SPORTING NOTES.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 11998, 21 February 1903, Page 4 (Supplement)

SPORTING NOTES.

RACING FIXTURES. 1903. y«b. 21—Forburv Park R.C. Autumn. Teh. 25 and J.C. Autumn. Teb. 25, 27 and 28—Dunedin J.C. Autumu. March 5 and 6—Waßganui J.C. Autumn. Mitch. 6 and 7—Westport J.C. Autumn. Jfarch 7—Waiapu.R.C. AnnsaL tfarch 17—Horowhenua, Hack R.C. Annual. March 17 and IS—li-re R-C. Summer. March 19 and 20—ilustertou U.C. Summer. April 1 and 2—Nelson J.C. Ai.uuat. April 11 and 13—Waharapa R.C. Autiiuui. April 11, 13 and 14—Auckland It.C. Autumn. April 13 and 14—C.J.C. AutumnNew South Wales had an unbeaten record this season in the Sheffield shield competition for the second season in succes-h;::, besides an unbeaten record in all inter-state cricket matches. The three thoroughbred brood mares purchased in England by Mr X. A. Nathan for the Sylvia Park Stud were brought to Auckland by the s.s. Mamari. The animals suffered a good deal in the rough ■weather experienced on the voyage, and one of their number nearly succumbed. Home papers contain news of a serious accident to Gwyn Nicholls, the Welsh football captain, and it is realised that his injury has altogether altered the outlook for the international season. The noted Welsh player will be remembered as a member of the Rev. Mullineaux's team that visited Australia a couple of seasons ago.

The Timaru Tennis Club are issuing their programme for their Second Easter Tcurnainent, in which players from Waitohi, Ashburton, Geraldine, Waimate, Temuka and Timaru are expected to take part. The?e tournaments are generally very enjoyable, and go far to improve play very much. It is anticipated that the tournament will be Terr enjoyable. G. L. Jessop, the Gloucestershire batsman, writing to a friend in Melbourne. ■ays: —"You are no doubt somewhat elated over the recent Australian tour. Your fellows did splendidly, and were more popular than any previous team. Trunvper and Hugh Trumble were marvels. I have neTer seen finer cricket displayed by anyone thm I saw by Trumper." W. W. Armstrong's 118 in Sydney is his aecond century against New South Wales, and fourth in Sheffield Shield cricket, yet from the time of his first appearance against South Australia, in November. 1899, he has played in only eleven matches. So far Armstrong has met with much greater success than any other Victorian batsman of the day.

The American crack athlete, A. F. Duffey, says the finest sprinter he met in Great Britain was Dennis Murray, the Irishman. "If trained American fashion he would he a champion," says Duffey. He also ■tates that athletics attract more attention in England than America, and that the prizes are more plentiful and more valuable.

Arrangements have now been definitely concluded for the Gentlemen of Philadelphia who are going over to England in the middle of next season to play the Maryiebone Club, the two English Universities, and most of the first-class counties, to open the tour at Cambridge on June Bhc, ■with, a match against the University. The stay in the Old Country will extend over two months, and in all the Philadelphians will play some 14 matches, finishing the tour on August Bth.

The following extracts from an article by C. B. Fry, the well-known cricketer and cricket-writer, should be of interest at the present juncture. Speaking of the Yorkshire batting strength, he says :—" Then there is T. L. Taylor, who in times of trouble, when even the Yorkshire wickets are falling too fast, marches in with an •unruffled brow to slow music, and shows what patience and perseverance can do; he sets his black eyebrows to the task, and is willing, if need be, to plod, forswearing all foolishness; his watchfulness and strong defence more often than not restore good order; accepted by all bowlers as an obstacle, he makes his runs well, if unobtrusively, match after match."

