ATHLETIC SPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9581, 4 August 1894, Page 6

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

FOOTBALL. 'i SOUTH CANTERBURY V. AUCKLAND. Thb second of the inter-provincial contests of the season will take place at Potter's Paddock, Epsom, this afternoon, when South Canterbury will meet Auckland. This is the first time that a team from South Canterbury has visited Auckland, and'' the i result ' will therefore'} be awaited with interest. After the lesson that our boys received last Saturday they ought to show much improvement, and will, I think, come off The average weight of the Auckland backs is lQsfc lllb, and the forwards "12st slb. - The South Canterbury forwards average 12st 41b, and their backs list 4lb. It will be seen that there is not much difference between the two teams as far as weight is concerned. { Ihe two teams leave town at 2 P m.\and play will commence at three sharp. With fane weather there should be a large attendance. The following are the names ef the teams: South ■ Canterbury (black and . ffroen).— Pullback : T. Simpson. 12.4. Threequarters: Alf Boys, 10.7; A. J. Shallard, 11.3 ; W Johnston, 113. Halves: • Artie Boys, 11.0; J. Helean. 11.7. Forwards; J. Gardner, 11.8; J. Pox, 12.10; C. Hall, 12.4; fe. Quinn. 12.4; D. Stewart, 14.4; I. Hart, 12.3; F. W. Shallard, 11.4; T. Ker, 12.6; A. Thompson, 11.8. . ~ . „ . _ auckland (bine and white). — Fullback: K. Masettrid, 12.0. Threequarters: F. Rishworth, 9.5; H. G. Kissling, 10.5; »>. M- Gill, 10.6. " Hal*e»: W. Elliott. 12.2 ; F. Edmonds, 10.7. Forwards: C. Brady, 12.0; H. Donald, 12.0; B. G. Hallamore, 12.0; C. Marshall, 12.8; R. H. McKenz 13.j; 1. Mills, 10.12; O. Murphy. 12.12 ; R. Oliphant, 12.0; W. Rhodes, 14.0. SECOND FIFTEEN. The folowing matches will also be played at Epsom, this afternoon : — Ponsonby v. City (Mr. A. Edmsnds, referee). Ponsoaby : Trevarthen, Heaps, Symons, Fanjdhar, Shortt, Patterns, Conway, Gillespio. Kelly, Cuuutni?ha.ii), Beerroft, Downey, Druwnwnd, Horton, Green-, hough, Orahkin, Woi«ls, Masefleld. •• •. > _■ ft Park ell v. Newton (Sir. a. J. Parker, referee). Parnell: Mitchell; R. Biotfie, W. Brodie, Reed, Peivree, Whitley, Gallaher, Baker, Mellis, Tapper, Connolly, K*y, Peachey. Moyl«,Hu 11. , , Grafton v. suburbs (Mr. C. E. Mac Comtek, referee).—Grafton: »imtti, Jackson, Hay, Cromwell, Wilson, I*e, J. Young, Tracy, McConnick, Paul, Cunningham, McMillan, Bailey, Ball, Frost, line, Reaiiin. Suburbs: Sutherland, ttyan, Dixon, M-mcur, Sctiniuer, Button. _ Stsvenson, Owen. Peacock, Brown, Pilklngtoii, Atkins, Peirc», Cowper, Astley, Bamsbottow, Stone, Bridgman, Gilmour, Miller. Taking advantage of the glorious weather that prevailed on Saturday last, over 5000 football enthusiasts journeyed out to Potter's Paddock to witness the eighth annual' interprovincial contest between Auckland and xaranaki. The game, which resulted in an easy win for Taranaki by 14 points to nil, was a very disappointing one as far as any brilliant exhibition of football went. From the start it could be seen that the game was in the visitors' hands. From the kick off they straightway rushed the oval into the home team s territory, and being awarded a free kick registered a goal within the first three minutes. With the exception of an occasional break through the wearers of the black, and gold, kept the Aucklands pretty much on the defensive. About the middle of the first spell Wells scored, no goal resulting In the second spell tries were obtained by W, Bayly and Lusk, the latter being converted. Taking them all round, the Taranaki men were as good a team as one might wish to see. Their forwards were hardy sons of the soil, and quite at home in the scrum.' They could push the local men just as they liked. They were much heavier than their opponents, and appeared to have been better instructed in the game. Smart on the lineout, and all possessing a fair turn of speed. Their manner of forming and screwing of the scrums worked with the best results. Where all played so well it is hard to individualise, but Sangster, Lambie, McMillan, and Cullen were perhaps the most prominent for hard graft. The wing men, W. Bayly and A. Good, were as smart as needles, and paid undue attention to Edmonds, in their anxiety for his welfare at times remaining off-side to watch him. They played a clever game throughout, and lost no opportunities. The full-back, L. Allen, had not much to do, but whatever was asked of him was performed with precision and judgment. The three-quarters were a dashing trio, and understanding each other's play, they got off some brilliant pieces of passing. When H. Good got fairly under way he required some stopping. Ib was rather amusing to see how some of his adversaries Bought to collar him, and how they succeeded. A. Bayly made some brilliant dashes during the afternoon. His handling of the ball and kicking was also very sure. Hempton was also responsible for some fine work, and backed up his companions well. "R.-8.