ATHLETIC SPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15390, 27 August 1913, Page 5

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME.

AUCKLAND V. AUSTRALIA.

The first match of the Australian Rugby team's tour will be played to-day, when the Auckland representatives will be met at Alexandra Park. Since their arrival the Australians have practised assiduously, and the game should be verv interesting. In order to give the public an opportunity of witnessing the match, the kick-off will not take place until 3.15 p.m., but for those who go out to the park early there will bo a match between King's College and St. Stephen's College. Brakes for the representative teams trill leave the Star Hotel at 1.45 p.m. Following are the teams: — AUSTRALIA. Fullback: L. Dwyer, captain (N.S.W.) Threoquarters: E. Can- (N.5.W.),.L. Wogan (N.S.W.), W. J. McMahon (Q.), D. Suttor (N.S.W.). Five-eighths : W. D. Tasker (N.S.W.) Halfback: F. Wood (N.S.W.). Forwards: . I W. Watson (N.S.W.), C. 0. Donnell (N.S.W.), H. George (N.S.W.), E. J. Fahey (N.S.W.), C. Wallach (N.S.W.), B. D. Hughes (N.S.W.), F. Thompson (N.S.W.), P. Murphy (Q.)! AUCKLAND. ' Fullback: O'Leary. Threequarters: McGregor, Stewart, Macky. Five-eighths : Geddes, Weston. Halfback: Ross. Wing-forward. Hall. Forwards: Sellars. Tresize, Wilson, Cunningham, Callaghan, Barrett, Bruce. Mr. Geo. Nicholson will act as referee.

AUCKLAND TOURING TEAM. Owing to Geddes and M&cky being unable to make tho trip South with the Auckland representative team, alterations have been iriado in .the team, which is as follows: — • Fullback : Lambert. Threequarters: McGregor, O'Brien, Stewart. Five-eighths: Q'Leary, Weston. Halfback: Ross. forward: Hall. Forwards: Sellars. Tresize, Downing, Cunningham, Wylie, Brace, Barrett. Emergencies: Moffitt, ;Nesbit. The team will leave by the Main Trunk express this evening, and will play Wellington at Wellington on Saturday. Taranaki will be met at New Plymouth on September 4.

NOTES AND COMMENTS " ' * Congratulations to the Ponsonby Club on winning the senior championship. The victory of the blue and blacks on Saturday was clean cut, and few will begrudge them the honours they have gained. Little need be said about Saturday's match. Ponsonby in the early stages made the most of their opportunities, and when Marist Brothers asserted themselves it was altogether too late. The Ponsonby forwards played remarkably well in the loose, and their backs also played well, McGregor, in particular, giving his best display of the season. On the losers' side, J. O'Brien was easily the best man, his form being quite up to the best New Zealand standard. O'Brien is in the Auckland touring team, but if he had his : desert* he would be packing his bag for California along with his club-mate, Downing. ' , .", - ' Though the ■ Thames team was much stronger than that which represented the district during "country week," .. the visiting Auckland team secured an easy victory at Parawai on Saturday. . The home men were outclassed both in the hacks and the forwards, and scarcely during the match was Auckland's line, dangerously threatened. The blue and black forwards would occasionally rush play into the visitors' territory, but with the Auckland hookers controlling the ball in the scrums the Thames backs: were practically starved. On the few occasions that the home backs did get in. motion they displayed no dangerous at--1 tacking ability. On defence they shaped much better, a particularly good defensive game being played by Winder, the youthful fullback. He is a safe tackier and a strong kick and imows much pro-, mise. ; All the Auckland backs played well, though at times bad passing lost almost certain scores. Ross shaped exceedingly well behind the scrum, getting the ball away to his backs in good style. The best of the other backs were Geddes, Stewart, and Wilson. The Thames forwards < were a hardworking lot, but their scrum work was weak, and their showing in the open was rather ragged. Smith and T. Crawford were the most prominent players. The Auckland vanguard played so evenly that it is hard to single any player out for individual mention. On the day's play, however, Hansen was perhaps the best, the Parnell man playing a solid, bustling game throughout. It. Sellars and " Piker" Magee " hooked" together splendidly, and carried the honours of practically every scrum. Towards the end of the game a rather unfortunate incident occurred A. Wilson, the Auckland lock, being ordered off the field!. One of the Thames forwards is alleged to have been guilty of foul play, and Wilson went up and caught hold of him and warned him not to repeat the offence. There was no. suggestion of a blow, and the action certainly did not warrant the referee's drastic decision. Commenting on the Wellington-Taranaki match on Saturday the Dominion says Wellington won, but, without some* luck, things might easily have gone the other way. Taranaki had the better material, but suffered from a slight overdose of confidence. They made strugglesome bids to set the ball en tour along the line of their backs, and this, to some extent, accounts for their loss. Had they been more circumspect about banging a slimy, imholdable bit of leather about on general principles, the Wellington forwards would not have raised the siege as, often as they did. The situation thus created is one which is familiar to most players of experience a pass with an impossible ball, a bump of rearguard into rearguard, the leather bouncing every way and any way, and then a charge of the defending forwards, driving play up r to the other end of the field. Wellington rodo this manoeuvre for all it was worth, and they rode it with success. It was when the amber and black men were thus on their mettle, rushed right on to their goal-line, that the impetus of their forwards and some of their backs was manifested. In one rush alon* they carried the ball from their own lint* to the Wellington twenty-five, and so fierce was the sortie that three Wellington men lay prone in their train. They broke through a melee under the goal, swept over the forwards and the half, and left the last-named prostrate. They then broke through the five-eighths and tho threequarters, and only the fullback, Evenson, stood in their path. And. good man as Evenson is, his stand was but a brief one. Half the Taranaki van seemed to, hem him together, and the Athletic back

