SPORTS, GAMES AND PASTIMES.

Fair Play, Volume I, Issue 18, 3 March 1894, Page 18

SPORTS, GAMES AND PASTIMES.

We publish above a portrait of Mr. A. Campbell, of Hawera. He is a runner of no mean ability and has more than once done honour to the colours of the Draper.’s Associated Cricket Clubs. He has been for twelve years in the employ of Mr. C. Smith, draper, and is now manager for that merchant's branch in Hawera. Last year he won a silver cup presented by Mr. J. Courtney, of New Plymouth, and also won the mile and half mile race, and his friends are sanguine that he will repeat the record this year. He will run at the Drapers' sports in Wellington on the 7tli of March, and judging from reports as to his training and work up to the present time should px’ovc a dangerous customer to tackle. If he is' successful in winning Mr. Court-

ney's cup again it will be his own property. We wish him every luck in the contest.

CRICKET. On Saturday cricketers resumed “ the even tenor of their way.” Interest was

chiefly centred on the Midland-Rival heat which at present is all in favour of the latter. The Midlanders were very sore over the result and circumstance of their previous meeting with the Rivals, and prior to Saturday had reckoned upon demonstrating a wide margin of superiority. The upsettal of that theory must be ascribed to the excellent trundling of Haldane ; and later on the steady batting of Jones and Ramsay under the discouraging conditions of a bad light. Arthur Blacklock seemed set for a long score when he fell into the “ family” peculiarity of misplacing his lower extremities ; of the others Wynyard again laid on the wood with effect, one of his strokes being a gem of a forward cut for five.

Fielding seems to be a lost art with the Phoenix. After compiling a beggarly 64, they made a vigorous onslaught on their

opponents, having half the Wellingtons out for forty. Webb then hid his diminished head after dropping the easiest of chances from Holdship, and his un-

fortunate example was followed at intervals. the result being, of course, confusion. Imagination can picture situations more pleasant than presiding over the bowling fortunes of such a wretched fielding team. We sincerely hope they will sacrifice a little time to overcome this defect. Do have a little feeling for Benbow, Taylor, and your other bowlers.

Athletes of all denominations will be pleased to learn that the proposed Athletic Company is about to be registered. Cricketers especially should individually and collectively do their utmost to promote its well being. The correspondence columns of our dailies have lately been inundated with letters bearing on cricket, an indication that there is plenty of outside interest being taken in our game. A suggestion emanating from one of these anonymous scribes is to the effect that weekly matches after five o’clock would be beneficial to players. Of course it is too late to discuss that idea, but it is one worthy of remembrance next season. In Canterbury some three or four years ago such custom was in vogue, one of the regulations being that a batsman should vacate the crease when he had scored 20. This made the game livelier and enabled very often both sides to have an innings in the course of the evening. Greater proficiency in fielding was acquired, and there was less general apathy. Net practice is all very well in its way, but an innings with the “colours up” is worth nights of it. Stinson, who made 66 not out, for the Kilbirnie Club against the Stars, is a fine bat, and should be playing senior cricket. An old identity playing with the same club is Alpe, an old time Canterbury longstop, the last player of eminence who fielded in that obsolete position. These veterans have plenty of grit, as further witness Salmon of the Midland.

The Wellington College boys and masters seem a formidable lot. They have run up the record score for the Junior Cup this season, viz., 225, the victims being the Wellingtons, who were reputed rather strong. The Interprovincial match between Otago and Canterbury will be shorn of most of its annual interest by reason of the inability of the latter to send its best team. Otago, on the other hand, is exceptionally strong, and ought to find no difficulty in winning. “ Bohemian” in the Christchurch Press waxes sarcastic over the presentation of a trophy by a local tailor for the occasion of the Sydney match. He says: “ What, for example, would Tom Brown have said if the Rugby tailor had come to offer a pah of pants to the best bat in the eleven?” As became the dignity of a captain of the eleven Tom would probably have been “ damnably polite” to the tailor, but I am afraid some of the hotblooded youngsters would have basted the tailor’s back for his impudence. But the N.Z. cricket is honored by a little thing like that, and gentlemen have no

scruples about playing for pantaloons.” Thank you Bohemian, but do not be so sweeping; we in Wellington at least are above that sort of thing.