-Lusk played as fine a game at half as oho could wish to see; His running was strong and effective, and his kicking stood his team in good service. The try he obtained was from a clever piece of play, and the goal he kicked was a fine one. Turning my attention to the local men what can be said about them ? Masefield at full was all sight. His tackling was first class, and his kickiug good. Throughout the whole game he kept bis head, a difficult thing for a fullback to do when he had such weak support in front of him as Maseiield had last Saturday. Time after time he got the local men out of difficulties. Peace was hardly up to his work, for he was not in form. His handling of the ball was slovenly, and his running poor. The only redeeming feature about his play was his collaring, which was excellent. Ivissling played a grand defensive game, collaring and kicking well- His passing was very inferior, and his running below the average. Warbrick was entirely at sea, and played a very disappointing game. Of the halves Ronayue was miles ahead of his companions, and played a dashing game throughout. He unfortunately got hurt in the contest, and will be unable to take part in the match to-day. I think the committee should try Ronayne at threequarters, and play with two halves, tor Auckland is decidedly weak in the threequarter division. Elliott had the misfortune to get a severe knock early in the game. He retired for a few minutes, and tnen came on the field again. He seemed, however, to have lost all life, and was never prominent in the game. Edmonds grafted bard, but was overmatched by the Taranaki wing men. Of the forwards there is little required to be said. From a scientific point of view their performance was not football. They appeared to forget that they were playing against a fine set of backs as well as for- | wards. On several occasions when they ! were successful in getting through the scrum, instead of dribbling they kicked hard, and what was the result? Either the Taranaki backs would run round them, or else mark. Somebody asked me how it was the Taranaki men got so many marks. The reason was because the Auckland forwards kicked too hard. Of the local men, Oliphant, Mills, Poland, ana Anderson were the only ones that played anything like representative form. . ■ I have no desire to abuse the Selection Committee, who are undoubtedly doing their level best to get a satisfactory team together to represent Auckland, but there can be no doubt that the system, or lack of system, on which they are proceeding must strongly militate against obtaining the best results. Surely no Selection Committee, ever had such a chance as the present one of getting the very best available team together, and training them to that combination which is the secret of success. But what do we find? After five weeks the Committee are apparently no nearer to making up their minds as to the best fifteen in Auckland than they were at first. The great charge levelled against our forwards is their lack of combination and want of dash. This is their chief defect. But how are they to acquire this combination when they are chopped and changed about every week It is manifestly impossible for them to , do it It seems hardly credible, yet it is nevertheless a fact, that not a single one of the pack has kept his &lace in the team throughout. What would oe thought of .a club that managed its team in such a way ? or what chance would it have for the championship ? And yet it seems to be thought quite the correct thing in Auckland (I venture to . say nowhere else) to change the representative team materially every week. The best fifteen on the season's form should undoubtedly have been chosen at the start, and though I do not say that absolutely no change 5 should have been made, yet there should have been as few as possible, and the greatest care taken that in making them the general schemeof the team should notbe interfered with. When the Select tion Committee become aware that certain players can only play in one or two of the matches, they, should have nothing to do with them, and immediately look round to find the next best. Take the cane of Peace for instance. He played very seldom in the district matches and turned up at none of the contests between the A and B teams. Yet the committee selected him to play last Saturday. I am not prepared to say that he was not as good as the other threequarters, but I do say that he was not in form. Then again take the case of Warbrick. \ He played against Auckland in the Tauranga contest. I Tne stylo of play adopted by his team was' a forward game. There was not the least pretentions of passing in the back division, and yet Warbrick is chosen as one of our threequarters and asked to play an open game at a days' notice. Is „ there any wonder that, there was little a passing on the Auck- j land j side ? This making conveniences j of certain players • and favouring others is j decidedly unfair. If men roll ; up ; con- ! sistently all the season in their club matches, and then oblige the committee by comiug, ( Saturday after Saturday, to practice matches,! they have a right to be properly treated. v .Can anyone understand,. for . instance,: the'