rebounded from them, falling ..;: full length in the mud. With the wisdom of an old hand, however, James Ryan had doubled back, and pluckiiy dived at the feet of the avalanche. Next moment, however, he had joined Roberts and Evenson in the Land of Dreams, and the avalanche- was moving rapidly forward to the Wellington goal. Taranaki, however, was sailing a little too close to the side-line, and eventually in Wellington's twenty-five the ball went out. * E. Roberts's knee failed him in the first spell, and he had to leave the field. He was replaced by Nunn, a better half for such a game. Towards the end of the game Brown, the Taranaki half, was rather badly hurt, and had to retire to the threequarter line for a while. On the whole, it. was regrettable that, with two such fine teams in the field, the day was so unsuit-able-Wellington had a capital fifteen, find Taranaki created a great impression. Forwards as good as theirs are rarely seen here, and their backs aTe a particularly fine 'stamp. Loveridge looks every inch a champion. There never was a pluckier half than Brown, but Taranaki does hot fully realise how good he is. Hill, the ; fullback, gave an exhibition which any man who ever occupied the position could be proud of. McLeod (five-eighths) came J in for several outbursts of hooting from the crowd, which seemed to be under the impression that he was playing roughly. The wing-forward. Taylor, is far above anyone in the position whom Wellington has brought out in the last several years, and the Herculean Waimate forward, Tamu, stood out conspicuously as the best forward on the ground. Tamu is a fine forward, who has been playing up to AllBlack standard for years, but has not had the luck to be selected for the Californian tour, *■'■' '■'•■■-: > ,: .■ '■..■•■. ■.

COLLEGE DAY. The annual match between' the old boys of the Grammar School and King's- College will bo played at Alexandra Park on Saturday next. As a " curtain-raiser" the . representatives of the secondary schools and native colleges will play ,a match. ' ... '■ _•{_/- Following are the old boys* team :■ Grammar School: Fullback, J. N. Hines; uarters, R. Lambert, W. Geddes, J. V. Macky; five-eighths, R.W. Gordon, W. A. Gray; half, F. J. Cox; wing, E. Sutherland; forwards, J. D. Dineen, A. Bedford, H. Jacobi, C. Grierson, A. C. Sexton, J. M. McKenzie, R. Sellars. Emergencies: Backs, C. F. Forsdick, W. Laxon, J. Fisher, R. O. C. Marks; forwards, A. D. Dawson, H. Marshall, E. Nicholson. '■■■'■■ '■'. : ": : -;| King's College: Fullback, J. Gilmore; threeijuarters, T. W. Dickson, W. J. King, Webber; five-eighths, T. Clifford, M. R. Reed; half, W.-.Haeata; wing, A. Walker: forwards. R. Pountnev, R. J. Prowde, E. Bamfbrd, F. Hellaby, E. Munro, E. Tonks, N. McLean.

