Untitled

Observer, Volume XVI, Issue 950, 13 March 1897, Page 5

By 'Harries.'

CRICKET FIXTURES. SENIOHS. March 20— Auckland v. United, Gordon v. Parnell. FIBST JTJNIOBS. March 20— Gordon v. Licensed Victuallers, North Shore v. Onehunga, Belmont v. Paxnell, Auckland v. Pitt street Mutual, Newton v. United. SECOND JUNIORS. March 20 — St. Albans v. Belmont, Ponsonby v. North Shore (B), Auckland v. North Shore (A), Gordon v. Surrey, Paxnell v. Grammar School, United v. Clarence.

Judging by the meagre attendance at the Domain on Saturday, there is not a great deal of interest being taken in the final matches of the Senior Competition, and this notwithstanding the fact that a very close game was anticipated between Auckland and United, the two leading teams. The wicket provided for this match was in tip-top order, and the weather conditions being also favourable, it is little wonder that the first side to bat (United) put up the respectable total of 196. In accomplishing this, however, they were to no small extent assisted by the excrable fielding of their opponents, who never showed to worse advantage in this respect. Qaite a number of comparatively easy chances were missed during the innings (Stemson being particularly fortunate), aqd the ground fielding of the team as a whole was also a long way below senior form.

As the last United wicket f ell.the shadows were beginning to steal across the ground, and when Auckland commenced their innings, the light was bad and rapidly became worse. Under such circumstances, the accurate bowling and keen, close fielding of United played sad havoc with the batsmen, four good wickets having fallen, when the signal to cease play rang out for the paltry total of 16 runs.

The amount of interest taken in the Gordon Parnell match may be guaged from the fact that the former were compelled to play one man short, and the latter had to utilise the services of four members of the second eleven to make up a team. Gordon were the first to bat, upon a very indifferent wicket, which was doubtless, to some extent, responsible for the . poor showing made against the bowling of Milk and Resteaux, who, between them, dismissed the whole 10 batsmen for but 50 runs. Parnell, in then; turn, made a bad commencement, losing their first wicket at 13, and the second, third and fourth also, without further increase. The fifth wicket, however, put on 21, and then Seager and Thorpe played out time, at which stage the former's ecore waß 23, and the latter's, 16, and the total 69.

The Autumn Carnival of the A.A.A. and C. Club will eventuate at the Domain on Saturday next, and, provided the aU important item of fine weather is forthcoming, bids fair to be as great a succeßß as any of its predecesßOCß. Highly satisfactory entries have been received for all events, and therefore big fields and interesting racing seem assured. Appended are my selectiona for the various items on the programme : — Half Mile. — Payne, 1; George, 2; Thompson, 3. One Mile.— Beuth, 1 ; Winks, 2 ; Reid, 3. Steeple.— Bow, 1 ; Speight, 2 : Thomaß, 3. One Mile Walk. — Dickens, 1 ; Creamer, 2 ; Carrigan, 3. Three Mile Walk. — Dickens, I ; Creamer, 2 ; Stewart, 3. 100 Yards. — Bowser, 1 ; Lowe, 2 • Webber, 3. 800 Yards.— Webßter, 1 ; Mason-, 2 ; Henderson, 3. 440 Yards.— Beuth, 1; Davis, 2; Power,

120 Yarclß Hurdleß.— Webster, 1 ; Fonbißter, 2; Smith, 3. - ~ 220 Yards Hurdles.— Martin, 1 ; Smith, 2 ; Webster, 3. • Bicycle Events. Half-Mile Handicap.— L. W. Graham, 1 ; Reynolds, 2 ; Dexter, 3. - Two Mile Handicap.— Henning, 1 ; Graham, 2 ; Dexter, 3. Three Mile Handicap.— Wheeler, 1 ; W. B. Jonrdam, 2 ; Henning, 3. Five Mile Handicap (Enfield' Cup).— Reynolds, 1 ; Dexter, 2 ; Graham, 3. One Mile Novice Handicap.— J. Park, 1 • C. E. Mason, 2 ; A. Waller, 3. One Mile Schools 1 Handicap. — K M Graham, 1 ; A. Waller, 2 ; J. Frater, 3.

