ATHLETIC SPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12698, 29 October 1904, Page 5 (Supplement)

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

CRICKET; 0l^;;: : Mk;^.:- :: :'"' ■ ■■' ; ' •"' ' : -" :: ' : '. <.■.''-'" " : "" ; j|S : Vf r '''' : i ' ■ ' :"•'■■* ■'■ ':-•.''"'■' ■ ' : . .«-:.■ jgj; matches in the first draw of tho district pap contest will be concluded this afternoon, the senior fixtures being Eden v Grafton, ponsouby v. Parncll (both at the Domain ground), and City v. North Shore (at Devon- . Dort). ' .';' .''_■■ . . ,"'

After disnosinn- of their Eden opponents - . for 125 runs—which, curiously enough, is exactly the same total as Eden scored against; Grafton in the first match last seasonon the opening day, Grafton put 52 runs on the 6 kte for the loss of three wickets before- time was called, showing rather better form with the bat than the" Eden players. Batting a«siii:t Ponsonby the Parnell eleven succeeded in letting together 139 runs before the last wicket fell, Ponsonby responding with 31 runs for the loss of two wickets before stumps were drawn for the day. Both these matches hare thus reached an interesting stage. The remaining first-grade, fixture, City v. North Shore, looks a foregone conclusion, City : taring amassed the good total of 234 runs, y!;i'" for the loss of eight wickets, against a team •■that does not now look quite as strong in : = batting- as was anticipated would be the case . » few days prior to the commencement of the competitions. Season 1904-5 was auspiciously opened on Saturday'last, and everything points to increased public interest in the summer, game. The attendance exceeded anything seen on the Domain ground for some years, and a ".' pleasing feature was the close attention with which the supporters of the various clubs "!r followed the domes of their respective representatives. Good form with the bat was hard- ; ly koked for as players had had little or no chance of practice, prior to the opening of the season, while the wickets, though quite : « good as could be expected, in view of the " disadvantages under which the ground.staff has laboured, were somewhat bumpy, and consequently helped to keep down the scores. [ ■■■>,".Ai the same time it was gratifying to note that one oi two of the new men shaped pro- : misingly with both hat and ball, and when . fairly gcing there should be ample material from which to select a sound side to reprep:: sent Auckland in interprovincial matches this " ; season. ; :An innovation that should meet with the approval of patrons, and particularly those of the fair sex, is the afternoon tea function, introduced last Saturday, and to be continued throughout the season. At a meeting of the ; lady enthusiasts of the various districts (Mr F. Ohlson presiding by teeniest) arrange- . ments were made for the dispensing, in turn of afternoon tea by the Ladies Committees • of t.w ditterent districts. The fielding all-round in the first grade matches last Saturdav was, with a few notable exemptions, remarkably slack, and oar 1 pl&yers would do well to devote more attention to the endeavouring to improve themselves in this department of the game. Good fcfeg plays a more prominent part in the winning of matches than many aopcar to .. recognise. They seem to think that when they can knock up a few runs, or send down a decent ball, their cricket education is complete. ' — In the Eden-Graf ton match, A. E. Clark was responsible for top. score for Eden, with 25 playim? rather freely for his runs, though * tome rather lofty strokes were included. W. Smith batted nicely "for his quota (20), and if ■be improves at the same pace as he did las* year his batting, combined with his fielding, which is first-class, should put him in the running for representative honours. Their (Eden's) two