THE PLAYGROUND.

Southland Times, Issue 16786, 15 July 1911, Page 9

THE PLAYGROUND.

PAST AND FUTURE ATHLETICS THE WEEK’S FOOTBALL. HOCKEY HAPPENINGS THE TURF AND GOLF

(EDITED BY " C ILOOKER.”)

Coursing entries next Saturday. Shooting season almost concluded. Coursing draw on Monday, July 24. Billiardist Stevenson is now in Australia. Many cycling cracks are to visit the colonies. Holway was favourite for the world s sprint champ. Cricketer C. B. Fry has not yet visltlocjaioßia TOBio joisia jouia jouie 6 J i ed the Commonwealth. The Bathurst - Sydney road cycle face will not take place this year. A kangaroo is to accompany the colonial N. U. footballers to England as a mascot. The cable advises that Arnst and Pearce are training hard for their sculling contest on July 29. The athletic contest won by Oxford and Cambridge against Harvard and Yale the other day was the first meeting of the kind between the English and American Universities. Those responsible for the holding of the Motor Car Show to be held at the Agricultural Show Grounds, Sydney, next September will be interested to learn that the recent Automobile Exhibition held in New York resulted in a net profit of £23,800. F. R. Foster, of Warwickshire, who is to accompany the British eleven to Australia, is classed as being “a long way the most brilliant man in the county, and among the amateurs certainly the best left - handed bowler In England.”

[money), and an Open Stake complete the programme. Nominations and acceptances for the Maiden Stake close on July 22, and the draw will take place on July 24. Some interesting particulars are to hand concerning the World’s Champion Sprint Race of 130 yards, won by C. E. Holway, of America, at Sydney, on July 8. It appears that the Rugby League officials practically decided to abandon the race when intimation was received that the “Blue Streak” (J. Donaldson) had gone wrong. Subsequent happenings, however, induced the committee to go on with the contest. It was taken into consideration that Postle, Holway, and Taylor had been training for a couple of months, and it would be unfair to them to call the race off. In Holway’s case, there would have been considerable inconvenience and loss of time, as the American would have been back in his own land by the race date, had it not been for the invitation extended to him by the promoters to take part in the contest. During the week prior to the race Holway ran two trials, and the result was that those in the know immediately got a few "savers” on. A i well-known amateur champion was placed upon a ridiculous mark, but the American was first past the post, running the distance many yards under evens. Thus it can be understood that Holway became favouritg. In the absence of Donaldson, the men agreed to a new arrangement with regard to the gate. A dispute took place as to whether the championship title was involved or not, but, as, at a meeting of runners and persons interested a couple of months before the race, Donaldson and his manager verbally agreed , to .compete for the title, the three starters seem to have had strong grounds to claim that they were racing for the championship. 20X1270. N. Z. Championships July 25, 2G. Auckland sends team of five men. Jack Johnson denies a match with Lang. A team of French boxers visits Australia. Lang trains in Sydney for his match with Squires. Billy Elliott was to meet “Kid” McCoy in Melbourne on July 10th. The Queensland Australasian championship team has been selected. A manager and a trainer will accompany the Aucklanders to Invercargill. Auckland heavy champion A Pooley last season won the Australasian amateur championship. Mehegan (holder) meets Mark Higgins for the Australian light-weight championship on Monday next. Fred Welsh is to meet Ad. Wolgast (holder) for the world’s light-weight championship about September 7. P. Ruston, ex-Otago amateur heavy champion, just failed to secure the title on Tuesday evening last for the third consecutive time. Local instructor Chas. Walton has a verdict to his credit over “Kid” McCoy, the most prominent Victorian, apart from Mehegan, at the present time. South Africa’s ex-amateur heavy champion, Fred Storbeck, recently won his first professronal contest by defeating Bill Chase, of London, at the National Sporting Club, in four rounds. The international amateur boxing bouts In New York between x-epresen-tative teams of England and America resulted in each side winning three bouts.

A billiard match of 8000 up between Charles Memmott and E. J. Campbell in Melbourne last week for the championship of Victoria, and a side wager of £SO, was won by Campbell by 550 points. Scores Campbell, 8000 ; Memmott, 7441. A very fine cycle road ride was recently accomplished by the Westralian rider, C. J. Senior, who rode 25 miles in competition over an out and home course in Ihr 3min 3sec., which constitutes a new Australasian record, the previous best being J. Arnst’s Ihr 6min 7sec,, established in Victoria in 1904. Senior, who rode Dunlops in his record ride, won the last Beverley - Perth Hoard Race, covering the 116 miles in 7hr lOmin. A striking feature in connection with the appointment of the officials for the world’s professional 130 yards’ championship sprint in Sydney on Saturday last was that three out of the four men selected to control the actual running were officials of the New South Wales Amateur Athletic Association A list of the officials will prove interesting to jtudents of athletics in days gone by:— Starter, Mr J. J. M’Garrigal; judges, Mr W. B. Alexander and Mr S. Rowley; referee, Mr A Wood; timekeepers, Messrs W. T. Kerr, W. S. Kerr and T. C. Roberts.

Last month iFrank Kramer, A. J. Clarke, and Joe Fogler, contested a triangular cycle match race on the Newark (U.S.) track, each of the principals being allowed one pace-maker. There were three heats of a mile each, and Fogler proved the winner of the match by annexing two out of three. Clarke ■won the other, while Kramer was second in all three. Fogler is one of the team of riders coming to Sydney for the six days’ races. In the two miles open race, Kramer won from Goullette, the Australian. A few days later Kramer handsomely defeated Clarke, who “was confused by the American’s suddeii break and lost himself.” as a Yankee paper puts it. When the mail left Clarke and Kramer were matched for a contest over three mile heats, each to have a helper. Fenn was to have assisted the American, and Clarke had Macfarland to battle for him. A well attended meeting of the Southland Coursing Club was held last evening, when the final arrangements in connection with the coursing meeting to be held on toe 26th and 27th inst. were completed. It has been arranged to engage Mr Harry Smith to train the hares continuously through the boxes and ©scapes for a fortnight, thus ensuring the hares to go away from the slips quickly and to run straight for the escapes.