KOHN SHIELD MATCH.

THE AUCKLAND TEAM. ■ '. ■. The following players have been selected to represent the Auckland Tramways in the Rugby football competition to be held in Wellington early next: month :—R. Inder, L. Payne, J. Jones, A. Wainwright, A. Mathews, R. McKenzie, A, Martin, J. Hall. O. Anderson, W. Cassidy, J. Grace, D.. Morrison, L. Anderson, G. Collins, A. Hearling, R. Pepper, M. Brophy, Jerry Grace, H. Christmas, and A. Cole. ■ Thecompetition is for the Kohn Shield, which was? presented by the late Mr. A. Kolm to the Dominion tramways. The shield is competed for annually, all tramway systems being eligible. So far Wellington,' Chrijstchurch. and Auckland have taken part. Wellington is at present the holder of the shield, having defeated Auckland last year. .*

THE TEAM FOR. CALIFORNIA. ATKINSON DENIES WITHDRAWAL.' [BY TfitEGBAPH.^—THESS ' ASSOCIATIOS.] Gbetmopth, Tuesday. \, ■ Atkinson, the West Coast' representative 1 in the Californian touring football % team, emphatically denies the statement that he has withdrawn from' the. team. ; He gave no authority for the statement telegraphed from Wellington that.', he had withdrawn.

HIGH SCHOOLS MATCH. ';, [Bt TELEGHAPH.—-PBKSS ASSOCIATION.} J;.;- ■•' -''.-'•■.'•';■.. •'."■ : ' : '-- TiMAKir, Tuesday. : ;j The Tiniaru and » Southland Boys' High \ Schools played \ -'ar football -match here today, the home team winning by 19 points toO.

UNDER LEAGUE RULES.. . " NOTES AND COMMENTS. | For ; stiil another season the /Auckland j thirteen has defended the Northern ;Union, j Jup against all-comers, and it will remain undisputed in their possession tDI 1 : next year. It must be admitted, however, that : \ they , came > very near tto -losing s it last Saturday, and with any reasonable amount of luck the cup would have returned to! Wellington with the wear of the black | jerseys. The; result of ~ the " game was in \ doubt right up to the. last minute, for I Auckland only held a'---.lead of a singlei point. Just on time Wellington's efforts were almost crowned By. success, Kelly I only missing a try by- niches. In fact, he did get over the line, but as he had previously grounded the ball a few inches on the wrong side; of it, he was called back, and from the resultant scrum, Auckland managed to clear. The game/ was ! veTy fast all through, but was not productive of brilliant football to any marked degree. Individually the Wellington backs; were extremely good, and they were "also/ seen to advantage in many passing rushes, but over-ecgerness spoiled their chances. Then again they/ did not make sufficient use of their/ wings. Kelly was in/a:large measure responsible for this, .arid time after time he elected! to go on his own when » score might have resulted /had he let the ball out. House and Wilson were by far the best of the visitors' backs. The former was very solid,? both on defence and attack, and ; was more useful / than his more. brilliant confrere, Bradley, who on the day was by no * means / impressive, Wilson during the game played in the pack and fab five-eighths and fujjback, acquitting himself equally well in each position. He was without a , doubt ; the best man on the ground;. On attack he was always to the fore,/while/ his deadly tackling was a feature of his defence. Kelly got through a lot of individual work well, but that is about all that can be said for him, as in the/ combined /efforts he showed a far too decided fondness for the ball. Proebstel and Strickland, /the wings, did not have a great amount to do. Proebstel knocked on twice when a score seemed certain, but otherwise he played a good game. Strickland showed up well on occasions, but did not get many chances to show his worth. Finlayson gave a good exhibition at fullback, but was unfortunate in being injured twice. Barber, behind the scrum, was nippy, but has been known to play better games. The forwards all played well, though Spencer and Parker were, if anything, a shade better than their companions. The mo3t marked feature about the forwards was their success in the scrums, and it was very rarely that the Auckland hooker got the ball. On the whole the Auckland backs were disappointing. Mansill, the custodian, was decidedly off-colour. Cooke played his best representative game this year, and reproduced some of the form he showed in cup fixtures. Woodward was a little disappointing in the centre, though he pot through a lot of work which was hardly seen. Weston got very few chances, batwas certainly much improved on his previous showings. ' Blatery played a really good game at first five-eighths, and fully justified his inclusion, though Ifwerson received so many hard knocks that be was unable to show up nearly as much as : usual. Webb played a good, solid game 1 behind the scrum." He got through a large j amount of defensive work with credit, and j in attack let the ball out much more than is his wont. Considering that his for-j wards were beaten so often in the scrums ] his showing was by all means good. /Mitchell played a great game amongst the forwards, and so did Walters. Seagar is

