OUT DOOR SPORTS

Observer, Volume XXVIII, Issue 26, 14 March 1908, Page 10

OUT DOOR SPORTS

By Harrier,

SATURDAY turned out such a boisterous day that, it was impossible to proceed with the local cricket matches. Indeed, all branches of sport had to postpone their appointments. The weather was the worst experienced here tor a very long time.

D. Reese, the Canterbury batsman, has scored three centuries in senior cricket this season. A. E. Relf, the Eden's club's professional, accompanied by his wife and daughter, sailed for England, via Wellington on Saturday last. He was given a hearty send-off by a number of local entlvusiasts. After next Saturday's games th'.ro remains two rounds of the senior competition to be played. The positions of the various clubs are as follows : _Eden, 16 points ; City. 10 • Parnell, 8 : North Shore, 7 ; Grafton, 7 ; and Ponsonby, 3. The following four players have scored over 1000 runs in Ota go representative cricket : J. G: Baker, 54 matches, 1900 runs ; H. G. SeLt--ber~ 32 matches, 1181 runs ; G. G. Austin, 34 matches, 1111 runs : A. H. Fisher, 46 matches, 1073 runs. The Yorkshire County Committee has instituted a Lord Hawke Testimonial fund, which amounts to £600. Towards this, the Lancashire County Club donated £25. In addition to this the Tyke Fund of £800 has been raised by the "Yorkshire Evening Post." It is said on excellent authority ('says a Wellington writer) that a New South Wales representative who did excellent work with the bat against the Englishmen recently has been offered a lucrative position in Wellington, and will probably accept it. J. Bennett, the Canterbury bowler, is leaving for England shortly. where he intends to follow up th* game as a professional. From 189R to 1907. Bennett had taken 348 wickets in senior matches at an average of 15.13 runs. His batting average was 16.18. The Otago cricketers who intend to come to Auckland in quest of the Plunket Shield at their own expense' at the end of December are Austin, Siedeberg, Wilson, T. Adams. Williams, Craxnond. Kilgour, Wilson, Corbett. Burt, Rutherford. Bannerman, Watkins. Fisher (doubtful), an,d Howden (doubtful). Clem Hill is the wag of the Australian Eleven. He is always playing jokes on his brother cricketers, and his mercurial spirits bubble up even when he is fighting for tlie ashes on the pitch. " Put Rhodes on, and I will try to hit sixers," he said to English captain A. O. Jonas during the last trial of strengt.i. "No jolly fear," responded Jones ; " you might get them." And the grin on Clem's face told its own tale. G. Gunn has scored 462 runs in the Test matches at an average of 57. 70 per innings. His latest big innings* like that of the first Test, was (remarks a Sydney writer) a gem in its way. Gunn has vindicated the judgment of A. O. -Jones. The puzzle is not that the Notts captain picked out Gunn, but that the English selectors passed him by. Four years ago R. E. Foster compiled 486 runs in the series of Warner's team, though 287 of them were made in ; ; ;one innings, . <

?The British Rugby Union team to visit New 'Zealand and Australia is described as being one of the most powerful that evei left England on a colonial tour. The England v. Wales Rugby football match was played in such a dense fog that the spectators were able to see only glimpses of the play. The English football team, which is to tour New Zealand this season, has been selected, and is booked to leave London on April 4th, arriving in Wellington about May 19th. Seventeen -matches are to be played in the Dominion, and the first w'll take place at Masterton on May 23rd. The last match will be'played in Auckland, against North Island, on July 25th. The Englishmen will then leave for Sydney, where some half-dozen games have been arranged. The English team will be captained by A. F. Harding, who will be remembered as a member of BedellSivJßTight's team McEvedy, who also_ came out with this team, :s again making the trip, and will act as vice-captain. The following are the selected : — Full-backs, Dyke (Glamorgan), Jackett (Cornwall) ; three-quarters, A. Gibbs, J. L. Williams (Glamorganshire). Griffiths, Jones (Mommouthshire), P. F. McEvedy, Jones (Kent), Chapman (Durham), A. W. Vassall (Somersetshire) ; halves, Davey (Cornwall), Labon (Midlands), W. Morgan (Kent), G. Williams (Lancashire) ; forwards. Archer, R. Dibble, Down, G. V. Ivyrke (Somersetshire), R. Green, E. Morgan, L. Thomas (Glamorgan), W. Oldham (Midlands), Ritson (Northumberland), Jackson (Cornwall). J. F. Williams A. F. Harding (Middlesex), Wilson (Cumberland), and T. Smith (Leicester).

At the Addington Club's swimming carnival at Christchurch last Saturday week, the curtain for the season 1907-8 was rung down. The entries for this carnival totalled 370 — the record for the season. In the Relay Race there was an Australasian record, no less than 29 teams competing, comprising 116 competitors. Charley Griffiin, who has just been defeated at Home for the featherweight boxing championship, will be remembered as one of the three New Zealand brothers who have fought with considerable success in Australia. Previous to going to Australia he had not Avon a match in the amateur ranks, but he did tolerably well when he entered the professional ranks over the other side. Driscoll, Griffin's conqueror, is said to be the best man in his class in the Old Country.