ATHLETIC SPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12624, 3 August 1904, Page 7

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

football fixtures. iXTEHPROVISCIAIi MATCHES. insult 6: Auckland v. Wellington, at Auckland. • August 2": Auckland v. Taranaki, at A nek and. September 3: Auckland v. Otago, at Auckland. THE UIItTISH TEAM'S TOT.TI. ■iOgU't 0: Against Canterbury, Westland, and South Canterbury. August 10: Against Otago and Southland. August 13: Against Xow Zealand, at ■Wellington. August 1" : Against Combined Taranaki arid Alaliawatu. August 20: Against Auckland and Poverty Bay. August 37: Against Combined Country, in Sydney. August 31: Against Metropolitan Union. September 3: Against New South Wales. FOOTBALL. ' , O.V Saturday next the Auckland provincial representatives piny their first important match of the season, when they meet the Wellington touring team at Alexandra Park. Jl large attendance may be expected, as tho meeting between these old rivals is always followed with the keenest interest by the football public. The weekly meeting of tho Management Committee of tho Auckland Rugby Union will be held on Thursday (to-morrow) overling instead of this (Wednesday) evening. The meetings aro usually held on Wednesday night. The British Rugby team arrive in Wellington from Sydney to-day (Wednesday), and play their first match against combined ;■ Canterbury, Westland, and South Canterbury on Saturday next. Referring to the fixture, a Christehureh writer says:—Given fine weather, wo should see a record crowd at the Park, for the achievements of the British players in Australia have proved them to be ft very talented combination, particularly brilliant in attack. If the ago of miracles is not past, tho combination of the visitors, if nothing else, will enable them to 'defeat the team that is to do battle against them in Christehureh. but one can only hope that our chosen fifteen will be able to give a. respectable performance. One thing that will Do necessary to enable them to do this is strict attention to training, and some of the forwards will need to be a good deal fitter than they were last Saturday in the match against Southland. The reports of the various matches in Australia have shown that the Britishers "stay well," and, oven when their opponents have been leading at halftime, have had plenty of reserve force for a final effort. The secretary of the Auckland Rugby Union, Mr. 0. E. MacCormick, wishes it known that no press representatives will be admitted to the interprovincial matches and Auckland v. Great Britain match, unless able to produce the press tickets issued by the union. The " press box" on these occasions is to I>3 reserved solely for the use of reporters actually engaged in reporting tho matches. At a meeting of the Franklin Rugby Union held at Pukekohe on Friday, July * 29, the Waiuku Football Club was disqualified until the end of 1905, and one member of the team for ten years, for misconduct towards the referee in the match Pukekohe v. V> .iuku. A very friendly match was played between the Helensvillc and Kaukapakapa team at ' Kaukapsikapa on Saturday last, the game ending in a victory for Helensville by 18 points to 3. Tries were scored for the winners by McLeod (2), Downer, Bourke, Curtis, and King, while a Maori player scored for -Kaukapakapa. The match was in charge of Mr. J. Hand, who carried out his duties most efficiently. Both teams afterwards sat down to a dinner, got up in Mr. Melton's best style. A return match will be played in the •ours© of a few weeks.[Correspondent.] THE OTAGO REPRESENTATIVE TEAM. As the Otago representatives visit Auckland this season, and but few changes are likely to be mad® in the personnel of the team, the following notes on the individual players who took part in the recent match against Southland should be read with interest by local followers of the Rugby game: — Booth (Kaikorai), fullback: Can play either threequarter or fullback has been chosen for the latter position on account of his fine defensive qualifications; a reliable player. Baxter (Kaikorai), wing threequarter: A clean, trimly-built player, who kicks, runs, end tackles in fine style. Fields the ball well, and makes for the line with rare dash. The scoring back of the team. Bonnet (Albambra), centre threequarter: Has represented the province on previous occasions with success; is playing this season quite up to his best form; runs and cut:s in with great judgment; takes the ball well, and makes plenty of play for his wings; weak on defence. Gilray (University), wing threequarter: A player who has come rapidly to the front this ] season; is representing his. province for the ; first time; a powerful runner and determined I tackier; kickg well, but fields indifferently; j the most promising back in Otago. Munro (Union), halfback: The most reliable back in the team; plays with judgment particularly strong on defence; excels in rushstopping; a trifle slow on attack. Hislop (Pirates), halfback: A nuggety little player; sound on defence; makes open play for his backs, but is on the slow side in getting the ball away from the scrum; a good place-kick. Bolt (Zingari), halfback The sprinter of the team: quick as the wind off the mark; runs and dodges in rare