The following have been chosen to represent Wellington in the New Zealand amateur championships at Invercargill: —Kutner (bantam), Tancred (welter), McCarthy (light weight), Ellis (feather - weight). A competitor who failed to face the music on the second evening of toe Otago Amateur Championship Tournament is to be asked to explain his absence otherwise disqualification may ensue. A new boxing - promoting body has been formed in Sydney, under the title of the Self-defence and Sports’ Company, Ltd. Many of the best ring performers of the day have been written to and their support having been assured some interesting contests should result. “We all know that where there’s much talk there’s never any fight,” Sir John Madden, the Chief Justice, began,, as he proceeded to open the. annual amateur boxing and wrestling championships at the Athenaeum Hall, Melbourne, last week. He went on to point out that, in this time of the world’s history, they had struck an easy-going patch. They were too well off. They had too much luxury; therefore, anybody who could urge young men to go in tor good, strenuous, personal athletic work should give them the best advice that could be given, not only because they would make a show in the eyes of their fellows, but for the part these ring competitions played in fitting men out for the world. It was said that there was brutality In this sport. There was no brutality in one manly fellow knocking spots off another manly fellow who was doing his best to knock spots off him, (Laughter and cheers). Southland’s welter - weight amateur champion, W. Rose, of Bluff, evidently distinguished himself on the opening night of the Otago tournament. The Dunedin Star says;—“ The contest between Rose and 'Withy (welters) furnished some fine sparring, in which a thorough knowledge of the rules was evinced, and the referee had to order an extra round of two minutes before the decision was announced in favour of the Bluff man. The audience were roused to quite a pitch of enthusiasm by the display.” Rose was suffering from his exertions of the above contest when he faced J. McLennan in the semi-final the next evening, and was beaten on points after a display of clean, clever boxing. The final went to McLennan, an aggressive boxer from Port Chalmers. Our old friend, J. PI. Finnerty, was beaten by J. McLennan, after the moat strenuous bout of the first night, in the light-weight division. As allowing what an extraordinarily profitable business boxing is in America, it is stated that Wolgast’s defeat of Owen Moran will mean that he has earned £12,000 since the beginning of the present year. “Young Griffo,” the Australian, who was light-weight champion of the world about twenty years ago, is still "in the ring.” Although ho has long been regarded as a physical wreck from drink, and lias been in and out of gaols and in and out of lunatic asylums, Griffo was seen in a six-round bout with Mike Leonard. in New York, recently. Writers im toe New York papers were kind enough to say that while toe “lias been” was lacking in stamina, lie showed much of ids former skill at fence, and made a remarkable display of boxing. Both Griffo and Leonard were on their feet at the end of the six rounds. Griffo is grey haired and somewhat fleshy, but the promoters are talking of putting him on in a ten-round bout.

Latest billiard news from Australia is to the effect that Lindrum and Reece Will commence a return match in Melbourne at the end of this month, while another match will ,be played in Sydney early in August. Reece will also play a match of 9000 against Stevenson in Melbourne, when the champion will give his countryman a start of 1500. The New South Wales Amateur Billiard Association has made arrangements for the State championship matches to begin on July 31. Pedestrian Jimmie Fitzgerald, writing from Suva aboard the s.s. Xavua (June 11, 1911),' to Sydney Referee, says:—“l arrived in Suva to-night, after a very pleasant trip. I hac? a very good sendoff at Auckland. Mr Gllfedder, president of the X.Z. Athletic Union, has asked me to do all I can to add to the relationship in athletics between Canada and the Australasian colonies. I am. hoping that in the near future a representative team of athletes may be.able to visit the colonies froha Canada. In any case, I hope to be able to come over to dear old Sydney again at some future date for you cannot beat Sydney or the. Sydney sportsmen anywhere. I am feeling in the best of condition, and will sail on the Makura to-morrow for Canada.” The Christchurch Cycling and Motor Club are arranging an indoor athletic carnival for Grand National Week. The chief event will be a tug-of-war, teams to consist of 10 men aside, the prize for ■which will be £SO. A large number of other items are being arranged for, and altogether the programme is a most attractive one. The carnival will be held in King Edward Barracks, if the latter is available. The chief topic in cycling circles in Australia during the past week has been the two six-days’ cycle races that are to be held one in Sydney and the other in Melbourne early next year. The two events are being promoted by the J. D. Williams Cinematograph Co., a wealthy concern with plenty of enterprise and capital. The races will be organised on the same lines as the big contest held annually at Madison Square Gardens, New York, the event being a team race two riders a team neither of whom are allowed on the track more than 12 hours out of every twen-ty-four. Big prizes are to be given, the first being £7 50. the second £2OO, and the third £SO, besides a number of valuable special prizes, including £IOO to any Australian team that breaks the sixdays’ worlds record figures of 2737 miies 17G yards, put up by McFarland and Moran in the New York race. The Sydney race will, it is estimated, cost £3OOO to organise, £IOSO being lodged as a guarantee for prize-money, whilst 21000 is to be spent on advertising. With such valuable prizes, most of the crack American and European long distance riders are practically sure to visit Australia to take part in the forthcoming two events. Sprint races will also be held during the running of the sixdays’ races, thus affording a varied programme. Tremendous crowds attend the Xew York and Berlin six days’ contests, a big profit being annually made, and the same results can—Mr Williams Is confident —be attained in Sydney and Melbourne if the events are properly compete; at all events, the Company of which he is the head is prepared to Invest £6OOO on the two ventures. A valuable programme has been issued for the forthcoming fixture of the Southland Coursing Club on Wednesday and Thursday. July 26 and 27. The Maiden Stake has £6l in prize money attached, divided as follows: First dog, £3O; second dog, £10; third dog, £5; two dogs, at £3 each; five dogs at £2 each. The stake is for dogs and bitches that .nave never won more than £5 in anyone stake (cash or trophy), conditionally upon 50 dogs accepting: fn the event of a lesser number accepting the prize money may be divided pro rata. A Novice Stake (for an unlimited number *»£ greyhounds that haye not won public

It hus been said on various occasions that Ad. Wolgast is not a punishing lighter, but his crushing defeat of the confident Englishman, Owen Moran, should set ail doubts on tills score at rest. In fact, there seems to be a strenuous time before Matt. "Wells, Tacky MacFarland, and other lightweights who aspire to dispossess Wolgast of the world’s professional champoinship. In connection with the Mew Zealand Amateur Championships on July 25 and 26, tlie following additional Associations are sending men to Invercargill ; —• Mew Plymouth : A. C. Maxwell (lightweight) ; Timarti : S. Fitzsimmons (heavy), R. Watscm (middle), C. Stewart and J. Gunn (feathers), J, Hegarty (bantam), W. Wurm (emergency bantam) ; Canterbury : Team to be selected at championships on July 19, Boxers selected for Southland team are asked to notify secretary T. D, Pearson as to whether they intend competing j also to apply for regulation slnglatc maroon),

