ATHLETIC SPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14384, 1 June 1910, Page 10

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME. •■...' NOUS AND COMMENTS. ii : ;r..:.:f • ___" - |s,i;;.;--- ■-■'.•■ The patrons of the king of winter sports ! ; ; were again rewarded on Saturday with some keen games, both the senior grade matches tontested resulting in close finishes, the '■■■ margin of points being small in each instance. - The grounds were dry and fast, but a high ."" wind prevented the conditions being perf feet. The stylo of play adopted was a great improvement, on the vicious methods of the t; cpening games. The City-Parnell match held pride of position, being played in front of a well-filled £':'■ stand. The City team owe their win to r t their ability to make the most of the oppor- >,.'•: tunities offering. They were led by two t. -pastmasters of the game. G. Tyler in the ":'.-'* forwards and R. Magee in the backs. The •;'■': Parnell pack showed clear evidence of want of coaching. The material is good, but the V, efforts were misdirected, and the necessary - finish was hot given to attacks which should p'_ ■ have resulted in an addition of points to their total. i. Although there was some good play •?: shown by City backs, it was mostly by indi- >/.■ vidual efforts. Several passing runs were J: attempted, but there was always a weak link in the chain. Thomas at fullback did all that was asked of him satisfactorily. . : " while of the threequarters Stewart played v * really good game, and worked well to RW Magee. Bennett at threequwters may have J been nervous but his failure to take high f-' kicks caused his side a let of anxiety, He 5 : may overcome this fault in a couple of games. R. Magee played a fine game at live-eighths, but his partner, Montgomery, was very weak in taking the ball. Ihe dash p of ParnelTs forward* prevented Buchanan from showing out prominently. He stuck to

