OUT DOOR SPORTS THINGS THE OBSERVER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW

Observer, Volume XXIX, Issue 12, 5 December 1908, Page 10

OUT DOOR SPORTS

THINGS THE OBSERVER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW

Ry Hakrikr

STRONG counter - attractions affected the attendances at the various grounds on Saturday, when the fourth round of the Auckland Cricket Association's fixtures was started. But those who did attend had the pleasure of witnessing some first-class cricket, particularly in the Parnell-Grafton game in the Domain.

Parnell batted first against Grafton, Sale and Wright being the batsmen. This pair got going in greatstyle, and over 200 runs were made before the partnership was dissolved. Sale made 120, and Wright exactly the same score. In all, Parnell have lost three wickets for 337, so they hold a pretty safe hand against Grafton.

Ponsonby met the Eden Colts at Eden Park. Batting one man short, Ponsonby made 209 runs. The Colts replied with two wickets down for 38 runs.

Victoria Park was occupied by University and City. The former batted first and rang on the total of 205 runs. City have lost two wickets for 42 runs.

The finish between Eden A aud North Shore should be most interesting. North Shore's first innings resulted in 200 runs being registered. When time was called, Eden's tally was two wickets for 57 runs.

Several of North Shore's good bats went cheaply on Saturday, notably Bush, Prime, Woodward and Dacre. Cummings is unbeaten for Eden A . with 27 runs, and Elliott just managed to get over double figures — 12 runs. Fawcett, a young batsman for University, made top score of 43 against City. He played in careful style, at the same time displaying correct cricket. Out of the Eden Colts' total of 38 runs, Relf made 23 not out. Gordon and Hines went early, but Gilmore showed stubborn defence in making 7 not out. Howden made runs for North Shore when they were wanted, and his innings of 40 runs was a capital performance. Hutchings found the Grafton bowling easy and wound up with 46 not out for Parnell. Olifr made 18 in a good style, and Barry has 12 not out to his credit. Gray went in late for University, lint he rattled up 39 in quick style. Graham (29), Ellis (31), Jacobse-n (15), and Robinson (14) were also useful contributors to University's score. It is exceedingly improbable that Downes will assist the Otago team against Auckland for the Plunket Shield (remarks a Dunedin writer). While a warm welcome awaits this old-time bowler in the Otago team, it is, I hear, not the intention of the selectors to do any " kow-towing " to seek his assistance. There was a time when S. E. Gregory did not seriously regard club batting. Be he is (says Sydney '/.Referee ") now a big force on all occasions for Waverley, his efforts this season having produced 1, 26 not out, 14, 102 not out, and 95, besides 100 in the Trial game. He narrowh missed reaching the century in eaojfa one of the three consecutive innings.

Brooke-Smith only made 9 for Eden A., when Howden scattered his stamps. Hadden stemmed a rot for North Shore on Saturday by making 29, and Philson played a careful innings for 20. The Eden Colts tried four bowlers" against Ponsonby, Beech bagging three wickets for 73. Relf got two for 69. Stemson was again the star bowler for City, coming out with the fine average of six wickets for 75 runs. Harvie and Cossey also bowled fairly well . " Bolla " Francis gave a dashing display in making 53 for Ponsonby against the Eden Colts. The long footballer should give the reps, a big shake. But for McCormick, City's total would not have been very laxge against University. He was responsible for 30 not out of a total of 42 runs. McMahon was last man in for North Shore on Saturday, owing to having a- bad hand. However, he kept up the wicket for Kallender in a determined maainer. Cummings was the mainstay of the Eden A. bowling. Keeping a good length he wound up with six wickets for 61 runs. Brooke-Smith was next best with two for 37. Kallender gave one of those big hitting displays he is noted for in making 79 against Eden A. It was a very exhilarating display, and the runs came in double quick time. Two sixers were amongst his score. The Grafton bowling came in for some severe gruelling at the hands of the Parnell ba-tsmen. Seven bowlers were tried, but there was not much sting in any of them, Mason getting a particularly bad time of it. " Chummy " Hemus is coming right to the top of his form, and made another big score on Saturday ■ —^84 not out. He- played Relfs ■ bowling in great style, and it is a pity he coiild not get anyone to stop with him, as his century looked a certainty. Wright fully earned his 120 for Parnell against Grafton. He has been showing consistent form this season, and this latest display puts him amongst the first flight of our batsmen. He hit out very hard at times, three sixers being included in his score. Like Sale, he knocked Mason's bowling about considerably. When Sale gets going there is no better batsman in Auckland to watch. And this was the case on Saturday, when h-e made 120 for Parnell. He played delightful cricket, scoring all round the wicket. He gave a chance after he had made his century, but this was the only blemish in his fine innings. The cricketing " ooach " is (remarks Sydney 'Bulletin") in big demand at present. Auckland, Canterbury and Dunedin will fill their needs from Australia ; while C. Greenwood (from Vie.) goes to West Hobart, and another Victorian goes to a prominent Queenslad Club. C. Wordsworth (Sydney and Ayles (Vie.) are engaged by the Otago Association, and there are plenty of professional ground bowlers and "coaches" on the principal Australian grounds. In fact, cricket is getting so professional that it will soon be a vice. The "Bulletin" writer is somewhat astray in his calculations. The Auckland and Canterbury Associations have no intentions in drawing upon .Australia, for coaches. After a deal of wailing and gnashing of teeth the much - discussed question of dates for the Plunket Shield match, Otago v. Auckland, has been decided, and local legislators can (says an Otago scribe) now take a calmer and more reasonable view of things. At one stage of the proceedings the visit of Otago to Auckland threatened to fall through with the suggestion of a third, but Canterbury and Auckland, by coming so generously to the rescue, have saved the situation and Otago from being held up to the laugh of the ecomer.