FOOTBALL. Next week. Athletic v. Star. I.U.C. piny Waikiwi. Premiership in doubt. Rugby Park is wearing badly. University still lead in Dunedin. Southern are two points in the rear. N.Z. Universities' tour protit placed at £2U. St. James still lead in Wellington competition. Auckland's rep. team will not visit Southland. N.Z. Northern Unionists play in Sydney again to-day. Taranaki's rep. team is reported to be a very strong one. Crack half-back Pikl has again to play behind the Maori scrum. In Wellington on Saturday last Evenson and Mitchinson were disabled. The Otago premiership competition has reached a close and interesting stage. Leading Wellington teams: St. James. 22 points: Oriental, 18 points; Athletic, 17 points; Petone and Poneke, 16 points. The English Rugby Union has a balance of assets over liabilities of the large sum of £15,093. Mr George H. Harnett, well - known to New Zealand followers of, Rugby, was defeated for the junior vice-presidency of the English R. U.—Mr Prescott, 180 votes: Mr Harnett, 157 votes. Considerable feeling was shown in the election. After witnessing certain hockey match happenings on Wednesday last, the writer came to the conclusion that Rugby football is not as strenuous as the stick game under some circumstances.

The postponing of the important local games ox Wednesday last proved disconcerting to many young players who had been thoroughly keyed up to a serious situation.

In view of the fact that a team from the Tapanul district will play a Town side in Invercargill it is interesting to note that the visitors’ fifteen will be chosen from the following clubs affiliated to the country sub-union: Walpahi, Kelso, Heriot, Tapanul, Waikaka, and Waikaka Valley. Quite a number of Bluff residents journeyed to town on Wednesday last to witness the final games for the Southland premiership and were disappointed at the postponement. The well-known ex-Otago rep. F. Ivemey, who is now stationed at Gore in connection with the Defence scheme, has resumed the Rugby game, and It Is hoped that his services will he at the disposal of the province’s selectors. They take their football very seriously in Wales. Bridgend beat Swansea some weeks ago by a dropped goal scored by a three-quarter called Rogers. It was stated at the time in a Welsh newspaper that “a couple of pathetic Incidents happened after the great victory. The mother of Johnny Rogers, who witnessed the game, was so affected by the reception given her boy that she wept with joy. One of the oldest members of the Swansea team was so overcome by the defeat that he wept with grief. These are facts.” Rogers has a wonderful record for dropped goals. He kicked 30 during the season. A letter received in Auckland states that the four New Zealanders most likely to be selected for the English Northern Union game tour are Morse, Seagar, Woodward, and Francis. No mention is made of Gillett. The Second Grade Primary Schools’ match, Bluff v. North Invercargill, will be played at the Port this aftednoon at 3 o’clock. The referees and linesmen for senior and junior fixtures on Wednesday of next week will remain the same as when all Rugby matches were postponed on Wednesday last. At last evening’s meeting of the S.R.U. Management Committee it was decided that on Wednesday next at Rugby Park Invercargill meet Waikiwl at 2.30 p.m. and Star play Athletic at 3 o’clock.

S.R.U. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. The usual weekly meeting of the above was held in the Albion Priyate Hotel last evening. Present—Mr A. Geddes president (in chair), and Messrs D. M. Greig, I. Jenkins, H. Treseder, A. Derbie, J. T. Lllburne, Dr Ritchie Crawford, and the secretary (A. A. Paape). The N.Z. Rugby Union wrote explaining that the South Island country team would include 20 players and a manager ; to meet Southland in Invercargill on August 9, and play North Island country team in Wellington on August 12 ; S.R.U. to make arrangements.—Received.—A special committee was appointed to make all arrangements for this and other representative games of 1911. Auckland R.U. wrote regretting inability. to visit Southland this season owing to curtailment of expenses.—lt was decided to reply that Union and public deeply regretted decision and asking that it be reconsidered, particularly if it is decided to play Otago on Saturday instead of Wednesday, which would easily enable Auckland to visit Ihvercargill. Letters were read from the Northern District Sub-Union and Lumsden F.C. regarding a proposed visit to Invercargill on July 26 of a Northern District rep. team./ —Left in hands of special committee as the communications were of a somewhat contradictory nature. Tapanui Sub-Union wrote that team would arrive in Invercargill by first express and that some members might wish to return home the same evening by 4.30 train.—Left in hands of special committee. N.Z.R.U. advised of the imposition of disqualifications of players for various offences. —To be noted. Wanganui R.U. advised that an extended southern tour would have to be dbandoned unless a small guarantee was forthcoming, and suggested £25, amount to be returned on occasion of Southland visiting Wanganui.—The chairman said that he had caused a reply agreeing to a £25 guarantee being forwarded, as the matter was one of urgency.—Action approved. Professor Cardson wrote from Nelson in regard to S.R.U.’s proposed carnival. —Received. A letter from the N.Z. National Sporting League was read and received. N.Z.R.U. intimated that, as applications from suspended Northern Union players were still coming in from the districts of other unions, action in the whole matter had been deferred. —Received. \ Southland Football Association applied for use of Rugby Park to play annual match with Otago on August 16. —lt was pointed out that this date was not available, and the matter was referred to the Flag and Finance Committees. Waikiwi F.C. wrote asking for a donation in aid of their ground rent, which amounted to £3 2s 6d. —Decided to pay half of sum quoted. A Star 111. player (Veitch), reported by a referep as having been cautioned in a recent match, appeared in person before the meeting.—The chairman advised the player as to his future conduct, and Mr Treseder made clear the rule as to the “dead ball” area, misunderstanding of which had apparently caused the player to question the official ruling, this giving rise to a portion of the charge against him. Mr S. Wilson, of Canterbury R.U. Selection Committee, advised that .1. Bain, an ex-Canterbury forward representative of merit, had taken up his residence in Southland.—To be thanked. — It transpired ’that Mr Bain was residing at Five Rivers and had already played for Lumsden F.C. Twelve applications were received for the position of caretaker at Rugby Park, and the list, on being reduced to three, was referred to the Grounds Committee for consideration at a meeting on Monday evening next (July 17). Arrangements were completed for tree-planting at Rugby Park on Wednesday next (Arbor Day) at 2 p.m., and it was decided to write the Mayor, the President of the Beautifying Association and other gentlemen to participate. The Secretary reported that a large number of tickets had been disposed of in connection with the S.R.U. benefit at the Lyceum (Hayward’s Pictures) on August 7, S, 9, and 10.