:■'.:■ his work, and got in a lot of good line | kicks. Estall, as wing forward, again ./ showed a k>c of dash. ill :.'■■■:: The City pack is fortunate this season is-?, in having the'veteran, G. Tyler, to keep ;; them together. He is now m good condi■;i tion, and was prominent an turough me . game. Clark is another good forward play- :-.-..-. ing for City. Walter, Alaguire, and Wyllie g: ; also did good work lor the red and blacics. % _' The Parneli backs, if their play on Satur- ; day may be taken as a criterion, are sauiy lacking in combination. Taken individually :- the players are good. Saunaers. at fullback played a very sate game. Hogan and Smith i: showed better form than their captain, Twiname,' in the threequarter line. laogau has pace, and is a good kick. Smith also has pace, and was in consequence prominent _\ on several occasions. 'Twiname, usually a sterling player, had a day off. The liveeighths line was . good, Armstrong being a shade better than his mate, Hardwicke. £; Thomas, behind the scrum, played the best back game on the ground, tie was always in the thick of play, whether it was attack j: or defence. His clever pass to llcgari on the '* blind" side of a scrum should have ['I resulted in a score. Schoheld, as \tmg- - forward, played a good game, and gave his .half a lot of protection. ■:]i .';■;- The Parnell forwards are a fine strong pack, with.plenty of dash, but are as yet inexperienced, and - will have to cure the- [:■; habit cf over-running the ball. Martin ?; played" a fine game, and with McKinnon did a lot of useful work in the open. Rhodes and Muir were also prominent, at times, while Hansen is a player of the enthusiastic type, who, whe»i ho gets a little polish, will be among the best in the competition. The withdrawal of the Newton team from ; the competition has been forced on the q.;:officials, owing to the promises of support not being fulfilled. : The Ponsonby Club has the unsatisfactory | ,{. prospect of a very much weakened team, owing to members being selected for the Kew Zealand and Maori teams, and also by reason of sickness and accident to others. ' Of the backs O'Leary will leave for Australia with the New-'Zealand team, while Morse is still suffering from; the accident sustained in Sydney last season,., Francis joins the forward division of the New Zealand team, Cunningham, Hall, and Sellars V: "the Maori team, and Nicholson is laid aside with a serious complaint, which may necessitate an operation. ... '■;. City has lost the services of two sterling forwards, in Herring, who has retired from the game, : and Clark. The " latter ;> repre- • sented Ota go;; and has already made a name for himself.. local football.':.. He is leaving . Auckland this week, The game between Marist Brothers* and - Grafton, ii played before the stand, would . have been a fine spectacularone. ; Despite the roughness ,of the ground, it was always interesting.- and- at times' exciting..'-.:.. The game resolved itself into a" contest between • the Marist Brothers' backs and the Grafton forwards, and the former came out . "trumps.' But the Marist Brothers' forwards played a fine game, and before she end of the season should bo able to hold i their own against any pack. -.* The play of ■ '■.■: the • team was a great improvement on- its two opening displays. The Grafton forwards are a mystery. On paper they are formidable, but it is only at rare spells that the 7 show the form that is expected of them. Their play generally lacks life, and their froell* of vigour are of but short duraiion. p: ' When these spells do hapnen there is no withstanding • their irrestible onslaughts. :' With their weak backs the Grafton forwards. if their team w»<=Hps to have a say in the -. ' rhampionßhiip, will have to shake themselves ap and drop the haopy-gb-luekv style that £ it "resent i:har»rterise»? their play. The two O'Briens' again p°r f ™-mecl . jdmirably for Marist Brothers, and Whi'e. 3e-*pite one or two somewhat - serious mis- . takes at the beginning of the game, made mi for these by his subsequent good p'ay. Nolan was ninnf behind >*io scrum, and of • the forwartU Horns and- Dervan shine on* conspicuously. The. team was handicapDed . by' th* absence o? two of its *-est nlavers >rt Delancy and McDonaH. For Grafton . MiPa'" plpyed his characteristic so-md fame at fallback, but the pl»r of fr n efher Grafton backs was weak, though Wolfgra™ was . prominent on on« or two occasion". .Of Uw - . forwards Eaten, Magntre, and Graham •w;er<» ■• the pick. The Ift* + -w*ied player never *'■ shows out prominency in loo«-e work, but ■'■-.■.■■ in the scrum there is no harder and more honest worker. "..'■'■ J : An Austr«'ian exchange states that 1 "* Melbourne TTniversHv. whieF has t™-o~fif-teens, is endeavouring to tske 'nart in t*t> •■•" New South Wales "'■oer"i n n» aiai"*t th»» .'. American visitor*. Victorian c lwlpnts are credited -with t">ip» l -"«n .e"fhuMn cf s. and are coached br M, Welsh. a »!Ri-«»r who :•;;; ronrese'»*'f , d I' - "!""''. ?*"d »*••» fo-wnrr 1 '? hav«» - the ser ,r 'c«s o f Mr. W. Gillanders, late of v>- Otago University. - SUNDAY-SCHOOLS" LEAGUE. : ; : V The Sunday-schools' Rugby Football League will.open their season on Saturday. ?'• ■ The- matches arc as under.: — Pirates v. • Ivanhoe (No. 1 ground, Domain): Referee, Air. C. William?. }Vy. : .;.-■-■ St. Matthews v. Siinnysidc, (No. 2 grounl, .;;. Domain): Referee, Mr. G. Doran. Alexandra a bye. : - _ £;;.-■ The full draw will appear later. NEW ZEALAND TEAM'S TOUR. The Auckland members of the New Zeai-. : land Rugby football team left by the Main Trunk express last evening for Wellington, where they will join the rest of the team, ; and proceed by Friday's boat to Sydney. The party comprised F. W. Wilson (University), J. O'Leary (Ponsonby), A. H. Francis (Ponsonby). and J. Maguire (Grafton). Thev will stay at the New Zealander Hotel, Wellington, until their departure. There were a %■•■-. large number of players and supporters at • the station to farewell the tourists. CAMBRIDGE MATCHES. Two matches were played, under the auspices of : the .Cambridge Rugby Union, en Saturday last.. Cambridge and Jlaungatautari plajed on the {ground of the latter, and the visitors proved victorious by 9 points to 3. The scorers for Cambridge were C. Hall, Pierce, and A. Thomas, and A. Straw- '■.".. bridge gained a try for the Mauugatauta-J. The game was a very tough one, the Maungntautari forwards being the beat, but the Cambridge backs were superior to their opponents. At tho end of the first spell the .. visitors were 6to nil, and in the second each aids got a try.. Mr. N. Peako was referee. On -"Victoria Square, at Cambridge, the Kihikihi and Brunt wood Clubs met, and it .•exulted in a most decisive victory for Kihi- '.';■. .kihi. -The first spell ended without any &core, hut in _ the -second Kihikihi-won as they liked, and the score was over 30 to ; their. credit. Clifford, Henderson, Maunders, and Kay scored. Mr. H. Mollins was wfere*

