ATHLETIC SPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14220, 17 November 1909, Page 5

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

CRICKET.

DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIPS.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Another stage of the district championship matches was commenced on Saturday in fairly fine weather, the third round being started. : The re-appearance of A. E. Relf in championship matches was the item of greatest interest, and his score of 66 runs served to show that a week at the practice nets has removed much of the effect of his long voyage. The best batting performance, collectively, was made by members of the Eden Club, who scored 208 far- the loss of seven wickets, and the worst by University, who only made 50 in their first innings against North Shore. A. M. Howden, bowling " for , the latter team, is credited with the best individual bowling performance, taking six wickets at'a* cost "of 28 runs; while G. B. Cummings, of Eden, made the largest score (69) in senior cricket. , ,'

Patrons of the sport who attended at the North Shore ground on Saturday were ,well rewarded, for the afternoon's play was full of . diverting incidents. The cheap dismissal of the home team, which tatted first for 112 runs, caused great disappointment . to.. their, supporters, hut when the university batsmen could only aggregate a-half •,-....'■. century there was quite a simmer of excitement. ' Ihe batsmen of both teams were dissatisfied with the wicket, and the bowlers' performances would suggest that they received a lot of assistance from the pitch. North Shore opened play, Bush and Woolley going to the crease. The latter is a promoted junior, and some doubt is expressed at the policy of sending him in to open play in his v " . first senior match. He was palpably nervous and was sent home after scoring two, being ;■' out ' leg before wicket to Fen wick." Many spectators consider his first appearance was not a fair test. Kallender played sound cricket for his score of 23. He is of magnificent physique, and, his hitting powers being tremendous, he is delightful to watch when properly going. In his second innings he made 22, the score including a six. : Bush V played patiently for his first innings total of 23. - With 50 up, Taylor and Fawcett made.a,double :• change in University's bowling, and there seemed . something fateful to North Shore when the former -,"»' was at the bowling crease. .His first over saw:two Shore wickets fall, while the next two witnessed - , a wicket each. The fifth saw another wicket fallfive overs, five wickets. Two, however, were run . - out, and did not go to his credit. He was bowling , •>- fairly well, and no liberties were taken with him, as his average of four wickets for 23 runs shows. . Fawcett was guilty of sending down some loose --~ stuff, full pitches and short-length balls being -' '.■ fairly common. His figures, however, read very ; : . '„ well. -In addition to Bush and Kallender, Ralfe played a nice innings for 17, the credit of his * >" display being in a measure due to the coaching -, of Hadden. Howden and Hadden made 14 runs ..." - : apiece. Only two student batsmen got into double '..-' figures—Wallace and Fawcett, with 11 and: 10 respectively.. The bowling of Howden was too superior to negotiate, and he finished with- the fine ■, average of six wickets for, 28 runs. Hadden, whose deliveries were bumping a bit, took three wickets'■■. fo 22 runs. North Shore have made 41 for the <■' loss of two wickets in the: second innings .-; and .'-"> : •■■/'. appear likely to secure a three-point win. The Parnell-Grafton match at the Domain caused a little excitement. * Parnell's cheap dis- -"■' : '".'. missal was not expected- i The early wickets fell ; rapidly, but a nicely-compiled 16 by - Sale and.ft ': ',: , j score of 24 by Olliff helped matters along... Caro played ' freely for 21, but the rest, with 'the ex- , ception of .Lusk, who made-11, -failed to make a . . showing. Mason secured '.the, bowling honours, : t his. average, being six wickets for 37 runs. -He kept a beautiful length, and, with the assistance ■:-.' of a bad wicket, was difficult to. play. At' the ■ other end Gullett, late of Sydney,. made his debut. Some curiosity was evinced at his initial perform- ..'