ATHLETIC SPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8360, 13 September 1890, Page 6

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

FOOTBALL. Tins afternoon may be considered the last of the season of 1800, which has been on the whole a rather uneventful one. This was due to the absence of all outside fixtures save the interprovincial match with Taranaki. When Rugby began in May last, it was thought that there would be some very exciting matches during the year, and a contest with our old rivals from Wellington was eagerly anticipated, and had a definite promise of a visit been held out there is little doubt but that the local Union -would have strained every nerve to get a strong fifteen in the field with a view to deciding the vexed question of supremacy in Auckland's favour by a big victory. Owing to a lack of funds, however, our friends from the Empire City were unable to make their projected tour, and as regards the respective merits of Auckland and Wellington we have not got any very reliable standard to go upon. Of course the usual way of arriving at the respective status of the provinces when no direct contests have taken place is by comparison of X\\u manner in which each fared when meeting some common antagonists. According to this method of reasoning, which, however, 1 hardly uphold as likely to produce an accurate result, Auckland's record is much better than Wellington's. Auckland defeated Taranaki with ease, and the latter team were victorious over Hawke's Ray after a good struggle. A week or two after the two smaller provinces had thus settled the question of their respective merits, Wellington, with a good fifteen, tried their mettle with Hawke's Bay, and went down. So far Auckland can congratulate herself upon being a few rungs in the football ladder higher than her old opponent, but I am of opinion that were the blacks to meet the local blue and whites, the contest would be a pretty keen one. It is to be hoped that Wellington will manage to pay us a visit next season.

The Union matches to-day are so far important that should either Ponsonby I. or 11. be defeated the positions for the senior and junior cups would be materially altered. If Selwyn, which is matched against the blue and black seniors should win, Ponsonby would then be on level terms with Grafton, and a play-off would be required to settle the year's premiership. Selwyn has been actively engaged in gathering a strong fifteen to meet their antagonists, and rumours of the inclusion of many good outsiders in the maroon and whites' team have been rife during the week. Ponsonby will, however, have all her backs in their places again, and I fancy will manage to stave'off defeat. Ponsonby 11. has even more than their seniors depending upon the result of this afternoon's contest, and a win for them is imperative if they are to gain the junior cup. They have two defeats against them, while the second club, Native Rose, is very close behind them with one defeat and two draws. If Grafton 11., which has left no stone unturned to put a strong selection in the field, should make a drawn game to-day or defeat the blue and blacks, the premiership for the year will fall to the Native Rose. Under such circumstances therefore a very keencontested game is anticipated. Despite the heavy drawing upon their funds last year by the expenses of sending a team to tour the colony, and the fact that only one interprovincial fixture has been played here, the Rugby Union have conserved their resources well, and will finish this season with a respectable balance of about £320 in hand.

Though the question of Frying a benefit match for Mr. E. O'llare, jj e ell-known athlete and footballer, has t, een already before the Union, and receiv.fl favourable consideration, there has been, 0 f ar as I can learn, no decided step taken to ve the proposal given effect to. The Circ instances of the case are well known, and it Is admitted that no one is more popular or Serving of aid than the genial Ted, who ha. for years been very prominent in assisting a*y benevolent object. I hope that before *ext week the Union will see fit to arrange ./popular fixture for his benefit, say a matchbetween Ponsonby and Gordon or Grafton. \ A mosi; interesting match been fixed to take place this afternoon, at EUertlie, between fifteens representing the HEBALP and Star establishments. Both teams aie very eager, and each anticipates victory. They will drive out to the convincing grouitl in breaks, starting at two p.m. The teams chosen are : — Herald : Haslam, Wilson, Roberts, Blewden, Mackie, Graham, Horton, Rotherham, Skeen, Gash, Hunt, Archer, McFarlane, Carmichael, JLowry; emergencies — Faulkner, Jackson. Star : D;um, Poland, Brett, Kelly, Speight, Wright, Wilson, Brookes, Sainty, Chatwin, Drummond, Pooley, Harvey, White, Clarkson ; emergencies—Lyman, Webster, Brown.

