OUT OF DOOR SPORTS

Observer, Volume XIV, Issue 795, 24 March 1894, Page 13

OUT OF DOOR SPORTS

The final struggle for the Championship between Auckland, Parnell and Gordon started on Saturday last, Parnell being drawn to meet Auckland, Gordon taking a bye. The match attracted a large crowd although the day was wet. Parnell went first to the. wicket and knocked up 123. Auckland now have one wicket down for 11, the finish therefore next Saturday week should be very exciting.

Parnell's innings commenced very unfortunately lor them, as King was dismissed in the first over, and Ike Mills was got rid of with but 6 to his credit.

Nicholson again came to his side's rescue and proved that in present form he is without a superior in Auckland as a bat. His 43 runs were got without the semblance of a otance, and all his strokes, as is usual with this batsman were kept alorg the carpet. He received a great ovation (as he richly deserved) on returning to the pavilion.

Howe hit up 20 runs in a veryshort time. His runs were got just when they were badly wanted, and his score included one grand hit for six. This player has made wonderful strides as a bat lately.

Crowe, a new left-handed bat, made 13 by hard-hitting. This player hails from Australia, but does not impress one as a sound batsman. Ha is said to be a good bowler.

"Wally Lawson had just got into double figures on Saturday and appeared to be getting well set when he was disposed of by a very smart piece of stumping by the Rev. Richaids. The clean manner in which this gentleman stumps off Neill's bowling is remarkable.

The Auckland fielding, considering •the wet state of the ball, was all that .could be wished. Hatton, as usual, was ■brilliant at point.

{ Bob ' Tseal fully kept up his reputation on Satnrday and bowled remarkably •well, obtaining 5 wickets at the cost of a few runs. As the ball was slippery it was difficult for a break bowler to get work on.

• Jack ' Lundon obtained 3 wickets, but his bowling appeared to te very short, and the wickets he got were with long ,hops.

It is difficult to understand on what grounds Jacobs, who was assisting Auckland last Saturday, is allowed to play in senior contests. This player has only played in one other cup match this year, and he certainly is not a iona tide resident. If he had been not out on Saturday his innings would have been abandoned, as he leaves for the South again on Tuesday.

The polo tournament which was ■ held at Wanganui last week has attracted . considerable interest as nearly all the proTinces in- N.Z. were represented at the gathering. It is a very noticeable fact -that polo is making great strides in this country amongst those who can afford this rather expensive sport.

The Christchurch team who won the championship at polo bo easily last year in Auckland, were greatly fancied again, but they were easily beaten in the semi-final round by the Rangitikei's.

The final match in the tournament was between the Eangitikei's and Manawatu, and attracted a large crowd from all over the district. After a great struggle the Eangitikei proved themselves victorious by 8 goals to 3.

The visitors at the polo tournament have been lavishly entertained by the " Wanganui folks, and they were all present at a large public ball given in their honor i.last Saturday.

The Auckland polo team were put out in the first round of the tournament after a great struggle with the Rangitikei H. who proved themselves victorious by 2 goals to 1. Teddy O'Rorke and Purchas played a great game for Auckland.

I had no idea when I wrote last week that a tennis matoh between Misses Spiers and Bull would prove interesting that such a contest would be likely to eventuate- The match last week between these two was very interesting. Miaa Spiers having to ifive Miss Bull 3—4—15. But Mias Bull proved too good and won after an exciting contest.

The wickets the juniors have been obliged to play on this year have been something awful. It is simply dangerous to stand up to a fast bowler and several playerß got very badly hurt last Saturday. It is high time a change took place.

Gordon II played Pitt-street Mutual last week. The latter went in first and scored 66. Gordon has lost 4 wiokets for 39 runs, Gould hitting up 20 in no time. The match is now in an interesting ptage — the wicket these teams played on was positively dangerous.

The North Shore Football Club held their annual meeting last week and promise to possess a very strong team this year. Oliphant, who was a member of the N.Z. team that visited Australia last year, and who was one of the best forwards in Wellington, is going to play for the Shore. Jockey Breen also intends playing once more.

All cricketers and athletes were rejoiced when they read in the papers that the City Council had at last consented to place a competent man in charge of the cricket ground. No better man than that old veteran cricketer, Bob Tates, could possibly have been chosen, as he is in constant ' touch ' with the players and knows a good wicket when he sees one. Cricketers and athletes may now hope to see the ground in something like the condition it was some years ago.