also to be congratulated on the -game- he* -'"A/::-$|||| •played after H. Hayward was injured; ; ■//-, ///J The forwards all showed 'Up'^woE.;in, the. ~ a loose, though in the tight work they, were. * ~ ; "i; certainly inferior to tie Wellington tan-' { .-'' :* ><\ guard. ■ ~< Several showers before the match and, - '* <jj another toward* the end of the first spell - \ J made the ground a little greasy,, but other* '," ~,' wise the playing area was in good order. 7 "' ;# The attendance "was the largest of the sea- ," . • "■ son, there being close on 8000 present. . •• '$% A regrettable feature of the game waft -,1 ~• '-, the number of injuries, each side sustain- ' || ) ing more than its fair share."-. Soon after ■; the start "Circus" Hayward, admittedly, ." '■" [ '.< the best forward in the province, got a i ,' severe kick in the ribs. Ho made an ' ,' - "'[ effort to keep on playing, but' could not, ,* ' and retired for the rest of the game. Tin- , ', - lay son, who was playing well at fullback. "' . • for the visitors, urea his leg near the end of the first half, and went off for the ■ ' remainder of the spell. In the next half /-,'..;-;r£| he twisted his knee and retired for the rest of the game. House was also off the field for about 10 minutes owing to a .:.;:;£§ nasty kick on the face, but after being • ' _ attended to he returned to the fray. There- {J ' were also several minor injuries on both • sides. y , ' .* ", Although there were so many accidents v ; t the game did not bear the slightest semb- '' ''• lance of roughness. It was a good, hard \ ■■«££? fought game., played in the best of spirit, and the injuries were all purely accidental. The New South Wales team commenced its tour in a very auspicious manner last ■'/-'-':/'© Saturday by inflicting a very decisive de- : , feat on Canterbury. " The team left Wei- ' lington yesterday/ and 11 of them willarrive in Auckland to-day. Fifteen have : ~ -;',!;; stopped behind for the match against "j Taranaki, at Hawera to-mcrrow. The '' team will receive a Mayoral reception here \j on Friday morning. No changes nave been , made in the Auckland team, to- meet ■ the yisitors on Saturday, and it is about 33 ' ':■■ good a combination as could be got to- xs gether in the province. ";■ The, New Zealand team to play New '':• South Wale 3 here on Saturday week is an- _ ,! doubtedly a strong one. House, the fallbackj~ | showed by his play in the Wellington fiveeighths line on Saturday, that he fully . deserved a place in the Dominion thirteen, ~ y and his tackling, fielding, and kicking in- ' " dicated that he would make a first-class custodian.- Kelly is a-sterling centre if'-V .'* he plays to his wings a little more. Cooke has not fulfilled the promise he showed , v ■ ;•.$ early in the season, - but appears to •■■ be ■/ ~ ?| regaining his old form. > Wing-tarecquar- . .r •>- tere are at- present very scarce in New /,." ~?_ Zealand, and the. selectors would have a < .} hard task'"to fill their positions» satisfac torily. Proebstel, on the other- wing, v.d ..' . _. s : ' most probably be unable to play owne; to .... ./■•■ an injured shoulder, and if this is. rfo, ,■ Mitchell, the Canterbury threequarter, has " . J most, claims to the vacancy. : Mitchell is . a sterling player with more experience 'of, -■. the game than any. other back in -New Zealand. » , Ifwerson and Manning should make a ; first-class pair at five-eightlis. and Bradley, demonstrated very forcibly ■in Australia • , ,' that he is a first-class .half. With so - many really good;;' forwards to choose from -the "selectors must have had an unenviable task, but their final selection leaves nothing : to be desired, y; Pearce, „ the Can - terbury skipper, ;has been > selected for his t great capabilities. Eingi ■ t who only recently left Auckland, was about the best forward in the team which toured ...u . c'/f Australia, and : Circus" Hayward, r Mit - chell, and Walters /are - too well' 1 known 4to " i " ,>,r..;VN need " any, f comment.* The 'inclusion /of ,/;., l ';sv Savoury 'will undoubtedly .strengthen u the-,.. : ,' : | ; .- r ; pack. 'He is a high-class forward in.every . v ,'\ : way, and as he.is.in good form, at present - - he should fully justify his. inclusion. On > < ' the whole the team is a strong one. and , <- should worthily uphold lb* honour of the Dominion. " . "•' '■' THE ASSOCIATION GAME. •,' ?£\ - PUKEKOHE V. OTAHUHU. * . -': Pukekohe met Otahuhu's first division \ t team at Pukekohe on t Saturday, and we '-• beaten by 5 goals to nil. From th«; kick- • > ,\ off Ocahuhu forced the pace, but '. were y"i ' jinabk' to control the'ball,, .and conse- :. quently Pukekohe cleared '. easily.'