Stemson captured two. Auckland wickets for eight runs, ana Labatt one for eight. Of the 42 overs thrown up by the Auckland bowlers on Satnrday, not one was a * maiden.' Carlton Hay made a number of fine cuts off Arthur Beale'a bowling on Saturday. " Marshall (36) showed to better advantage with the bat than for some considerable time past. There are four entries in each of the Dingy Races in the Ngaruawahia Regatta. Wynyard was one of the few exceptions to Auckland's bad fielding on Saturday, his work being good throughout. Kallender, although top scorer for Gordon with 17, played, for him, very pokey cricket, and never seemed thoroughly at home. Mr A. G. Buchanan will act as judge of Rowing events in the Ngaruawahia Regatta. Thomas, Holland, Arniel, Williams, Hemery, Stubbs, D. Hay, Ohlson, and Gardiner all made the unenviable ' blob ' on Saturday. Capital entries have been received for the Ngaruawahia Regatta. There will be five crews competing in each of the maiden events and four in the junior and the senior races. It was matter of surprise to many people that the Auckland skipper did not put Arneil on to bowl during United' s innings last Saturday. Cuff's 31 was the result of vigorous cricket, and was knocked up very rapidly. He gave one difficult chance at point early in his innings, which was not accepted. Dan Clayton trundled well, but with hard luck on Saturday. Had all the chances off his bowling been accepted, his figures (4 for 65) would have been much better. Ike Mills performed exceedingly well with the ball on Satnrday. He started off by securing, in quick time, 3 wickets for one run only, and finished with the excellent average of 6 wickets for 29 runs. Resteaux, a Parnell second eleven player, performed good service with the ball for the first on Saturday. He bowled a food length, rather faster than medium pace all, and secured 3 wickets for 17 runs. Prof. Carrollo, and Messrs S. EHughes, and J. "W. St. Clair will act as starters- in the Rowing, Swimming, and Maori Racea, respectively at the Ngaruawahia Regatta. Edwards clean bowled three of the Parnell batsmen, besides making a particularly smart catch in the slips, which dismissed King. Kallendar was credited with the other two wickets. Stemson, who was top scorer for Gordon with 57, played vigorous cricket for hiß runs, but was missed twice (consecutive balls) off Clayton, when he had made 12, and a little later on was also dropped by Clayton, off St. Paul. In the international football match Wales v. England, played at Newport on January 9th, the Welshmen scored a decided victory by one goal, two tries to nil. England has now won 10 games, Wales 3, and one has been drawn. Entries for Stump Outrigger Race in Ngaruawahia Regatta : — A. McHardy, (St. George's R.C.), A. Dacre, (Auckland EC), W. H. Cooke, and P. H. Harris, (West End R C). Mr E. W. Burgess has been asked to handicap. The official reception tendered by the Auckland A.A. and C. Club to Messrs Reynolds and Dexter in recognition of their great performances in the recent cycling.championship events at Wellington, eventuated at the Metropolitan Hotel on Saturday night last. Mr Seymour Thome George who occupied the chair, proposed the toast of the evening in felicitious terms, and after the champions had responded the meeting dispersed.

Only one bye was recorded against Harry Thomas on Saturday. - ; The partnership between Steinson , and Carlton Hay pat on 65 runs. I All five Bowing Clubs are sending crews to Ngaruawahia on St. Patrick's Day. The Auckland 11-Onehunga match produced a much closer finish than was anticipated. Auckland, who only required 38 runs in their second innings to win, losing 7 wickets in getting them. T. Smith, for Onehunga, took 6 wickets for 10 rnna. Bob Woods had his usual modicum of luck in compiling his 13 against Gordon. When he had made 7, an appeal for stumping was given in his favour (a very doubtful decision), and two balls later he was badly missed Jby Cotterill at point. Four war canoes, one holding 46 men and the others from 20 to 40 each, have been entered for the War Canoe Race at the Ngaruawahia Regatta. At a meeting of the New South Waleß Rugby Union held on February 16th, with regard to the contemplated visit to Sydney of a representative team from New Zealand, it waß decided to leave in the hands of the honorary secretary the settling of the dates for the intercolonial contests in Sydney. Either two or three matches will be played, and probably in the month of July. During the season a .New South Wales representative team will visit Brisbane, and play matches against Queensland. A correspondent writes me in connection with the Ngaruawahia Regatta to be neld on St. Patrick's Day, that the Maoris are taking an immense interest in it, and it is estimated that there will be a gathering of from one to two thousand natives. They have engaged the largest building m the place, and are busy practising the dances, etc., which they are to give on the arrival of the excursion train from Auckland. Such an opportunity of witnessing typical Maori dances and sports is not likely to recur again for a very long time, and none who can spare the time should fail to visit Ngaruawahia on the 17th. The following entries have been received for the Ladies' Pair Oar Race at Ngaruawahia: — Misßes L. Smith and A. Smith (stroke), Miss G. Evers and Miss M. Evers (stroke), Misßes Mallindine, Miss C Erikson and Miss M. Paterson (stroke). The Hibernian Society's Annual Sports are fixed to take place at the Domain Cricket Ground, on Wednesday next, St. Patrick's Day, and judging from the experience of previous meetings, is likely to provide an enjoyable day's sport. The programme arranged is a diversified one of pedestrian events for amateurs and professionals, and cycle races for amateurs. Fair entries have been received in every case, but as the handicaps have not been declared at the time of writing, I am unable to offer any suggestions as to probable results. One thing, however, I feel sure of, and that is, that the committee who have the arrangements in hand will spare no effort in order to promote the smooth working and success of the gathering. B