ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9011, 17 October 1892, Page 6

ATHLETICS.

CRICKET. .., . , ! Nearly all the Auckland cricket clubs were well represented on Saturday, at the Domain Cricket Ground, the gathering presenting quite a bright and lively appearance. There was a large attendance of spectators, including a number of ladies. Nothing, however, of a special character came off, practice matches and individual practising being the order of the day. At the North Shore, upon the new pitch, a practice match was held, there being here also a goodly number of spectators. The cup matches will commence on Saturday next. CEICKET MATCH AT KUAOTUNU. On Saturday, the Bth October, the cricket season was opened here, the match being the employees of the Great and Red Mercury Companies v. a team picked in the Lower Township, and it was arranged that the losing team were to have the honour of entertaining their opponents at a " fish supper" in Lorain's Hall the same evening. Mr. PettigreW, manager of the Great Mercury mine and battery, was the originator of and prime mover in the getting up of the match, and captained his team, while Mr. Joseph Murphy was chosen skipper for the Lower Township. At half-past one o'clock p.m. both teams were on the ground. Murphy, winning the toss, put his men in first, all of whom were disposed of for a total of 25 runs. The Mercury's then went in, and made a score of 41 runs, 15 of which were byes. The Lower Township in their second innings had got their eyes in, and made 49 ruhs, making a total of 74, thus leaving the Mercury's 35 runs to make to win. This they did after seven wickets had fallen, and closed the innings for 39—total 80; thus winning the match and supper by G runs. The Mercury's in this innings only scored 4 byes, tßeir opponents having learnt a lesson in back-stopping. There was a fair sprinkling of spectators on the ground. Players and onlookers enjoyed themselves thoroughly. The following are the names and scores :— Great and Red Mercury.—First innings : Pettigrew (captain), c and b P. Murphy, 0; 1). Murphy, b H. Peebles, 4; C. Hovell, bJ. Murphy, 8; P. Murphy, lbw, b Davidson, 4 ; D. Thorn, not out, 2; W. Hamilton, b J. Murphy, 0; Wilson, bH. Peebles, 0; Walker, b H. Peebles, 3; Harrison, b J. Murphy, 3; Clarke, lbw, b J. Murphy, 2; Blair, lbw, b J. Murphy, 0; byes, 15: total, 41. Second innings : Pettigrew, c H. Peebles, b Loram, 0; D. Murphy, not out, 15; C. Hovell, b Peebles, 7; P. Murphy, c Davidson, 0; D. Thorn, b Peebles, 0 : W. Hamilton, b Peebles, 0; Wilson, bJ. Murphy, 2; Walker, st, 0; Harrison, run out, 10; Clarke, b Peebles, 0; Blair, b Peebles, 0; byes, 4; wides, 1: total, 39. Lower Township. — First innings: J. Murphy (captain), b Hovell, 0; McNeil, c Harrison, b Hovell, 1; Davidson, lbw, b Hovell, 3; D. Meikle, c Hamilton, b D. Murphy, 2; C. Davis, c Pettigrew, b Harrison, 3 Peebles, b Hovell, 0; Lorain, lbw, b Hovell, 14 Ridings, c Hovell, b D. Murphy, 0; Slator, not out, 2; C. B. Turner, run out, 0 ; McCormick, b Hovell, 0: total, 25. Second innings: J. Murphy, run out, 5; McNeil, run out, 2; Davidson, c Harrison, b Hovell, 15; D. Meikle, b Pettigrew, 1; C. Davis, b Pettigrew, 5; Peebles, run out, 3 ; Loram, c Wilson, b Hovell, 1; Ridings, b Hovell, 5; Slator, b D. Murphy, 0; C. B. Turner, not out, 2; McCormick, b Pettigrew, 5: total, 49. In the evening about 30 sat down to an excellent fish supper, supplied by the losing side. The fish were cooked in every way known to civilised man, and the way the supper was served reflects great credit on Mr. Loram and his assistants. After the dishes were removed the usual toasts and songs were gone through. It was resolved to form a cricket club, to be called " The Kuaotunu Cricket Club;" ordinary subscription, os ; hon. members, 10s 6d. Mr. Pettigrew, on behalf of the married men, threw out a challenge to the single men to play a match in a fortnight's time. Mr. Ritchie took up the challenge on behalf of the single men. Mr. G. Loram, jun., was appointed hon. secretary, and Mr. C. McCormick, jun., hon. treasurer. Messrs. Pettigrew, Turner, and Hovell were appointed a committee to assist the secretary and treasurer in forming a club and enrol members. Considering that this was the first match of the season, and that most of the players had not touched a bat or ball for from 6 to 14 years, the exhibition of cricket was very good, and I have very little doubt but that Kuaotunu will be able to hold her own in this line as well as football, perhaps better.—[Own Correspondent.]

CYCLING-OPENING OF THE SEASON. With the approach of summer weather the various summer sports are now being quickly ushered in. A commencement has already been made at cricket and preparations are fast tending towards completion for the opening of the lawn tennis and boating seasons. The cyclists have also made a move, and there is every indication that the incoming season will prove a most successful one. Cycling is certainly, even in Auckland with all its hills and valleys, an attractive and healthful amusement, and, as has been well said, " the strong, steady, swish ot the wheel, as the well-developed muscles drive ic onward, causes a pleasure which the moper in the city cannot realise." On Saturday afternoon last it was indeed a pleasant sight to witness the start of the inaugural run of the 1892-3 season of the Auckland cyclists, when, despite the threatening nature of the weather— heavy shower of rain falling at the start —a larger number of riders (some 50 in all) were present than on any previous occasion. The procession left the Grey-street firebell at a quarter-past 3, and was witnessed by a large number of spectators, both at the point of departure and in the various streets traversed by the cyclists. They presented a very pretty sight as they moved down Queen-street in single file en route for their destination, Mount St. John, where Mr. F. W. Edwards duly photographed the group. 'The run was under the charge of Messrs. E. Reynolds and Arthur Firth, captains of the Auckland and Auckland Amateur Cycle Clubs respectively. Prior to the run, the hon. secretary, Mr. Harold Nicholson, was actively engaged in promoting a road race to take place next Saturday, the 22nd instant, the course being from Onehunga to Parnell. 14 entries were received, and the names and handicaps will be published in one of our issues of the present week.