graf ton Second v. Selwyn. June 9—Ponsonby Second v. Waittsmata. June 9—Rovers v. North Shore Second. July 7 —Auckland v. Warbrlck's native team. Aquatics. June 13—Sculling Match, Hanlan v. Trickett, £600 aside, Fitzroy River. FOOTBALL. Singe last week two important decisions have been arrived at by the Rugby Union. The match between Auckland and J. H. Warbrick's native team has been fixed for the 7th July, and it has also been arranged that a representative team from the province shall go on a tour to the Southern centres, as originally intended at the beginning of the present season. The first of these resolutions is right and in order, and the news of the fixture having been definitely arranged, waa gladly received by the footballers generally. The second, however, is very widely considered to be a step of exceedingly doubtful wisdom, for a variety of reasons. 1 n the first place, it is almost a certainty that our two best threequarters—Whiteside and Madigail—will not be sufficiently recovered from their recent accident to take part in the proposed trip, and their absence from the team at once weakens it to a very material degree. The executive of the Union, who decided upon the tour taking place next month, know, or at least should know, that Auckland cannot afford to go South without her best team, and the absence of the two players named will certainly cause any fifteen selected to be considerably less efficient than Buch a one as could be put in the field next season. It is stated that both Whiteside and Madigan will be able to play, but if they *re foolish enough to attempt it, they run a big risk of being rendered comparatively useless in perhaps their first game, with probable serious injury to themselves and corresponding disaster to the team. Again, the team would be absent from Auckland just about the date at which the English team are timed to play their return match, and it would be very ungracious, to say no more, if the fixture arranged with them fell through, owing to our best players being away from home.

Another potent reason in the minds of a, great majority of our footballers, is that the jjourney of-Warbrick's team through the same cities just a fortnight earlier than the Auckland "reps" would greatly rob their matches of interest, as the Southern Unions have already- expressed themselves as averse to a visit from' Auckland during the present season. • • After three, and probably four, foreign matches this year, it is extremely unlikely that all our best players could secure leave of absence, and it would be highly prejudicial to the football interests of Auckland if anything but a first-class team were to undertake the tour ae a representative fifteen. It is to be hoped that before making any further arrangements the Union will carefully consider the objections above stated, as they are the expression of an opinion shared by the bulk of those interested in football in the city. In regard to the approaching visit of Warbriok's Team, the Selection Committee have displayed commendable promptitude in choosing a team of twenty players to go into practice for the match. They have also done wisely in not choosing probable and possible teams, but in picking twenty men at once —a course of action that I have repeatedly advocated in regard to the selection of representative fifteens. With the players of that team as chosen, however, I cannot refrain from making a few comments. The twenty can—if all the players named train well, and come to the field fit —supply a first-class fifteen; but the proportion of flayers to the several divisions of the game is, think, very faulty. There are ten forwards from which to choose either eight or nine reps. The margin for men dropping out through defective-play or mishap is very narnow, but still there is every probability of a first-class forward team being chosen from the number. Two, or possibly three, halfbacks are required, and three outside and three centre men are included in the preliminary selection, while for the three threequarters there is only a trio of players mentioned. Of the first two, McCausland and T. Brown, I have nothing to say. They have earned their places, and will doubtless justify the confidence placed in them. The third man, T. Ryan, though undoubtedly a first-class man three years ago, has played but little for the last two seasons, and that he should be put into the team without an alternative man having been chosen is to my mind a piece of very poor judgment. Though he hae not yet played this season, he is selected (one might almost say finally, for there is no other third threequarter in the trial twenty) to the exclusion of such players as Maseneld, Dixon, and Fisher, who have shown throughout the season consistently good and frequently brilliant form, ana who may, for all the selection committee can know, turn out greatly superior to the once famous Grafton crack. These remarks are not intended to detract at all from Ryan's merit, for if he turns out to be the same " old Darby " as of yore his inclusion in the team must be a foregone conclusion. MISCELLANEOUS. Lovers of lawn tennis will be glad to learn that several of our leading players, having secured the use of the Drill-shed, have formed a club to play throughout the winter at any time during the day. With the central position, good light, and cover of the j building, this club should be the means of providing healthful recreation for many of those who, following a sedentary occupation, and not being exponents of the game of football, are compelled during the wet season to forego all the benefits to be derived from partaking of a little exercise and amusement. The area inside the shed is sufficient for two full-sized courts, which are marked by permanent white-paint lines. These courts are fitted with post and nets, which can be erected and taken down without loss of time, so that players having a half-hour to spare can drop in and play whenever they feel so inclined. The Association Clubs have now made a start for the seasonj and the second match of the first round will take place to-day, at Dilworth's Paddock, Epsom. A curious query on a curious event comes to me from Te Aroha. A match for £5 a-side was made that a Mr. Smardon would run a Mr. Fleming a race of 100 yards in which the former conceded his opponent 50 yards start, on condition that he (Fleming) carried a Mr. Littlejohn on his back. The race was run in the presence of spectators, and Fleming and his rider came in fully fifteen yards in front. Smardon now objects to the stakes being paid to Fleming because in the agreement signed by all three engaged no mention was made of Mr. Littlejohn's clothing and boots being carried as well as himself. As the event was fairly run and fairly won, I cannot think that Mr. Smardon will persist in what is so obviously a merequibble. Were I the stakeholder, Messrs. Fleming and Littlejohn should promptly have the money. " National writes from the Thames asking whether, in the case of an alleged try being gained, which is allowed by one umpire, disallowed by the other, and upon which the referee does not give a decision, as he did not see the play leading to it, the Union to which the matter wae referred can allow such a try without quashing the match if no kick for goal was token. There is nothing in the rules that invalidates the try because the kick at goal is not taken. The reason why the shot at the bars is always insisted upon in case of a disputed try is that should a decision be given in favour of the kickers they will, should their place kick have been successful, be a couple of points better than they would M tiO'.v ■» ->"e attempted. The football club recently formed in connection with the " A " Battery of Artillery will play their first match to-day at the Nortn Shore against a fifteen from the Devonport Naval Brigade. In the Gordon-Ponsonby match this afternoon, the former club will be represented by R. B. Lusk, McCausland, Masefield, Meldrum, Dixon, Herrold, Binney,Burton, Clayton, Gould, Newman, Otway, Poland, Shiels, Murray: emergencies, P. Lusk, Otway, Moeinie. The Gordon Second have chosen the following to play against University :—Plummer, Jervis, Hackett, Buckland, Bishop, Collins, Wynyard, Wilson, White, Maxwell, Clarkson, liwerson, Smart, Dodds, Clayton ; emergency, G. Lusk. The Atlantis, yawl, Mr. Amos, and the Bridesmaid, ketch, Captain Buller, two yachts which took part m the Jubilee Race last year, started from Southampton Water at noon on April 4th on an ocean race to Madeira for £1000 a-side. Both yachts were under all light fore-and-aft sail, and the Atlantis went drawing so steadily away that after the beat down Southampton Water she had fully a mile lead, dead to windward, of the Bridesmaid. The latter, however, soon made up lost ground, and eventually won by several nours ahead of the Atlantis. Jason.