ATHLETIC SPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15906, 1 May 1915, Page 4

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

The College Rifles senior team will play the Grammar School first team at 3 p.m. to-day. The juniors will play the Grammar School second team at 2 p.m.

An old-time player, whom it is good to write about these days, says "Fullback," in the Ctago Witness, is I'. Shechan, the old Southern forward and Otago representative, who, since his return to Dunedin from Fiji, has departed for Auckland, where he is reported to have thrown in his Ragby abilities,' and his Irish humour with the Marist Brothers Old Boys' team. Tho genial Paddy will certainly be an acquisition to Maris mothers. The New Zealand representative halfback, "M. Taylor, who made his name and fame with the New Zealand team in Sydney last year, evidently does not intend to lag superfluous on the field. Taylor has announced Ins retirement, although a bright career 'vas before him The Wellington Football Chb has given a total of 92 Payers, honorary members and officials, to tho Empire's cause, and the Oriental Club a total of 82 players.

THE LEAGUE GAME.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

The City Rangers Club will hold a practice at Victoria Park to-day for nlayers of all grade). Tho Newton Rangers senior team will play a practice match with the Grafton Athletic Club at the Domain to-day. As this will probably be tho last Saturday practice before the opening of the season, member!, are specially requested to be present. A practice match will be held at Onehunga, at 3 p.m. to-day between Mang'-re Rangers and Remuera. The North Shore and Otahuhu Clubs will hold a practice match at Devonport to-day. The Ponsonby Club will hold a practice match at Victoria Park to-day. The second, third, and fourth grado players will, commence at 2 p.m. The City Rovers Club has hopes of putting a strong senior team in the field, although without the services of such prominent members of last season's team as Roge.vs, Moeki, and McCullough, who are on active service, Mansill, who has taken on tho farming life, { Worner, who has been granted a transfer to Grafton Club", and P. Williams, who has decided to retire from-the game.- A. ABhor will again captain the team, and will have the (support of such notable forwards as w uki'tai, Capill. R. Denize, and S. Magee. The last-named is a most useful recruit from the Rugby ranks. Among the backs will be round C. Woolley, D. Kencaly, E. Asher, W. Mincham, late of Ponsonby Club, and H. Boylan, _a promising junior player. Owing to the number of members joining the club, it was found necessary to enter six teams for the competitions, which constitutes a record for any one club, since the inception of the game into Auckland. Last Saturday's practice showed the interest the members are taking, ftiliy eighty players taking part. So as to give each grade a chance to get some combination, it. has been arranged for to-day's pra*.ice to, play fourths v. fifths at 1.30 p.m., third A' v. B. at 2.30 p.m., and seniors v. seconds at 3.30 p.m. The decision of the New Zealand Council to pereevere with the Australian tour is not : meeting with the unanimous support of the I affiliated leagues. The Auckland League, at' its meeting held on Wednesday evening de- ! cided that owing to the. war and the deple- ' tion of the representative ranks the tune was inopportune to send a team to Australia., The view taken by the Auckland League will | probably be endorsed by the majority of | players and the public. The reply to j criticism made by the members. of the council on Wednesday evening was not oonvin-1 cing, the principal lines of defence adopted j being a denial that the New Zealand League- ' was out to make money, and that the tour was being taken to "foster the game.".. A time of grave, national peril should- not be I chosen to foster a game, and the - advocates I of such a procedure are likely to be held up j as committing an unsportsmanlike action. What value would a successful tour of Australia have from a playing point of view? The more patriotic the players of a ■ State ] the weaker the side. The New Zealand' League has given many, players-to : the Em- l pire, and 11 would bs' regrettable now -if I the temptation' of » trip to Australia pre- ' vented any .player from recruiting. .<* There j is greater glory in giving one player to,assist i the .Empire m its hour of need than in I winning a dozen inter-colonial matches.". The : remarks of one member of the council that ' nothing had been said about ' racing was beside the, point. , There has' been a good deal said about racing. That, '"sport,"' however,, has become. a huge business id. "which much capital is involved and many men ai« I erhployed. To stop racing would mean' considerable financial derangement and' much unemployment. There is no analogy • between- racing and League football; tie stoppage of one would mean much distress,. the Btopp of the other but the closing of an avenue of pleasure. The New Zealand Council ' should either reconsider »>*. decision at' once or give the delegates from - affiliated leagues an opportunity to discuss the matter at the annual meeting on May 12. u ' ■ i The, Otahuhu Club will have several, new men in the senior team this , season. • Ma Anully, .Madden, Galbraith, . Hally. and Stockman have ,gone to tho front, and their places in the 'etim have to be filled. Richardson, ' late'of Hawke's Bay, will, fill the i vacancy in ' the pack, while ' several new layers have come forward to fill tho gaps in. the back division; but the,; selectors are said to be considering the. advisability -. of promoting. some of last seasons juniors. However,, a strong combination is" confidently expected by the wearers of the two blues this Inter, ... ... , ■-~-. .