In view of the fact that the Englishmen have definitely arranged to play one match here and one at Melbourne,. it 'will be interesting to Australians generally to compare their performances and those of the Melbourne Cricket Club's team (WOO) against the New Zealand provinces (says the Sydney -writer "Not Out"). Melbourne beat Auckland by an innings; and 385; the Englishmen won by an innings and 129; Melbourne beat Wellington by an innings and 299; the Englishmen -won by 10 wickets. Of course these performances are not of much value in affording those of us who have not seen the Englishmen playing an idea of their strength as compared with, say, Xew South Wales. Still, they are not without interest. The success gained- at the open tennis tournaments in England and Scotland bv the Australian and New Zealand representatives, KeaThey, Pockley, Poidevin, and Parker, has been commented upon by the English papers, and late files contain reference to the probable outcome of an international match between representative teams. An article in the "Daily Mail" favouring the desirability of arranging a trial of strength between England and Australia, winds up as follows :—" It is not possible to form, any just estimate of the abilities of Australian lawn tennis plarers. for it is seldom that a first-class English player has sampled them in their own home, while Kearney, who was highly thought of in Scotland during his visit, did not play in the championships at Wimbledon. But there are straws which indicate that Australian tennis players are built after the manner of Australian cricketers, and if a team of good English plavers visited the land of the kangaroo, it is possible there might be some surprises." After a considerable amount of newsP a P er , controversy {writes the Dunedin "Star's" London correspondent), Charles Dawson and H. W. Stevenson have arranged to play their match for the English billiard championship prior to the latter sailing for the Antipodes. The game, which will commence on March 16th, will be 9000 up, and each man stakes £IOO. The last match for the championship took place in April, 1901. when Dawson beat Stevenson (the holder) by 3204 points in 9000. In November of the same vear Stevenson regained the title bv reason of Dawson's refusal to plav except at his own time. Since then the pair have warred in words to a considerable extent, but have contrived to steer clear of each other s> lar as billiards are concerned. On !orm the game to come should he a Jlo*e thing. It will undonbtedlv be what i* called a "needle" match. and not u-c-relv a gate-money affair, though, of course, even champions "at outs" mav be expected :•> keep an eye on the pay-box. Those who are anxious for a meeting across country among teams representing England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales wifi be interested in the announcement which has just been made of a proposed interteam race ou the Continent (savs a writer in the Manchester "Athletic News";. Paris is the venue, and March 22nd. 1905, the date. The contest is being got up by "LAuto Veto," London representative, M. Henry Lambert. 64. Perham read, West Kensington, has the arrangements in hand. The race, which will be for teams of eight, with six to count, has a.rea-!y_rece;ve:i promises of support itf.m bwitzerian.;. TJelginin. and France, whilsr Oenuany u dmost certnin to Oe leprc- ; ( OJ „if le CU P- ami prizes to the amount cf £6O wdl be awarded. Britain is to be invited to send a team, and seems to have two alternatives—either to hold an international race, and pi, k eight men from amongst those competing, or let each of our four nations send a separate team to

We notice that at the last meeting of the Acclimatisation Society some members complained of the wiiting in the newspapers in respect to the now famous " hikes."' For this writing the Society has only itself to blame. Bad it taken the public and li-cense-holders into contider.ee, and plainly stated that "• legally" they could nor interfere with the river-bed all would have gone well, and there would have been no growling. As matteis have turned out, the Society found as individuals and other bodies have often enough found out- that thete was a, way of getting 'over the " legal cilScuity." The So.-iety has plainly shu •.,;•. tiiLs i!-..«-. when ii gets the iei::ii:-:a lv;a.i to ag.ii; ; st tue K:. b^i>ii.i:-.-1 i at iknum kCit week is abnut a.- g'K.u as cuutd UMter existing circum-tauccs have been picked, and we trust that all of "us icps. will tightly screw their courage it) the sti-Aiiig place on 'Wednesday ne:c. v.'.d '"go in to win." With two or tliiec e:cccpti'jiis the foim of the reps. bo:h in bacting and bowling has been veiy sneaky of Late, this remaric being particularly applicable to batting. It is reported unit the Englishmen are veiy clever in cutting, driving, diagging *and pulling the ball to parts of the ground that arc left open by the neichnieu, so that it- will be very interesting to note how the South Canterbury skipper will place his men. He has i lenty to dot the held with, and can en a particular scoiing side, cover and re-cover. We trust that good weather -will prevail, that the wicket will be true and wear well, and that the public will see a game that will live long in their memories.