CHRISTCHURCH ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume I, Issue 49, 2 July 1891, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH ATHLETICS.

(from our own correspondent.)

Saturday last was a perfect day for football, and all three of senior contests were productive of good games. At North Park most interest was centered in the Merivale— Canterbury College match, and those present were treated to a fine exhibition of football. From the kick off Merivale took the aggressive, and by a series of rushes kept their opponents on the defensive. The outcome of this was a try obtained by Evans, which was converted. Shortly after this Hoar further increased the Merivale score by potting a goal, and he was followed by Horner securing another try. These reverses put the College on their mettle, but it was evidently not their day out, and beyond a goal from a penalty kick they were unable to score. The defeat was altogether unexpected, and the only way the College men account for it is that. they have just passed through an exanlination which has sapped their mental strength. A most enjoyable game took place between Linwood and Christchurch, and although the former were defeated by three goals to a goal and two tries, it is only fair to state that they had exceedingly hard luck throughout the game. Soon after start of play Christchurch caught their opponents napping, and in as many minutes had ran up a score of 9 points. After this they had all the worst of the game, and were continually on the defensive, but at call of time they were still 4 points to the good. Those old rivals, East Christchurch and Sydenham, met in their return game at the latter’s grounds, where after a most unsatisfactory game the former came out victorious by 7 points to 2. Play was of a most open nature, and the ball was continually on the move. Sydenham had altogether the worst of luck, as they were robbed of two undoubted tries by the referee’s adverse decisions. Towards the finish of the game the spectators became so enraged at the referee’s partiality that he was openly abused, and to make matters worse several of the players lost their heads, and gave him an exceedingly warm time. After the game a crowd of spectators followed the official to his home, hooting and hustling him through the town. This was laid before the Rugby Union at a special meeting, the result being that three of the Sydenham players, Sincock, Donnelly and Petrie, were suspended for the rest of the season, while two others, Duncan and Thompson, were required to apologise. The matter is not yet cleared up, as Sydenham intend to protest against the decision, as the Union would not take evidence in their defence. Public sympathy is all in favour of Sydenham, as although a number of the East men were quite as bad as their opponents no notice was taken of them whatever.

“Augur” writing lately to the Australasian makes the following observations on the difficulty of sporting_ tipsters —“ Pressmen could pick many winners if all owners would let their horses “go,” but the “strings” are on so often that one becomes befogged as well as disgusted at the in an out running of numerous animals whose owners should be above finessing or chicanery. It is not alone the little man whose representative runs erratic courses. Some, of the big wigs are equally capable, and it is not difficult to select the men that race for sport alone. There are many owners who can give points to the designing portion of the ring and beat them.” If “Augur” finds it difficult to select winners when he has the betting ring to guide him, which as a rule is very sensitive, what must it be in a colony where the totalizator is used, especially in New Zealand. One can safely say there is more “ curious” running here than in any part. Taking owners from the highest to the lowest, there are few that run straight throughout the season.