SPORTING.

Southland Times, Issue 18623, 22 August 1919, Page 3

SPORTING.

NOTES BY SIR MOORED,

Handicaps for the New Zealand Cup are published elsewhere.

It is reported that the local horseman, W Robinson, is doing well in the Christchurch Hospital, and is rapidly recovering from his recent motor-cycle accident. He was fortunate in having no bones broken in the ugly smash.

The Dunedin trainer, W. Griffiths, left Riccarton on Sunday last to travel his Grand National team back to Wingatui. He expects that it, will take ten days to get Morecambe, Lawsuit, and Samiel back to home quarters by road.

When Master Strowan and Gang ’Awa arrive home at Foxtou, the former will go into retirement, but Gang 'Awa will probably compete at the Masterton fixture next month. Mr F. S. Easton, owner of the horses named, is sending the Demosthenes colt Amythas to Riccarton to be trained by F. D. Jones with a view to competing in the C.J.C. Derby in November next.

The disappointing gelding Kaminohe, by Hymettus—Dryad, was sold at auction in Christchurch on Tuesday last at six guineas.

The Auckland-owned pacing gelding, Asturio, by Harold Dillon— Archangel, was disposed of at auction in Christchurch on Monday last at 200 guineas, and his new owner has nlaced him with R. Reay at New Brighton to be prepared for future engagements.

The Christchurch gentleman who races as Mr C. Charming, has purchased from Mrs M. Duncan the yearling colt by Nelson Bingen —Sal Tasker. Mr Chiinning, by the way, is racing Nelson Bingen, the sire of this highly-bred juvenile.

At the annual general meeting of members of the Ashburton Trotting Club, held on Tuesday last, Mr H. F. Nicoll was elected a life member of the club.

It is understood that the new stewards’ stand, which is to be erected by the Forbury Park Trotting Club, will be on the game site as the present antiquated structure. The work is to be put in hand at once and the new stand. will be ready in time for the club’s November fixture. The committee of the club has in contemplation a rearrangement of all the stands and appointments, and a good deal of ground that is not now in use will be brought into service. Some ground has been purchased at the back of the course, which will allow the tram service to be taken right to the gates, when the City Council connects up the St. Kilda and St. Clair tramway systems by a line which it is stated will run along the flat at the back of the Trotting Club's property.

Mr G. L. Stead’s mare Cassock, by Lauderdale, has foaled a half-brother to the local gelding, Almoner, the new arrival being a son of Nassau. The first foal of the season at Mr J. B. Reid’s Elderslia Stud is a filly by the imported horse Sunny Lake from Arai-te-Uru, and ranks as a halfsister to the Kilbroney horses, Kilboyne, Kilrea, and Killala. CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB. NEW ZEALAND CUP HANDICAPS. (Per United Press Association). CHRISTCHURCH, August 21. The following handicaps have been issued by Mr J. E. Henrys for the — NEW ZEALAND CUP of £2OOO (two miles) —Menelaus 9.0, Kilmoon and Mascot 8.6, Rorke’s Drift 8.5, Bonnie ‘ Maid 8.3, Red Ribbon 8.2, Yolo 8.0, Vagabond, Nobleman and Wardancer 7.13, Gay Lad 7.12, Cynic 7.11, Melee 7.10, Heathercote and Maioha 7.9, Rose Pink 7.4, Kilrush, Battle Song, Eleus, Hetana and Lucid 7.3, Windorah 7.2, Affectation 7.1, Royal Star 7.0, Lovcmatch and Bonny Briar 6.13, Athens 11. 6.12, Motuihi 6.11, Risingham and Red Pepper 6.10, Pretty Bobby, Hurry Up, and Flight Commander 6.9, Sonnino, Warlike, Bingham, Sweet Tipperary and War Star 6.8, Probity, Footlights, Deflection, Orange Bitters, Stariand, Rebuff, Bonnie Heather, Hindi, Empyrean, Speechmaker, br g by Mystification—Tattle, Rose Wreath, Russet, Wolaroa and Tortrix. FOOTBALL (By “Dingersfontein.”) REFLECTIONS AND ANTICIPATIONS. Only two matches pleyed last Saturday. Bad weather causes Rugby postponements. Important fixture next Wednesday— Waikiwi v Star. Gore High School forwards kept heavy local pack busy. Jimmy Ford may appear in red and black livery any time now. Public Service kick-specialist again converts goals for High School, his old XV. McGregor, half-back for Gore H.S. reminds one of Dailey, the Christchurch half, in 1918 tournament. Dallas lacks confidence as ’Kiwi threequarter and should be replaced by one of the more experienced men awaiting a game for the Northerners. Gore High School backs completely overlook the necessity of sure and deadly tackling and even if they could grass their man in the approved fashion their hesitation and lack of initiative are fatal to ■ound defence. The winners of last year’s Secondary Schools’ Tournament leave by motor car to-day en route to Timaru where the tourney is to be held this year. Operations commence on Monday, the finals being decided on Thursday. All true Southland •ports will join in wishing the local High School reps success.