NEW ZEALAND'S TEACHING. . f '"' WHAT ENGLAND LEARNED. - Captain v the Hon. Southwell. Fitzgerald, in his review of the Rugby "season," in " The I throne and Country," makes certain references which will bo . read..with interest in the Dominion. He says: . "Wo have politics by revolution, and now wo arc having revolution in Rugby: football, Aiark/jou, we nrst noticed revolution in Rugger as far back as lsUo, wneu the New Zeaiaiidcr showed us now to make OUT games attractive, and how at the same moment to thrash our opponents. J\ug«.j twenty or thirty years ago was a lugubrious business as compared with the game ol today. Heaviness in every sense 01 the word was its component part. The player _ with strength and weight was the Rugby ideal. The .New Zoalanucrs revolutionised nil this; they showed us (though we are only now assimilating their lesson) that the player with pace who used his brains at the same time as he did his pace was llie essential of Rt'SPJ- . . - , ■'•■■ , . •-but what is more important (and what has not been grasped by ail classes of Rugby), they demonstrated to us that a match-win-ning factor, and an enormous asset of attractiveness in Rugby is the point of constantly keeping the ball upon the move. Bv this 1 mean keep the ball in the field of play, and avoid all the touch-finding which is, in a great many sides, such a considerable portion of Rugby. Personally, I regard the amount of touch-finding which is indulged in, in the same light as that " sporting' trick at Association of kicking out. And. in a great many instances, touoh-find-ing is done with the same intention as kicking out—viz., that of wasting time and endeavouring to sit on a lead. The New Zealanders eschewed it almost entirely, which is the chief reason, with the addition of ahvavs having the ball on the move, that they nearly always beat their opponents by large scores. I think there are few' who have realised this, and I am certain there are still fewer who have as yet thought, that these are the prime reasons why the Harlequins have made such large scores against many of their opponents. Leicester, .Northampton, Oxford. Gloucester, Devon.Albion have all learned the lesson of keeping the ball always on the move; they have only to cultivate the art of keeping it in play to win by large scores also. "England beat Scotland by these tactics. Wo all know the Scotch style of play is to use the touch line as much as possible. The Englishmen, under the captaincy of J. G. G. Birkett. bewildered their opponents by always having the ball on the move; they avoided the touch-line, and they played the ' Harlequinade.' which has ivs»n so successful at Twickenham. My point is that I don't care what club or international side play the game, I indicate they are bound to be successful because it is , the coming Rugby, and the game which makes points for its side. Had we 20 or 30 years ago, the forethought thus to enliven and brighten up Rugby, Association would never hold the place it has now in England. But. in these days, Rngwr, to the ordinary spectator, was a dull, lethargic, struggle of weight and strength against weight and strength. > Doubtless, interesting to the StogT- players of those days, but boring, to the lookers-on. If one asks to-day the olajer of decad«>s ago. who since then has been a constant attendant 8* Rn?by. which is the better game. that, of hi« tinv or that or now. his answer is invariably the same: Give me the jrtime...where the brains and pace can hold their- own against weight and strength !" ■ . THE NORTHERN UNION; GAME. A NEW ZEALAND COMPLAINT. "Forward," writing in the Athletic News, remarks "".•.no Council of the New Zealand Football league are looking to the future of taeir game, and a strong protest is to be made against the further registration ot colonial players by Eugitsh clubs. The Northern Union prohibitive resolution only applies to players under the jurisdiction of tt.e New Zealand League, but the new proposal front the Dominion is much more drastic, and would absolutely prohibit even colonials from Rugby Union dubs joining English : teams, 'I be matter is one that needs serious consideration, for even at the present time certain clubs in England and players in New Zealand are in communication with the avowed object of registration by Northern League teams for next season. If the game is to develop in the colonies the-immigration must be checked, and the Home Union will bo well advised to adopt no half-hearted measures. Another important item from New Zealand is the election of Mr. S. B. Houghton, a son of the Northern Union president, to the office of treasurer to the New Zealand Football Council." . _

