ATHLETIC SPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14235, 4 December 1909, Page 9

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

CRICKET. ■DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIPS. TO-DAY'S FIXTURES'. SENIOR GRADE. TriK following are the Auckland Cricket Association's fixtures for to-day: — I'arnell v. University (at North Shore), umpires Messrs. A. Pritchard and A. Large. , Eden v. North Shore (at Eden Park), umpires Messrs. F. W. Matthew and T. N. Peek. Ponsonhy v. Grafton Victoria Park), umpires Messrs. .1. Arneil and W. Sharp. SECOND GRADE. Ponsonhy v. Grafton fat Eden Tark), umpires Messrs. It.'Kent and 3. Collett. Waiteniata v. University (at Eden Park), umpires Messrs. A. Morgan "and S. Bond. North Shore v. Eden A (at North Shore), umpires Messrs. It. Frater and H. Carson. Eden B v. Paniell (at Eden Park), umpires Messrs. W. Lusty and R. McVeagh. (

BEST PERFORMANCES OF THE WEEK. The performances of the week were brightened by the century made by E. V. Sale, of Parnell, against I'nivp'rsitv, at "Devonport Domain, and the dual performance of F. R. Mason of Grafton, against Ponsonby, at Victoria Park. Following are the details of the best :— SENIOR GRADE. BATTING. E. V. Sale of Parnell. against University. 110. ¥ R. Mason of Grafton, against ronsonby, 70. BOWLING. F. It. Mason of Grafton, against Ponsonby, took seven wickets for 50 runs. A. Hadden of North Shore, against Eden, five for 40. - SECOND GRADE. BATTING. Francis of Eden B, against. Parnell, 55. BOWLING. 11. D. Hill of Grafton, against Ponsonby, too ; five wickets for 12 runs. C. L. Easigate of Grafton, against Ponsonby, three for 25. Beetson of Ponsonbv against Grafton, three for 16. P. McNeill of North Shore, against Eden A, seven for 33. Stephens of Eden A, against North Shore, seven for 30. Fisher of University, against Waitemata, five for 37. Arblaster of Waitemata against University, five for 14. C. Moller of Waitemata, against University, three for 17. THIRD GRADE. BOWLING. E. .7. Gat land of Parnell, against North Shore, took five wickets for 16 runs McKellar of North Shore, against Parnell, three for 16. P. Lepine of Grafton, against Ponsonby, three for 20. A. Build of Grafton, against Ponsonbv, four for 19. " ' Waugh of Grafton, against Ponsonby, three for Speed of Ponsonbv, against Grafton, three for 26. Alexander of Eden, against University, took four wickets with four consecutive balls. FOURTH GRADE. BATTING. R. Williams of Parnell, against Waitemata, 47 not. out. BOWLING. R. Pountney of Parnell, against Waitemata, took five wickets for 24 runs and two for 11. W. Barnes of Parnell, against Waitemata, three for 24. J. Williams of Parnell, against Waitemata, six for 8. and two for 4. Melville of Waitemata, against Parnell, five for 37. Bennett of Eden, against North Shore, five for 33 and six for 5. Fleming of North Shore, against Eden, six for 11. Jackman of North Shore, against Eden, three for 2. NOTES AND COMMENTS The Eden-Xorth Shore match, which will lie resumed at Eden Park this afternoon, is sure to attract the most attention in cricketing circles to-day. The game is in a decidedly interesting stage, and should provide plenty of excitement before the day is over. Eden has the moderate first inning's total of 134, while North Shore has lost three wickets for 40 runs. The match may go to either team.

The Parnell-University match, at Devonport Domain, also promises to tic interesting, Parnell's Mist innings -realised 195, while University lout one wicket for 57 runs. The chances of a win are slightly in I'arnell's favour. The Grafton-Ponsonby match appears to be a foregone conclusion, Grafton being already 14 run* ahead and only for the loss of two nickel*. A three-point win .seems in sight for them. Callaway, the ex-Australian and Canterbury representative, has moved to Dunedin. A Dunedin exchange comments thus His acquisition means much to ntago cricket, and with Macartney and Wordsworth also to help things along our "game never looked more hopeful nor the prospects so bright. Yet, unless we get the weather, cricket will never progress in this "Far South." Of late the conditions for practice and play have lieen cruel—cold, biting winds sweeping over the grounds when there have been no rude shocks from old Boreas, Jupiter Pluvius has come down with the water-pot and settled things.