ASSOCIATION TOOTBAI.iI. (By “Linesman.”) Celtic well in the lead, Cup games nearing the end, League games still in full swing, Next week—Celtic v, Bluff at Invercargill: Y.M.C.A, v, Nightcaps, at Mightcaps. Otago has agreed to the 19th August as the date for the interpro, match with Southland at Invercargill, The S.P.A, will doubtless see that Rugby Park is secured for that date, A correspondent informs me that the Nightcaps Club was defeated at home by Invercargill four seasons ago, There was a large attendance of tators at Queen’s Park on "Wednesday

(some 300 being present), consequent on the postponement of the Rugby matches and the two games dished up for the public's delectation, more especially the meeting of Celt! cand Invercargill, gave the public an interesting exhibition of scientific soccex-. Both teams were in good form and the result was a fine struggle. There was no display of feeling between the clubs, as there has been in the past, and each was bent on keeping the game clean and free from all suggestion of roughness. It was without doubt the best exhibition of soccer that has been seen in Invercax-gill Tor a long time. The Celts proved themselves adepts at the long passing game, the halves played smartly to the forwards, and their defence was a strong feature of the game. Pratt as a centre half could not be improved upon. His clear kicking and clever tackling were- very muph in evidence and proved a thorn in Invercargill’s side again and again. Smada and McEachran as full backs were very sound. Goss in goal was Impassable. He is without doubt the finest goal-keeper Southland has ever had. Of the forwards McGregor (Inside loft) and Rudolph (outside right) showed up prominently. It was a splendid goal which McGregor headed through from a long pass by Rudolph and it received quite an ovation from the onlookers. It was the culmination of a pretty passing effort In which Smada, Laidlaw, and Rudolph figured prominently. Buchanan centres well and plays very effective football. He is a young un’ but game as they make them. The Blues again showed themselves clever exponents of short passing and tricky footwork. But whether that is a paying game let their efforts speak for themselves. Bpilile was the most prominent of the forwards, but lacked support and \When the ball should have been smartly swUng across the goal by the wing forwards these players—the right wing especially—were generally found trying by their own individual efforts to beat the whole opposing eleven. Hope at centre forward was not a success. He plays well as full back but lacks the dash of the forwarcty Middlemiss was completely off colour and did not show anything of his old form. Nottmann and Creany were the two stalwarts of the team and their sound defence was a bright feature of the game. In short, the whole game was between the two forward lines and Celts proved the stronger. The Black and Whites as a whole played better football and fully merited their win. The Bluff-Y.M.C.A. game proved rather a tame affair compared with the other match. The Y.M.’s showed signs of falling away from "concert pitch” and their play was very erratic. They have, however, plenty of new blood and smart play is sure to come. In Willoughby the Y.M.’s have a player who is keen for the advancement of the game and who is sure to Infuse plenty of “go” into the team. Of the others, Campbell showed up most prominently. The team lacked the services of Wallace in the full-back division and was considerably weakened in consequence.

The Bluff team had matters pretty much' their own way and were never serioxisly extended. J. Bradshaw had again his shooting boot on and shone to advantage. “Don” was a veritable bulwark and a “stout” proportion to boot. The “13” on his hack did not for once prove his team’s undoing. t On Wednesday next two more Cup games will be played. Celtic will meet Bluff on Queen’s Park and Y.M.C.A. will go on tour to Nightcaps. As this will be Celtic’s last Cup match, should a Cup tie not ensue, an Interesting game may be looked for. ( The Bluff team have been proving themselves hard nuts ,to crack and their sporting instincts will doubtless lead them to seek Celtic’s undoing. Who will prove the stronger? Wait and see. Several Woodlands’ soccerltes are credited with a desire to enter for the Junior Cup this season. Now is the time for such an entry before the competition proceeds any further. There is every chance of a strong eleven being formed locally before very long for this competition. Everyone wishes the juniors all success.

Canterbury defeated Otago at Christchurch on Saturday last and thus retain the Brown Shield. The Canterbury forwards would appear to have been cleverer than the Otago five and when within range of goal there was no hesitation with them —the ball was driven hard into the net, Jack, the Otago custodian, failing to see the leather on one or two occasions as It went past him. . The next Association to play Canterbury will probably be Manawatu, but doubtless Wellington will prove the stiffest problem for the present holders to solve. The matches to be played in Christchurch at any rate must tend to win supporters to the game and as the sister code, Rugby, has a big following there all soccer enthusiasts should hope to see the game strongly established in Canterbury before the commencement of another season. As I have said above, the weakest division of the Otago team was the forward line, and that brings me to a very pertinent question. Have we good forwards in Southland? Are they goal getters? It is without doubt that a good line of forwards can be picked for the reps, this season, but “Linesman" has not seen one player up to the present juncture take the opportunity for a hard drive at goal when within a reasonable distance of his opponents’ citadel. Most of the goals obtained this season have been rushed through and in many cases when the ’keeper was not in his place. It remains for the Southland forwards to Infuse some dash into their play and not to hesitate when the opportunity presents itself for a hard shot at goal as more goals are obtained in that way than by what are known as “soft” shots. In referring to the Continental visit of the Bradford City team, the English cup-holders, the “Athletic News” says they were lucky to make a draw (two goals each) with Denmark. Aberdeen Football Club is accused of breaking the Scottish Sabbath by indulging in Sunday play at Cracow in Austria. The English Association Uas decided that the Mlddleb'orough Club be fined £3OO, and that such of the of the club as were connected with, it on November 7, 1910, be suspended from June 5, 1911, from acting as such or taking part in football or football management in connection with the Football League. The Blackburn Rovers commenced a Continental tour on May 22. They had arranged to play five matches, as follows:—May 25, Vienna Association; May 28, Oldham Athletic, at Vienna: June 2, Budapest Athletic Club. Magyar Testyakorlock R.C.R.C.. and Ferenozyvarosl Torna Club, the last three being played at Budapest, The council of the Derbyshire Football Association has taken a course which is certainly unprecedented in the annals of football in deciding to present medals to a team which went through the past season with the unique record of having lost the whole of their 18 matches and only scored six goals against 178. This was the fate of Friar Gate Unitarians, a club connected with the Derby Sunday Schools League, who. notwithstanding their unbroken sequence of failures, never shirked a fixture and never turned out a man short. The following table shows the positions of cluhs in the McDonald Cup competition:—

