ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 17, 23 April 1892, Page 420

ATHLETICS.

4 CRICKET match played the other day on Nelson ~\ Square, Picton, between Renwick Town and Picton teams resulted in a victory for Picton by 63 runs. The local team are picking up heart again, owing in a measure to the indomitable energy and excellent play of Mr F. W. Andrews, who bats with a good old English style which might be copied with advantage by some of the other players. The individual scores were not brilliant on either side. W. Sey* tnonr alone attained double figures for the Renwickites, while for Picton D. France made the best score, 20. Andrews and F.sson also distinguished themselves.

A SWIMMING contest eventuated in Picton Harbour last Thursday. The occasion was a • life-saving competition ' for a Queen's Medallion given by the Royal Humane Society of Australasia to any State school in the Australasian colonies which will hold a competition in any sea port town, the rules being—lst, to swim out and rescue a floating dummy and bring it to land ; 2nd, to swim out and dive tor a sunken dummy at a point indicated by a Boating cork unattached : 3rd, to swim out, dive for and recover a dummy sunk in a spot not indicated. R. Rugh won each ami every one of the competitions, Galbraith taking second in No. 3, and r. Macshane second in one and two.

The school sports at Cambridge Public School were held last Thursday in the Government pacdotk. Good prizes were offered to the boys and girls, and the number of entries for all the races w ere large. Great praise is due to those who helped to make the sports such a success, which they were undoubtedly in every respect.

The Napier Bowling Tournament opened on Saturday. The weather was fine, and the green tn splendid condition. So far I have only the telegraphic news anent the affair. Next week I hope to be able to give some additional particulars. In the first round Wellington defeated Napier by 135 to 17 : Wanganui defeated Palmerston by 51 to 27: Auckland defeated Christchurch by 47 tool. In the second round New Piymonth defeated Auckland by 64 to 55 ; Napier defeated Wanganui by 81 to 76 : Wellington defeated Palmerston by 41 to 23 : Christchurch defeated Wellington by 48 to 35. In the third round Wanganui defeated Wellington by 87 to 72 : Napier defeated New Plymouth by 96 to 60 ; Auckland defeated Gisborne by 65 to 35. In the fourth ronnd of the Inter-club Match Napier defeated Palmerston by 44 to 31 : Christchurch defeated Gisborne by 24 to 12 : Auckland defeated Wanganui by 68 to 44; New Plymouth defeated Wellington by 76 to 61.

In the Champion Rink Tournament, Christchurch defeated Napier by 45 to 18 ; Napier defeated Wanganui by 18 to 17 : Napier defeated Wellington by 20 to 15 ; Auckland defeated Napier by 25 to 22 : Wanganui defeated Gisborne by 21 to 14 ; Napier defeated Auckland by 23 to 18. Napier 2nd rink' defeated Auckland by 28 to 9 ; Wellington defeated Napier by 30 to 8 ; Wellington defeated New Ply-

mouth by 26 to 15 : Palmerston defeated Gisborne by 18 to 15 : New Piymonth defeated Napier by 31 to 10. Second ronnd : Napier defeated Wellington by 17 to 14 ; Napier i2od team) defeated Wellington by 16 to 14 ; Napier (3rd team 1 defeated Wellington by 23 to 11; Christchurch defeated New Plymouth by 26 to 15 : Wanganui defeated Napier by 32 to 19 ; Wellington defeated Wanganui by 20 to 18 ; Wellington defeated Palmerston by 40 to 7.

The third round is not yet completed. There was a most exciting match between Christchurch and New Plymouth

Great interest attached to the match, owing to the fact that Paul and Thompson, two of the most noted bowlers in the colony, met as skips of the New Plymouth and Christchurch teams respectively, scoring equal all through. At the last head just before Paul took his final shot, the score stood 19 each, when Paul, by a welldirected effort, placed one to the credit of New Plymouth, which thus won. Paul was carried shoulder high.

Never has association football been in higher favour at Home than at present. The excitement over the cup championship matches is intense. The Aston Villa Club seems to be a favourite for this season, and the latest news

that they defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers places them on a higher footing than ever. The match was played at Wolverhampton, in the presence of nearly 30,000 spectators. Villa won the toss, and elected to play up bill. Topham starting for the Wanderers. Play at once commenced fast and furious, the Wolves* right wing racing down, only to be pulled up by Baird. Villa then got away, Canipbeli’s partiug shot being a few inches wide. Play continued of a giveand take character till a mistake between tne Villa backs let in Topham, who scored the first goal for Wanderers at the end of eight minutes’ play. Villa then played determinately, but, although they rained shots in upon Rose, they could not score. Atbersmith got in a fine shot from a centre, but Rose saved brilliantly, directly after stopping two grand shots from Campbel! and Devey. Villa still con’.inued.ou the aggressive, and finally, two minutes before interval, Campbell scored a good goal from a pass from Devey. The whistle blew at half time with the score standing one each. On the restart the Wolves commenced pressing, bnt failed to break through a stubborn defence. Villa then took np pressing,