1 am very gl-sd to notice that one of the Auckland rowing clubs has at last had the pluck to compete in the championship regatta at Picton which is to be held next Easter Monday. It is to be hoped the Auckland rowing club will meet with success in their initiative venture.

'Mick' Eeefe will compete in the championship sculls. It will be remembered he won this race two or three years back. We hope he will repeat his performance again this year.

The following are the crew chosen to represent the Auckland B.C. in the champion fours and the senior batswing fours: M. Keefe (stroke), G. Barrett (3), A. A. Gibbons (2), T. Cole (bow), and A. Graham (cox). It is freely admitted that this is a very strong combination, and one that should do credit to Auckland.

It now seems as if the Dunedin clubs were awakening up to the fact, that it will be in their beat interests to join the N.Z. Rugby Union. At the annual meeting of the Alhambra Olub last week (the premier club in the * city of eternal drizzle ') it was unanimiously resolved to instruct their delegates to vote for affiliation. As we pointed out a few weeks ago, the people in the South are greatly in favour of the N.Z. Union, and it will be pleasing to note this year that all the colony are under the same Union. As it is intended to send a team to England next year, it will behove all players who are desirous of going, to be on their best behaviour as a really strong team can be got together.

The Sydney Referee says Johnny Fowke is better than any wicket-keeper they have in New fcouth Wales. This is high praise for Johnny. The same paper aIBO says Kallender is the most brilliant bat in New Zealand. I think this may fairly be classed ' good as gold.'

The North Shore Athletic Club hold their third carnival on the North Shore Cricket Ground on April 7th, entries closing on Saturday night. It is a pity the club has put so many sprint races on their programme, as after one or two they get monotonous.

The Auckland E.C. crew is also entered for the senior fours to be rowed at the Wellington Regatta, and Mick Keefe is entered for the Pearce sculls. The crewleft last Monday by the Takapuna, so that they will have two or three days' trainingat Picton.

It is a great pity that Roberts did not turn up last Thursday to run Jones for the ' Victor Ludorum.' Roberts was handicapped to concede Jones 10 yards in 350, and as both men were in such splendid fettle a great race must have ensued. Jones is to be congratulated on winning the coveted honour.

All cricketers will be sorry to hear that Teddy Cotterill, the popular cricketer and accountant in the Union Bank, has been shifted to Wellington. As a field Cotterill was without an equal in Auckland, whilst as a bat he has on numerous occasions shown what a hard hitting player he is. He will be sorely missed by his clvb — the Gordon.

It is peculiar how bad luck in regard to obtaining good weather for their annual picnic seems to cling to the Auckland Yacht Club. The success of a gathering of this sort is wholly dependent on the weather, and in this respect the Yacht Club have for the last few years been singularly unfortunate. Last Saturday, the day fixed for the event, was as bad a day as could well have been, and in consequence the picnic has had to be postponed to a future date when, it is to be hoped, the Club will be more successful.

It is rumoured that one or two prominent trainers got badly ' clipped up ' by the 'stable' at the last sports, owing, it iB said, to the latter thinking that they did all the hard work whilst the former reaped the benefit.

The Auckland Grammar School swimming sports held last week in the Graving Dock proved a great success and were well attended. Dawson, who won the school champipnship, has the makings of a good man and swam in excellent style.

The annual cruise of the Yacht Club will take place at Easter time. All yacht owners are requested to take part. These cruises are always most enjoyable, as such large numbers are in company the whole time. /

Although the Yacht Club suffer in their annual picnics in consequence of bad weather, it is a notorious fact that the Athletic Club have only had one wet day since they started and that was over five years ago.

It is to be sincerely hoped that all footballers this year will adopt the four three- quarterback system which has proved so successful in England and Wales. It is affirmed that the combination to be obtained from the system is much better than that of any other method, and a team that is possessed of good men can romp over anythiDgf provided the forwards hold up the sorimmage.

The new bishop of Melanesia, the Right Rev. C. "Wilson, was a few years "back one of the very best cricketers in England. He will shortly arrive in Auckland from England, and it is to be hoped that we shall see him playing on the domain next season . It is an interesting fact that all the Melanesian bishops have been athletes of the first degree.