OUT DOOR SPORTS

Observer, Volume XXIV, Issue 27, 19 March 1904, Page 10

OUT DOOR SPORTS

liv Harriku.

OTH the senior cricket matches in the Domain Were left on Saturday

at an interesting stage. The weather conditions of the day were good, and the wickets played very true. Eden went in to bat against Ponsonby. but made a very bad start, losing four good wickets for 15 runs. Williams and S. Mills, however, came to the rescue with a good stand, and they were well backed up by Clark and Hobson. The total for the innings was 137 runs, and Ponsonby. had made 60 for two wickets when stumps were drawn. The blue and blacks, therefore, have an excellent chance of winning.

City batted against Parnell, but their play was not very attractive as it took all the afternoon to make 150 runs for eight wickets. Parnell, on their recent form, should be able to get ahead of City's score.

S. Mills compiled 17 in good style. He was beaten by a good ball from Gavin.

King was painfully cautious in making his score of 25. He was unfortunate in being run out.

Stephenson was one of the principal run-getters for City. He fell a victim to Lundon after making 28.

Eden's quartette— Elliott, Smith. H. B. Lusk and I. Mills — shaned very poorly. They put on only 15 runs between

Corner's innings of 28 riot out was easily the best he has played this season. Magee, who was a useful partner for him, has 15 not out against his mmc.

Clark and ..Hobson. made runs- .at- a critical stage of the game. The former showed excellent form, and scored 29 not o':t. Hobson batted carefully and kept the wicket up for Clark.

It was lucky for Eden that Williams was missel early in his innings. His subsequent performance consisted of very free and attractive cricket, and his score of 39 put an altered complexion on the game.

Barclay was not a success in his bowling for Parnell. He was tried for 19 overs, but failed to get a wicket. Lundon was fairly on the job, and his six wickets for 56 runs was a praiseworthy performance.

Gavin and Woods bowled very steadily for Ponsonby. These players secured five wickets each. Woods coming out with a slightly better average than Gavin. White was tried for a. few overs,, but failed to secure a wicket.

The fifth Test match is probably the last Trumble will ever take part in. says a Sydney writer. He marked it by performing the hat trick, a second time in these great matches. Besides in only one instance did ne ever o.bv-ftin. ftS nrnpy as seven wickets in an 'naluu's— eight lor 65 at Kennington Oval in 1902.

If, as they say. I .he " pate " has nothiner to do. with he i .ho. and rhev only play Test matches in order to find out which is really and truly the better lot of cricketers, what's vrong with fixing future matches to be llayed at Oodnadatta, or Thargomindah, or Tibooburra, where it rains enough to damage a wicket only once in about seven years. —Bulletin.

The Ponsonby Cruising Club's fourth annual picnic was held at Pine Island on Saturday last and turned out a great success. A better day could not: have been wished for, and a number of the aquatic and athletic events . got off during the afternoon gave exciting finishes. The club has new blood in it now and seems to be assured of a prosperous future.

" Commodore " Payne had very hard luck in the members' dingey race. 'He looked all over a winner — if the distance had been another mile.

West End heavy-weight maidens are going well, and should make matters particularly warm in their race to-day (Thursday) at Ngaruawahia. The crew, which now has I4ttleoroud as stroke in place of Gutrie, had ago with this club's light-weight maidens and beat them badly,

The Auokland Rowing Association will hold a regatta on Lake -Tdkapuna on Saturday. March 26th. - Ihis will finish the racing for this seaspn.

. Okiori and Emerald again made a ding dong go of it in the Homo Bay bailing Club's cruising race, Okibri just scraping in first. Both boaits, however, were beaten on time allowance.

The West End Club held another series of "upside down" trials po Saturday last. These events generally attract big fields, and twelve crews completed. Three boats fought out the final, and that stroked by Camp got home first. .

The upper reaches of the harbour were very lively with yachts on Saturday afternoon: The Home Bay and Victoria Sailing Clubs ran their races to Pine Island, so that their members could attend the aquatic function of the year— the Ponsonby Cruising CluVs picnic.

Waitemata Boating Club members have had numerous trial fours of late, but none have been fought out so keenly as those of Saturday' last. The water could not have been more suitable for gig racing, and all the finishes were very close. C. Porte.ous'B crew triumphed in the final, winning by barely a foot.

North Shore Rowing Club had a big muster of members for their trial fours on Saturday, and the scene from the boatshed was very picturesque. Four heats were rowed, and the form all round was excellent. It was difficult to pick the winner of the final till near the winning post, when Bayly's crew spurted and won by several feet.

The Ngaruawahia Maori Regatta takes place to-day (Thursday), and should attract quite as large a crowd as any of its precursors. Two excursion trains will leave Auckland and should be well filled. All our rowing clubs are sending up. arews for the gig races, and the interest in these events is always very keen. A nimber of Maori war canoe races are on the programme, and the natives fight out these races with great spirit. To all who wish to enjoy a good day's sport, I would say do not miss the Ngaruawahia Regatta.

R. H. Davis will represent the Auckland Cycling Club in the championship amateur cycling events at Ohristchurch this month. He beat Brook for the honour in the mile event in the Domain on Wednesday evening last.

The motor cycle events in the Domain last Wednesday evening were tfte most successful held here so far. In the final of the five miles S. Howie would probably have won, but for a spill in the last lap.

If the entries for the events of the Auckland Amateur Athletic Club's carnival, to be held in the Domain Cricket Ground on Saturday, March 26th, are to be taken as a guide, the meeting should be most successful. In the sprint races the fields are larger than they have been for several years, and all round there is an improvement. The cycling races are a'so strongly patronised, and all that is wanted is a fine day.

There was some queer running in the amateur sorint events at the Auckland Cycling Club's sports last Wednesday night. A number of competitors were plainly out for an " airing."

The Appeal board of the League of Victorian Wheelmen have reduced Ivor Lawson's sentence of twelve months' disqualification to three months. The board was of opinion there was much doubt whether the fall of Major Taylor was brought about by the deliberate intention of Lawson.

The Northern Amateur Swimming Club have secured the Calliope Dock for Good Friday. Accordingly, the club's meeting will be held on that date, and not on Easter Saturday, as previously advertised.

Next Saturday night all entries for the events of the Northern Amateur Swimmine Club's coming carnival will close at Mr R. Eigleton's. Of course. R. Cavill will be the star attraction, but competitors from all parts of New Zealand intend to be present. Wanganui is sending a large number, and Hawera will also be represented. Efforts are being made to get J. Hamilton, the N.Z. champion, up for the meeting. With - such a galaxy of star swimmers, there is not mu°.h doubt that this carnival will be the best ever put forward to Aucklanders.

R. Cavill is swimming in great form at present, and he won the 100 yards championship of New South Wales on Saturday. March sth. The Sydney Referee says the .men got away to a splendid start. Cavill's was the best plunge of all. He rose : perhaps eighteen inches in front, but Wiokham soon supplanted him. , and turned at the end of the initial lap (45 yards) half a -yard ahead of Cavill, who, though Healy touched in front, rounded quickest into the next stretch. The trio travelled over the second lap at a cracking pace, and, Cavill's superior staying power standing to him well, he assumed the lead at 60 yards. Now Healy made a great effort, and. swimming at high tension, touched simultaneously with hi« famous fellow competitor, but once again the. latter's adept turning proved too much for the crack Bast Sydney sprinter, and the additional ten yards to the finish saw Cavill the winner by 1J yards. Time 58 1-5 sec— l-5 sec. better than CavJirs previous record.