AQUATIC. The Christchurch Regatta held at Lake Forsyth last Thursday was completely spoiled by the strong northerly wind which was blowing, and after the first two races had been rowed it was decided to postpone the remaining events till next day and row them on the Estuary at Sumner which was accordingly done. As we predicted last week, tko Star Club stood the best chance in the Maiden Fours, Senior Double Sculls and Senior SeullSj but owing to Hume and Daly both going aground, and Daly getting off first, Hume was beaten in the Sculls. The Star Club also won the Senior Pairs. The following are the results of the various events, viz.,

Maiden Double Sculls —Avon Rowing Club, 1; Wairewa Boating Club, 2 ; Canterbury Rowing Club, 3. Crews representing the Timaru Rowing Club and Star Boating Club also started out but did not finish. Won oy five lengths. Juvenile Double Sculls —Timaru Rowing Club, 1: Union Rowing Club, 2. Won by three-quarters of a length. Senior Fours —Canterbury Rowing Club, ILyttelton Rowing Club, 2 ; Star Boating Club, Wellington, 3. Cure, Kaiapoi, also started. Won by five lengths. Maiden Four-oar —Star Boating Club, 1; Avon Rowing Club, 2; Canterbury Rowing Club, 3. Won by two lengths.

Ladies’ Plate—Union Rowing Club, 1; Canterbury Rowing Club, 2. Won by two lengths. Senior Double Sculls —Star Boating Club, 1; Lyttelton Rowing Club, 2. Canterbury Rowing Club also started. Won by two lengths. Juvenile Plate—Union Rowing Club, 1; Canterbury Rowing Club, 2. Won by three lengths. Senior Pair Oar—Star Boating Club, 1; Lyttelton Rowing Club, 2. Canterbury Rowing Club also started. All the crews steered badly, and Canterbury and Lyttelton went clean off the course, leaving the Star crew to finish alone. Single Sculls—J. C. Daly, Canterbury Rowing Club, 1. A. G. Hume, Star Boating Club, also started. Both men ran aground, but Daly was quicker than his opponent in re-starting. By their success in winning the Maiden Four-oar Race, the Star Boating Club win outright the handsome marble clock presented as a trophy by Mr. Eden George, of Christchurch. This Club now having won it twice in succession, it becomes their own property.

In the Star Club’s Junior. Sculls-D, Burnes had an easy victory over R, Pownall.

The Star Boating Club committee have arranged the following programme for the Club’s races for the rest of this season as follows: —Fitzgerald Memorial Fours,

for Fitzgerald memorial trophy, distance three-quarters of a milo, all the heats to be rowed to a finish on Saturday aftornoon, 10th March; Senior Pairs, first heats to be rowed on Saturday, 31st March, The winners of this event will hold tho handsome trophy presented by the late Mr- W. H. Levin for tho year. The last race of the soason will bo for tho trophy presented by Mr. Dougins McLean, known as tho McLean Fours, open to all members of the club. Tho first heats of this event arc to bo rowed on April 14. The final heat of tho Wellington Rowing Club’s Fours produced a splendid contest. B. J. Finucane, bow, W. Strange-Muir, 2, C. Poll, 3, R. A. Hoiso, stroke, and D. Plunkett, cox., defeated A. Minogue, bow, A. M. Burns, 2, E. Nicholson, 3, W. M. Wilson, stroke, and F. Usmnr, cox., by two lengths, Heise's crew got the best of the start, but passing Oriental Bay Wilson’s crew caught them, blit from this out Hoiso gradually drew away and won a hard race by about two lengths. The deputy Captain acted as starter and the Captain as judge. The winners receive a special prize of gold medals for this race presented by the Club.