.;,' ance. He was evidently out of form, but managed to send down some fine deliveries. i He is 1 a. • left-hand, medium pace ■ bowler, and his figures ..-■-. on Saturday read four wickets for 25 runs. Par- , - '; nell finished up with a total one short of the cen-- • '; tury. Grafton's f. task, which appeared ." easy, - bothered them a good "deal., Goode, the Tas- , ' manian, made the first stand, scoring 19, and then ~ Mason started what proved to be a \ splendid innings of 61. He was joined by S. P. Jones, and . the veteran- was unconquered' at': call of time with .v.- '.-■:;:; i..-, 31 to his credit. Olliff was' the most- successful bowler, securing four wickets at a cost of 61 runs. With seven wickets down for 126 runs—27 ahead of Parnell's first innings score—Grafton has the better chance, but tie match may yet provide an interesting finish. ■-.-. '■.'■• ' The Eden team gave Ponsonby 'an afternoon's leather-hunting. George -! Mills - had '; prepared ft perfect wicket at Eden Park, and the batsmen made full use of it.' Oummings compiled 69 5.n good style, using, a variety of strokes. He wr.s fortunate, for he narrowly escaped being run out when he had scored nine. Many thought he was \ ;i out, but the umpire ruled Otherwise. Keif -was very careful while compiling his total of■ 66. He is not in the best;of form.yet, but. later in the season will probably , again delight .the "local patrons. He gave one possible chance to Devison, who would J have'tieeded'to be exceptionally brilliant to: accept ■».".• George Mills made 37 in his ; f usual careful style; and': on one J occasion- kurvrVed :.. ' a confident .'appeal for caught l , behind ■- the' wickets. 3. Alexander wis the only other batsman to''get into double figures'. When stumps were drawn Eden had scored 208 for the loss of. seven wickets. Woods and White bo're' the brunt of 'the bowling. The former took two wickets, for 29 runs arid the latter, who at one time had two wickets for 8— - he dismissed W. B. Smith' in the second over—, finally finished . with two wickets for 60 ■ runs. ' . „ Ponsonby will bat next" Saturday, and if they can stand up to the bowling may get the runs. Hemus . will be batting, and, as he made 41 on King's Birthday in his very best style, will have to be reckoned with. Eden, however, has the runs on the board—always a great advantage— should ( secure a two-point win. The Auckland Cricket Association has fixed the coaching time-table for A. E.Belf as- follows:— - •• Mondays and Tuesdays :"' Parnell, . Grafton, .and University (at the Domain). Wednesdays: Ponsonby and Waitemata (at Victoria Park). Thursdays: Eden (at Eden Park). Fridays: North Shore (at North Shore ; Domain). The series was / commenced on Monday, " when A. ; E. Belf ; had ft number of Parnell Club members at work at the . Domain. ' :-.-. - : .- : .V-'":'.'.:v *:•.]; WEDNESDAY ASSOCIATION MATCHES ARRANGEMENTS FOR TO-DAY. The second round of the "Wednesday Cricket Association's'competition will be played : to-day on . the grounds of the first-named teams. Wickets will -.he pitched at 2.30 p.m. The following is. the ~ Tramwavs v. Railways, J. Court v. Ambury and English, Universal v. G. Court, Devonport B v. Devonport A, Waterside Workers v." Bakers, Karangahape v. ; Metropolitan B, Metropolitan A a bye. . - .... TEAMS FOR TO-DAY. Ambury, '. English and Co. (v.. J. Court, at Victoria Park) from the following :—Webber, Barstow, , <--: Gaikham, Coppins (2), Stole,' Blake, Baker, Burton, ♦' Duncumbe, Horspool, * Sparks, Josey, Coates. Universal (v. G. Court, at the Domain): Porrit (captain), P. Eaton, Crosby,: Mullinger, Jackson, Windsor, V. O. Roberts, Beasley, Turner, Robin- ' son, Turnbull,. Olesen, Brown, Larder. _ < • ; Devonport A v. Devonport B (at Devonport): A team— Carson, King, Pitts, ; Llttlejohn, ' Hopkinsoii, Bonner, Bell.'iWhitmore,' Bennett, Boscoe, Overington. B Johnston (2), ' Brown, " Shove, Nunnerly, Seward, A.: Hopkinson, Fogerty,Vosper, Coldioutt, McCarthy, Xregaskis. • . • • Railways (v. Tramways, at Victoria Park): A. Stehr, H. Fitepatrick, A. Crocker, fL. Cahill, G. Kirkwood, G. Frost, P. Scott, D. Campbell, D, Mitchell, J. Cummins, F. Chambers, P. Wallace.