HOCKEY. (By "Circle.”) Next Wednesday, the 19th, should have seen the finish up of the cup fixtures, but owing to the matches being postponed one week on account of the weather, and two games for different reasons being put off until the end of the rounds, It will take another fortnight to conclude. This Is running it a bit close to the rep. matches, as It Is understood that the Otago Girls expect to play here on the third Wednesday In August. If the fixtures terminate on the 2nd August, the premiership match has to bo played on the Wednesday fol-. lowing, and what about the Town v. Country match and the necessary practice before our reps, meet Otago ? Only two ladles' matches were played here last Wednesday, Girls’ High School v Alblan. and Union v. Invercargill Girls’ A, The Invercargill Girls B were unfortunate in so many of their players being unable to play, and they found ft necessary to default to Underwood. During the morning heavy rain fell and it looked as though the matches would have to be postponed again, but the weather greatly improved .and very little rain fell after noon. The grounds were, however, very soft, In future the games will have to be played. In spite of the climatic conditions, or else the games

will have to be cancelled, as there will be no time to play matches if postponed.

Venerable greybeards some of them — but still sports. Not content with administering the affairs of civic state, the members of the Waimairi County Council, just to show that youth cannot always have its own way, are going to play with the girls. Hockey is going to be the particular form of recreation. The girls, in the form of the Waimairi Ladies’ Hockey Club, have challenged them, and the Council, with glistening eye and whole-souled unanimity, have accepted. The great event is due to occur at the Papanui domain at 3 p.m. on Thursday, July 20th, and a collection is to be taken at the gate on behalf of the proposed Home for Incurable Consumptives. The Council team will comprise at least three grandfathers, and their captain will be their worthy chairman. The girls feel confident of success, but there is a good old sporting phrase, “That you never know what is in the old horse yet,” and the chances ,are that if the councillors can only accommodate themselves to their flowing skirts (if they wear them) there will be ‘a record game in the annals of hockey.

Wyndham (8) v. Reamoana (0). — This match was played at Wyndham on Wednesday in fine weather. The ground was In a very bad condition for play, being bumpy and uneven, which caused the ball to "loft” frequently. Wyndham attacked right from the bully ; but it was some time before a score came, the forwards missing several chances in the circle by lack of combination. Now and again Reamoana forwards broke away, but their chances were always spoiled by their being off-side. Four goals were scored in each spell by the home team. Just on the call of time a goal was scored from a penalty bully for an infringement by the Reamoana goalkeeper. Wyndham, playing one short, had no goalkeeper, and their opponents were frequently penalised for off-side play. Mr ifreaver ably controlled the game.

The following is the position of the various teams in the Eastern District:— Ply.Wn.Dn.Lst.For.A’st.Pt.

Wyndham have played and won their eight matches. The four other clubs have two matches each to play. The 'Wyndham Ladles* Hockey Glut) have opened a subscription list in connection with the proposed trip of Southland to Wellington. One gentleman has contributed £2. A collection in aid of the fund was taken up at the ReamoanaWyndham match on Wednesday afternoon, the amount being fl ss. The total now amounts to £3 15.’. 6d. The delicate question of. the length of hockey girls’ skirts has been exercising the Dannevirke hockey authorities. The rule that the skirt shall be eight Inches from the ground was not strictly enforced last year. This year, however, the referees are to enforce the rule, and players wearing longer than the regulation length will be ordered off the field. Someone suggested that the distance should be altered to nine inches. No, Clarence, this paragraph was not difficulty of gauging the height of the skirt from the ground be left to the referees. Hockey is still booming. and both Junior'and Senior players are keen for their games on Wednesdays. The Rakiura-Wyndham match provided an interesting game for the spectators. It was fast and clean in spite of the heavy grounds. The game throughout left Jlttle to be said In favour of one team above the other.

Wyndham appear to be endeavouring to improve their passing and certainly Wednesday’s display 'was an improvement on their old style. What was wrong in the game against Rakiura was the fact that some of their forwards wandered' out of their places. Their ideas with regard to shooting also require to be readjusted. To watch the team at work gjives one the impression that it is an article of hockey faith In Wyndham that for anyone other than the centre forward to shoot at goal is a grave offence. The fact is of course that the three inside forwards should be the goal shooters. The wing should not as a rule carry the ball so far into the corner of the field, but should centre from somewhere about their opponents’ twenty-five. The half-back line stands too far back from the forwards, and thus at times leaves them unsupported. This was noticeable on Wednesday, particularly in the second half of the game. Often the whole back division stood down at their own twenty-five when their forwards were attacking on the qpponents’'twentyfive. If they had advanced they could at least have forced the Rakiura forwards back to near the half-way in order to keep themselves on-side, and would thus have been able to support in some measure the attack their forwards were making.

The Rakiura team played a fairly good game, but their passing would be improved by being directed a little further forward. Considering the opportunities they get their shooting is very poor. There la far too much “banging” instead of bringing the push stroke into play. The main fault of this team is its shooting. To all inner forwards this advice is tendered: Get out of the habit of shooting hard so much, and go in for the push stroke in the circle. Rogue, in goal for Wyndham, playing a greatly improved game, but should use his feet, still more.

v. Union, Mr Cathgate : Invercargill A v. Invercargill B, Mr Newall ; Girls' High School v. Underwood, Mr Hartley ; Mananui v. Gore High School, Mr McNarey ; Mataura v. Heamoanu, Mr Mitchell. A special message from Christchurch to the “Southland Times” contains some valuable suggestions with reference to the control of representative matches. The message is as follows : —“At a meeting of the committee of the Canterbury Hockey Association the report of the manager (Mr G. W. Ford) of the rep. team that visited Wellington was received, and it was resolved to place on the minutes the committee’s appreciation of the manner in which the team had conducted Itself on and off the field. In his report the manager said that there jwas some doubt as to whether the correct time had been played in the second spell. An official time-keeper had been appointed, and it was probable that he had omitted to .deduct several minutes for minor accidents. He (Mr Ford) was probably to blame for not checking the time, especially as the result of the game practically hinged on the question of whether time was up. A penalty corner was awarded against Canterbury, and as the men were lined up for the corner the timekeeper walked on to the ground. From his action it would appear that time was up before the corner was completed, and from the corner Wellington drew level with the Canterbury team. He urged the Association to submit two suggestions to the N.Z. Hookey Association :—(1) That in all shield matches a gong or bell be sounded at the beginning and end of each spell ; (2) that all shield matches commence not later than 2.30 p.m..—lt was resolved to urge the N.Z. Hockey Association to alter the shield rules to provide for these matters ; also to provide a timekeeper. The positions of teams in the Saturday hockey competition are as follows: Ply.Wn.Dn.Lst.For.A’st.Pt.