The Northern Union Committee are presenting a cup to the New Zealand League, and the trophy will be taken b; Mr. Hough* ton, and duly handed oA'cr to the New Zealand League officials. The* cup is a, massive ' solid: silver one; the central panel bears the following inscription: " Presented by the Northern Rugby Football Union to the NewZealand Rugby League for annual competition." On the foot of the stem the arms of New Zealand and England are done in brilliant enamel in correct heraldic colours. Mr. S. W. Griffiths, general secretary of the Australian Natives' Association of New South Wales, has forwarded the following letter to the State Premier:—"Sir, — conI nection with the projected visit of British j team of footballers .to this State, it appears to my board of directors that a splendid !' opportunity is afforded the State splendid opportunity is afforded the State to advertise its resources; and the field that New I South Wales offers to the immigrant. We j are informed that this team of footballers is composed of men engaged in industries in the mining, rural, and manufacturing centres of Wales, Cheshire, .Lancashire, Yorkj shire, "and Cumberland. 'And;'" as these men ha.vo to return at the end of their tour to I England, they will be able to place before i their workmates and companions a reliable and favourable account of the opportunities that this State offer* to the best type of British workmen. ' My association, therefore, .would suggest to the Government that notifies should bo rilaced at the disposal of these visitors in "order that the? micht take back with them all information which will assist -our Government in carrying out, successfully, its ' immigration policy."

A telegram from our correspondent at Rotorua says that » trial match was played between A and R Northern Union teams on Saturday, resulting in an open gamo and fast scoring. ■ Tl*e Rotorua A t*>rm proved victorious by 27 point« to 11. The following scored fries for the A's: Rawon (2). Fernandez (*). and Anderson. McAUum jid some fine place-kicking. For' the B's Cordon. Poti, and Kepa scored tries. A penalty goal was also kicked.' -" " ' '

ROWING.

THE WORLD'S CHAMPIONSHIP. The Canterbury Times' ...Wellington correspondent writes:— New Zealander who is now in the Old Country takes a considerable amount of interest in rowing, and consequently he has missed few chances of seeinc E. Barry at work in anticipation of his struggle with R. Arnst for the world's sculling supremacy on the Zambesi River in August next. Writing to a friend in Welj lington, the New Zealander says that after j seeing the two men in action he is at a loss Ito know why the English sculling people I should think that their man has a chance against the champion. "In my opinion," says the writer, "Arnst will donkey-lick him, 'provided, of course, that conditions are. anyway favourable. Barry Is a good •man,' there's no denying that, and he is a cut above any sculler in the Old Country, but he is not in Artist's class. People here reckon that Barry is coins to win back the championship for the Mother Country; most jof them, in act, regard the event as a fore- | gone-' conclusion. They have never seen i Arnst in a milling boat, and are seemingly I ignorant of his prowess in the past. I expect j to sec. Barry extend Arnst for the first part |of the jotinirv: after that there will be only j one man in it." Richard Arnst, champion sculler of the i world, sailed from Sydney on May 18 bv the j White Star liner Medic for South Africa, i where he is to meet Ernest Barry for the j world's sculling championship on August 11 i Ho was accompanied by bis brother Jack ; and Mr. Harry Floyd, sis manager and adj viser. Long before the Medic Was ready to ! sail the wharf was thronged, scores of sculling enthusiasts being among the crowd. Arnst spent a full 20 minutes "on the wharf shakim* hands and saying good-bye to his many Sydney friends, and it was only just as the gangway was being put ashore than he raced up on to the steamer's dec!e amidst shouts of " Good-bye, Dick, and good luck I" As the vessel began to move awav ringing cheers woro given by the large assemblage for the popular champion, and both his brother and Mr. Floyd did not escape a similar compliment from the crowd. Then followed " For He's a Jolly Good Fellow," and .more cheering. Harry Pearce, Australia's champion, was present, and facetiously remarked to Arnst across the water: "If Hagney beats me, Dick, I'll send him after you." The big ship steamed out of Darling Harbour and away downstream soon after noon, carrying aboard one of the greatest -scullers the world has ever seen. Arnst will not arrive at the Zambesi, the scene of the race* until the end of June.

