Out Door Sports

Observer, Volume XVIII, Issue 1026, 27 August 1898, Page 11

Out Door Sports

By ' Harbier. 1

FOOTBALIi FIXTUEEB. CUP MATCHES. (FIRST AND SECOND FIFTEENS). August 27th— Ponsonby v. Grafton, Suburb v. Parnell, North Shore y. City. Sept. 3— Pcnsonby v. Nortn Shore, Suburbs v. Grafton, Newton v. City. Sept. 10— Ponsonby v. Newton, Suburbs v. North Shore, Parnell v. Grafton. THIRD FIFTEENS. Aug. 27 — Parnell A v. Newton A, Ponsonby B v. Grafton, "Parnell B v. Buburbs B, North Shore B v. City A, Suburbs A v. Poi sonby A, North Shore A v. City B, Newton B. out.

The Auckland-Hawbe's Bay match was by far the most uninteresting of the interprovincial matches played in Auckland this season, the dipplay of football being very indifferent in quality. From the first it was apparent that the visitors were overmatched, and, the local players recognising this, played the game in a half hearted fashion almost throughout. The home forwards in particular played miles below their form — they rarely packed a decent scram, and in tbe loose and on the Hoe-out showed very little of the dash which has characterised their previous efforts. During their first speli Auckland secured three tries through the instrumentality of Asher, Laws, and R. McGregor, respectively, and Speedy scored for Hawke's Bay In the second term Hay, Asher and Abaolum each obtained tries for the home team, and for the visitors Hobaon scored a try, and Wrigley potted a lovely goal from the field. The game thus ending in a win for Auckland by 18 points to 10.

fjaat Saturday the Anckland second fifteen journeyed to Aratapu to play the annual match with the Wairoa- repa. The match created a great amount of interest, and a large crowd gathered on the ground to watch the game. The Wairoa captain winning the toss, elected to defend the western goal, taking advantage of a good breeze and the snn at his back. Play started on the Wairoa side of the half-way, and the town players having rather the best of the forward work opened up with some good passing, from which Sutherland scored after Nicholson, Lendrun, and Gerrard had handled the ball to good effect. Pitt converted. From the kick-out the Aucklanders returned to the attack, and from a loose forward rush McGregor scored a try, which was not converted. From this ort the Wairoa men rallied, and kept the visitors busy defending, but hard kicking on three or four occasions spoilt the advantage. Just at half-time Wairoa were awarded a penalty kick, from which Barker dropped a goal from tke twentyfive flag, the epell ending Auckland 8, Wairoa 3. The Wairoa men had to defend the best part of the second spell, during which Pitt placed a penalty goal, but the indifferent pasßing of the town backs kept the score down, and the game ended in favour of Auckland by 11 to 3.

Although the Wairoa forwards secured the ball in the majority of the scrums, they were beaten in pushing power and in the open work. Though their passing was rather erratic, the town backs showed to more advantage than their opponents. M. J. McLean, an old Auckland and Wellington rep., had charge of the whistle, and gave every satisfaction On Saturday night a concert and dance was held for the visitors' benefit, and they arrived back on Monday morning verj well pleased with their visit, and speaking highly of the treatment received.

Butland (Wairoa) on the wins kept the opposing backs smartly, hiß collaring being especially good. Harrison played for Wairoa. His kicking and collaring were first clebs, while he stopped a number of dangerous rushes in taking style. Stanaway (Wairoa) proved he could play a good all-round three-quarter back game. He shows a lot of pace, and should be heard of again. On the Auckland side against Wairoa, Tait and Sutherland were the best of an even lot of backß. Clarke and Whitley put in serviceable work on the wing, while Tyler, Pitt, and Dacre Bhowed out prominently in the forwards.

Hay, at centre-half, was poorly catered for by his forwards, hue, on the whole, displayed fair form. Smith, at full back, had little to do, and save for once being badly oui of his place, made no serious mistakes. The Hawke's Bay backs as a body were deficient in attacking power, but tackled well aDd generally displayed sound defence. Hawke's Bay team displayed their best form in loose forward rashes, some of which,; notably the one which resulted in Hobson'q score, were remarkably good. R. McGregor, at five - eighths, played somewhat disappointingly, bat was handicapped by a weak ankle which gava way more than once daring the game. Although securing possession of the ball in the majority of the packs, the heeling oat of the Auckland forwards was very slovenly. Only once daring the whole game did I see the ball come out at all cleanly. Fraser (full-back), Caldwell and Wrigley (three-quarters), were the pick of the visiting backs. All three kicked really well, the goal potted by Wrigley being an especially clean bit of work. 'Jock' McGregor, Gillett, R. McKenzie, and S. McGregor were the only Auckland forwards to chow np at all prominently, and of these the last named displayed the most consistently good form.

Of the Auckland three-quarters, Laws, at centre, was the only one to play up to form. Asher displayed lots of dash, but missed several good chances by indifferent taking— usually the result of over-eagerness. Absolum marred an otherwise clever game by rnnning too much at an angle and thus jamming his supports on the touch line.

