ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume I, Issue 8, 20 September 1890, Page 7

ATHLETICS.

[By

Nimblefoot.

FOOTBALL.

PONSONBY V. SELWYN. This match was played’ on Saturday last and resulted, as was expected, in an easy win for Ponsonby by 15 points to 4. The play was not very* brilliant, the only redeeming feature being Ponsohby’s passing. Conway and Braund were the best of the Ponsonby backs, while Mills, Caulton and Hobson divided the honours in the forward division. Of the Selwyn backs Hill was faraway the best, and seldom has such really good tackling been seen here -Peace, a junior player, also displayed good tackling, bringing Conway down time after time, but unfortunately had to retire early in the game. Kingsley also played well; and of the forwards, Murray (who played up to his last years form) and Penalligan were the best. PONSONBY 11. V. GRAFTON 11. This match excited more interest than the senior match, as the question of who should hold the Junior Cup for this year depended on the result. The first half was evenly contested but Grafton fell away in the second spell, and victory rested with Ponsonby by 6 points to nil. HERALD V. STAR. This match was played at Ellerslie on Saturday and resulted in a win for the Herald by 7 points to 1. Hawkes Bay beat Gisborne by 2 points to nil. Nelson v. Marlborough. The former won by 6 points to 3.

A match was played on the Ellerslie Football ground on Monday last between a team composed of trainers and jockeys and Ponsonby 11. The match, which was very exciting throughout, ended in a draw, each side scoring seven .points. “Major” Katterns, the well-known lightweight jockey, captained the “horsey” team, while R.jMcConnell led the Ponsonby boys. For the home team the “ Major” and McMinimin played especially well, the last-named making some excellent runs and showing great proficiency in the art of fending. For Ponsonby, Whites'ide and McConnell were the most prominent. Tries were obtained for the trainers and jockeys by Carey, Murphy, Hope, and Pearson, one of which was converted into a goal. McConnell, Samways, Whiteside, and another obtained tries for the visitors, one of which was converted by McConnell. After the match the Ponsonby boys were regaled with refreshments at the invitation of the jockeys and trainers at the Ellerslie Hotel, and after doing justice to the good things there provided, they returned home well satisfied with their afternoons sport which had proved a most enjoyable outing.

The Ponsonby Club by their wins on Saturday have secured both the Senior and Junior Cups for this season. This is the second time they have .carried off the double. Gordon Cricket Club hold their annual general meeting to-night. They will not. be so strong as last year, having lost the services of H. B. Lusk, R. B. Lusk and H. P. Kissling. The Handicap Bicycle Road Race promoted by Mr. Service was brought off on Saturday afternoon. The course was from Panmure to Parnell, a distance of about eight miles. Eleven cyclists faced the starter, and, after an excellent race, Mr. H. Short (3 min. start) was returned the winner, having only won by a couple of yards from Mr. L. Reynolds min. start) after a desperate finish. Mr, J. G. Lecky (r| min. start) was a fair third. Several spills occurred during the race, Messrs. C. Waters, H. Nicholson, A. Gledhill and A. G. Buchanan all coming down. The last-named, who started on the scratch mark, had the bad luck to break his machine, or it is expected he would have troubled the winner. Short’s time for the distance was'3B minutes. The Searle Memorial Challenge Cup was rowed on August 2nd, in three heats, the first two heats were from Putney to Barnes and the last from Barnes to Putney. The final was won by J. J. Corcoran (Surrey United Rowing Club), C. J. Perkins (Newcastle) second. It was a curious coincidence that the winner of each heat had the Surrey side.