Pauli, on the wing, did a lot of pretty play for his side, beating the opposing backs repeatedly. He should centre much sooner than he does. Baird played his usual hard game, but undertook too much and got out of his place rather often. He should be careful not to crowd his Inside men. Gemmell does a lot of good work, but his fault is that he does not hit it up hard enough to his forwards. He is a good man for a first year's player. Porter and Raymond both played safe games for their side on Wednesday. J. Hamilton played his usual safe game and fed his forwards well in spite of the heavy ground. 'Criticising the tactics of Auckland senior players, a writer in a northern paper pens as follows : —“The present method of goal scoring is to bunch In the circle, and from a lot of close, scrambling play, when obstruction tactics are most prevalent, to push the ball through.” - • McChesney, as inside right for Rakiura, has been showing up to advantage, and his play is' an all-round improvement on last year’s form. T. Kidd, Rakiura half, is inclined to do some wild passing. Repeatedly he sent the ball across his opponents’ line on Wednesday, and in that way nullified the attacks. A. Kidd has been trying his hand at inside left and puts plenty of life and dash into his play. He Is a safe player. a. Hamilton, left wing, is improving in his centreing, but even yet is inclined to carry the ball too far into the corner of the field. There appears to be a tendency among the juniors to set themselves above the referee and question his rulings. It is to be hoped that the Referees’ Association will view this seriously and impress upon the men in charge of the junior games the necessity of dealing firmly with offences of this sort. The match Y.M.C.A. v. Rakiura will be played on Queen’s Park at 3.30 p.m. on Wednesday, at the conclusion of the ladies’•match. The game Wairongoa v. Y.M.C.A. will be played on Biggar street ground as previously arranged. \ Although there are very few accidents on the field, "Circle” considers that it would' be a wise precaution on the part of the Hockey Association to adopt the the same method of insuring its players as is in existence in other sports. No, Clarence, this paragraph was not written because two members of the “Times” office staff were laid out on Wednesday. You will be sorry to hear, nevertheless, that Keith Richards, of the , Rakiura Juniors, will be laid up for the next three or four weeks with a very bad knee, the result of a crack received in the fierce and talkative game against Y.M.C.A. last Wednesday. Rattray, also, was invalided after the game against Wainul, but he- has fortunately practically recovered his usual fitness again. There is a certain amount of misunderstanding on the part of some referees with regard to the penalty corner. This has been noticeable in ladies’ matches particularly. When the side gaining the penalty corner have claimed the right to take it from either side of the goal, ■as they are perfectly entitled to do, they have been wrongly checked by the referee. Referees for next Wednesday are ; Wyndham v, Wainul, Mr Dreaver ; Rakiura v, V.M.C.A., Mr Meyer ; Awarua Rifles v. Invercargill, Mr Hredric ; Y.M.C.A. v. Wairongoa. Mr Ritchie : Alblan

Civil Service 6 4 2 0 18 13 10 Banks 6 2 1 3 17 20 5 Railway I .. 6 114 8 10 3 SOUTHLAND LADIES’ HOCKEY ASSOCIATION. A meeting of the above was held in the Y.M.C.A. rooms last evening and attended by Mr A. Hartley (in chair) and delegates B. Barrie, D. Bowie, Irving, Robinson, Gedney, Featherstone, Pilcher, and /Illls (hon. sec.). Tapanui Ladies’ Hockey Club intimated that they wished to be affiliated to the S.L.H.A. —Application granted. Otago Ladies’ H.A. suggested August 9th or 16th for annual match with Southland at Invercargill.—To be written to suggesting August 23, instead of dates mentioned, as the latter were unsuitable owing to state of club competition, etc. Canterbury Lad'fs’ H.A. wrote suggesting that Southland play Canterbury at Christchurch on August 30th. —Suggestion agreed to. —The t £3.L.H.A. having decided to send a team to the annual tournament at Wellington during the first w r eek in September, the foregoing game will be played on the journey north. The Secretary reported that tickets were being extensively disposed of for the benefit performance at the King’s Hall Rink on Thursday, July 20th. The Secretary and Miss Featherstone were authorised to call a special meeting at any time necessary during the forthcoming six weeks. The Altaian G.H.C.’s protest fee in connection with match against Underwood G.H.C., which was ordered to be replayed, was refunded.

TO-DAY’S MATCHES. Civil Service v. Banks, Invercargill ground, at 3 p.m. Referee, Rev. J. W. Shaw. Civil Service: Andefgon, Goldsmith, W. Dingwall, Collie, Slylield, F. Mulligan, Lopdell, West, McChesney, Sampson. Banks: Archibald, Gilmour, Marcussen, Callender, Featherston, Henderson, Cowie, Hair, McFarlane, Bannerman, Golding. Emergency: Howie. Civil Service Juniors v. High School, Biggar street ground, at 3 p.m. Referee, Mr T.’ Pound. Service: S. Reid, Thompson, Anderson, OsmerS, McKinney, C. Reid, Barnett, Hay, Hanan, Traill, Stafford, Miller.' School Girls’ Games: North v. Park, on Rakiura ground, at 2 p.m.; Middle v. Waihopai, on Rakiura ground, at 3 p.m. Referee, in both games, Mr Dobble. South School has the bye.