style; takes his passes faultlessly, but gives them badly; iioe3 not relish defensive work. Spiers (Zingari), front row; A successful hooker and a good forward, who plays hard throughout the game. Casey (Southern), front row: A youne play- ; ei whe has been doing srood work for his club during the season; represented Otagr last year; a useful forward, who has a wonderful knack of hooking the ball in the scrum. McDonald (Kaikorai), lock:. A young and powerful forward, who showed great promise last season; has been playing indifferently for his club, but in the trials has shown his best form: plays with great dash. Abbott (Zingari): A dashing forward, full of play, going all the time: does his work in the heavy and excels in the open; follows up splendidly, and can dribble more than passably D. Stuart (Pirates): A tall and powerful forward, who is representing his province for the fir3t time; excels on the line-out; (mart in the loose, and follows up in good Style. ■ Harris (Union): Another young player who has won his representative cap this season ; a sound rather than brilliant forward; honest and hard-working, ha plays tho gamo to the end ; clever on the line. . Adamson (Kaikorai): A tall and powerful forward, who excels on the the line-out; follows up in good style, and is always there or thereabouts. Porteous (Kaikorai): Captain of the team ; a wing forward, who understands every movement in the business; plays the gamo right up to the handle; a fiery free-lance whose dart is quick and whose grip is certain. WELLINGTON DEFEATS HAWKE'S BAY. [BY TELEGKAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Naimeb, Tuesday. The Wellington v. Hawke's Bay football Match was played on the Recreation Ground to-day. The weather was fine, and the attendance was tho largest that has been seen or. the ground for some time. The visitors had the advantage in weight, their average being: Forwards, 13st 41b; backs, list 121b; while Hawke's Bay's average was : Forwards, 12st 101b; backs, list 71b. The following were the respective teams: — : Wellington: Fullback, G. Spencer; threequarters, A. Mclntyre, J. Barber, J. Scott- - Wilson; five-eighths, D. S. Gray, W. Wallace (captain); half, F. Roberta; wing forward, W. Hardham, V.C.; forwards, E. Watiins, D. Gilchrist, J. Calnan, H. Wright, T. Cross, J. Sweeney, E. Best. Hawke's Bay: Fullback, L. G. Puke; threequarters, H. Bishop, V. AloVay, D. Twohill; five-eighths, D. Johnson, G. V. Bogle; half, 8- Tomlinson; wing forward, A. Eraser; forwards, R. Heath, M. McCarthy, G. Willis, A. Carlson, J. Bailey, J. Petersen, E. Tyrie (captain). _ The game was fast almost from the 6tart, I .tod give-and-take play followed for some time, when Tomlinson marked, and McVay had a shot at goal, the ball going just outside toe posts. The visitors being forced, Hawke's ® 4 y attacked strongly, and after some excites play a kick by Bishop resulted in the Suitors being again forced". Shortly afterj J Wards the local team got a free kick for off•l!i play, and a capital shot by MoVay sent the ball just outside the posts, Wellington 'gain being forced. The visitors now be;i; c *me strongly aggressive, and repeatedly placed the local line in jeopardy by fast 7 fusnes, but the Hawke's Bay defence was S°od, though on two or three occasions they y*re forced down. Shortly before the end of : j®B first spell Roberts smothered a kick by ■tomlinson near the Hawke's Bay territory, » getting possession of the ball he ran in j Supposed. W&llaoe failed to convert. II to n? half-time was called the score stood: Wellington 3, Hawke's Bay nil. vj® • the seoond spell Hawke's Bay again •fIJgW the attack, but the visitors repulsed, carrying the oval back fast Hardham got & r* "»11 in 'he ruck when apparently offside, t«L PBss ' Us to Catkins, the latter scored beL the posts, Wallace registering the m

major points. Hawke's Bay rallied for a time, but the combination of the visitors was too good, and after somo fine play Mclntyra crossed the Hawke's Bay line, but Wallace' failed to convert. From this out the game was decidedly in favour of Wellington, and their passing rushes somewhat demoralised the Hawke's Bay backs. Shortly before time was called Mclntyre again got posses sion of the ball, and passing to Wallace near the line, the Wellington captain ran in and scored between the posts, and taking the kick himself added the major points, The game ended in favour of Wellington by 16 points to nil. _ Undoubtedly th© best team won, and the visitors were superior both in the back division and amongst the forwards. They are undoubtedly a fast and clever team, anil their combination is excellent. They leave by train to-morrow for Auckland, where they play on Saturday. THE NEW ZEALAND-GREAT BRITAIN MATCH. [BY TELEGRAM.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Tuesday. Mr. Duncan has accepted the position of coach to the New Zealand team. He will come to Wellington after witnessing the Christchurch match. The referee will be chosen immediately after the arrival of the British team. So many inquiries for accommodation have been received by local hotelkeepers that it is expected tho rush of visitors to Wellington to see the football match Britain v. New Zealand will bo even greater than on the Duke of York's visit.