." Alter ' about 10 minutes! ■, play js*tuns, i- the left f /-"'. i half,, opened -the score with the best shot a ■ > of the season, a hard drive dropping weH';.'....;, ;.';':■■ ; in the corner of the goal and striking Use!. . . inside of the post. Right on .until half- • time Pukekoht* had things all their own. , ■ ~ way, and notched two more coals. In the second half Otahnhu . livened up a bit and kept things busy 'for. a time, but their, "efforts were rather spasmodic, v and •■':"Pukekohe 1 " took:things , very comfortably, and notched t«J more goals.! The local goalkeeper■■-, had :.;■<..:., ;.\\ only two weak shots to stop, although, ■: the* backs were at times kept fairly, busy. . ~ After the match Otahuhii were entertained ;i •• . 5 to tea by the \ local', eleven, and. a . return match was fixed for September 13 aft.Otai- .. huhu. ■;;■■ •-■.;-■ ';.^ i:? . hookey; REPRESENTATIVE TRIAL TEAMS. ; T :"-> With a view to selecting ue rcprcsenta- .-;- ',;• tive team to meet Wellington at Wellington?.on September 20. for the-New. Zea- : land Challenge " Shield,-' the 'selector (Messrs. L. H. Norton, A. R-T*ttlej-, and <F. Brooke Taylor) have chosen the " following A and B teams, to play at Vic- . '/; ' toria Park on Saturday next. The A team will wear representative jerseys, and the ~. B team white. • . . " % ,A Team.—-Goal, C. ■ Ilallam j fullbacks, H.B. Speight and J. H. Baker, half- v : backs. J. M. Alison. L. G/RobbisoK. and . J.. C. Rennie; forwards, W. Stuart. R. ; W. J Barry, J. B. Reynolds. J. Mahone/,, and C. N. Jacobsen. DrK. Porter ■, was' not ".,.■'. available. '■,■•■ 4 ,. "' ;■- . v - B Team.— W. Alien;;fullbacks, :.;.; E. R. JacobsonandC. Farqnharson; half- - ■■■?. . 7 backs, A. M. Bxrwe, E, H. Parker, and ' V. C. Kavanagh; forwards, L. L. Grice, D. Smythe, E. A. , Wbittafcer, A- K. • Robertshaw, and J. Murray. - ; Reserves.--Goal, H. 'C. Cotton} fallbacks, R. G. Sloman and A;.King;,halfbacks, H. Richards, L. G. 'Whitta'eer, X. Hunt, and W. S. Good; forwards* M. J.- ,- -, V. ' Moore, H. W. King, H. O. Welham, 11. : • ; Preston, and S. J. Mogridge. ' ' . '. ' ' ; NOTES AND COMMENTS. ■ ' , Saturday last saw the curtain drawn on , the 1913 Senior Championship. - Auckland ! gained premier honours -.by two points,, having won nine and lost two. matches, , scoring 32 goals and' having only seven recorded against them. . Congratulations to . ; Captain V.iCKavanagh ma the "members » of the team. • This is the seventh time, the 1 Red and Blacks have carried off the pre- ' miership, the other successful teams'.being . United (twice) and University (twice), as V : follows :-r-1903,. United; 1904, Auckland; , , •-. , 1995, Auckland;.. 1906, United; 1907, ' , Auckland;. 1908, Auckland; ;U909-;"Aack- v - , • land; 1910, Auckland; 1911, University "* . 1912. University; 1913, Auckland;; '..„ , " , ~ L ■], : The present has been the most open > championship for some years, no less than I five teams having a direct say in the de-.; l ciding of it. Ponsonby were: first to inter:" ; : : j fere, unexpectedly defeating University, . i Auckland then repeated the performance, i and \in turn were beaten (successively by ;,:;: S; I Mount Eden and /Axeta. - University 'fin- • i ished runners-up, and Aretaitake third ? 7" I honours. The following table shows 'th©.. i : positions of the teams at the conclusion of. : i the competition :— -,; s > ■"""'* ;, " A SECTION. ' -■•-..•> 4 ? Goals—' Ch. I ••:■..■■..■■: ' P. W. i. .D. P., A. Pts. Auckland ... 11 "£>' 2 :; 0;-'.32 <tl7:kl3 '■ : ' : - » University ... 11 8 3- 0 34 9 .16 . , i Areta ... 11 7 3 1 23 12 15 . 7 . Mount Eden 11 .4v . 4 -.; 3:, 17 23 U ? : v : "'. :Vv 1 B SECTION. " ' I ■••'' „ T '■'','-':' Goals— Ch. ■'-".-'•;"•:•'; , .:',-".-;, P. W. L. B. P. A. Pts. , College Rifles ! 9 3 4"2 912' 8 Ponsonby ... 8 2 '..- '4 '' :--2 '- '-'12 > :1 ' ; 16 -'-'6 " Unitarian ... 9 15 --> -;3'J 13 ; 27 6 •'-'•;'-/■'". • North Shore 9 «1' V: s■: V3i- 9 ,',32 ; 6 - United • ...9—54 , 7.;-' 19 j 4■- - . ; In expectation of a strenuous final 1 a ''; ■ good crowd of spectators lined No. .2•..:"••. ground. It was distinctly ' nnf ortunata that the principal ground was unplayable, owing to the heavy rair. on Friday night. On Friday morning it was in splendid condition, having been cut and rolled. Under I - the circumstances the display by Auckland ' and University was good and certainly exciting from the opening bully. The winners deserved their success, but the game'" was so much anybody's on the'genrr.-i, ' Pl av j th»t it was really a a.u.estipa' of $& .- :

