Out Door Sports

Observer, Volume XVI, Issue 955, 17 April 1897, Page 5

Out Door Sports

Bt ' Harrier.'

COMING EVENTS. April 19— Thames Foresters' Sports

Now that the football season is approaching, I would like to direct tne attention of the executives of the various district Clubs to the extremely unsatisfactory condition of junior football in Auckland. Laat season the competitions for both second and third fifteens were horribly tame affairs. Some of the teams dropped out after playing one or two matches, and others never even put a team into the field ; tbe result being that the couple or so of fifteens which finished out the competition did not play more than half the matches to which they were entitled had the programme been carried out in its entirity. Now, I would ask, why is this thus ? None of the clubB — bar perhaps Suburbs — are deficient in numerical strength, and I am loth to ascribe to the youngsters a want of pluck which would lead theni- to shirk an uphill fight. Indeed, I am satisfied that such iB not the case ; there is any amount of material, and good material too, if properly handled. ■ The fault, I am convinced, IJLes with the officials and senior members of the clubs, who, as a rule, devote all their energies towards promoting the interests of the senior fifteen, anc leave the juniors to work out their own salvation as best tbey can. No attempt is made to coach them in the intricacies of the game, nor to assist them in the selection of their teams, in fact, they are left entirely to their own devices. The result is that, being left to themselves, the boys drift into cliques, and finally into disorganisation and disruption. Altogether it appears to me high time that the senior officials of clubs woke up to a sense of their responsibility towards the junior members thereof, otherwise I see little hope of any improvement upon last year's experience.

Newton have lost one of tlieir most promising forwards in P. Murray, who is residing in Parnell and will play for that district this season. The Grafton Football Club held their annual meeting on Wednesday of last week. Carlton Hay waß elected captain und Dan Clayton secretary. Young George Trendall, who has become very expert at trick riding, will give an exhibition of his skill in this line at the Thames Foresters' Sports. The Whangarei team of cricketers, which visit Auckland at Easter, are spoken of as a fairly strong lot. They play North Shore on Good Friday, United on Saturday, and Gordon on Easter Monday. Angus Campbell will endeavour to lower the one mile cycle record for the Thames track at the Foresters' Sparts on Easter Monday. He will be paced by Peter Smith and Trendall on a tandem. The boys attending the various public schools in Auckland and its immediate vicinity have, almost without exception, decided to enter teams for the competition instituted by the Auckland Rugby Union. I have to acknowledge receipt of the first number of the New Zealand Cyclist. This new ' weekly ' is published by the Lyttleton Times Co., Christchurch, and is really excellent both in matter and style of production . The annual road race held under the auspices of the Auckland Amateur A. and C. Club will eventuate — over the ÜBual course, Papakura to Parnell — on 24th May. The race is open to all amateur cyclists, whetht r members of the club or not. A remarkable bowling feat was performed at Sydney in the match Manly B v the Bank of New South Wales. F. Walsh, playing for Manly, with his first three deliveries, did the hat trick, which he repeated with the first three of his last over, and in the same over he secured his ninth wicket at a coßt of three runs. He sent down five maidens.