ATHLETICS. Conflicting rumours arc going the rounds concerning the world's champion sprinter, Arthur F. Duffy, who has been invited to form one of the team of American athletes to visit the colonies, and is said to have notified his willingness to make the trip. Writing to the president of the Amateur Athletio Union of Australasia (Mr. R. Coombes) under date of June 13, Mr. J. E. Sullivan, chief of the department of physical culture at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, says:—"A. F Duffy is out of it. I don't think he will run again this year. He intended to run at the A.A.U. championships on June 4. but •made such a poor showing at the intercollegiate championship meeting that he did not start at all." Against this we have it from English files, despatched after Mr. Sullivan's letter, that Duffy is competing in the Old Country. Running at the 28th festival of the Crewe Alexandra A.C., the American crack, who had only landed in Liverpool a day or two before, and had had but one canter in the meantime, won his heat in the 100 yds scratch race in J.U 2-ss. by threequarters of a yard, against a puffy wind. He had the misfortune to get left on the mark in the final, and did not chase his opponents, recognising that he was not as fit as he should be. This makes it quite clear that Duffy is still on the job, and that the rumoured breakdown may be accepted as a canard. SHRUBB'S TWO-MILE WORLD'S RECORD. •iiome papers to hand contain details of Alfred Shrubb's world-beating performance over the two-mile course at the West of Scotland .Harriers' summer meeting at Ibrox Park last month. The champion was in good humour, _ the weather was ideal, and the ground at its best. Shrubb went off at a spanking rate, amid a hurricane of cheers from those on the stand. This was an incentive which, doubtless, had its own influence on the performance. At the end of the first mile he was comfortably placed. \V. Robertson, the Clydesdale Harrier (170 yds) was moving sweetly, but to the surprise of all he gave up. Shrubb, unconscious of all that was happening with the others, threw himself into the task, and with half-a-mile to go was in front. P. C. Russell, of Bellahouston Harriers, made a nlucky attempt to hold on to the Englishman, but it was useless the London wonder paced on with marvellous judgment, and sprinting, as he alone can, from the pavilion, won as he liked in 9m. 9 3-ss. The timekeepers were Messrs. A. Hannah and J. W. Brownrigg, both of the Scottish Amateur Athletic Association, and no exception, therefore, can possibly be taken to the performance. Both watches agreed, and we append the time for each lap:—One lap. 605.; two lapa* 2m. 65.; three laps, 3m. 15s. : four laps, 4m. 275. (one mile); five laps, sm. 375.; six laps, 6m. 49 l-55.: seven laps, Bm. 25.; eight laps, 9m. 9 3-ss. (two miles). Last year ShruoD was said to have one 9m. lis. at Essex on grass, but the A.A.A. would not pass the record. However, he has now bettered this, under conditions that are indisputable, and the performance adds one more brilliant achievement to the many that Shrubb has accomplished as an amateur. The South London harrier thus beat W. Lang's performance of 9m. llis., at Manchester in 1863, and the previous best amateur record of 9m. 16 4-ss. CYCLING. • .. A? Lawson left America for the Continent some weeks ago, he will probably compete at the world's championship meeting at the Crystal Palace, London, next month, in which he will have a good chance of beating Rutt and Ellegaard, the Continental cracks. Taylor is not likely to compete, and Walker, the Australian representative, is out of the question in such company. It is generally understood that the Austral programme for 1904 will include at least one event for amateurs, the prize to be something well worth the winning, rivery effort will be made to make this the most soughtafter race for^amateurs in Australasia. The race should give an impetus to amateurism, and may lead to more events of the kind being put into sports programmes. The amateur racers will have a greater incentive to train, with the result of better racing, and, therefore, perhaps more of it. Rutt is on a fair way to displace Ellegard from the championship. At Copenhagen, on ! •Tune 5, in the two races with tandem pacing I Rutt beat the world's champion bv half a j length and a. length respectively, and starting I in the scratch unplaced event with the same j opponent, romped home a length ahead. j The Gold Cup of Friedenau, a 75 kilometre race (47 miles), has been secured by Dickentmann, the German pace follower who toured Australia with Robl. Dickentmann covered the distance in lli. 2m. 18s. He was opposed by Robl, Daugla, and Demke. The sight of half a dozen riders following monster pacing machines at a speed of fifty miles an hour is one not easily to bo forgotten, and the large "rowd present at the Velodrome Pare des Princes, Paris, on a recent Sunday, once again showed their appreciation of Tommy Hall's skill and courage, for, despite a bad fall, in which he wa? badly cut about, he remounted a new machine and won easily (says the Paris correspondent of a I/Ondon paper writing on June [ 6). As opponents he had such riders as Eugene Brum', Henri CJontenet, Brecy, Darioli, and Valpic, but the whole of the riders were moro or less unfortunate with pacing and tire troubles, and Hall won by covering the 82 kilometres2oo mile*. So far this season Hall has not had e proper shance of distinguishing himself, as he has had no less than half a dozen bad falls, while his pacing motors have behaved anything but welh "However," says the little Poly boy, "my turn will come again. 