Judging by the large attendance of enthusiasts on Monday, there promises to be a revival in amateur athletics. The object of the meeting was to consider the advisability of having a Marathon race run in Auckland. Mr Leo "Myers, one of our best supporters for amateur sport, was in the chair, and gave a very interesting address concerning the origin of the Marathon race. However, it was decided to hold this race, and it will probably be run somewhere about next March. A strong sub-committee, consisting of Messrs Myers, Somerfield, Frost, Plugge, Maguire and Ohlson, was elected, and they will go into the details, and report progress at the annual meeting of the Auckland Amateur and Athletic Club. The mea is to have a race of about 15 miles, and to make it open for amateur runners from alf parts of the Dominion. There is no doubt that this event will draw a big entry, and also help to bring our amateur sport into the prominence it once held in Auckland. A big effort is to be made this season to resuscitate the Auckland Amateur and Athletic Club, and rightly so. The annual meeting of this club will be held on the 14th inst., and in all probability a carnival will be got off in two or three months' time.

—What White thinks of Black ? — Where Harbour Board Hamer has got to? — What Jawge Jawge thinks of John Payne now ? — What Alec Young has done with that bell-topper ? —What W. J. Napier thinks of the second ballot system ? — What Chairman Darlow's special cause for gratitude is ?i — Whether Wesley Sprapg has found out the author of that circular ? —Why John Kneen did not see that an invitation was sent to Frank Lawry ? — If Bishop Neligan has branded the skipper of the Tongariro as a Pagan ? — Who persuaded Albert Edward to attend the Poole shivoo at the Ponsonby Hall? — Why dear Clive Lowe doesn't go to Waihi to learn how to stage a comic opera ? —Whether Pastor Clark enjoyed the ociety of J. W. Taylor at the Agricultural Show? — Why James White is so anxious to dissociate himself from the People's Mission ? —Why the Rev. E. H. Wyatt wears an opera hat in daylight ? Is this the latest " crusher ?" — What Frank Lawry really means by saying that he goes to Wellington this time absolutely unpledged? —Whether the Rev. Mr Watson would not do well to hand over St. Paul's to one of those Oxford men 1 — If the mighty Donne has engaged G. W. S. Patterson to write up the attractions of New Zealand for the Tourist Department? — Who the d'Aerenthal mentioned by the Star leader writer is? The mot d'ordre is to Frenchify everything, even the German names. — Whether it was whisky Walker or Rees George, or whisker Grainger who was advertising in the Star for a lost bell topper the other night ? —If " Parnell " Chevis can run as well as he can talk ? Judging by last Monday night's performance, the pro posed Marathon race should be a gift for him. —Whether the gallant Major Patterson travelled first or second-class on his historic journey through Siberia? The question is instigated by the creme de la creme of Auckland society. —What His Excellency T. E. Donne, Esq., was doing in Rotorua last week, just before the second ballot ? Does he consider that, being owner of the Sanatorium Town, the inhabitants thereof owe him " loyalty ?" — Why politicians so constantly refer to the "loyalty" of their constituents ? Do members of Parliament consider that they stand to the common person with a vote in the relation of sovereign to subject? It is time this talk about "loyalty" was dropped. — Where Remuera Fond gets his knowledge of the extent to which 14 our young lads " patronise the public houses? Mr Bond's idea is, " now the public bouses are being swept away/ that some other places must be provided for the boys. Why didn't Remuera provide a counter attraction long ago ?