A football match between Kelso and Kaikaka was played recently in a snow storm at Kelso. There were no scores. Eastern District football must provide , gome amusement for wide-eyed spectators. ‘‘Dingersfontein” is informed on good authority that recently a team, approaching a footer ground not far from the capital of that region, observed men hard at work with scoops. Curiosity waxed strong, and specu- . lation was rife as to what great work was proceeding. Closer inspection revealed the fact that as much water as possible was being removed from the flips and hollows of the greensward patch. In spite of Rugby Park’s bad state we have not here reached the stage of “balling out the ground” before a football match. The Gore High School XV. can well be described as real sports for making the 40-mile journey on Saturday in spite of atrocious weather to fulfill their annual engagement against SJ3.H.S. Their sporting spirit is the more manifest when it it noted that they came, fully expecting defeat by a big margin; and also that In view of the railway restrictions to have avoided the match would have been a very easy matter. However, they lined up in full strength with a liberal surplus of supporters and they played the game in every sense of the words, from start to finish.

The respective weights of the Southland High School and Gore High School fifteens, were they available, would make an interesting comparison. The Gore boys on the average must have been a full three stone lighter than the local boys Nevertheless, it was in the forward division that they showed quality and quite held their own against heavier opponents. Johnstone (Eastern) who boasts little more than 7 stone was far from ineffectual opposed directly to Dan Coakley’s herculean frame, and though not much more than half his weight, succeeded time and again in bringing about the big forward’s collapse* The transferring game was next to impossible in Saturda;. conditions and this well practised mode of attack by the Southland forwards could be used but very little. The Southland backs, however, handled surprisingly well and completely outclassed the visiting rearguard. The Gore backs were weak, especially in tackling. They boast only .perhaps two

backs with even a rudimentary knowledge —McGregor, who was in the thick of many a forward move and Paterson, who really was the “old man - ’ of the team. Besides putting in flashes of brilliant individual stuff this latter player was responsible for a good deal of unrecognised service, notably when he had to come from his five-eighth position and “save the bacon” of his centre and wing man. Sligo, for Southland High, made himself a thorn in the opposers’ side by his knack of securing from the ruck and starting dangerous runs goalwards. Diack, too, showed some speedy wearers of the blue and gold that he can travel and the try he scored was the result of quick thinking, plus a fast sprint over the line. Morgan, with superior weight and a 10 4-o gait was one of the local team’s strongest aggressors and it was only the good bunching tactics of the Easterners that kept him from getting through more than once. In spite of the local lads’ Ifi point win, their full-back, McKenzie, was not allowed to catch a chill, and (luring the second spell, tyhen Gore faced the weather, he was called upon to save, which he did creditably, though it must lie admitted, narrowly. It is difficult to ken why Gore played better under the worse conditions, but the fact remains that they showed strong aggression at times in the second half and were unlucky not to score at least twice.

The nippy half-back of Gore (McGregor) who played the most conspicuous game of any visiting player in Saturday’s match, was wrongly tackled when starting away in a dribble which would probably have ended in a try against the local XV. Travelling fast tipfield, he slipped, allowing a pursuer, Kingsland, nearly to overtake him and that player tripped him from the rear bringing him down. It is noteworthy that the aggressive follower went nnpenalised. The senior clubs of Christchurch stand thus in order of premiership points: Marists and Linwood (equal) 11 each, Merivale 7, Old Boys 6A, Christchurch 5, ’Varsity 3J, Albion 3 and Sydenham 1. Wellington’s senior championship holds Athletic at present on top with 21 points, Ponekc have 20, Pctone 17, Selwyn 14, and ’Varsity 12.