Cup matches in all three grades will be resumed next Saturday. I understand that Mynott, the Newton five-eighths, has returned to Taranaki. Canterbury appear to have had considerable luck in playing a drawn game with Wellington, the score being two penalty goals to two. tries. Woods, the Newton three-quarter, has recovered from the injury to his collarbone, and will represent his club in the remaining championship matches. Thames play Waihi on Saturday. The latter possess a fairly strong forward contingent, but will, I think, be overmatched all round by the Thames boys. Ponsonby F.C. have intimated that they will be unable, from a variety of reasons, to place a team in the field on Saturday, and will therefore allow their match with Graf ton to go by default. The Canterbury representatives played altogether six matches during their Northern tour, of which they won four, lost one, and drew one. They did not, however, meet Taranabi ; had they done so, the odds are that they would have suffered another reverse. Wellington's proposals for federating the various unions in the province, in so far as the selection of teams for interprovincial contests is concerned, have been approved by Manawatu, but Wairarapa and Wanganui both appear to be fighting shy of the suggestion. The Pirates F.C. have won the Rugby premiership of Sydney, and ifc is stated that their success is in great measure due to the fine goal kicking of L. W. Appleby, the ex- Canterbury representative. In every match save one (says the Referee) he kicked at least one goal, and altogether in eight matches scored 15 goals. Some years ago, when the system of representation on the New Zealand Union was being amended, the Auckland Union strongly advocated the principle that the N.Z. Union should only recognise one leading body in each province, all other unions in such province being affiliated only through the provincial union. The proposal met with very little support, however, the Wellington Union amongst others being opposed to it. In reply to a letter from the AuckRefereea' Association, nrging that some of its members should be appointed to referee in representative matchea, the secretary of the New Zealand Union has been instructed to state that it has always been the custom of the governing body to appoint the nearest available referee, in order to cause the local union as little expense as possible. It was also decided to ask the Association to supply a list of its members, and to inform it that it has never been overlooked by the New Zealand Union, but that in appointing referees the question of travelling expenses has always been considered.

Otago and Wellington play their annual match at the latter place on 7th September. The Auckland Football Association has decided to enter a team for the New Zealand tqnrnament, the expenses of the trip to be raised by subscription. A match between the Wanderers' Club of Goromandel and the Newton first fifteen is being arranged, and will, in all probability, eventuate at Potter's on Satnrday. „ Auckland representatives have played four interprovincial matcheß this season, four of which have been won and one drawn ;. the total points scored being 61 for and 13 against. The Auckland Cycling Club will hold its Spring Carnival on October 29th. The World's Cycle Chompionships have been definitely fixed to take place at Vienna next month. A. J. Body, the exNew Zealander, will be a competitor thereat. The head- quarters of the New Zealand Cyclists' Alliance have been removed to Wellington. This step was rendered imperative because the last remaining Alliance Club in Chriatchurch has gone over to the League. The Auckland Cycling Club has lost the services of one of its hardest working committee men. At a recent meeting Mr E. Norden, who has taken an active share in the Club's management since its formation, tendered his resignation as a member of the committee ; whereupon the following resolution was unanimously adopted:— 'Thet this committee receivea Mr Norden's resignation with regret, and | desires to place on record its appreciation of the valuable services rendered by him to the Club during his three years of office.' Thus 'Velox' in the Weekhj Press :— ' Some of those who were in default with their subscriptions to the old Cycling Club in Auckland had been owing the amounts for four years, and no notice was taken till they joined the new club, the subscription to which is half that to the old club. The governing body should enquire the reason why these subscriptions were allowed to run bo long before they come to any definite decision. If a club can be run at a yearly membership of 10s, why should £1 be charged V „

It appears that the League of Western Australia are seriously considering the advisability of instituting the totalizator at cycling race meetings held under its control. So far has the matter gone, that a bill has actually been drafted which it is intended shall be introduced in the Legislative Assembly. It is Bincerely to be hoped that the idea will not be carried into effect, as otherwise the sport must of necessity suffer inestimable injury. Although the gambling tendency in connection with cycling and other athletic sports is undoubtedly growing apace, the policy of governing bodies has hitherto been in the direction of suppressing the evil, and that any controlling body should seriously contemplate the encouragement of betting for pnrposes of revenue is a development or which I was totally unprepared.

The New South Wales Amateur Athletic Association Championships are to be held in Sydney on October Ist.

0. B. Fry, the eminent English cricketer, played 14 innings during the month of July, and averaged 79 per innings. J. Phillips, the well - known cricketer and umpire, was to have left England last week en route for Christchurch, in order to take np his engagement to act as coach to members of the principal clubs in that city. Latest English averages disclose the significant fact that the first fonr in the list of bowling averages are claimed by Yorkshire, the most successful county. Whilst in batting, its leading representative (Tunnecliffe) is only placed tenth, and its next man (Lord Hawke) is seventeenth.

Percy Cavill, the well-known Australian swimmer, is only 23 years of age. The Waitemata — City Boating Club have presented Mr Arthur M. Myers, the club's popular commodore, with a handsomely illuminated address as a token of appreciation of the many services rendered to the club.

Percy Cavill, the Australian amateur champion swimmer, has become a professional. He defeated S. W. Greasly and four other professionals in a 600 yards race at Exeter recently.

A proposal to amalgamate the Auckland Rowing Club and the Waite-mata-Oity Boating Clubs is now under consideration. Should it be carried into effect, the result will, I think, be beneficial to all concerned.