''.THE. ; ASSOCIATION" GAME. I

'NOTES AND COMMENTS. fj, The league competitions have been postponed for a • further < week, and consequently the various clubs will again be engaged in friendly matched to-day. ■"> . /'.. ~..-(.. 'North Shore, who lost last week to Everran, will.be opposed to the lewly-formcd Tabernacle team. The new club . can place a good team in the-field, 'and. when the players-get accustomed to each other's ways some good work should bo dona. • • i.M.C.A. is tihowing much improvement upon last season's team. Their combination is decidedly better and the team generally has been strengthened by the addition of new players who should prove of service to the club. The team was unlucky to . lose the opening, game, against Brotherhood, but to-day thoy have a, much lighter task in meeting Pukekohe in the country town. ! On account of Y'.M.C.A.'a engagement. Lverton will be • without a match, but the players will practise, at Victoria Park. An • interesting game should result from the meeting of Adult School and Brotherhood at the former club's ground. Last season s runners-up have considerably improved their team, which « now well balanced, a ','W « lev en will be placed against the Adult School team which, unfortunately, is on the weak side. Several prominent players have promised to assist the School team, ?nd it is hoped In the interests of soccer football that the promises will ho fulfilled. Club,officios are again urged to send in all registration and affiliation fees at once so that the Mason proper may be commenced without further delay.

CRICKET.

THE WRIGHT TROPHY.

The final cricket match for the Wright trophy, played for in the Te Aroha district was won by tho Manawaru Club, after a cose and exciting .match. The winning eleven dofoatsd the Gordon Club by the narrow margin of 56 runs.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. It has been officially announced that there will be no match at Lord's this year between Lion and Harrow. .

' AQUATICS.

PAHI KKGATTA CLUB.

The annual mooting of the Pahi Regatta Club was held at Pahi on April 17, when the treasurer, Mr. E. G. Aickin, presented the annual accounts. Tho statement of accounts showed a credit balance of £48 3s 6d on the regatta, and the meeting unanimously decided to donate the sum of £40 towards the Belgian Belief Fund.

YACHTING.

REGATTA RE-SAIL.

The re-sail of tho 2Sft 1.w.1. eiass yachts for the champion pennant of the Anniversary Day Regatta, has been fixed for to-day. The starters will probably be Pacific, Wairiki, Viola, Alahaki, and Speedwell.

MOTOR-BOATING.

MANUKAU club.