.., ' ' '' "' ■ ( W m epporttoities and just a little.| «,.„* i here can be no suggestion that owe team outshone; the other, or that any- I tiling r hKO ; , the difference existed between v tin-two teams as in their first' meeting. ; Auckland, i however, accepted their chances, whereas 'Varsity didn't do so to I anything hke the same extent. The Blue H forwards :■ were at fault, Cronin at insidenght was not strong enough, and Whittaker on the outside suffered in conse- ' ; quence. King at centre was also wantincr, I ■• although some of his field work was fin!' '! ; t?\ did not, however, superintend i or help the finishing work round the circle. i'i Alanoney wee clever at opening the attack *"-.'■ and carrying play past the opposing backs, while he also followed up with advantage. ... Jacobsena work also calls for little criticism, his line runs being admittedly good, ... considering the heavy going. Occasionally ; be zuight have centred quicker, and per- I haps vailed the attack a little. The halfhne was good, Kennies play on the left I oemg of. the sure.kind, while he used the reverse stroke to advantage. He is prob- I • ably A the ; : mo3t improved plaver in the j u Senior grade, having apparently overcome | faults which "were so conspicuous earlier I in the reason,' Robinson did well in break- 1 mg up the attack, but did not seem to feed is the forwards a3 advantageously as usual. Howe, though occasionally checking well, was not at his best. • v The fullback lima was strong, and Jones's display was very good. He showed much dash and yet made few mistakes, and is last becoming -a first-class back. Speight .does not appear to be quite playing at his v test, but a great deal is expected of him. !.*■' His clearing did not seem to be so good as earlier in the season, though his defence was sound.':: Wilks did some things, and he 13 undoubtedly a cool custodian. A nice effort robbed Welham of what looked ■" like a certain goal. '.. ■ •'; • Auckland were out to win, and must •be given credit lor not missing - many chances. The backs defended vigorously, apparently with the main idea of stopping. - '.'--Brilliant play was set aside for the day in favour of a more solid defence, and it ; ; told J in'the- end. - Allen stopped a eoupla -:-'■- of shots : fairly: well, but danger might have ±: ■■'; been averted once or twice by prompt action. i-: Baker, though suffering from a bruised foot, generally managed to get in ; ;. the '■'way; and Horspool continued coolly, -; checking well. The halves were not brilliant Roberts stopped the opposing wing well. while Lepine bustled throughout. Kavanagh put up a determined defence, tackling being the best feature of his play. The forwards did . some good things. • Moore did not frequently show up on the '": right, ■ and Welham was patchy, though some of his efforts reminded one of other times. Smythe did best, working with much spirit, but he did not work the . right flank well, much of his hitting to the left being -also too hard. His goal was a !$• feature of the game. Fuller played his ;■' .best game for the season, frequently opening up the attack and getting the ball out, -■sr while his shooting was also a marked im- ;.- provement. Murray was also very fair, v and some characteristic centres were first- - class. • •«• By defeating Areta on Saturday last, -:. Mount Eden B has won the, third grade i championship handsomely. It is rather .an unique performance for a B team ;..