The selection committee of tho Wellington Rowing Club has chosen the following crews to represent the club at the Wanganui, Picton and Wellington Regattas:—Maiden Fours—J. W. Nicholson, how, J. Naylor, 2, H. S. Woolcott, 3, and J.. McKee, stroke. Junior Fours—A. McLaren, bow,/C. Poll, 2, A. Sargeant, 3, and G. Nicholls, stroke. Ladies’ Plate—D. McKay, bow, - G. Parsons, 2, J. Darby, 3, and W. M. Wilson, stroke. Senior Fours—-W. Simm, bow, P. Gr.ahame, 2, F. B. Young, 3, and C. Hooke, stroke. Senior Double Sculls—P. Grahamc and F. B. Young. Senior Pairs—W. Simm and C. Hooke. Single Sculls—P. Grahame and F. B. Young.

BOWLING. Probably one of the youngest players of bowls in the eolony is Master A. M. Garland Christie, of Balclutha, aged 12 years. In a keenly contested bowling tournament for the President’s Champion Bowls this youthful competitor, after heating a number of older players, won the coveted prize by 21 points to 18 from Mr. J. G. Bentiy. This is not tho first time he has won competitions, and that he should have stood out before all the others drawn against him shows that he is likely to excel in the game. The following prize matches have been played during the past fortnight on the Wellington Bowling Club green :—President’s Prize—J. Lockie beat Waddel by 22 to 6. Sargood and Co.’s Cup—j. Lockie beat Penty by 21 to 8, Ballinger beat Haybittle by 21 to 15. Vice-Presi-dent’ prize—J. Lockie beat Whitehouse by 21 to 18. Mr. A. Campbell’s Prize— Churchward beat Lawson by 21 to 17, Bush beat Geddis by 21 to 16. Junior

Pairs (best two out of three games)— Waddel beat TUmmer by 21 to 20, Waddel boat Plimmor by 21 to 15. Champion Pairs (best two out of threo games)—Geddis and A. Scoullar beat Drummond ntul Crombio by 21 to 14, Drummond and Crombio boat Geddis and A. Scoullar by 21 to 5, Geddis and A. Scoullar beat Drummond and Crombio by 23 to 15. Club’s Subscription Rink Match—Sample's rink boat Gale's rink in two games out of three, and has now to plnv off the final game with Ballongor's rink. .Handsome silver mounted Malacca canes have bot*n presented to tho members (Messrs A. Campbell, T. Gale, A. McKee and R. Maudsloy) of lust year’s Champion Rink.

Another match for the Edwin challenge badges was played during Siturduy afternoon, Ballinger’s rink (L. Blundell, Churchward, Maudsloy, and .Ballinger) meeting Lnckie’s team (Whitohouse, Russell, Mentiplay, and J. Lockie) ami beat, them by 20 to 18. The winners who have now won each of the throe games which have been played for these trophies, scored in 13 heads, and their opponents in 8. A fourth game was commenced between Ballinger’s rink and tlmt skipped by Sample (Willeston, McLean, liuybiltfc, and Sample), but at the ninth head when each side had scored 7 points, rain put a stop to tho play, and the match will bo finished on the first opportunity. During last Saturday afternoon at tho Thorndon Bowling Club’s green Luthmn’s rink boat that skippocl by Ross in tho last, game in tho first round of tho Itink Tournament matches by 21 to 20. Tho second round was commenced, in which M’Olashan’s rink boat W. Lambert’s by 21 to 19. A gamo between Murdoch and Latham's rinks was not finished, thoscoros being 13 and 10 respectively whon play stopped for the afternoon.

MISCKI.LAN'KOUH. Two members of tho Wellington Cycling Clu I .—Messrs J. A. Steadman and S. E. Wright—luivo been cloctcd handicappcrs for tlie bicycle races at tho Morton Caledonian Society. A swimming race at 220 yards for a lady’s bracelet, took place at Napier off tho beach facing the town on Wednesday, 21st imt., and attracted a vast number of spectators. The competitors, numbering 22, had a nasty choppy sea, also a strong head wind to contend against; but in spite of that tiicy (with the oxcoption of three) did the distance ; which, under tho circumstances, was alone worthy of praise. Tho result of tho race was an easy win f.»r 11. Gorman, from scratch, 11. Lang, 45 secs., second, and S. Jago, 35 secs., third.

Mr. McLean, manager of the National Bank, has presented two lifo-buoys, with lines attached, to tho public of Napier if the Corporation will erect two posts for them on the parade, an offer which ha been accepted.