ATHLETIC SPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8222, 5 April 1890, Page 6

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

FIXTURES. AQUATICS. April.— v. Matterson. FOOTBALL. During the past week the followers of the Rugby game in Auckland have been busy in holding their annual meetings, in preparation for the yearly gathering of the delegates and executive of the Rugby Union. This is announced for the 10th inst., and the report aim balance-sheet of last year's proceedings will be submitted, and officers elected for the ensuing season, while the fixtures and arrangements for 1890 will also be decided upon. . , , Judging from the keen interest already shown, and the constant talks about the prospects of the several clubs the season promises to be an active and successful one. Ihe senior clubs have each elected a number of fresh members, and the vacancies in last year's fifteens are expected to be filled up from these without any great amount of trouble. At present no great guns seem to be coming forward, but a number of very fair ordinary players are spoken of, being mostly drawn from the ranks of last year a juniors. A movement is on foot, so lam given to understand, to have the second juniors affiliated to the Rugby Union, and it is to be hoped that this project will be brought to a successful issue, as it will certainly benefit junior football in no small degree. .Three of the leading second juniors, the Native Rose, Orient, and Wanderers, have. I am pleased to see, taken the initiativejin this direction of their own accord by declaring their intention of playing for the coming season as first juniors', and many of those who competed in 'this rank last season, will need to look to their laurels, as the new mudidatea comprise some very good players, though, probably, they still retain a certain amount of crudeness in regard to the finer points of play, which they will have to overcome. The London Field announces the fact that the dispute which for two seasons has stopped the annual matches under Rugby rules, between England on the one hand, and Scotland, Ireland, and Wales on the other, has been brought to a satisfactory termination — the matter which brought about the variance of opinion having been referred to arbitration. Meanwhile, as it may take the arbitrators some time to settle their award, the farther proposal of England, that the matches, as originally suggested when the Board was first formed, should be resumed under the rules of the country in which it takes place, has also been accepted. To English football players, who have for two years been deprived of international matches, the occasion will certainly be one of rejoicing. The advent of the Taranaki representative team, which is looked forward to in the early part of the season should prove an incentive to the local footballers to get into training without delay. On the two occasions on which Auckland ami Taranaki have metin the Rugby field the latter have proved themselves to be doughty antagonists, and honours so far are even, each province having beaten the other once. There is no doubt but that if our West Coast friends send up as strong a team as they did in 18S7 the " blue and whites " will need their best combination, and that in good fettle too, to defeat them. It is almost definitely fixed that this match with Taranaki will, irrespective of colonial tours by either province, become a regular annual fixture, to be played alternately at Auckland and New Plymouth. Harry Roberts, Harry Mclntyre (die erstwhile l'oneke players), and Thomas (late of Dunedin), are this season members of the Melrose Football Club at Wellington, and are all in good form. The Melrose is expected to have a big chance for the premiership of the Empire City for the present season. The project for the amalgamation of the recently-formed Pirates Club and the old North Shore Club, has been engaging considerable attention at Devonport during the past few days. The Pirates have signified their willingness to change the name of their club to that of the time-honoured North Shore, but object to losing their identity by amalgamation. Probably a compromise will be effected by the adherents of the old club joining with the ci-divant Pirates and the combined club playing as North Shore.

CRICKET. As the season is now fast drawing to a close, the Cricket Association _ has wisely decided not to make any break in the series of matches set down in the regular programme on account of the Easter holidays, and this afternoon Auckland and Gordon will play their second fixture, while Alpha and Parnell will also meet in the second round.

.Since the departure of the New South Wales contingent of the Seventh Australian Eleven club cricket in Sydney has lost whatever little interest it may 'have possessed during the season. The match between Carlton and University presented no sensational features. University, losing the toss, were sent in to bat with a man short, and were dismissed by Callaway and Dowries for 02 runs, Callaway securing the splendid average of five wickets for 1(5 runs. Pierce also had a couple of overs, and got one wicket for a single run. 1 notice by the files to hand that in their match against Bengal, played in Calcutta, Mr. Vernon's English team made 315. Our old friend the English skipper was in good form with the wiliow, as he was credited with the top score, namely, 00. The Bengal Mere all out for 153 and 144 ; but had they all been as good as Mr. H. \V. Dickson, who scored 40 and 31 run out, and Mr. E. W. Collen, who made 00 and '20, the Britishers would not have had an easy time of it. It will heseen that the two gentlemen named made more than half the score. Later, Mr. Vernon's team was beaten in a match by the eleven of Lucknow and district by 123 runs.

AQUATICS. Neatly all the larger yachts in the harbour have taken advantage of the Easter holidays to go for two or three days' cruising in the outer gulf. Though tire weather is dull and inclined to be rainy, the wind is up to the present not too fresh, and doubtless all will come back safely after having had a fairly "good time." If the afternoon proves bright and calm, an excellent day's sport is promised at the West End Rowing Club's carnival at Lake Takapuna. In addition to gig and pair oar races, a number of other interesting contests, including walking on the water, greasy boom, tub race, etc., are announced, and should provide an amusing feature in the dav's proceedings. 1 hear that that popular little fixture, the Judge's Bay Regatta, is progressing very satisfactorily, and that there will be good competitions in both the rowing and sailing events.

For some time anxious inquiries have been made whether James Stansbury had improved during the year he has been under the care of Peter Kemp on the Hawkesbury. A competent judge, who has had four firstrate opportunities of seeing him during the past week, states : —" He is the heaviest, most powerful, anil almost the most graceful sculler on the river. Kemp may still hold pride of place for best form, but his pupil is very nearly as skilful. Stansbury is a splendid sculler, and until I have seen O'Connor on the water I may not be justified in saying that Stansbury is the best sculler in Australia; but just now I think he is. His recovery is splendid and very graceful, allowing the boat to travel well between the strokes. The grip is perfect. The sculls go through the water in one clean dash, and come out in most approved style. His back work is excellent, and all his power is on the stroke throughout. The. man that has to beat Jim Stansbury will have a giant task to perform." Nothing fresh has transpired in reference to the championship. O'Connor has not yet issued a definite challenge, but it is generally understood that he is prepared for a race. He lias been on the river several times in a steamer to see the men in work, but has not yet had a row. The Canadian is a keen observer of the men now in practice, but ho has not expressed any opinion as to the relative merits of the men. Stansbury particularly has been closely watched by O'Connor, and he has no doubt an object in view. J. Donnelly, the builder of so many fast boats, has an order from O'Connor for an outrigger. The Canadian brought a Wearin boat with him, but no doubt wishes to test the Australian-built boats, which are on very different lines from the American. Donnelly has also to build boats for Bubcar, Nelson, and Kemp.

In front of the recent Gleaves-Busch skiff race at Sydney, no less than 10 outrigger rowers led the way, being all within a 200 yards square. The sight was a grand one, and has been seldom (nailed; and the men were so skilled and well boated that it is probable no other part of the world has had a better show. The rowers were Matterson, J. M'Leau, Kemp, Stansbury, Brown, Bubear, Stephenson, Neilson, A. M'Lean (Shoalhaven), Smith, Roberts, Malone, and four amateurs. Besides these there were C. Dutch and W. Anderson in light skiffs, and several other boats. Roberts is a new man from the Nepean, who has not yet made a match, but may be heard of before long. Smith is a very big muscular man from the Clarence, and is attached to the Kemp "school.". . v