1 suppose, and then I will endeavour to add a mile or two on to my present hour record." Proceedings openp.d with a one-lan (666 metres) International scratch, the final of which fell to Thuan, from Heller and Doerfliuger, Rohmoi securing the 1500-metre handicap from the 60yds 1 mark in lm. 48 2-ss. Bocquillon, well known to ! T/ondon ridera, finishing second from the 35yds mark. MOTORS AND MOTORING. In Great Britain the coachbuilders are at las* taking up the manufacture of motors. Years ago they scoffod at the idea of automobiles taking the place of carriages, and would not consider them seriously. W. K. Vandorbilt, jun., the Amerioan millionaire, who holds several world's motor car records, including one mile in 395., has donated a valuable trophy for an American automobile road contest, on similar lines to the Gordon Bennett Cup. The first contest will take place over a course between 250 and 300 miles on October 8 next._ The race is to be an open annual one, held in America for the first two years, after which the event will be held in the country holding the " valuable cup." The course selected for tho first contest will probably be in Long Island. The event is causing a stir in American automobile circles. The Automobile CJlub of Great Britain and Ireland has for its president the Duke of Sutherland. The recently-formed Ladies Automobile Olub has, appropriately enough, prevailed upon the Duchess of Sutherland to accept a similar position to the new body. An American-made motor, of 100 h.-p.» presents a curious design of car, as displayed in a photograph. With the exception of tlie steering-wheel opposite the driver seat, the highest portion of the car are the four wheels (with their ponderous_ tires of, seemingly, i six oi seven inches in diameter), and its gieat | length—about 14ft to 15ft— i* e very rakish appearance. Its weight i" one ton, and the under-carriage olear3 the ground uy 6in only. n

GOLF. On Saturday next at the One-tree Hill links j the first round for the Auckland Gold Club's ' championship will be played. The prelimi- ! nary rounds . will be of 18 holes, and the j final 36 holes. Entries close with the hon. I sec. Dr. H. D. Baraford, to-day. I Some further details have come out about I the amateur championship. There were very 1 few exciting matches. Horace Hutchinson played a cqnital game, till he was put out by Travis in the semi-final. The play between Blackwell and Travis in the final was a fi"'- between long driving and accurate approaching and putting. The champion's play improved day by day, and his putting was simply phenomenal. He putts with what ■is called a " Schenectady" putter. It is shaped like a croquet mallet. Willie Park I- says the idea is thirty years old, but its in'.ventor eays it is not two years old. Anyway, fifteen hundred of them were sold before I noon in London next day. Blackwell bought ! one. Travis claims that no matter on what i part of the face the ball is struck it runstrue. It is curious that it is owing to the Americans and their Haskell ball that the craving for long driving came in, now it is an American that has shown that it is not long driving that pays. CRICKET. What have Olaxton and Gehrs, the two South Australian cricketers, in view? is a question prompted by the statement that they have avoided football this year, with a view of minimising any risks. Both are candidates for the next Australian team, to leave for England in March, and both must fancy their ohaances. Cotter, the Sydney fast bowlei, has also deserted the football field, in order to avoid accident. At the present time ho is regarded as a certainty. AN INTERESTING PROBLEM. The following " Breakfast Table Problem ' appeared in the London Daily Mail, with a solution on the following day:— _ " I had an odd experience at cricket the other day," said Smithfield. " In three consecutive balls I took three wickets, and each wicket fell in a different over." How did he do it? The explanation of the problem is that Smithfield bowled out the ninth batsman with the last ball of the first over, and the tenth with the first ball of the second over. The batting side then followed on, and Smithfield took the first wicket with the first ball of the next over. Of course, there are several solutions to the above problem. For instance, it was not necessary that the batting side should have to follow on. Or Smithfield might have bowled before the first wicket fell, and the innings might have been closed, when ho had taken two wickets in succession. His side would then get out before " time," and the opponents would bat again, giving Smithfield his third opportunity, or he might have gone on when the second or third wicket fell, and so forth. Again, Smithfield might have played in two or even three matches on the same clay, a by no means unusual thing, and have accomplished the feat in various ways. It is stated on pretty good authority that an officer in Dublin played in three mutches on the same day, some year ago— Phoenix Park, his regiment, and another club—and made four cluck's eggs in the course of .the dav. „___________ SWIMMING. The question of amateur trophies came up again at a recent meeting of the Council of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association. One membei mentioned that he had been informed that a successful competitor at one of the swimming races had selected a kettle and some other household necessaries, which could hardly come under the definition in the rules of ,f works of art, jewellerv, or musical instruments." The Council of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association has approved the agreement between the Australian States and New Zealand as drafted by the sub-commit-tee appointed to deal with the matter.