LAND AND WATER.

Otago Witness, Issue 1905, 25 May 1888, Page 23

LAND AND WATER.

At the meeting of the Victorian Coursing Club the Derby was won by Rubinstein. A 50-miles walking match for £20 a-side between T. Bowen.of Chrißtchurch,andD.M'Cune, which took place at Wellington, was won by the former, who did the distance in Bhr 42min. M'Cune retired after covering 22 miles. The members of the Lacrosse Club played a match at the Oval on Saturday afternoon, between sides captained by McKerrow aud Trythall. In the first spell Trythall and Watson, at first and second attack, playing well together, and in spite of the really strong defence game of McKerrow, Lees, and Holmes, secured a goal each. The second spell was more interesting, owing to the pretty combined play of the members, especially on McKerrow's side. Mitchell, at centre, was particularly successful in facing off, as he always took the ball from his opponent and ran down the field with it. After a few minutes from the start Armstrong secured the ball by a pretty catch, passed it quietly over the head of an opponent, caught it again, doing the same by another, and by a quick throw got the first goal for McKerrow. This really was a pretty bit of play, and was much applauded. Facing off again the game became very fast, and McKerrow getting the ball from Mitchell, he essayed a goal, but H. Wilson was not to be denied, he took the ball beautifully, and by a long throw cleared his goal. Trythall caught the rubber, passed it to Watson, who, on being pressed, returned it, and his captain had a shot at goal, but without success, the ball going an inch or two outside the post. Lees relieved his side by throwing down the field, and from a maul Armstrong secured his second goal, making the score equal. On re-starting, O'Meara cleverly took the ball from Mitchell, and running strongly down the field made a splendid shot at goal, but it unfortunately struck McKerrow, the goalkeeper'?, foot, and thereby saved a score. This was a bit of bad luck for Trytball's side ; the ball was shifted down to the other end of the field by a long shot, aud then it was that the best exposition of the game for the afternoon took place. Brent, Mitchell, and Armstrong, in close proximity to their opponents' goal, passed to one another very cleverly on being pressed, until Brent, seeing an opportunity, easily put the ball through the posts, thereby securing the winning goal for McKerrow's side. The play throughout showed a marked improvement on that of former matches, and with a little more judicious passing, the members would find the game much less laborious. Another mistake of players is that of running far down the field with the ball, thereby leaving their places open to their opponents, who ofttimes thus get a chance of scoring. In addition to those already named Smyth, C. Wilson, F. Stilling, and H. Williams played well. The following are the holders of the amateur athletic championships of New Zealand, won last season at the various athletic clubs sports : — 100 yds, F. Meenan, Dunedin, 10 l-ssec ; 250 yds, A. B. Williams, Christchurch, 27sec; 410 yds, A. B. Williams, 53 4-ssec ; half-mile, P. Morrison, South Canterbury, 2min 6|sec ; one mile, J. T. Field, Southland, smin lsec; two miles, P. Morrison, South Canterbury, lOmin 3gsec ; one mile walk, T. Kerr, Dunedin, 7min 23sec ; 120 yds hurdles, G. B. Shaw, South Canterbury, 18sec ; long jump, T. D. Harman, Christchurch, 20ft ; high jump, F. Perry, South Canterbury, sft.