ATHLETIC NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12000, 24 June 1902, Page 3

ATHLETIC NOTES.

NEW ZEALAND ATHLETES IN LONDON. ■ ARRIVAL OF MESSRS. SIMPSON AND SMITH. [FJiOM oris OWN* fOKRKSPON'DKNT.J London*, May 16. Mis. W. F. SiMPSQX, the crack lons-distanee runner from New Zealand, and Mr. G. W. Smith, the New Zealand holder of the Aus-i tralasiau hurdle record, have come to Eng-, land in the hope of giving a good account of themselves against the English champions. They travelled by tlio R. 3. Wbakatane, which reached London yesterday, and Mr. Simpsoncalled upon me this afternoon. "Ye«, we had a pleasant passage out ou the whole.'* said Mr. Simpson. "The weather was tine all the way, excepting for a short time round ("ape bun. I kept in excellent health during the voyage, but Mr. Smith suffered a good deal from seasickness. However, after a while ho got over that, and then we both kept ourselves in good trim by constant practice on deck, he at the hurdles and 1 in Hut (sprinting, so that we really have lauded here in very good fettle."

" What are your immediate plans?" "We are going to lake up our quarters as near at hand as we can to tho Stamford Bridge Ground, where the championships are competed for," said Mr. Simpson. "We have secured lodging-, there, and we shall go in for steady training at once. J have sen Mr. Herbert, the bou. secretary of tho English Amateur Athletic Association, aiul lunched with him to-day. lam now off to have a look at the ground." " Have you been able yet to form any sort of opinion since your arrival as to your prospects in England If" " 1 think Smith has a. very' good chance for the hurdles," replied Mr. Simpson, " especially now that the American hurdle cham-pion-—f forget his name —has retired. Ha was by far the best man that Smith was likely to have to meet, and now that he is oiu of the way I should think Smith ought to have a very good show, indeed. Anyhow, he has been working hard for it. keeping himself, as I said, up to the mark all through the Homeward passage, ever since he got oyer his seasickness. So I think and hope his prospects arc very good." "And what about your own;" " Well," said Mr. Simpson, " it is not easy" yet to form any opinion on that score. Tout see, I shall have a. lot of first-class men to meet — several record-holders — especially Shrubb. There are, many other good men. so I would rather not offer any opinion at present. All I can say- is that I shall do my best, and I believe that I have a. reasonably good chance of doing fairly well. But I will call in and see you later and toll you, how I get on. Perhaps you will kindly let them know in New Zealand that wo have ' arrived safely, but had not time to writ© by this outgoing mail." FOOTBALL. THE ASSOCIATION COMPETITIONS. United v. Y.M.C.A.: This match was played on Saturday, and resulted in a win for Y.M.C.A. by one goal to nil, after an exceedingly well-con tested game. Fori Y.M.C.A., Sale scored with a fine shot, the out-come of a splendid piece of footwork. ' Pitt-street v. St. John's: This match re-< sulted in a win for St. John's by three goals to one. For the winners, Smith scored three goals, while Winstone scored for Pittstreet. NORTHERN V. TE KOPURU. ; This game was played at To Kopuru or Saturday, Mr. J). Thomson being referee. The play was an improvement on previous games; both teams were on their mettle; and were fairly well balanced. Northern: scored six points from two penalty kicks, and Kopuru got five points from a try by To Paa between the posts, which Cox converted. Te Paa's run was the finest that has been seen on local fields for years. The first score resulted from a penalty kick given Northern about the 25; Council piloted the ball over the bar, and Northern led by three points. Tho rest of tho first spell was an interesting rush up and down field, but no more scoring took place. Both in this and the second spell there were some fairly good passing scenes. Well on in the second tortni Northern carried the ball up to the Kopuru line, where .lames Te Paa scoured it, and by a splendid run the whole length of the field, scored between the posts. Cox followed up the fine performance by a goal, and Kopuru 5, and Northern 3, was the result! This brought the play up to boiling' point, and) all went at it, up and down field; no laggards. Kopuru were penalised right in front of their goal, and Council again put tho oval over, and Northern led by one point. Kopuru made, big efforts to score, but had no luck, and the game £nded: Northern 6, Kopuru 5. James Te Paa played well; Cox; was in his usual good form. Childs waa about the best forward on the ground. Montgomery showed to great advantage in tho ien', and so did Sugar, the Maori. Matthews, of Graham's Fern, and Walker, played good hard games. Ike Rogers and Lowe were good forwards. Connell's plaookicking was sure. The forwards kept their feet better than hitherto, and this made the game much more interesting. Reginald Beart was injured, and bad to retiri>-jn the second spell. Spectators will do well to better control themselves, and keep the lines clear. A lot of improvement .is necessary in this direction.—[Northern Wairoa Correspondent.] ,

THE THAMES RUGBY REPR-ESEN-TATTVES. [from OFK OWN correspondent."] ' Thames, Monday. The following team has been chosen to represent the Thames in their match againsft Waihi. to be played at the latter place on Saturday next: Fullback, Clarke; threequarters, Kinghain, 0. McLean, and G. Morgan; five-eighths, Laing; half, Houghton wings, J. Cameron and S. McGregor; forwards, G. Smith, McMillan, S. Smith. McPike, McDuff, T. Mullins, Autridge. Emergencies: Back. A. Newdick; forwards, Geraighty and S. Baker.

SOUTHERN" GOB MATCHES. [BY TRI.KORAI'tt.r-ii'ORSS ASSOCIATION.] "' , fDvyrEVUf, Monday. In the senior football matches on Saturday Kaikorai (8) beat Southern (3), Alhambra (8) boat Dunedin (nil), University (9) beab Pirates (nil), Zingnri (9) beat Union (5).