reason of :■ the. treatment' of f McGill y and Rhodes, in • aid oat, rod in again. On the form shown by them men right through the season and in the practice matches, they had no V right to be used * 5 as they hare been, Anderson is another instance. . Afterl being selected for three or four successive matches he is suddenly dropped. Why? If he were good ' enough for. the past matches why not for the forthcoming ones ? The committee knew as much about his form through as they do now.?; Strange to say the Taranaki team were divided in opinion as to whether Anderson or Poland was the beat forward on the Auckland side last-Saturday, but - both men ■ have disappeared from ■ the ; team none the less. : And many other instances could be given. One must, of course, look for differences of opinion as to the relative 2 merits of different players; but I have heard nothing but unanimous disapproval of the system of constant change pursued by the committee, and I trust that, while there is yet time, they will make up their minds to pick what they consider the best team and stick to it. Otherwise, the drubbing we have had ' from Taranaki : will be repeated I by New South Wales and Wellington for a certainty. I repeat, combination is the secret of success at football, and oar players are not improving, and cannot improve in that ' respect while the present method is adopted. : Very few .of the players chosen to represent Auckland against South Canterbury today, and those who had been asked to get into form for the Waikato match, have put in an appearance | at the training ground. I am informed by the Selection Committee that unless the players chosen for the Thames and Waikato contests next Saturday pay more attention l to. training, the ' committee will leave them out at the eleventh hour and fill the vacancies with players who will take a little trouble to get in form. , The issuing of the football Guide, to enable the public to distinguish the players, was an excellent idea. It is always a matter of difficulty to tell the players, but with the use of the card it is * very simple, as the players being numbered according to their positions, one has only to, refer to the card for their names. ' Mr. J. M. King, of : Wellington, made a most efficient referee last Saturday, his decisions giving general satisfaction, both to players and the public. ; The Appeal Committee of the New Zealand Union has unanimously decided the question submitted by the Auckland Union I at the instance of the Grafton Club with regard to J. Gillespie being eligible under the Auckland Union by-laws to play for Ponsonby second on June 30. The decision of committee is that Gillespie was not eligible. The Rnghy Union at their meeting last even-, ing agreed that the : match should be played over again. "' * ' The New South Wales team arrive in Auckland on Thursday, 23rd instant, and play their first match on Saturday, 25th, when they will meet Auckland. ASSOCIATION' FOOTBALL. The following matches will be played in the Domain this afternoon United v. Man-'o-war.—United: : Speicht, Roberts, Gregg. Shaw, Told. Holmes. Rice, Olliver, Smith, Heather (2), A. Smith. Warships: Lieutenant Coke, Pollock, Ramsay, Swan, Wallaroo; Mar, Malcolm, Jennings, Wells, Brookes, Holmes, Evans, Rapid. Grafton v. North shore.—Grafton: Manton (captain), Kelly, Cowan Totman, Laird, Thomas, Blair, Holland, Jones, Anderson. North ->hore: Dr. Roberts, V. . Chamber lin, Dacr«, Waters, S. Cave, Ramsay, A. Cbamberlin, Allen, E. Cire, Brown, Stubb3, "". ,J " Drop-kick," in the Weekly Press, writes i. — A movement is on foot, I hear amongst Christchurch footballers, to bring about the ; secession of the Canterbury Rugby Union from the New Zealand Rugby Union. The matter is to be brought up at a meeting of the former body. This, of course, is the outcome of the refusal of the New Zealand Rugby Union to grant permission for the Canter-bury-Otago match to take place. Whether the Canterbury Rugby Union will take such a step as to withdraw from the New Zealand Rugby Union, is very doubtful I should say. Surely after the way in which the whole question was threshed out before Canterbury joined, the delegates will not agree to undo everything." ; ' The English Rugby Union has decided the following questions relating to points of law: —Question : A threequarter passes the ball back to his fullback, who misses the pass, but the ball just touched him on the shoulder and then rolls dead. What should be done ? Answer: The ball must be brought back and scrummaged where it touched the fullbaek. According to a previous ruling of the committee, it the ball had been played by an opponent and touched the shoulder of the rollback it would not have to be brought back. The committee are of opinion that such should not be > the ruling in a case where a fullback receives the. ball from one of his own side. A player being offside and within five yards or au Opponent who has the ball, the onus is on him to get out of the way of his opponent,'* and if ! he does not and is charged against by : him a free kick or a scrummage in accordance with law 8, e and f. should