ATHLETIC SPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9166, 22 September 1888, Page 6

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

a , FIXTURES. September 22.—Banks v. Law, football match September 22 and 2f».—Cricket match • A.C c Pan e tain Team v. Vice-captain's. C'° Ca September 22 and 29.— Cricket match • AFrc practice match. Seniors v. Colts ' l " October 6.—A.R.U. Athletic Meeting.

The recent visit of our footballers to Tau ranga, and the narrow victory that thev gained over the local team, has raised * storm over their head?, and the Tauranga public, or rather, I hope, but a small , e n c tion of them, are furious and disgusted ah their fifteen being beaten by a team whict was certainly far from representative of th» full strength of Auckland. It seem, indeed, lamentable that narrow-minded ie'' should sway persons to such an extent as to obscure their judgment, and causthem to rush into print and cast a l' sorts of accusations at their victor- 1 Mr. Chas. Jordan, 8.A., in a letter to tC Bay of Plenty Times, makes the following astounding assertion " The Aucklander.-" according to rule, won, but how ? By what, doubtlesss they call the science of th» game, but their science I desi^na 1 * trickery, or, in plain language cheating' Their umpire won the match, backed u,j by their science and by the purblindness of the referee and the modesty of our umpire :i Such a deliberate accusation of unfair p!av though it is only one of manv equally rash and erroneous assertions, cannot be allowed to pass unchallenged. During the whole of the match, the Auckland players had to contend against three great difficulties, the first being the astonishing ignorance of the Tauranga players ; the second, the hardness of the ground and thrunnecessarily rough, not to say viciou/ play of the Tauranga team ; and" the third the incompetence of the referee either to discern their many gross breaches "of important rules, or his disinclination to inflict the just penalties for these errors. I n the first spell the Aucklanders, recognising early in the game the excited state of their opponents, and their want of proper knowledge of the game, did not insist on the ball being called back, but as their forbearance only caused the Tauranga players to persist in their unsportsmanlike tactics, they were in self-defence compelled to ask that they should at least have the fundamental principle of the Rugby game, "the keeping on side," recognised in some slight measure. In his endeavours to execute this, the Auckland umpire (than

whom a better judge of the game or fairer player does not exist in the ranks of Rucr. biana), brought down a s„orm of yells hooting, and hisses upon his devoted head', which served at one and the same time to clearly show the unreasoning partiality and utter lack of good breeding of a large section of the onlookers. Time after time was the leather knocked on or taken offside by the Tauranga players ; and in expectation of its being ordered brick the Auckland team did not pursue it, but as the referee rarely condescended to notice these little breaches, which always resulted in advantage to Tauranga, they were at last; compelled to go in chase after half the length of the ground had been traversed. Though I am sure that the referee was far from competent for his task, it certainly seems strange to me that so zealous a partisan of the Tauranga men should dssignate him as " purblind." This remark is, to say the least, a very ungracious epithet to apply to a man filling what is at best a thankless position, and is a poor tribute to the Tauranga captain for his choice of such a man. Amid a number of bombastic interrogations, all of which he answers in the negative, Mr. Jordan says, "What could equal the Tauranga collaring, tackling, and running? Nothing." The very phrasing of the question betrays the writer's incomplete knowledge of Rugby, for the rawest tyro at the game knows that collaring and tackling are synonymous terms. However, as sucii a challenge is thrown down in so grandiloquent a style, I will answer it by saying that the collaring (though rough) and the running (though too often off-side) excellent: as they really were, were quite equalled by the woeful ignorance of the game shown by the Tauranga players, and the unreasoning partiality displayed by the outsiders, whose interference and gratuitous advice tended greatly to cause the bad feeling to arise that has been exhibited concerning the result of the match.

This evening the officers of the Rugby Union are to take the entries for the Athletic Sports, to be held at Potter's Paddock next Saturday week, and it is expected that a large number of nomination will be received. The handicappers are Messrs. W. W. Robinson, A. H. Cotter, and E. O'Hare, who will declare their estimates of the comp titors' respective capabilities on Wednesday next, in order that the contestants may have time to consider their imposts before giving in their acceptances on Saturday next. The annual football match between teams representing the Banks and Law has been fixed to take place this afternoon ; and, no doubt, a considerable number will go to Potter's Paddock to witness the game. The majority of the players engaged are " old hands," and a good exposition of the proper game is expected. The teams are : — Banks : White (2), Jervis, Gould, Monckton, McCausland, Lusk, Von Sturroer, Hull, Knight. Clarke, Gill, Pritt, Anderson, Mc'Jormick ; emergencies, O'Halloran and Cameron. Law : Myers, Sykes, Lusk (2), Gledhill, Cooke, Cossar, Moresby, Langsfoid. Gold water, Taylor, Bruce, Major, Reeves, Barnett, Quintal. Players will go out by two o'clock tram. Cricket is now beginning to tread very closely upon the heels of football, and matches have been arranged for this afternoon in the Domain among the respective players of the Auckland and United clubs* Though Gordon havo not started a%v practising yet, they hold their annual meeting this evening, and there will be a looking up of flannels and leg-guards during the week. I have not yet heard of any more among the Hollands players, but probably they are looking up new members to replace the severe losses they have had since last season by the departure of the brothers Mills, Berry, Verney, Brighton, Mell, and others, to Australia. The St. Mary's Cricket Club have commenced practice at their fine ground, St. Mary's Road, Ponsonby, and it is their intention to compete for the junior cup. The officers of the club are as follows :—President, Mr. D. A. Tole ; Vice-Presidents, Messrs. P. Darby, P. Brophy, J. A. Tole, D. G. MacDonnell, Thos. Mahoney, P. Dignan, P. Lanigan, and J. Campbell; secretary, Mr. W. Hackett; treasurer, Mr. D. Lynch ; captain, Rev. Dr. Egan : committee, Rev. Dr. Egan, and Messrs. Smales, Stone, T. Darby, and Lundon; selection committee, Rev. Dr. Eg'an, Messrs. Lynch and Smales. Jason.