TEE TURF. Kotes by Sir Modred. The Wellington R.C.’s Winter meeting opens to-day, and will extend over Wednesday and Saturday of next week. t Jockeys Whittaker (leading) and H. Gray will compete for the final of the horseman’s premiership at the W. H. C. fixture. Poisedon’s brother Orcus, who proved a turf failure, after costing 3050 guineas as a yearling, has gone to the stud in Queensland. Trainer J. Smithel has handled some high-class trotting youngsters this season. The local mentor served for a long time with that astute and clever lightharness horse trainer D. J. Price. Including that of the Derby, Sunstar’s winnings In stakes alone total £14,280 for the season; while his owner’s .winnings in stakes since the season opened are upwards of £17,000. Most Southland trainers are now engaged in handling novices at the racing game, and these include horses bred in the North Island, Australia, Canterbury and Southland. A fair number of animals bred in this district will be tried for racing purposes this year, but it will not be until 1.012 and 1913 that a plentiful supply of local horseflesh is available. Mr W. Baird’s Australian - bred horse Blarltz, by Ladurlad Ozone, has recovered from a recent operation and will in future race as a gelding. He did not exhibit much promise as a two-year-old galloper, but signs were not wanting that he will be served with age. The funds of the Birch wood Hunt have been augmented by the following donations from racing clubs ;—Riverton R.C., £3O; Dunedin J. C., £2l; Southland R. C., £lO 10s; Winton J.C., £5 5s; —total, £66 15s. In London on June Ist Miss Nellie Rose, the only daughter of the late crack jockey, Fred Archer, was married to Mr M. A. Tosetti. The deceased horseman left his daughter very well provided for. The Victorian Grand National Hurdle Race winner, Arquebuse, is a most fashionably - bred horse, his sire Pistol being a son of Carbine, from Wenonah, by Galopin (sire of St. Simon), while his dam. Birchen, was sired by The Inquisitor (son of Trenton, by Musket). This is another example of the double Musket cross succeeding with Galopin blood. A Hawke’s Bay writer states that Appin, who is engaged in the Winter Hurdles, is one of the fastest horses now in work on the Hastings tracks. Wimmera has done very little schooling for some time past. Sceptre was purchased by Mr R, Sievier for 10,000gns, won in stakes for him £25,592 and was then sold to Sir W. Bass for £25,000 for whom she won £12,633 prior to being retired to the paddock. Her first foal, M.aid of the Mist, was a poor performer, her second, Maid of Corinth, was recently sold for 4800 gns; her third, by Isinglass, made 16500 gns, and her fourth, a Carbine filly, realised 4Soogns. When sold the other day for 7000 guineas Sceptre had a foal at foot to the Trenton stallion Torpoint, and was due to foal to Cicero. The Derby result furnished coveted records to three individuals Mr Joel secured his first Derby with Sunstar, Charles Morton trained his first winner of tire great race, and G, Stern had his first winning ride in the Epsom event. Mr J. B. Joel has now won four of the five English classic everits. having taken the Two Thousand Guineas with the son of Sundridge, the Oaks with Our Lassie and Glass Doll, and the St. Leger with Your Majesty. After the Derby race we, were advised by cable that Sunstar had broken down badly, but late files to hand state that it is quite possible the horse will again prove trainable in the' autumn. The last horse to finish in the Derby .was Kel d’Or, a Canadian thoroughbred, who was outclassed. The field was the largest since Hermit won away back in 1867. Mr Sam Clarke, of Wyndham, becomes enthusiastic when his rising two-year-old colt, by Crest of the Wave —The Gift, is spoken of. Mr Clarke, it will be remembered, imported this colt from Victoria last year, and at the last Southland A. and P. Show he secured first prize in the yearling class. A. Mclvor, with whom Mr Clarke has placed the colt, lias a very high opinion of his charge, and states that a finer and more promising youngster has not yet been handled by him.

The Cromwell Jockey Club continues to flourish (says, the Cromwell Argus) and Friday’s meeting was in all respects a matter for congratulation, and Messrs J. M ( cGinnis (Earnscleugh) and J. W. Perriam (Queensberry) two of the club’s staunchest supporters, travelled some twenty miles to attend. The club does not intend to delay in complying with the recommendations attached by the Commission to the permit, and a special committee has been appointed to deal with the work of railing the -track. The splendid credit balance of close on £7OO will enable the alterations to be given effect to without any financial difficulty arising. Mr J. L. Henrys, son of the wellknown handicapper of that ilk, has just returned from a trip to Buenos Ayres, whence he took a shipment of youhg thoroughbreds for Mr G. D. Greenwood. Of these youngsters he remarks: —“I never felt so small in all my life as on the first day I arrived at Palermo with the yearlings I took from here. With their long manes and tails, and long coats, they looked very ragged alongside the Argentine yearlings, which had been in the box since the day they were foaled, and which looked as big as our three-year-olds. The trainers all laughed very broadly, and the English members of the fraternity told me that the Spaniards reckoned ‘ that X had somehow got the horses mixed up with the sheep. They said that I ‘had the wrong stuff in tire right place.’ T.he only time that I had a chance of getting the laugh back was in March last, when Pure Lass (own sister to True Knight) came out in a big field of two-year-olds, and romped home an easy winner over 1000 metres In 1.0. She paid a big price and the party had a good win." Mr P. Delargey’s handsome mare. Stratagem, was brought down from Gore to Invercargill last week, having found a new home with Mr Eric Bussell’s select little band of matrons out at the Bay View Stud. Stratagem, who is still very lame as the result of her breakdown at the Dunedin ,Cup gathering,' is in foal to Glenculloch, and high hopes are entertained as to the result of the union between the stable-mates of other days. Mr Delargy could not have found a. better. place to locate the daughter of Nelson and Dudu, and the writer will venture the opinion that the Bay View Stud will be known some day as the birthplace of successful racers.