new mem Lodge (bowler) and. Gerrard (batsHan), give promise of being useful members. , Lodge is as "fast as anything we have seen . . here, and a sturdily built, likely-looking man. It is claimed for him that he keeps a good • length when in form. Garrard was obviously i out of form, but during his stay at the wickets satisfied the onlookers that he knows how to bat. He is a Sydney player, and is employed as assistant groundsman by the Eden Club. Aabender proved to be Grafton's most destructive trundler,' finishing un with three wiekete. at a cost of 10 runs. Stemson, who started by dismissing I. Mills for a " ducik" should have had a better analysis, had the catching been decent, no less than three ii catches being dropped off his.bowling. For .... trraston Bowden put on 27, giving a taste of •' his form of two years ago, when he had an average of about 90 for United 11. He timed timed the ball very" Well; - D. Hav scored 13 (not oiit), showing very fair form, "but both -he and Bowden should have been held by i 7; Lnsk off Eden'« fast bowler (Lodge) before . ' baching the totals credited to them. Lawry, ';. .one of last year's j aniens, scored 7, shaping • an promising style. As he is a splendid field, j find returns to the wickets very accurately, ha. wry api>eara to have a, good chance of keeptj: ing his place in the first eleven.: Grafton's ' , ground fielding was. for the first match, fairly good, but the catching- was disgraceful, and the members of- the team will have to mend their ways in this direction if they wish to contend successfully with the strong combinationd they ape likely to meet during the sewon. The absentees from Grafton on Saturday were, IX Clayton, C. Hay {both ill), ! and A. .E. Sloman (away on a holiday). . The wicket at Devonport favoured the bats- i men, end City, winning the toss, made the most of it, in the match against North Shore. . Hemus and MacCormick opened well, and though the first-named gave a chance to ■ jf»r c> " in the early stages, he was responsible for some good strokes all round the wicket in his compilation of 69, though his hitting was inclined to be "uppish." MacWrmick's innings (58) was of the steady, careful order throughout. Quite the best; display of bitting was that given by the veteran, J*■««ill (43), who sdiaped splendidly, pulling hesiitifulir. and making socie very fine drives. He gave one possible chance to Mc- ■ .Neil! in the long field, when the score stood. ■ at 15, but the North Shore man misjudged it. 'Benwick, a new man, shaped rather streaki■F. at *"" 5t ' but on settling down made some • dmkmg drive?. His weakness was a tendency 10 sro out of his ground to make a stroke, and with a good stumper behind the •tides ho would be liable to lose his wicket. RtowicV (4 C 1 has a nice, taking style, but dexs not appear to possess a great , variety of • strokes, driving apparently being his.-> strong point. The North Shore fielding was not up to the required standard, though Hussey and Prime set their companions a good example in this i cepartment. Husirey also claimed the best bowling average, with three wickets, at a cost « 36 runs, but in achieving fchis ahe was in a \ ■ measure aided by the faiiirii; light, ono of the ' umpires, owing to some misunderstanding, i t tlicidinpr that play should continue for a ' Qcpner of an hour after the recognised time, j It was then that Hussey got two of his wickets. Haddon, the club's groundsman, bowled some good overs, but the wicket did net suit him, and the batsmen refused to be tempted to speculate with his off balls. The newcomer docs not, I understand, profess to ■ be a bowler, having come across as a batsman. There is too much sameness about the :" North Shore attack, and I should say that a jrood slow right-handed bowler would be of Creat service to the team. ,

