Out Door Sports

Observer, Volume XXIX, Issue 42, 3 July 1909, Page 10

Out Door Sports

By Harkier,

A.R.U. FIXTURES. July 31 — Auckland v. Northern Wairoa, at Auckland.August 7 — Auckland v. Thames, at Thames. > August 14 — Poverty Bay v. Auckland, at Auckland. August 21 — Thames v. Auckland, it Auckland. 28— Wellington v. Aucklanl, at Wellington. , August 30 — Wanganui v. Auckland, at Wanganui. September 2 — Taranaki v. Auckland, at Taranaki. - rpHE second round of matches for 'I the A.R.U. Senior Championship was commenced on Saturday last, before a fair attendance of The two senior games ■caused but little excitement, and the display of football was very ordiniry. «, • • "University met Parnell on the No. 1 ground, and the latter team pull ed off a victory by 8 points to 3. City had rather an easy win over Newton by 31 points to nil. Ponsonby had a rare day against North Shore, winning by the enormous score of 61 points to nil, and this without time being played out. Parnell did most of the attacking in the first half of the match against University, and had 8 points to their credit when half-time was called. In the second spell, the play went up and down the field, and tries were 11 registered by both teams. The Parnell backs shaped as well as they have done this season, and their passing runs were always profitable Saunc^rs had a fairly busy ' time of it as full-back, and made few if any mistakes. In the three-quarter line, Twinanio Stood out most conspicuous, runliing and kicking in his best style. Hardwicke and Paton played serviceable games. Of the five-eighths, Armstrong was the better of the pair, making come useful openings. Thomas was fairly sound, whilst Clark mixed .his pla^ to advantage as half. The Parnell pack had a little the best of the deal, and their hookers - -were easily first. Comes, Tonks, j Martin and Muir were a noticeable quartette, whilst Harris was par- "" tajularly smart in the open work. W. Gray took the full-back position for University, and filled it with credit The three-quarters were somewhat faulty in their handling, Ponoanga being a notable offender. Wilson, as usual, did the bulk of the work, but Robinson was not far behind him Wilkes played a hard game, and A. (Jray and Ottersen were best in the defensive work. The 'Varsity forwards put a fair amount of dash into their play, but in the close and line work they were beaten by their opponents. To sort >. out the best players is rather a difficult problem, but Gunson, Bamtord. "and Hobbs were noticeable at times. * Newton had a weak team in th« v*4 field against City, and the consent quence wae that the red and blacks ■* t, hand an easy win. t>' >t > rji^ city backs Were mostly on th< \ % X attack, and their passing xushei i csener ally -ended m scores. Estall « * Stewart,. Skillen and R. Magee wer< Powell t6 tne fore, ! wbilfit all the for

Newton's team comprised several juniors, and the backs were mostly on the defensive. One thing noticeable about this game was the excellent spirit in which it was played. This is as it should be.

When a team beats another by 61 points to nil, there is usually only one in it. And this was Ponsonby's day. The blue and blacks were running in at quick intervals, the Shore men putting up a feeble defence. Several of the Shore men individually resisted to the best of their ability, D. Miller, the full-back, for instance, doing good work.

The A.R.U. , Management Committee decided last week that the Auckland B. team shall meet a Rotorua fifteen on August 21. The Ponsonby seniors have notched 228 points in the Cup matches this season, whilst only 14 have been registered against them. Saturday last was a day for big scores in the Rugby matches. Ponsonby rang on 61 points against North Shore, and City put up 31 against Newton, whilst King's College registered 56 against St. John's College. Newton 11. caused a surprise by beating Marist Bros. Old Boys by 11 points to nil last Saturday. On the performance, the best team won, but the Old Boys did not play in anything near the form they exhibited against Ponsonby 11. The Poverty Bay Rugby Union are anxious for the Auckland rep. team to meet their reps, on the way back from the Southern tour. As, howover, the Auckland reps, are to come back via Taranaki, it is impossible to comply with the request. With regard to the Taranaki Rugby Union's application to have the Inter-Island match played at New Plymouth this season, there is (remarks a Wellington writer) a report going round to the effect that the governing body will elect to have the struggle decided in Welington, on what grounds it is hard to fathom. The Canterbury Union has an undeniable claim to have the match played on its ground. There is not (he continues) a single valid argument in favour o<f Wellington being made the permanent deciding ground for inter-island matches, .despite all the nonsense talked and written on the score of expense, players losing time, etc.

A unique experiment was tried in Ota go Rugby football on Saturday by the introduction of four spells of twenty minutes each, instead of the usual forty-fives. This is (accordins; to a Dunedin writer) the idea of the Otago Referee's Association , which has taken the matter into its own hands. It has evidently-escap-ed the notice of this well-meaning body, as it did that of the Auckland Rugby Union, that it has no power to alter the laws of the game, and I take it that the time and spells are part and parcel of the laws as laid flown by the English Rugby Union. However, we shall see what happens. The object of the new rule regarding snells is to give each side an equal chance when playing with or against the wind, or, rather, to equalise as much as possible the conditions under which the match is played.

The Wellington Boxing Association is trying to interest both public and competitors in heavy-weight competitions. So far there have been oiumerous bantams, feathers and light-weights, but all too few welters and over. The Association aims to mend matters in this respect. The Northern Boxing Association has also been endeavouring to bring forth more heavy-weights, and three have entered for next Saturday's championship.

An unfortunate incident ocurred in connection with the Selling Plate at Kempton Park last month (says an English exchange). Eight numbers, having been hoisted, including that of Nimrod, odds were freely betted on him. Meanwhile Nimrod .was careering like a mad Ravage in,

the paddock and had rid himself four tunes of Maher before— y-by permission of the Stewards — the idea of racing him was abandoned. He had not been under the starter's orders, and consequently his backers do not lose their money, but the bookmakers were left in a most unhappy position, for all other bets stand, and they had practically laid the long odds against a short chance in Snatch, who eventually won, and was then bought in for 300gs. Nimrod, it may be added, is half brother to the Newmarket Handicap winner, Playfair.