AQUATICS. As usual, the aquatic men in and about Auckland are losing no time for the getting things in train for an early start. Rowing clubs arc already holding their annual meetings, while yachtsmen are busily fitting up their craft for sea. So far I have not heard of any orders having been given for new craft this year, but probably the builders may yet receive commissions. lam told that the four-tonner, Maim will, during the coming season, have! all her lead put on her keel, and not carry in* board even the small quantity she did last year. . ! The following clipping from the \V estern Australian .Bulletin will doubtless interest many of my readers :— Perhaps you would like to hear a little about the regatta held here on the 3rd June. Your amateur yachts; men would have been agreeably surprises had they witnessed the turn-out on that occasion. There are a number of really beautiful yachts here, which of their class would dc credit to any port in the world in regard to both appearance and sailing qualities. The majority of them were built by Mr. A. Chamberlain, a rising young ' native'living at Fremantle. The solitary opponent to Mr. Chamberlain's yachts was the City of York, built by Mr. Brown, formerly of Mew Zealand, uid to her must be given the palm for symmetry and proportion, and also for the setting if her sails, which were made at Sharks' Bay by Captain F. Smith. sailing qualities are undoubtedly unsurpassed by any boat as yet in Sharks'* Bay; and Mr.' Brown may well be proud of Having built such a beautiful; craft, which was first in a field of forty. A venturesome, some would say plucky, youth thinking his own boat could, under certain circumstance bea,t ' the rooster,' offered to lay £5 against the City of York for a tenmile race ; the plucked one selecting the day' and hour which hy regarded as most ad-; vantageous for his own boat. The time duly arrived, both boats started off, neither getting the advantage of the other for threequarters of a mile, till it was thought the Champion had found ft match. Suddenly, like lightning, the City of York; made such a clean run away, that it wis believed she must either have shipped an engine and propeller or had been playing with the other boat. When a mile ahead, thY mast of the defeated one was carried away, completely disabling her. The Champion with true gallantry came back to her assistance, and grandly towed her to her anchotage. As a salve to his wounded feelings, Ml Barnard, the owner of of the City of York, generously returned to the plucky but misguided youth the stakes which he had deposited." Mr. Brown mentioned here is related to Xessrs. Lane and Brown, of Whangaroa, and served his apprenticeship at their shipbuilding >ard. jASOr.

AUCKLAND ROWING CLUB. I The Auckland Rowing Club held ther annual general meeting in' the club's room|t the Impend Hotel last evening. The report presented by the committee showed a lar| accession to the membership, as well 1 additions to the plant, during the season jui expired. It also made reference to tin annual fixture with the Poverty Bay Rowing] Club, which will take place at Gisbornd during this season. The balance-sheet! showed the club to have surplus assets of] £120. Twelve new members were elected, amongst them being W. Copeland, formerly a member of the Star Boating Club, and cxChampion Amateur Sculler of New Zealand. The officers elected for the ensuing season were :—President, J. Marshall (re-elected) ; vice-president, A. H. Nathan; captain, T. Henderson (re-elected) ; deputy captain, C. Colebrook; secretary, R. W. St. Clair (reelected) ; treasurer, 6. A. Creeth ; com-' mittee, J. Baker, J. Burtton, W. Copeland, I C. P. Minnitt, and P. Wallace; delegate to j Auckland Rowing Association, L. M. Myers ; and auditors, Messrs. P. E. Brown" and T. F. Wallace. The committee were empowered to appoint delegates to the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Associatton. The entrance fee was waived for this coming season. A social evening was the* spent" and the following programme gone through in good style :Selection, piano, Mr, Ne"umegen; comic song, Mr. J. B. Graham; song, "' Hunting Day," Mr. St. Clair ; recitation, " Not Biugen on Rhine," Mr. T. Henderson; comic song, Mr. L. M, Myers; "Maori M.H.R in the House of Parliament," comic sketch, Mr. Copeland ; long "Steering Home," Mr. Brabant; Cheese' song, Mr. Baker; comic recitation. Ml J. B. Graham ; selection, pianoforte, Mr. N2ll- - The evening terminated with a toast, "The Auckland Rowing Club," drthk with musical honours, three cheers for tie captain, and a vote of thanks to the pianii. There is to be a working bee at the boathoufe this afternoon to put the shed and plant n order for the season. It is intended to havi quarterly gatherings of a nature similar to the one just held, which will tend to bring members more together, and promote the success of the club.