In the Parnell-Ponsonby match the score <« the team from the eastern suburb (Parnell) would have been a poor one but for »ale, who was, undoubtedly, responsible for the most attractive batting display seen on tae Domain- ground during the afternoon. TcePirnellite hit freely all-round the wickets, «nd gave but one chance, that being when his total stood at 57, and he jumped at a ball which he misjudged. Sale got in some very ■ Powerful drives, and if Saturday's effort may to taken as any criterion this batsman should place some good scores to his credit this seasen. Barry" (13) showed some good strokes, ■ and should strengthen Patnell. both in batring and fielding. The bowling honours were veil distributed among the Ponsonby ,; tnmdlers, and Wallace, who fielded at long- .' °s, was rrsponisble for a really fine catch, ; when he dismissed Sale. Batting for Ponwnby Wallace (19, not out) shaped very well. Owing to the difficulty experienced by the vWfcet Association in obtaining match results, arrangements have been made to sup--1 I'ly result cards and boxes at Kingsland, "evonpoit, and the Domain. Umpires or, where no association umpires are acting, capfuns are requested to fill in the cards, and Jut them in the'box at the conclusion of the «atsh.

1 Our junior nlayers have not "so far shown a ''y marked inclination to avail themselves of my offer to reserve space in Saturday's ?wumiH for contributed notes on the doings •1l the various junior grades, and I may say ■flat unless I have their assistance and cooperation it will be practically impossible to , «a! witu junior cricket at any length. The ', only response met with comes from the Grafs to Club, one of the members having sent •; *»« the following notes on the match between ; Jo club's second eleven and the Eden B ream (Grafton, first, innings, 85, second in- ; wags, two wickets for 14; Eden, first in-mn,-^4S>: —Grafton,, batting first, opened .' j. Oll - Graham and Lepine taking the score i ~. [0 «0 before the latter was run out for i> neat- ! V mada 20. 11. Totman, who followed, !';: • *wed 19, mainly by fine, hard driving, and , • "*!* score stood at 66 foi the loss of two *'?Ke.ts. A "rot" then set in, and, the wick- '<, *»* lainn? rapidly, the total only reached 85, "raham being fourth out for a good innings , ; i it. 7 w. firimdrod was the most success- , '*■ bowler for Eden, with four wickets for 13 w v Eden started sensationally, to the «wnng of Harvey and Erierlv, and at one • wickets were down for 6 runs, but 111 4 ! Slid de ' J gh improved matters, and ■!?* '-'- reached 49, M. Gray being toy scorI^SSi!i?;' : ' ;/;: -' : :' •y-' r :":.-'". J ' % " *■'■''. ' *" : '. ■-. if, ■ ■■ '. .'"■''' :

ei, with 17, cutting being his strong point, iiarvey, who was making his first appearance : in second grade cricket, took five wickets'tor 21 runs, sending clown some fine balls, while Brieriy, three for 20, and Kissling, ;> two for 5, also bowled well. Grafton, going in again in a bad light, lost two good wickets for 14 runs. ' •;- ■* ."■'■ ' - ,'.'.\- \"' Junior notes intended for publication in Saturday's paper must reach the office, : addressed to the cricket editor, not later than Wednesday of each week. They should be brief and to the point, the notes published to-day on the Grnfton-Eden second grade match being longer than could be permitted in the event of several club representatives contributing items. HERE AND THERE. Understood that Mr. F. J. Ohlson, who has retired from active participation in the game, will again select the Auckland representative teams ' this season. A' Southern -. confrere is urging the Otago Cricket Association to take steps to secure the services of Harry Graham in first-grade cricket, with a view to his representing the province in interprovincial and other outside matches, this season. , Playing for East Torrens against West Adelaide recently, the South Australian champion, Clem. Hill, scored 105. He W already in fine batting form. ' The Wellington Cricket Association has accepted December 24, 26, and 27 as the dates for the interprovincial match against Canterbury, to be played at Ohrislchurch. The Sydney Referee's statement that M. A.. Noble is the best all-round cricketer that has been produced in Australia, is being combated in some quarters. The Australasian gives the palm to G. Giffen. . The Australian Eleven will arrive in Auckland on February 6, 1905. In addition to the match against the four principal centres the team will play two matches against a New Zealand combination. Mr. A. Fryer, a New South Wales junior, who has been transferred to one of tho Auckland banking institutions, arrived here from Wellington a few days ago. He will probably join the City District Club, ATHLETICS. Those interested in the wrestling match between the Australian crack, Harry jr'earce, and Constable Arthur Skinner, of Auckland, for the championship of Australasia, will regret to learn that it is not to be completed. It will be remembered that on Tuesday of last week the pair got through two of the three styles agreed upon at His Majesty's Theatre, when Skinner gained two falls straight in Cumoerland (the second going to him through Pearco losing his hold), and one in eatch-as-catch-can, the other two falls in the latter style going to Pearce. It was then a quarter-past eleven p.m., and after a forty-five minutes bout in the Cornish style without a fall being registered, the pair agreed, owing to the lateness of the hour, to finish the match on.: the Domain cricket ground on a date to be fixed, the publio to be admitted free of charge, in consideration of the admission fee paid at the theatre. This ,was announced from the stage by, Fearoe. During the early part of the present week, the principals met, but failed to agree as to the conditions to be observed, Skinner holding that the match must be to a finish, while Pearoe refused to wrestle unless a time limit was fixed. As the advertisement announcing the match distinctly stated that the match was to be to a finish, one to win, the public will readily recognise that Skinner was fully justified in demanding that the match should be completed according (to the original understanding. Pearos, it may be mentioned, has gone South, having arranged a match with Riordan, a well-known wrestler on the West Coast of the South Bland. The secretary of the Wellington centre of the New Zealand Boxing Association has been advised that two English amateur boxers of renute have arrived in Sydney from the Old Country, and are contemplating taking up their residence in New Zealand, with the object of settling on the land in the North Island. ■"' ■■■■ ' ■■•.:-... .■ '■ p,", CYCLING. The Auckland Cycling Club's opening run to Cornwall Park, originally fixed for this afternoon, has been postponed till Saturday next (November 5), to prevent clashing with the Automooile Clubs run to-day. The committee of tie Cycling Club have arranged. to give prizes for '; the best decorated bicycle,' ana the most original costume at next week's rur and a hill-climbing contest has also been decided upon, all intending competitor.* in which will have to ride in the procesaion. Ladies are invited to join in the run, which starts from the Ponsonby reservoir corner at -past two p.m. Afternoon tea will be provided at Cornwall Park.

