OUR AUCKLAND SPORTING LETTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 1912, 13 July 1888, Page 24

OUR AUCKLAND SPORTING LETTER.

(Fbom Oub Special Sfobting Coedkspondent.)

Auckland, July 10. Raglan, by Cap-a-pie— Tenambra, and Clive, by Cap-a-pie — Florence, who are both hewg trained ;by T. Hodson for Major George, are now regular attendants at Ellerslie. Nelson, who looks remarkably well after his spell, has been doing slow work at his owner's place, but I understand that he will be sent down to Elleralie shortly. There .is very little business doing here on the New Zealand Cup, but Artillery and Lochiel claim what little there is, 8 to 1 being on offer about each.

When the Auckland representative Shillelagh flopped up and won the Hurdle Race at Wellington, paying a £23 dividend, the stable did not have a'sbilling on him owing to his bad behaviour in the preceding race. Ifcis.l understand, intended to cut down the distance of the Auckland Cup from two miles and a-quarter to two miles. The club, I understand, will not issue their programme until the totalisator question is decided by Parliament.

FOOTBALL.

The natives made a poor show against Auckland in the match on Saturday, though I am bound to admit that they had a real piece of bad luck in losing Joe Warbrick's services early ia the game. The' v team showed no combination in their play, and when their backs did get the ball they fumbled it badly. Ihainaira (the Smiler) showed really good form, and on several occasions made some dashing runs. In passing, however, the team are very deficient, and if tht-y are to hold their own in the Old Country they will have to give that department of the game great attention. The takings of the match amounted to £190, and as the terms for the native men were 60 per cent, ofj the total, the share is £114.^ The attendance at the matches calculated as being close on 3000, During their 'stay here the management of the natives secured the services of three well-known Auckland players, who will join them at Wellington, and accompany them Home. They are E. M'Causland, the crack Gordon three-quarter ; W. Elliot, Grafton, half back ; and C. Madigan, full back. M'Causland will, in addition to playing occasionally, act as a general secretary to the team during the trip. With the inclusion of these players the team can hardly be called a native fifteen but as they are all colonial born the title "New Zealand team " will be no misnomer.

This evening, at the drillshed, Madigan was presented with a gold medal by his comrades of the Auckland Naval Artillery, as a token of their appreciation of his gallant play in the second English match recently while suffering from a splintered collar bone. Madigan and Elliott leave here on Thursday, and will, I understand, play in the Wellington match on Saturday. J. Warbrick was unable to accom - pany his team South. One of the small bones in his right ankle is broken, and it will be about six weeks before he will be able to walk about as usual. He does not intend to play this side of England, though the doctor thinks he will be all right by the time the team reaches Melbourne.