The new owner of Obsono, who 1 was almost unknown during a short stay in Invercargill, was quite astonished to hear in several quarters that his purchase was “a Sunday horse,’’ “a washy and somewhat unreliable racer," “a mere four furlong dasher,” and so on. Had those who talked in this fashion known that Obsono’s Australian purchaser was within hearing they might have put a curb on their tongues. In any case, more arrant nonsense was never talked, as the eon of Obligado or Gipsy Grand the former for certain is a courageous, handsome, and highly desirable racehorse, while his intelligence and quietness are marked characteristics. • Mr A. Provan is very fond of a good jumper, hence it Is not surprising to And that he has had both Queen’s Prize and Caseshot educated to ■ the crosscountry game. The former comes of a line (hat has produced some crack jumping animals through Day Star and his sire Castor. Queen’s Prize is rather a light-framed mare and may not be taken for a steeplechaser, but she can carry weight and with an excellent cross-country course available at her home quarters she might easily develop intoj a useful performer between the flags before the autumn of 1912 —Southland’s next steeplechase season. A London correspondent writing on June 2 (before the Coronation) stated: —“Moifaa, the New Zealand horse that won the Grand National Steeplechase in 1904, and was subsequently purchased by King Edward for £2625, will probably be ridden in the Coronation procession by Lord Kitchener. The horso was originally owned by Mr Spencer Gollan, of Napier. New Zealand. It is a flfteen-year-old brown gelding by Natator Denbigh. . The vessel on which. 1 it travelled to England in order to run in the Grand National was wrecked, and it swam ashore. , (Moifaa was not wrecked on his way to England, the liorse meeting with this experience being an Australian jumper called Kia Ora, who together with ■ another Victorian animal, 1 swam ashore in' South Africa.—Spt. Edt.). It is a very healthy sign to notice that there was a record attendance of members at the annual meeting of the Dunedin J. C. on Monday evening last. The . election in connection with six vacancies on the Management Committee aroused keen interest. Ten nominations went to the ballot and the polling resulted in the return of Mr J. W. Thomson 98, Mr P. Miller 81, Mr E. H. Lough 68, Mr W. Charters 66, Mr W. J. Gore 65, and Mr S. S. Myers 60. Th® other candidates were Messrs A. S. Orbell 58. J. Jeffs 51. R. Ewing 31, and F. E. McLean 21. The Club are spending a large sum on Improvements at the present time and a new totalisator Jiouse is being Constructed to serve inside and outside patrons in conjunction, while the tea rooms are being very considerably enlarged and re-erected on a new site. It may be said that the spirit of progress stalks abroad. The annual, meeting of members of the Winton Jockey Club will be held in Moore’s Hall, Winton, on Wednesday evening, July 26 th. Nominations for the positions of office-bearers close with the secretary (Mr H. H. Kidd), at 8 o’clock to-night. A social was held last week at Centre Bush to mark the occasion of the winding up of the Centre Bush Hack Racing Club, owing to the effect of recent gaming legislation. A very successful function attracted a numerous attendance. It was decided to divide the surplus funds —some £16 —between the Limehills and South Hillend Halls. A Wellington telegram of July 14 states: —A deputation representing the Horowhenua Racing Club waited on the Hon. D. Buddp to-day to protest against the proposed extinction of the Club, as recommended by the Racing Commission. Mr Field, M.P., said the proposed extinction of-the Club was a gross and wanton use of the Act. If the Club was “snuffed out” the destruction of the Horowhenua A. and P. Association would follow. The Minister said the recommendations of the Commission were law, and would come into effect on August 1. Mr Field thought it was possible, knowing as he did the temper of the House, that every other racing club in New Zealand might find itself without a totalisator or bookmakers after this. A Sydney cablegram dated July 14 states :—At the first meeting of the Parliamentary Select Committee set up to inquire concerning the Australian Jockey Club and its relation to racing, members of the Commission asked Mr Thrower, the chairman, what prompted him to ask for the Commission. Before he replied the Press were ordered to withdraw. Mr Cropper, the club’s secretary, will be examined at the next sitting. The Parliamentary Committee have .adjourned for a week.

CrEAND NATIONAL ACCEPTANCES. CHRISTCHURCH, July 14. For the Canterbury J.C.’s Grand Nal tlonal meeting, the following acceptances have been received: — Winter Cup, of 600 sovs. (one mile) —t Provocation 11.2, Pull Rate 11.0, North East 10.13, Boanerges 10.12, Nyland 10.11, Sir Frisco 10.9, Electrakoff 10.9, My Lawyer 10.5, Dreadless 10.5, Merrio Zealand 10.5, Effort 10.5, Coroniform 10.4, Fasnakyle 10.3, Stepmeter 10.2, Martine 10.2, Dearest 10.2, Gold Thread 9.13, The Rover 9.13, Flitaway 9.13, Bonny Glen 9.12, Bracken 9.11, Kopek 9.11, Grand Slam 9.10, Iney 9.10, Ariom 9.7, Undecided 9.0, Mumura 9.5, Peary 9.5, Silkweb 9.0, Flambeau 9.0, Gold Circle 9.0, Negative 9.0, Sublime 9.0, Eclogue 9.0, Tprna 9.0, Odessa 9.0. Grand National Steeplechase, of 1,000 sovs. (three miles and a-half) —Antarctic 12.2, Corazon 11.10, Red McGregor 10.10, Lovell 10.10, Eurus 10.9, Sir Letha 10.5, Mahara 10.4, True Blue 10.4, Mount Cook 10.3, Winiata 10.3, Yasmak 10.3, Honest Tom 10.2, Hoanga 10.2, Paritutu 10.2, Dorando 10.1, Le Beau 9.13, Tyrannic 9.13, Pleiades 9.13, Liberty . 9.13, Xavier 9.13, D’NH 9.13, Ribstone Pippin 9.13, Rosegrove 9.11, Sunray 9.8, Captain Jingle 9.7, The Gunner 9.7, St. Amelia 9.7. Grand National Hurdle Race, of 1,000 sovs. (about two miles) —Palsano 12.5, Continuance 11.11, Whakawelra 11.3, Compass 11.0, North East 10.10, Master Paul 10.10, Espertero 10.9, Centaur 10,9, John 10.5, .The Native 10.6, St. Aldan 10.5, Appin 10.2, Paritutu 10.0, Miss Explosion 9.13, Waiputere 9.12, The Rover 9.11, Xavier 9.10, White Cockade 9.10, Bollin 9.9, Te Ru 9.9, Dogger Bank 9.6, Windage 9.0, Kremlin 9.0, King Try 9.0. Golden Water 9.0, Klldpnan 9.0, Merry Lawn 9.0, Redmond 9.0,

— Plycl.Wn.Lst.Drn.For.Agst. Pts Celtic .. . I 7 ! 6 1 0 | 22 8 12 Nightcaps .1 B 1 3 2 0 1 16 10 G Bluff . . . .1 r> 1 3 2 0 ( IS * 8 6 1 3 4 0 1 20 17 6 Y.M.C.A. .(~6 1 o 6 0 | 7 37 0

Wyndham 8 8 0 0 54 . 4 16 High School 6 4 0 2 18 12 8 Reamoana .. 6 1 2 3 2 16 4 Mataura 6 1 1 4 3 19 3 Mananul 6 0 1 5 4 30 J