be awarded. It is to be hoped that Rugby players (says an English writer) will treasure up these rulings. They are of vital importance to the proper prosecution of the game, and the information applied will tend to make pleasant many matches, while ignorance might cause friction. > • The Sydney Referee suggests that New South Wales t and Queensland should combine to send a, team to New Zealand. The writer says a first-class fifteen could be chosen to represent New South Wales in Sydney, but for. an extended tour the backs are not quite class enough • to oppose the best ot the iiaoriland backs. He" says further: — We owe it as a duty to New Zealand to send absolutely the very strongest band that can be got together, for if the team sustains successive defeats public interest will soon grow lukewarm. The Queenslanders seem to be unusually strong in back men, whilst we, in threequarters at all events, are weak. H. P. Abbott wil, not go to New Zealand, and if you take him away, our threequarters are not up to firstclass form. It means sure defeat to take away mediocre men, and having them laid out, to- call upon ' others unused to playing in their positions to fill the gap. Two of the best, if not absolutely the two best, threeqnarters—Abbott and Nelson — are in the University team; two of the best half-backs—Moses and Veech and some representative forwards are also among them, and this, added to the fact that other good men are on the injured list,' renders it certain that neither the first backs nor the reserves will be strong enough. There can be nothing infra dig in asking Queensland's assistance in this matter. In the interests of the game in New Zealand, it is very desirous that this team should be formidable. Its success will largely help to advance Rugby in Australia, for New Zealand will send us her most capable men to win back any laurels they may be able to pluck from the crown across the sea. The interchange of visits by first-class teams will soon make New South-Wales and Queensland strongholds of Rugby at its best. But if we send a weak combination to meet strong ones, we may rest assured that those repaying the visit will not be the most formidable, and all true lovers of the game know and feel that that would be a disaster." - ; CRICKET. Our London correspondent writes by the last mail: —, • " , ; , c Cricket is faring badly so far this season, owing to the continuance of wet weather. One three-days county match had to be abandoned without a single ball being bowled, rain having fallen without intermission during the play-hours of the ' entire three days, though provokinglv fine at night ; When matches have been .wholly or partially played out the sodden turf has been very adverse to the batsmen. As ; a ' result hut few % large scores have been recorded, 'but many remarkable . bowling feats have , been achieved. Talking about modern bowling, Mr. E. M. Grace said the other day, " There are very few fast bowlers now.though there are plenty of fast throwers." That is what many people think' who watch modern deliveries at Lords, the Oval, and elsewhere. There 'is some talk ;of official interference, but ; effective bowlers are so scarce and welcome that there is a disposition to wink at anything which gets wickets. That "follow on" question is not yet settled by the cricket oracle, and threatens to be left in no better a shape than , at present, the reasonable course suggested of leaving the follow-on to the option of the side which had a lead of 80 in the first innings, does not seen to find favour with the M.C.C., who prefer increasing ; the deficiency which compels a follow-on from SO to 120. That, of course, will leave it still : open '• to the side desiring to bat a second time on a good pitch to - throw :! away their wickets, or to their opponents to prevent this by :bowling wides and no-balls, as was done last season. ; Since I despatched ray last letter Somerset as beaten Kent by , three; wickets; ; Derbyshire, : Lancashire by five wickets Surrey, Yorkshire by, 88 runs; Soath Africa, Leicestershire by seven wickets; South Africa, the M.C.C. by 11 runs; Surrey, Cambridge University s by an '• innings and 63 runs; Lancashire, Oxford University by an Innings , and a run. The other matches were drawn or abandoned on acoount of rain. In the County Championship, Surrey and Yerks now " tie'' with four points each, Middlesex follows on with two, and Somerset with one. Then in descending iorder oome Kent, Gloucester, j Lancashire, 1 Notts, and Sussex. Only 'these • nine Counties compete tor the championship, i h else Warwick ana Essex would be well in i it. t'O'- ."..y'' ■, Richardson and Lockwood, the Surrey fast ' bowlers, are operating with most destructive . effect this season. So is Foster, a new Yorkshire , fast bowler, who took nine' M.O.C. ■ tickets for 59 runs at Lerds last Thursday, 1