The Dunedin senior competition has University A at present on top with 23 flag points and 12 games played while Kaikorai having played 13 matches come second with 22 Hag points. Alhambra, who have won 8 games out of 13 played, are third on the list with 16 points. In the Second Grade, West Taieri are on top having won the possible 12 games and Taieri Rovers and Pirates are equal for third grade honours so far, each having won 10 out of 11 games.

Some unprecedented rough play must have been evident in a match at Masterton recently when the referee suspended play and left the ground. Though backed up in his action by the press, he seems to have found a lack of sympathy on the part of the Wairarapa unions and has resigned both from that body and from the kindred Referees’ Association. Paterson, outer five-eighth for Gore, ia completing his fifth year in the G.H.S. first fifteen. RUGBY UNION. WEEKLY COMMITTEE MEETING. The weekly meeting of the Southland Rugby Union Committee was held last night in the Union’s rooms, Mr A. Geddes, president, being in the chair. The New Zealand Rugby Union wrote stating that no amended rules could be played until the special meeting called to consider the reply of the English Rugby Union had been held.

The Schools Association wrote asking for a grant towards the expenses of the representative school team and it was decided to help the Schools Association with a grant, the amount to be fixed later.

The Western District Sub-Union wrote asking that if possible a match with the sub-union be played at Otautau this season, and a resolution was passed that a team be sent out if possible, but that in the event of a team being sent the Western District Sub-Union should pay all expenses. N. Wilson was granted permission to play for the Invercargill F.C. on Wednesdays; The Union Club had been asked for an explanation of its action in playing E. D. Ctoad against Bluff in a recent match and the captain of the Union Club stated that Croad was played with the permission of the Bluff captain, providing that Croad did not play full-back. It was resolved to accept Union’s -explanation and Croad was granted permission to play for Union on Saturdays. The following friendly junior match was arranged for Saturday:—Collegiate v. Woodlands, Eastern Reserve, 2.45 p.m.; Mr Stringer. The case of the disqualification of V. McDermott, which was ventilated recently in the Southland Times was introduced by the president, who stated that McDermott had been disqualified because he had defied the Union and that when called before the Union McDermott admitted having played before his application was lodged despite having been advised to await the Union’s decision. The offer of Thomson and Co. for advertising space on the Park fence was accepted. SPECIAL DELEGATES MEETING. A special meeting of delegates to the Southland Rugby Union was held last night to consider the reply of the English Rugby Union with regard to the amended rules, when the following motion was carried: — “That this meeting of delegates strongly supports the abolition of the wing forward and the advantage rule on the line out, but if it is ruled that the adoption of these rules ,means secession, the matter be not gone on with in the meantime. In tuch case our delegates be instructed to move that a conference of delegates from N.S.W., Queensland and New Zealand Unions be held at an early date to discuss the matter in dispute with the English Union.” NEW ZEALANDERS IN AFRICA. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) CAPETOWN, August 20. The New Zealanders defeated a Pretoria team by 5 points to 4. THE LEAGUE GAME. (Per United Press Association). WELLINGTON, August 21. The following team has been chosen to represent New Zealand m the League game against Australia at Wellington on Saturday:-Backs: C. Duffy (Auckland), G. lies (Auckland), G. Bradley (Wellington;, A. I. Ferguson (Auckland), W. Wilson (Wellington), J. Laing (Auckland), 11. Neil (Auckland); forwards: Walter S. Lowery, W. Williams, H. Avery (all Auckland), W. King (Canterbury), and J. Sivett (Wellington). Reserves —Back: A. Morris (Wellington); forwards; K. Hillender (Auckland), J. Ashton (Wellington). CRICKET. (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, August 19. The Cricket Advisory Board has decided to revert to three day matches in 1920. An exciting finish was witnessed in the Surrey versus Kent match for Hobb’s benefit. Surrey in the second innings required 95 runs to win and had 43 minutes to play. Hobbs and Crawford opened and made the runs in 33 minutes.