On Saturday last, between thirty and forty members of the Hinemoa Motor and **«do Touring Club indulged in a run to Mhusa.?*i and back. An enjoyable afternoon was speivi'..

On Thursday next the New South Walea { Cyclists' Union will hold test races at this j Sydney Cricket Ground in order to select «v-' ; 1 representative for the one and five miles ama- ! tear championships of Australasia, whicVase to be decided at Brisbane on November It). Percy Berry, amateur cycling champion of Australasia, made a successful attack* recently on the new Brisbane track upon Australasian records standing to the credit of A. Smyth, of Sydney, and succeeded in securing new records for the quarter-mile, halfmile, and mile. His first attempt was on the quarter-mile, the figures standing at 235. Berry succeeded in reducing the time to 21. 9-103. The half-mile figures were lowered by 2 l-55., Berry covering the distance in 43 4-ss. The mile record was brought down to lm. 29 2-ss.—3s. better than Smyth's best.

Thorwald Ellegaard, the Continental cradk, who is to ride in Australia this season, is 27 years of age, stands sft and scales only list. Walter Rutt, who is also to figure on the cycling tracks of the Commonwealth States, is 25 years of age, stands sft Bin, and weighs list.

, Ivor Lawson, who won the world's sprint championship at the Crystal Palace, London, last month, is the fourth American to secure the "blue riband" contest. Other Yankee riders who won the classic event are A. A. Zimmerman, G. Banker, and Major Taylor. Handicaps for the Austral Wheel Race will make their appearance in the Australian papers on Monday next (October 31).

An unpaced 24 hours' scratch road race was recently held in England, and resulted in a win for a rider named Ward, who put up a very fine performance Toy covering 364 miles in the allotted time. The winner's performance, erraal to an average speed of over 15 mils an hour, ranks as a world's competition record.

BOWIING. The Auckland, Bemuera, and Devonport Club greens will be formally opened this afternoon. The usual presidential speeches will be made, and visitors from the sister greens will take part in the matchos between teams chosen by the president and vice-presi-dents, which follow immediately on the timehonoured custom of throwing the jack acioss the green, and declaring the ground open for play. On all three greens visitors will be hospitably entertained. The Mount Eden, Carlton, and Onehun<?a Clubs opened las'; Saturday afternoon, the functions passing off successfully, and the games proving most enjoyable. Ten new members were elected on the Mount Eden green last Saturday, and throe or four nominations were placed on the board. The country clubs about Auckland are moving in the direction of forming an association, to be called the South Auckland Bowling Association. Country clubs cannot, as a rule, get together a team of eight players to enter for the Auckland pennant matches, and in the event of the association being formed it is probable, that each club will be represented at the annual tournament by one rink only. At a meeting of the Mount Albert Bowling Club Committee, held last Tuesday evening, it was decided to introduce an innovation into the ceremony at the opening of the green on November 19. Owing to the distance of the green from town it has been found in the past difficult to get visitors to attend the opening ceremony, and the committee, in order to create a little interest in the ceremony, has decided this year to ask a full rink from each of the sister clubs in Auckland, and, 'instead of " mixing" the players, as is customary at these functions, match club against club, the Mount Albert Club standing out. This, no doubt, will make the outing-for more interesting, and I am sure that those bowlers who decide to visit the suburban club will pass an enjoyable afternoon. Referring to the fact that four bowls sent out by Taylor, of Glasgow, to Mr. Young, and described by the maker as the best he could supply, were found wanting when tested in Wellimrton with the Northern Association's standard boM, a writer in the Otago Witness says:"l am not prepared yet to believe that Mr Tayloi would stake his -enutation as a bowl-maker in sending out a set of four in which there was: such a difference of bias as this Wellington expert would have us to believe. I pin my faith on Taylor rather than on AJcock, and may again say that I have as much faith in this system of testing which is practised in Wellington as I have of being able to throw a certain gramnivorous animal over my head by its caudle appendage." ' : ,■ ,