eight being clean bowled. ; Pallet, of Waft wtckshire, is also doing great things; go » [ Kortright -of > Essex, and good old Alfred Shaw is almost as fins as ever. Yet it sewn* as tif neither V bis bowling, nor iMwdoch'a batting can save poor Sussex from hopeless grief; .It is a sad humiliation for the count* which was the mother , of cricket, tie count* of Lilly white, Box, Dean, Wisden. and man* other'celebrities.- . yS The Sooth Africans are shaping very fairly and have won several good matches, \ Bat ae great interest is taken in them by the general public. ;If they were once or twice to thrash a representative eleven ,of England as the Australians - did f some years . lack, then matters /would look very different. Bat of that there is small prospect. However, they will go back by no means laurel-less. AQUATICS. It will be recollected (writes Cox." in the Sydney Referee); that some : time ago a chal lenge was issued through' the English sport ing papers purporting to come from (i. Harding»to Jim Stanbnry. The world's champion having had a long spell of idleness, through no one displaying sufficient temerity to tackle him, commissioned a gentleman who recently left Australia far England to fix up a match with Harding. The result is that the English scalier ; now has no desire whatever- to meet the champion. The latter Is having a nasty time of it, but' the forthcoming big handicap being - promoted by the veteran oarsman, Slick ; Rush, should bring out a few men desirous of winning the championship from StanJjury. '. The four-oared championship race of Victoria is to be rowed on the 24th November. This date was decided upon at the meeting of the Victorian Rowing Association committee held recently, after considerable digcussion. The advocates for the holding of the race in February or March pressed their views strongly, but there was a majority oi opinion that the start of_ the season "had proved the most suitable time for the race. At the same time it was resolved that tiie sculling championship race should be held oi the 17th November, instead of on the 9tl November, as heretofore. One object in si early fixing the dates for these races is t< enable clubs in the other colonies to be repre seated, should they so desire. On this oc casion the holding of , the 'contests shortly after the Gup week may be ; the means of at tracting an "entry or two. . A new-slide, the invention of. Sam Peters who "until recently has been in the employ ment of James Edwards and Sons, has beer brought under the notice of- rowing men. The new slide is an excellent piece of mechanism, and works very freely. The price of the slidi is 15s, which is Iras than the usual cost Owing to the dull times, Peters has been thrown out of work ; bat, being an accomplished builder, _ his services should soot be secured, if not in Victoria, in one of the other colonies. Rowing in West Australia is making great strides, owing, in a large measure, to the exodus to that colony within the past year of a number of Victorian and New South Wales oarsmen. -It will not-be surprising if, at no - distant date, a representative crew from West Australia is seen in an important contest on the : Parramatta or Saltwater river.,- ■ -The rules of the New South Wales and Victorian Associations are gradually being assimilated. One of the latest proposals amongst Sydney oarsmen is to have the classification of maiden, junior, and senior oarsmen framed on the basis which obtains in this colony. •• The Victorian classification has worked! admirably in sirengthening the ranks of rowing- men and in retaining the men on the river for a much longer time than otherwise, they would have cared tc stay. Anent fast times, the London Sportsman, quoting from an Austin (Texas) exchange of the 18th May, states that "Jacob Gaudanr, on the third day of the International Regatta, improved his former record by 4Js The distance was three miles, with a tun half-way. Gaudaur won in 19m l£a. Peter son gave him a bard > race, and wa close up. Gaudaur remarked that it was the hardest race of his career." Lynx THE NEW SOUTH WALES TEAM [by telkobaph.—press association.] j . Wellington, Friday.' At a meeting of the Programme Commits of the New South Wales representative tem to-night letters were read - from the New South Wales Union stating, that they wdulc he "able to send over a very strong team. J It was decided to piny the South Canterbury match on Monday, September 10th. Aspecia' train was arranged on the Midland line t< take the team to Greymouth; also specia steamers on the coast. It was decided tc arrange a number of excursions in connection with ? the various matches, and a steamer excursion to Christchurcb for the New Zealand match. It t&s also deckled to inside Horowhenua in the field :of ; ; selection for the anganui-Manawatu f : thatch/-; and ;th • bush districts in-' the .field of selection for the Wairarapa match. THE NEW ZEALAND UNION. Wellington. Friday, i The Appeal Committee of the New Zea- | land Union has decided on the questions submitted by Marlborough and Canterbury, I that rule 19 applies to any player standing | on his opponent's side of the ball when it i.: j in the scrum, whether he be half, wing, threequarter, or fullback, and that any player so doing be penalised; also that th: | referee has power to over-rule the decision |of the touch-line judge. .