ATHLETICS. AMATEUR CLUB'S SPORTS. The programme submitted by the Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycling Cluli for this afternoon on the Domain is' a varied and attractive one, and judging from the enthusiasm displayed by nil classes of competitors is likely to prove most entertaining. The entries received by the executive for all classes of competitions are distinctly gratifying. In O. N. Hill the club possesses a distance runner of undoubted ability and one who v ill develop into a champion at no distant date provided he docs not overtrain. This afternoon Hill will attempt to lower the present New Zealand record for 880 yds (lm. 575*.), held by H. G. Burke, of Dunedin. The event is timed to start at 2.45. The 100 yds provincial championship of Auckland is another event that is sure to provide an interesting finish. The competitors include Mowbray, Winstone, King, Bedford. Simpson, Dickeson, Wilkes, Matthews, Western, Edwards, and Nicholson. The 100 yds public schools' championship has not filled well. Evidently the prowess of young Nicholson has frightened many would-be competitors, and there are only some half-a-dozen entries. Post entries will tie received by the secretary (Mr. Baas) up till 10 minutes of the official time of starting the race. Th ■ first event is timed to start at 1.45 p.m. The Auckland Battalion Band will be in attendance. There appears to lie an impression among many members of the Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club that their membership is for 12 months from the actual date that they join the club. That is not so. The season commences in

September each year and membership tickets for 1909 lapsed last September.

The T.M.C.A. summer camp starts at Kohimaraina to-day, and continues until February 5. This feature of the Y.M.O.A. work proved a great success last year, and the young men are looking forward with great interest to camping again this year. The programme for the annual sports meeting of the Rangiriri Athletic Club appears in to-day's advertising columns. The principal running event is the Rangiriri Cup, 130 yds handicap, for which the first prize is £16. Hurdle races, chops, and a launch race on the Waikato River make up an interesting programme. Nominations close with the secretary (Mr. E. T. Bain), Rangiriri, on January 15. The Oddfellows' sports, Cambridge, promise to be an unusually attractive gathering this year. The day of decision is New Year's Day. " The programme comprises running and cycling races and firemen's event*. The principal running event is the Cambridge Cup of three distances (100 yds, 220yrls, and 440 yds). The principal cycle race is the Cambridge bicycle cup of three distances (one mile, two miles, and three miles). Nominations close with the secretary (Mr. J. 0. Summers) on December 27. Full particulars appear in to-day's advertising columns. The Taihape Athletic Club's sports programme is advertised in this issue. The gathering will lie held on January 1. A sum of £175 is set apart for prize money, the principal event being the Taihape Handicap of three distances (100 yds, 220 yds, and 440 yds), for which £40 is set aside. Nominations close for running and axemen's events with the secretary (Mr. H. Bertram) on December 17. A sports meeting will be held at Pakuranga on January J. Programmes and particulars may be had on application to Mr. D. Bell (secretary). The painters' picnic will be held at Motukorea to-dav. when a programme of sports will be run off. ' Boats will leave the ferry tee at 10 a.m. and 1.30 p.m. BOWLING. The Te Aroha Bowling Club's seventh annua! open tournament will be held on January 1 and 3, 1910. The fixture is always popular with local enthusiasts. The. programme comprises a rink match and subscription pairs. Entries for the rink match may he mad:? witti.iix. J. Carlaw, city waterworks ollice, Cook-street, on or before the 27th Hist. The entries for the pairs will he received by the secretary up to the conclusion of section play in the rink match. Mr. W. Mclnman is hon. secretary of the tournament. The South Auckland Association's tournament will be held at Hotorua about the end of January. This season's tournament of the Hotorua Club will be held about the end of February. The classical event of the Dominion, the Norther' Bowling Association's tournament, will be held at Wellington next month. RICHMOND CLUB. The following is the draw for (he club matches at the Richmond bowling green to-day:— Hard ley' Handicap (second draw): Murray plays King, Blood plays McLeod, Morley plays McMaster, Matthews plays Rowe. Pairs Match: Dalziell and Blood v. Matthews and Walker, Ormerod and King v. Tike and McMaster, Driffel and Jones v. Streeter and Tomlinson, Wilson and Murray v. Wood and Bower, Callaghan and Morley v. O'Sullivan and Hove, McLeod's team » bye.