'Wally' Rhodes, the well-known footballer and athlete, has moved to Weatport, and will, consequently, be lost to Wel lington football this season. As these notes are being written lirior to tbe annual meeting of the Auckand Rugby Union, I shall be compelled to defer my remarks thereon until next week. The Parnell Football Olub commences the season with a credit balance of £45 18s 4d. The management of this club has evidt ntly beenin good handa. A Wellington exchange states that M. Hyland will play for the Wellington Football Club this season. It is ' Mat's ' intention to leave the Torpedo Corps and settle in Wellington. W. Elliott having removed from the Parnell district since last season is no longer eligible to play for hia old club, and will probably retire from the game entirely. I was pleased to see his long and valuable service to the Parnell Club fittingly recognised by his election as a life member hereof. Evidently Pitt-st Mutual were ' full up ' of leather-hunting for the North Shore batsmen, inasmuch as they failed to roll up to continue the match with the representatives of the marine suburb. North Shore thus won on the first innings scores, which were Pitt St. 52, North Shore 101 for 5 wickets. Excellent entries have been received for the varions events — both amateur and professional— at the Thames Foresters' Sports on Easter Monday, and a good day's sport should be the result. A cheap excursion -ib being run from Anckland, and doubtless many will take the opportunity of visiting Quartzopolis. Congratulations to the committee of the Auckland Regatta upon the successful issue of their labours. Besides paying £217 in prize money and defraying all expenses, a number of old outstanding accounts have been liquidated, and a balance of over £6 carried forward. Special credit for this satisfactory result is due to Mr C. C. Dacre, the hon. sec, who spared neither time nor labour to ensure success. I understand that the Winter Tennis Club, which met with much success last season, is to start play on May Ist. The courts are situated in Stanley-street, and players, I think, will find them in every way suitable for keeping in practice during the cold season. The membership being limited, those intending to join should apply early to Mr B. R. Keeßing, P. O. Box 286. Charley Samuels, the phenomenal black runner (says the Bulletin), came round to something like his old form whilst in Callan Park Asylum, and has now gone to his home in Queensland. Charley told an official in the Park that he was offered £700 to 'go down ' in his match with Hutchens, and he baa mourned ever since being such an idot as to refuse the offer, for, after all was over, his ' party * never gave him a stiver. The proposal of the Auckland Amateur A. and C. Club to send ' Teddy ' Reynolds home to compete in the International Cycling Championships will be received with a great deal of favour locally. Judged by New Zealand standards, Reynolds has undoubtedly proved himself a most brilliant and consistent rider — I think the best in the colony — and would, I am satisfied, represent us with credit even against the high class opposition he would meet in the Old Country. The cost of the trip ia eßtimated at about £200, and as the local club have donated £50 there should be little difficulty in getting the balance subscribed. Although some half-dozen cricket matches were in progress on the Domain last Saturday afternoon, the only one of any importance was the continuation of the contest between Auckland 11. and Licensed Victuallers, upon the issue of which the result of the First Junior Championship in a j great measure depends. Auckland, who, as the result of the preceding Saturday's play, had lost 7 wickets for 151 runs, continued their innings, which finally terminated for I 201. At the call of time, Victuallers had 5 I wickets down for 62 (Todd 20 and Donald 25 not out), and wonld thus appear to have very little chance of pulling off the match, which is to be continued on Saturday week next. Says the B.P. Times : — * Albert Asher, second son of Mr D. Asher, of the Tauranga Hotel, received a letter by last mail from the Parnell Football Club, asking him to go to Auckland and reside there, bo that he might play for tbeir team. If he should decide to go to Auckland a situation would be found for him.' If this statement should turn out to be correct, it would appear that the Parnell Club are sparing no effort in order to ensure placing a strong team in the field next season, and are, moreover, sailing very close to the wind aB regards professionalism in so doing.

Tom Sullivan, the sculler, formerly of Auckland, is said to have joined the ranks of the professional cyclists. .H. B. Lusk, the well-known Napier oricketer, completed his thousand runs for the season on Saturday fortnight. The Wanderers' Cricket team will as usual visit Warkworth and surrounding districts daring the Easter holidays. Mr E. D. Hoben, late hon. sec. of the New Zealand Rugby TJnion, haa been elected a Vice-President of the Wentworth Football Club, Sydney." W. Uru, the burly Christchurch Maori of football fame, has been asked, to accompany the Maori contingent to England, and has accepted. W. E. Barton, the ex Auckland cricketer, captained Kaikoura in their annual match with Amuri, played at Kaikoura recently, and scored 6 and 10 not out. The Sydney Mail of March 27th says that in addition to Cobcroft and Tonll coming to reside in New Zealand, Doyle, of the Glebe Second, has also decided to take up his residence in this colony. Frank Surman has been well looked after in the Easter Handicap, to be contested at the Thames Foresters' Sports on Easter. Monday. He is placed on scratch at each distance (150, 250 and 440 yds.) and concedes starts up to 14, 20, and 27 yards respectively. The New Plymouth Cycling ( Hub and the Star Football Club have secured the lease of eight acres of ground just outside New Plymouth, and intend laying it out in a manner that will admit of two football fields and cycling and running tracks. It is also intended to erect a pavilion and dressing rooms.