ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume X, Issue 10, 11 March 1893, Page 222

ATHLETICS.

LAST Saturday turned ont a better day for crieket than seemed probable duiing the week. The ground had diied nicely, and was in very fair scoring order, though perhaps not as fast as it might have been. The grass, too, was much shorter than it has been for some weeks. There were not so many spectators as usual, the Yacht Club picnic taking a number away.

In the senior matches the whole interest was centred in Parnell v. Gordon, which promises to produce a capital finish, and is anybody’s game at present. Gordon won the toss and went in. Wickets fell fast at the beginning, and it looked at one time as if a very small score would be the result, but Fowke, Williams, and Moresby improved matters considerably, and the innings finally totalled 115. Parnell lost 1 wieKet (King) for 14 runs before time was called.

Fowke, who has not done much lately, came to the rescue of his side at the critical time, and put together 34 by stubborn, defensive play. He was lucky, however, in being given not out when caught at the wickets pretty early in his innings.

Williams batted freely and well for his runs, and his score of 26 was of great service to Gordon.

Moresby was in a considerable time for his 21 runs. Though he scored more slowly than usual, hisscore included several fine hits, and his play all round was very good.

D. Meldrum displayed his usual nice cricket in com piling his total of 15. He obtained his runs very quickly.

Lawson was in great form with the ball for Parnell, and he was responsible for most of the Gordon wickets. He kept an excellent length, and seemed to get on a nice off break. Altogether he took 6 wickets for 30 runs.

Parnell found a new bowler in the person of J. Young, who disposed of the last three batsmen for only 6 runs.

The other senior match was between Auckland and Onslow, and the former have matters pretty well all their own way. Onslow batted first for 46, while Auckland have 109 for 5 wickets.

Lundon was the only double figure scorer for Onslow, he just reaching 10 before he returned one to Harkness, who safely held it.

Harkness was altogether too many for the Onslow batsman, and he took 7 wickets for only 8 runs, which is about the record performance so far this season.

J. Arneil, who has been gradually playing himself into form, played a capital innings of 58 not out for Auckland. Although he gave one or two chances, his display of cricket was first-rate, and his leg hits were a treat to see.

T. Neill played carefully and well for 27, and he and Arneil topped the Onslow score before a wicket fell.

The first juniors commenced the second round of their supplementary competition. Gordon 11. met Pitt-street Mutual, and the former were thought to have a soft thing on, but the unexpected once more happened, and Pitt-street, who are to be congratulated on their improved form of late, have the match well in hand. Gordon batted first for 43, out of which Botterill contributed 18 by free hitting. Wilkinson was again very successful with the ball for Pittstreet, taking 6 wickets for very few runs. Pitt-street scored 73 for the loss of 4 wickets. Stichbury played a fine innings of 40 not out, and was well seconded by Nicholson, 13 not out.

Wanderers met Parnell 11., and a close game was expected, as the latter have been doing so well of late that many people thought them to be as strong as the Cup winners. The latter batted first, and the first 6 wickets tell for about 10 runs, but the innings finally reached 60 T. Mills (17), I. Clarke (15), not out, and Hobson (11), made nearly all the runs of Wanderers, Buchan taking 5, and Speight 3 of their wickets.

Parnell could only get 41, Speight (15) being the solitary double figure. Waddingham’s bowling was the chief causti-of the small score, he being responsible for 6 wickets, while ponald got 3 at the other end.

A good deal of interest was taken in the Second Junior match between Belmont 11. and Northern Koller Mills, as a win for the latter would give them the championship. However, so far Belmont are 9 runs ahead on the first innings. Roller Mills batted first, but only scored 37, Howard being top scorer with 9. Spurway, McGuire, and Seccombe divided the wickets for Belmont. At one time it looked as if Belmont would not reach their opponents’ score, but the last two wickets added a good many runs, McGuire (10) and Thomas (11) both hitting freely. Gallaher bowled with much success for Roller Mills, the majority of the Belmont wickets falling to him. The match will be finished next Saturday.

Waitohis v. Renwick, played on Nelson Square, Picton, and won by the home team, was remarkable only by the lack of interest displayed. The spectators were—like sultanas in Aunt Martha’s pudding—very far apart, and the scores made by either side nothing to boast of. Very few of the players ran into double figures, T. Pugh, for Picton, getting 18 in the first innings, and 15 in the second. Blizzard also ran for 15. The bowlers on both sides seemed to have the best of it, or else the players failed in guarding the sticks, for they went down smartly to the tune of 42 and 77 for Picton, and 50 and 39 for the visitors, who left town early for their home beyond Blenheim.

Nelson cricketers are scarcely having a good time this year. A capital match was however played at the College on Saturday afternoon between teams picked from the Athletic and College Clubs. After a hard fight for it the College eventually won by 19 runs. The College men showed some of their old form at bowling, although the batting with the exception of the Broad brothers was poor, these two making 36 and 15 runs. The batting of the Athletics showed far more form, tour of their men obtaining double figures, Gully, Shallcrass, Bolton and Jickell. The bowling was poor, Gully being the only one to show up at all. The Athletics batted one man short and their score was 68 while the College obtained 87 runs.

There has been a considerable lack of interest shewn in cricket this year. Tennis seems to be taking all our best cricketers’ attention, probably owing to there being no good ground for them to play on.

All lovers of swimming in Auckland and district will doubtless foregather at the Calliope Dock next Saturday to witness the Aquatic Carnival to be held there. The champion of Australasia, Mr Ernie Cavill, will give an exhibition of the powers with which he hopes to win the championship of the world in Chicago at the World’s Fair. The leading amateurs of the distiict'vill assist the champion, and an interesting display of natation may be confidently expected.