AQUATICS, y ANNIVERSARY DAY REGATTA. : A. meeting of the committee o.f the Anniversary Day Regatta will be held at the clubroom, Palmer- , ston Buildings, Queen-street, this 'afternoon at four o'clock. -■■'•' :•■'. — ~ ' ' WEST END CLUB. * It is the intention of the committee of the West End Rowing Club to ' : hold subscription, trials , in St- Mary's Bay on Saturday. ":(-, Entries close on the afternoon of the race. ■ - , - The Ponsonby Regatta, to be held on December 18, has given a decided , fillip to harbour rowing, no less than seven maiden and Junior crews being in training for that function from West End alone. Up to the present, no ' senior crew : has • ■'> been selected, but it is 'to be hoped that the club will not allow its interests to go unrepresented by an . entry in this class, Harbour rowing, as all oarsmen' know, is very catchy, and a reasonably decent crew, even when opposed to a superior combination, always has a fair , sporting •chance, of success in lumpy water. ' v ■... ,j. ' .'• " The following are the crews as at present'selected by the committee:— ■' •'..'*» Light Maidens: No. 1 crew—R. Sands, A. Rowlands, A. Frederic, C. Tyler. No. 2 ,prew—R. Shepherd, C.Rae, J. Sarney, A. Co*. No. 3 crew—J. Higgin3on, A. Daws, - \V, Robinson, A. Bartley. ' --'** -■ .'■••'• Heavy Maidens: S.' Cole, J." Harris, B.Kean, T. Harris. Light Juniors: No. 1 crew-M?.; Carter, A. Bennett, W. Massey, R. McDonald. No. 2 crew—S» Hazard, C. Dickeson, Bell, G. Wright. . ■-.■'"- Heavv Juniors: T. English, S. Smith, L. Dixon, W. Ross. •' " .

BOWLING. MOUNT EDEN GREEN- }~ During the afternoon tea adjournment on the, / Mount Eden 'green on Saturday: Mr. Bankin', on ; behalf of the Wanganui Bowline Club, presented ';'.-; ■■-.. Mr. W. T. Benefleld with -" a handsome .'.? watch- . ': i ; guard and a gold sovereign-case. . The "sovereigncase was-engraved with; the Wanganui-*Bowling Club's monogram on one side and on the,otherv ■ the following inscription:—" Presented . to. W. T„ Benefield by the members of the Wanganui Bowl- , ing Club." The gifts were accompanied.by an ap-. . preciative letter from the Wanganui Bowling Clul» .:■ addressed to Mr. Benefleld. Mr.. Benefleld suitably replied, and hearty cheers. for Mr. >.Benefleld V •: and the Wanganui „ Bowling Club terminated ft very happy incident. ;iw v • ■ -LAWN : TENNIS. NEW CLUB AT DOMINION ROAD* . The- residents living in;''vicinityof Dominion Road have formed a tennis. club. Land has-been' secured adjoining the]' Dominion 'Road' Bowling Club's greens, sufficient for three courts—one tar and two grass. The former vis;promisedj for the nhristmas .holidays, but the latter cannot be ready unWji<vxt spring. It has been: decided to limit the membership to 60, and 37 members a**» already been enrolled. , :■ ■-. t ' • "I , . •■.*,', : .\,