OUT DOOR SPORTS

Observer, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2, 21 September 1912, Page 10

OUT DOOR SPORTS

[By Haebier.]

HEAVY rain set in on Saturday morning, and as it kept on incessantly, it was considered advisable to postpone the Auckland Rugby Union sports carnival, which was to take place at Alexandra Park. The function will now take place on Saturday, September 28th, and if the Domain Cricket Ground can be obtained the sports will be held there.

Wellington gave Otago a pretty severe drubbing on Saturday last, the reps, of the Empire City winning by 19 points to nil.

- There are four ex-Aucklanders in the Glebe team, which has just won the Sydney Rugby Union Premiership __J. Wylie, M. Fraser, G. Walters, and P. Buchanan.

The draw for the Senior Seven-a-side tournament is as follows :—Marist Bros. v. University. Ponsonby v. College Rifles, Parnell and City a bye. The winner of the Marist Bros.-Uni-versity game will play City, and the winner of the Ponsonby v. College Rifles game will meet Parnell, the winners playing off.

The following is the tour of the Australian Rugby team in America : — October sth, Barbarians ; 6th, Santa Clara College ; 12th, Stanford University ; 16th (Wednesday), Stanford TJniversinty ; 19th, Olympics ; 20th, St. Mary's College ; 26th, University of California ; 30th, University of California •'; November 2nd, University of California ; 9th, open (California-Stan-ford game); 16th, Star-Australia game.

We regret to hear that Ivor Morgan, the renowned Welsh Eugby forward, has determined to retire, owing to a serious injury to one of his legs (says the "Athletic News' , )- Even Ivor Morgan cannot play on one leg. He has injured a cartilage so severely that the doctor cannot hold out much hope of recovery, even if an operation be performed. His absence from the playing field will be a distinct loss both to Swansea and Wales. He has won matches for Swansea single-handed, and his skill has materially helped Wales to more than one victory. Morgan was the foremost wing-forward in the country, and a prolific scorer.

The game between Canterbury and Wellington was (remarks " Touchline/' in Wellington " Free Lance ") a fine exhibition of Eugby football from the spectacular standpoint, the play being open, fast and full of dash all the time. I have made the statement many times that the rules of Rugby football are good enough in themselves to make an interesting display, and it is the players who make or mar the game. We have seen the improved Eugby, according to some people, but the alterations made to the rules have tended to make the game fast without keeping a grip on the spectators. On Saturday we were treated to a display that was interesting right through to the lookers-on, and at the same time the players kept on the run for the greater part of the game and passed and re-passed the ball with a-geat deal of abandon.

Hark to what the Sydney "Referee's" Special has to say about the Auckland-New South Wales League match : " The referee, Mr Angus Campbell, may have been all that they claim him to have been as a Rugby Union referee, but as a Rugby League referee he ranks with our second-grade men. I do not mean to say that it was his fault that we were beaten, but some of his rulings were hard to understand. He should never have ordered Deane off. He ignored the five-yards rule ; the obstruction rule he had, obviously, never heard of. He takes no notice of_pbstruction. For instance,

when you get either your kick or pass in, and you are then knocked down, tackled; or held, he takes no notice of it. He also ignores the advantage rule. Of course, these rules are vital to the Northern Union Rugby. Ido not wish to imply by these remarks that Mr Campbell did not give us a 'fair go.' He was as faulty for one side as the other. In one word, he might be designated as incompetent as far as Northern Union Laws are concerned, for if he knows the rules he does not know how to interpret them/

Those who saw this game will be amused at the above criticism, and especially with his remark that Deane should not have been ordered off. If Mr Campbell had been stricter as to obstruction, etc., there would have been a few more Walers on the bank. Probably Mr Campbell's refereeing would not have been questioned had New South Wales w.on.

Our cricketers are beginning to bestir themselves for the coming season, and the clubs are now holding their annual meetings.

The annual meeting of the Auckland Cricket Association will be held on Wednesday, October 2nd. Since last season the Association has decided on buying Eden Park, and this ground is now the property of the Cricket authorities.

The final points in the English County Cricket Championship are : — Yorkshire, percentage, 72 ; Northampton, 70.58 ; Kent, 65.60 ; Lancashire, 64.70 ; Middlesex, 55.77 ; Hampshire, 55.66 ; Surrey, 50.43 ; Nottingham, 49.41, and Warwickshire, 40.77.

A. J. Kortlang, the well-known Victorian cricketer, has (according to a Southern writer) received a business appointment in Wellington. Kortlang, who has been most recently in Melbourne, is a much-travelled player, and is a really first-class all-round player. Wellington has certainly made "a catch" in securing a player of his ability.

The " Pall Mall Gazette " states that with the exception of the four players who accepted the Board of Control's terms, of <£400, in lieu of a share in the profits of the tour, the Australian team's share of the profits of the tour will probably be under .£2OO each. Some of the members are hopeful that the board will make the amount up to ,£4OO. The South Africans are even worse off than the Australians in a financial sense.

NORTHERN BOXING CARNIVAL. Next Wednesday evening the Northern Boxing Association will hold another of their popular carnivals at the Town Hall. The star item will be a 15-round contest for <£50 between Denny Murphy and George Olsen. Murphy has completely recovered from his recent indisposition, and in Olsen he is meeting a worthy opponent. The fight will carry with it the welter championship of the Dominion. There will also be .a Novice Tournament for 9st. and under, and two amateur six rounds bouts. C. Savoury will meet F. Baker, the Waikato heavy-weight champion,-while Teddy O'Meara will try conclusions with Bennett, a South Canterbury boxer with a big reputation. Entries for the novice tournament will close with the secretary, Mr F. Furbush, on Saturday evening next. Popular prices will be charged for this carnival, and the programme is one that should attract a crowded house.

The N.Z. Amateur Billiard Championship went to Mr F. Valentine, who won easily from Mr J. Cooke, at the finish. At the first evening's session, Mr Cooke wound up with a few points in the lead, but in the final 500,"Mr Valentine was his master, and had a majority of 129 points. Mr Valentine is to be congratulated on his win as his play was of a high standard in all his games. Mr Cooke did well in getting into the final, but the form of some of the other competitors was disappointing, notably Mr Hackett and Mr Carl. Messrs Leatham, Jim Bussell and Burke showed good form, and are capable of doing better in the fixture.