HOCKEY.

j REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES. SATURDAY- V. WEDNESDAY TEAMS. --. The Auckland Hockey Association has arranged a good programme for King's Birthday (Friday), when the principal attractions at Remucra will bo representative matches between representative teams (A and B) from the Saturday and Wednesday Associations, The matches* will be preceded by a novelty match, the Rangatira ladies team playing a team of men in skirts, the game commencing at two o'clock. A match will also be played between the North Shore and Taurauga teams, commencing at three o'clock. The teams are as follows: — SATURDAY V. WEDNESDAY A TEAMS. Saturday: Goal. W. Bloomfield; fullbacks, H.'B. Sneight, F. S. Shirrilfs; halfbacks. M. Allison, D. Porter, Pierce; forwards. N. R. Jacobsen. Munro, Part on, R. Barry,Willis. Emergencies—Fullback, Baker; halfbacks. Von Stunner, Rowe;' forwards, Young, Adams, King, Torrens. Wednesday: Goal, H. C. Banfield; fullbacks, A. Williamson. T. Glover; halfbacks, G. Court, L. Gideon, S. Haresnape; forwards, J. Gerrard, F. W. Thompson. W. Cathro, D. Smythe, H. Burton. ColoursWhits shirts and dark knickers. SATURDAY V. WEDNESDAY B TEAMS, Saturdav: Goal. Wilks; fullbacks. C. Miller, C. West; halfbacks, A. E. Curry, G. Strange, Potter: forwards, C. Mark. Crawshaw, F. Barnard, S. Gilfillan, .1. Murray. Emergencies—Backs, Woods. Sloman, Cuilimore, Bache; forwards, G. Macdonald, Johns, Ziman, Wright. Wednesday: Goal, J. Clarkson: fullbacks,, A. Cambio, A.;Tremain; halfbacks, J. Stewart, H. Moore, J. Noonan; forwards. F. Hicks, H. Mutton, E. McClusky, H. Rice, H. Sutton. .Emergencies—Backs, W. Blackio. F. Robinson; forwards, H. Griffin, N. Durham. Colours— shirts and dark knickers. MEETING OF AUCKLAND ASSOCIATION. . | A meeting of the Auckland Hockey Association was held last evening, Mr. H. r D. Hill presiding. A letter was received from the Wellington Hockey Association, stating- that shield matches were to be played in the order already specified by the New Zealand Hockey Association. ": It was decided. that club secretaries be notified that rule books will be ready this week, and can then be obtained from the secretary of the association, Mr. Taylor,* or from Partridge's. • It was agreed to add two more nets to the Remuera ground appointments. In view of recent occurrences, it was resolved to warn nlayers against taking valuables and money to the polo grounds. Remuera, and leaving such in their garments. A sub-committee was set up to report in regard to a proposal to hold a skating carnival, the committee to consist of Messrs. Badham, Culpan, Shirriffs, and Taylor. Three protests lodged by junior teams were considered, but not upheld. - NOTES AND COMMENTS. ' The United-University match, played at Remuera on Saturday, provided a fast and open game, and was much appreciated by the spectators. The match was very closely contested, first one side having the advantage, only to be the defenders a few moments later. In the first, spell United attacked more often than University, but they were decidedly weak in the circle, and missed some good opportunities, while University made the most of what came their way. In the commencement of the second spell the blues made the pace a cracker, and United's defence was severely taxed, until at last Jacobsen got a pass in midfield, and, carrying the ball on his stick for a few yards, beat the United defence, and scored a very fine individual goal, making the score: University. 2 goals United. 1. This reverse roused United, and they had a little the best of matters from thence on. Parton equalised by notching United's second goal with a very neat shot.