Tho handicaps for to-day's motor-boel raco are as follows:— Go-Sum, Brooke, scr. Norma 3m. Cynthia sm, Brooklett sm, Lackawanna sm. Explorer 7m. Amature 7m, Mildura 7»m. Minx 10m, Ngaroraa 10m, Dot 10! m, 'Florence lOim, Simplex 11m, Tuna 12m, Waiono 12m, Siola 3.21 m. Thelma. 14m. Grace; 14m. Kon 15m, Boomerang 15m( Mascotte 17} m. The start and finish will be off Railway. Wharf. '

>";■) ■ s HOCKEY. . -•

NOTES AND COMMENTS. The University Club will hold a practice match at Vic'oria Park, not at Retnucra as previously notified, to-day at 2 p.m.' The first meeting of the new exocutivo was held on Monday, and committeemen were allotted their various duties, for the year Mr. Speight has taken over the duties of honorary groundsman, and Mr. Parton win continue with <ho allotment of grounds and appointment of referees. Mr. Moginie .vi{i centre his special attention on tho pavilion while the interests of all the junior grade teams will bo cared for by Mr. Rankin. Mr. Norton will look after the schools as usual. Matters relating to the country sub-associa-tions will be looked after by a special sub. committee, composed of Messrs Norton (delegate for Rotorua), Madden tWhangarei) and Whitiaker. Tho Auckland hockey players now in camp at Trentham have made a request 'o t;is chairman of the local association, through W. F. Swan, late of (he Auckland Club, for a supply of spare or disused hockey sticks for use in camp. It appears iliat >mr.< 0 the Southern corps have hockey teams, and our boys are anxious also to be in the fray. Mr. Norton would be glad to hear ,-.' i>nc« from local enthusiasts who are willing to help to supply the necessary gear. All being well the 1915 grade competition* will bo commenced on May 15, entries Lysine for first, second, third, fourth, ami fif'h grades, and school competitions on May s. The sever-aside tournaments and sports wilj be held en the Kiwi's birthday. AH grounds will be allotted this afternoon for piactice. so that captains of teams must mako application to the officials on the ground. .This -rrangement should ensure better facilities for the teams lor net tins in real earnest practice,, and provide oppor- ' tunities for all.

AUCKLAND LADIES' ASSOCIATION,

The annual general meeting of the Aunt. land Ladies' Hockey Association was held at the Y M C.A. rooms on Thursday evening, Mr. H A- E. Milnes presiding over % good number of delegates and club members.

The report and, balance-sheet, which showed the association's finances to be in a sound condition, was adopted. Thre-e new clubs, namely, Waitemata, Methodist Bibleclass Union, and Areta, were affiliated, and indications pointed to a good season. The following officers were elected:—President, Mr. J. H. Gunson; vice-presidents. Messrs. H. A E. Milnes, C. J. Parr. CM 0.. and Mrs. E. W. Payton; lion, secretary, Misg C. Latimer, P. 0., box 828: hon. treasurer, Mr. L. K. Norton; Executive Coiumit'.oe Misses B. McLeod, H. Bicker, E. Booth! Eustace, Mabbett, and Messrs. C. Reid and D. Clayton, with the officers; hon auditor Mr R. H. Parton; delegate to New Zealand Ladies' Association, Mr. E. J. Jones. - vote of thanks to the retiring officers was carried with acclamation. Mr. Milnes presided over a meeting of the I executive held later in the evening, w^en ' it was decided to open the season on May 16, entries for senior and junior grades to close with tho honorary secretary on May 8. NOTES AND COMMENTS. The Mount Eden Ladies' Hockey Club will.hold a practice match at the Remueraj polo grounds to-day at 30 p.m. All intend ing members are requested to attend. GOLF. AUCKLAND CLUB. The third round of the match play handicap is down for decision this afternoon and ' promises to produce some good games. ■ Those left in cow are fairly evenly matched, ■ and it is hard to forecast results. Golf is lone of the most difficult games in which ito pick winners, as the personal equation is I such a prominent factor in the matches. Players apparently equal sometimes fail very budly when called upon to meet one another. j Matches played under match play conditions always bring that old enemy, the I stymie, very much to the tow. The last I two Saturday have produced many argujmehts for and against its retention, the I majority being fiercely against. It is pro'o.l able that the abolition of the stymie would have bev;n brought up ■ at the business meeting of the Royai and Ancient Club at Edini burgh this year, but the war stopped all l thought of it. A large and influential body of players at Home Had condemned the retaining of . the stymie in the code, and it is likely something would have been done I towards its abolition. \\ It is almost certain that the amateur and I 'open championship of England will be abanidoued this year. Moat of,the clubs wmch ! I manage the amateur meeting have decided •'against proceeding. A large number of pro- >! mincnt players. ate at the .front. The pre- . i sent champion, J. I£.C. Jenkins, is in Kit--1I chencr's army. and ..the runner-up, C- O. i.Hezlet. was called up on the declaration of . 'war.. The jiameii o{ quite n number of. well- * known players have already appeared in the I casualty lists. Players in New Zealand are • anxiously waiting' news from the Dardanelles, ' where so many of their club mates are sen- ! j ing. ■ r\ ■■>■■. ,';' i . "'-.'.. ~y ■. ; -' - ; ■ .•