<;„ to gain such "success, and Captain Newman ~j and the other members of the team det> serve smuch 'credit for the performance. J ;; In ail, 13 matches were played and all won. : the play of the team being characterised I , ?by - open 1 combined play- This finishes rkl the competition, and it is intended to test ;>.!.the > team's 'ability on Saturday next -.against the rest of the grade. ' ': . An Auckland team visited Thames on : . Saturday, and drew with the locals. The ground wait in a very wet and sloppy state, g* so that high-class hockey : was - out ■of the question, but : a well-contested game re--1 sulted. SL;; H. little scored both goals " for the visitors, and played a good game ■■ •■, under the adverse circumstances. Parker excelled in the half line, while White played a 'clever game at fullback, these .*; three ; claiming: honours for the City team. The team was entertained at dinner by: the Thames Association after the match, Dr. Lapraik presiding. Afterwards a dance •-. was given,, and the City players speak well -"of, the hospitality of the Country' Association. .',- On Saturday next Thames visits Auckland to play the Auckland junior ; representatives, while the Thames juniors Are down, to meet the Auckland primary school. representatives, both f matches being played at Remucra. , ■- A visitor to Auckland during the week was the popular W. J. Organ, ex-chairman - •>. of. the executive committee and sole select -;i tor of, the Wellington Hockey Association, and captain of the Wellington team which lifted the shield from Auckland in 1909. , The visit occasioned a convivial gathering on Monday;:afternoon, when such- wellknown " old-timers" in the New Zealand ■f hockey world as F. S. Shirriffs, W. J. ■Organ," R. W. Barry, and H. V. Walton , ■ assembled. Tlt ; just wanted H. D. Hill to complete _ the party. Saturday will see the trial matches commenced with '■ a view to selecting teams to visit Wellington and tour the country dis- " tricts. : It is well known that the selec-■•■-tore _ have a very difficult taa& to get together an eleven strong enough to lift the ishield, the difficulty being principally m rrapect to the forward line. The back division should be sound, and no trouble has been experienced in this connection for some time past. The absence of-Por-ter is; unfortunate, however, this plaver having notified his inability to travel with the team if selected.. Baker is also suffernjA ■ ing % from : an»„ injured ankle, but another fortnight : should -see him fit.; Reynold's . illness has been causing the selectors some anxiety, as ; his ■ absence from the forward line would be a catastrophe. Even now A m doxibtf whether he can pick up condition in time;:: c -•- TERRITORIALS' MATCH. - [bt Txij»iurß:.— COEBESPONDENT.] Cambridge, Tuesday. : . A match between G Battery (Hamilton) ; and : th ? Cambridge territorials, played here on Saturday, resulted in a-win for the :. visitors by 1 goal to 0. GOLF. f •AUCKLAND CLUB ■- _ Members are reminded that entries for the junior championship close at noon on Thursday, September 4, when the draw will be made. The competition is confined to B grade players, i.e., players with handicap of 13 and over. The qualifying medal round over 18 holes will i' bo played' on Saturday afternoon, September 6, and the 16 players returning the beet cards will be eligible to compete for the championship by match play. One week is allowed for each round. AUCKLAND LADIES' CLUB. .- - The final, of the match for Mrs. It. A. „ -Carr's cup was played yesterday between Misses G. Gome and F. Foote. Miss G. Gome, by consistent play, won 2 up on the 13th green, The winner conceded her opponent 17 strokes. Miss S. Henderson has presented a trophy for competition among players who have not earned a handicap. The conditions are stroke play over 12 holes. Players are to choose their own partners. ! The match is to be played on Friday, September 5. Post entries. ■■■-■■' The; monthly medal will be played on Tuesday, September 2.