their forwards playing a magnificent game, and finally, from a pass by Hodgetts, Devey scored their second goat Wolves then got down, Topham shooting over the bar. Soon after some brilliant passing by the Villa forwards, who throughout played a grand game, enabled Athersmith to score a third goal, and, nothing further resulting, Aston Villa won by three goals to one.

Joseph Dabby, champion English jumper, is reported by the daily press to have accomplished very big things indeed at Wolverhampton the other day. He is credited by a local reporter with equalling G. W. Rowdon s ascribed record of clearing 6ft. sfin., going at the tape or bar after two stanaing jumps. Farther, he set to work to do the Howard-of-Bradfordfeat by jumping longwise over a billiardtable. Darby had room only for two stand spring jumps prior to taking off for the long leap. Without disputing the accuracy of measurements here quoted, one would be very delighted indeed to see the work oneself. When you read of his doing 6ft. with the greatest of ease, yon begin to open your eyes. After that 6ft. 59 in. * all out ’ doesn’t seem so hard to swallow. Darby is really just the man to do it.

As to the billiard table trick, which, in the wav it was exhibited, was a trifle out of order as a rival to poor old Howard's. Darby in two springing stand jumps would cover pretty nearly as much space as the Bradford wonder was allowed for his run at the Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool. All the room he had to get up steam to fly the table longways was from the wall of the landing through the billiard saloon door. In his case, too. cushions and all were on. I believe I can be certain that at the Adelphi the table was as it would be for play, and all—practically all—the preparation made was by moving the gas-fittings from over it.

For. his similar jump in the open, I think, but am not confident on the point, Howard went at either a regulation table properly fixed up, or, what would be much more awkward, with the l>ed omitted. Anyway, I well recollect hearing in one try he went sideways, and came down not quite clear of the brasswork of the corner pocket, and so hurt himself. Yet he stnck to his undertaking, and at the next go did what be wanted.

All the Timua Clabs have started foot bail, bat there are at present no interesting matches to record.

ANOTHER football club has been started in Hastings, and a gieat nnmler of the coming men have already joined. The weather is getting a touch of winter already, so I expect the boys will be beginning to practise shortly.

It is currently reported in more than one paper that a scratch team of Australian cricketers will tour England this vear for the English cricket season. lam not in a position to positively deny the rumour, but I may say that from information received I think it is to the last degree unlikely that such a team will do any such thing. The great clubs in the Old Country have spoken with considerable frankness on the subject of Austialian elevens, saying that unless the teams sent are thoroughly representative it is madness to despatch them, and that it would be well to give Anglo - Colonial cricket a rest. The result of the matches last tour justified this expression of opinion. There is no doubt that the tameness—to use no stronger word —of the display made by Australians on that occasion dampened the enthusiasm of the public, and the gates were decidedly poor towards the end of the season. Unless the colonials make a far greater splash on their next visit and stick closer to business and less to the world, the flesh, and refreshment, there is little doubt that they will kill public interest in Australian cricket for many years to come. Fora scratch eleven to go for the purpose of playing what are termed minor matches would be not merely mischievous, but positively suicidal.

The Girls Rowing Club, Christchurch, finished up their season on Wednesday with some rowing matches on the river just above the hospital. The banks were lined with spectators, and as the river is very narrow at that part, only one boat could pull at a time with safety, so all the interest could be given to each crew as they pulled off against time. The prizes were silver medals in the shape of Maltese cross given by Mr Worthy. The first was won by Miss Alice Moorhouse and Miss Worthy, with Miss Nedwill as coxswain Mr Worthy presented the prizes with one of his own happy little speeches. After this interesting performance Mrs Worthy dispensed afternoon tea in their pretty garden I saw there Mrs Cowlishaw, Mrs Rhodes, Mrs and Miss Campbell, Mrs Moorhouse, the Misses Htliuore, Hennah, Beswiek, and others, in addition to the members of the club, who number over twenty.

I hear a ladies* G >lf Club is being started in Christchurch. Golf is ve«y fashionable at H »me, so in the usual course, we follow. Tne Misses Way, Kinsey, and Harman are very energetic in arranging the preliminary details, and I hear there are fourteen or fifteen others equally anxious to join.