. MAUNGAKIEKIE CLUB. The fret round of the Kingswell Shield match will be played at Maungakiekk, links this afternoon The draw , appeared inThursday's HERALD. rVl*.

AUCKLAND ; LADIES* CLUB. -■. ' The Auckland \ Ladies' Golf' Club's^ flag match for a trophy presented by. Miss Not* Gorrie was played at Middlemore yesterday. Much interest was t&ken in the match, in which 41 players competed. Miss Muriel Payton, who wen. carried the flag to, th« eighteenth holo ; and, with' her stroke allowance, equalled the. par .of the course. Her card read: 98—18— r Miss Gorrie thaniwa the i members of < the Auckland Ladies' Golf Club for the sum of £2 Is. derived from entrance fees for the match."' The. sum will be handed- over to the Q.W.W. Fund. ■ Members *of ' the • club are • reminded that the'- election of .i candidates for membership to the club will be held on Tuesday, ', The- 'May *• medal handicap i match will he played on Tuesday; post entries, players to choose their own; partners- ; The entrance fees received in ihia match'will go to the Bel. gian Fund, *■''' •*•;•* \-

« WAITEMATA LADIES*'; CLUB, The members, of tie Waitem&la. Ladies!- > Golf Club will beuin a stroke competition on Wednesday "next. Ths draw for the first round is «a follows:— Neville plays Wisa Duder, Miss K swell plays Mis. S*r.ns»r; Mrs. Goldwater plays Mis. : Cooper, • airs. Rodger beat MUs Barnett, Mrs. Prime beat -• Mrs. Bayly, Miss I3tewart beat Mrs. Johns,', Miss 'Macky beat Miss Harrison, -Miss Gra- > ham beat Miss, Marks, Mrs. Lamb beat Mis* Bray, Miss Alison beat Miss Gudgeon, Miss Cousins beat Miss Harvey,' Miss "Weight beat Miss Precce, , . ... _ ■ The bogey match played on Wednesday re- ' suited in a draw between Miss Bray and Miss Newell. The cards returned were: Miss Bray and Miss Newell, all square; Mrs, Prime, 2 down; Miss Goudie, 4 down; Mrs. Neville. 4 down; Mrs. Bayly, 4 down; Mrs. Stringer, 5 down. :

BOWLING.

i EASTER TOURNAMENT.

PAIRS CHAMPIONSHIP.

The pairs champTonsliip match., which was commenced . at the Auckland Bowling Centre's Easter tournament, will be browht to a conclusion at Epsom green to-day, when Smith and Finer, of Ponsonby will, meet O'Sullivan and Martin, of Carlton, in the final. The game will commence at 2 p.m.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

C P., Auckland.— of Australia, met Erneut Barry on tho Thames River for tli3 sculling championship of the world on September 7, 1914. B?rry won easily. Lis!.