United at the last moment had to play without Barry, and this upset their forward combination, which on the day was not good. University had to play without their new man. Spardling, who hails from Wanganui. He is a right winger, and I hear plays a good game in that position. The University team's vanguard combined a good deal better than their opponents, and showed sonic very finished passing. For United, Bloomfield placed a good game in goal. Shirriffs and Swinburne got through a hot afternoon's work with credit, Swinburne shining very much in the second spell. Dickeson, a last year's junior, was the pick of the half line, and with more experience will make a useful half. Willis, on the right wing, was easily the pick of the forwards, and made some fine runs. His stick work is admirable, and his game an unselfish one. Parton also was seen to advantage, and shot two very neat goals. Torrens, on the left wing, kept his place well, and sent in some good centres. For University, Bunkall played well in goal. Speight has played better games. At times he was good, but not quite so reliable as usual. Rowe came out with flving colours, his coolness and clever stick play being of great benefit to his side. Pierce was easily the nick of the half line, and played a really good game at centre. As before stated, the University forwards showed some very fine stick work, H. R. Jacobsen being the pick of a pood vanguard. He played a remarkably fine game, and his fine stick work and great pace gave the United backs many anxious moments. King, at centre- forward, played a very serviceable game, combining well with the two Jaccbsens.

The chief attraction next Saturday will be the Auckland v. University match, and a stirrine contest is promise!. Both teams have a brilliant vanguard division, and go in for the short passing game, which so pleases the spectators. The Ponsonby Hockey Club will hold a practice at Remuera on Friday morning.

GOLF.

AUCKLAND CLUB. The first round of the E. Bloomfield Vase handicap will bo played by the members of the Auckland Golf Club, at Otahuhu links on Saturday. The next round of f\te captain's prize tourney will be played concurrently. WAITEMATA CLUB. The match for the Laing Memorial Cup, played on Saturday, resulted in a win for {jr. F. Wilson, with a net score of £6. Following were the best cards put in:—G. F. Wilson, 100-86: A. Le Sieur, 103—14—69; A. M. Howden, 91 (net); C. Ne-ttleum, 92 (net); K. B. Smvthe, 9?—o-92; H. G. Stringer. 101—9—92;" A. W. Clouston, 98—5—93; J. A- Kalicnder, 105—12—93; D. Bruce, 110—1V-S6; a.. E. Hobbs, 125—20—105; J. Macky, 135-24—111. There were alio a number of informal cards. but the majority of players failed to put in their scores. The match set down for next Saturday is the second monthly medal handicap, bogey play, post entries. Players choose their own partners. AUCKLAND LADIES" CLUB. A match has been completed by members of the Auckland Ladies' Golf Club, for trophies presented by Mrs. W. Colbeck and Mrs. W. R. Bloomfield. The former lady's trophy was for players without handicap-*, who were each partnered by a senior player, for whom the latter lady's trophy was piesented. The conditions of the match were the best two rounds added, together. Miss E. Gumming won Mrs. Colbeck's prize, trio added scores being 237 (a handicap of 23 is thus gained). ' Miss McLean was second with a score of 256. and Miss Mavis Clark third, 261. Miss Miliy Cotter won Mrs. Bloomfield's trophy with a score of 163. WAITEMATA LADIES'- CLUB. The first monthly medal handicap of the Waitemata Ladies' Golf Club was won by Miss Ivy Duder. The second round for the monthly medal will be played to-day. Players who wish to take part' in the foursome for Mrs. Guinness' trophy arc reminded that their names must be handed in by Saturday. The foursome will be played on Wednesday of next week. *'"' CAMBRIDGE CLUB. The Cambridge Golf Club'* monthly medal competition was decided last week, Miss Middleton winning in the ladies' section, and Mr. Middleton in the men's. The leading cards handed in were:—Miss Middleton, 132 —22 — 110; Miss Brooks, 1*0—13—112: Miss Willis, 20—121. Men's section: T. Middleton, 109—30—79; A. H. Nieoll, 102—18—84; M. Wells, 111—22—£9; W. F. Buokk*ad. 123—24—99: P. Forbes, 150—100.