ROTORUA CLUB. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OCT CORRESPONDENT.] ftOTORTTA, Tuesday. A semi-final in connection with the Rotorua Golf Club too':: place on Saturday, when Kusabs and -Viedward met, the former winning 5 up-and 4 to play. The score for the medal round was Kusabs 87, Redward 94. Another game is to take " place on Wednesday, when Worthington and Sherriff meet, the winner will play <. Kusabs in the final. CAMBRIDGE CLUB. [BY YKLEGKAJPH,-—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Cambridge, Tuesday. ;',.; The men's monthly medal competition 1 j was won by S. Dunbar, 928— in the 1 A:: grade, J. L. Foster winning the B > grade V with • 110—30-80. The ladies' monthly, medal .will bo played this week.

At a committee meeting of the club on Monday the final adjustment of accounts and allotment of trophies was made in connection with the recent South Auckland tournament. Appreciation of the services rendered bv the honorary secretary (Mr. Eric Fraser) was expressed. Mr. Mervyn Wells donated a driving net to the club. A sub-committee was appointed to arrange for the laying down of a 9-hole putting course. Competitions were arranged for trophies presented by Messrs. A. H. Nicoll, I). R. Caldwell and J. Rowe.

CRICKET. BOWLERS PLAY HAVOC. __^ By Telegraph—Press Association— London, August 25. Playing for Notts to-day against Derbyshire," T. Wass took six wickets for lb runs, and Jremonger four for 10. , , Against Surrey, in their first innings, Dennett {Yorkshire) took nine wickets for 63 runs. VICTORIA V. NEW ZEALAND. (Received August 26. 10.10 p.m.) Melbourne, August 26. The Victorian Cricket Association has fixed the dates of the match between Victoria and New Zealand for January 9, 10, and 12.

CYCLING.

EGMONT ROAD RACE.

[BT TELEGBATE.— ASSOCIATION.]

New Petmottth, Tuesday.

Nearly 70 entries have been received for the circular road race round Mount Egmont on September 11, including practically every New Zealand rider of note and "five of the best-known Australian •Kirkhame (2), Wilson, Cooper, and Snell, all of whom leave Sydney today for New Plymouth. This will be the first time Australian riders iVve competed in this race.

AQUATICS.

. VICTORIA CRUISING CLUB. The annual meeting of the Victoria Cruising Club was held last evening. Officers for the ensuing season were elected as follows :Patron, Mr. E. Davis; president, Mr. J. Mahoney; commodore, Mr. F. Scott; vice-commodore, Mr. A. Deacon; iear-commcdoie, Mr. J. Francis; hon. secretary, Mr. E. Culhane; assistant secretary, Mr. W. Shraff j treasurer, Mr. O. Johnson; starter and judge, Mr. R. Johnson; timekeepers, Messrs. J. Boonstra and W. Barfield: auditors, Messrs. R. Murphy and W. Culhane; general committee, Messrs. N- Gardner, W. Hawkes, P. Pl.iilpot, A. Jones, D.Brophy, A. Swales, D. Baseett, J. Mackav, J. Stead, H. Parker, G. Avery,, and W. Wine handicappers, Messrs. G. Sellais, A. Cowie, and A. Deacon. ."."•■' ' Lynx.