All-round Sport

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 129, 12 January 1893, Page 10

All-round Sport

CRICKET.

Last Saturday the Cup matches were continued on a wicket rendered dull and slow by the recent heavy rains Still the pitch upon which Gordon and United played was hardly a sufficient excuse for the poor display of batting. Gordon took ' the innings, but Macpherson with his ’ dodgy deliveries nonplussed pretty nearly everybody. Kenderdine (11 not out), ' Kelly (8), and Goulstone (5), being the ' only batsman who played him with any confidence. Dan Lynch made a mar- J vellous catch at short leg off a hard hit of Kelly’s. The ball forced his hands open and stuck between his knees. Gordon were ail out for the miserable total of 34, and United at first seemed likely to do no better, Harvie, the two McPhersons, Lusk, Hay and Miller falling for very few runs. However, Dan Lynch (14) and Stemson (32 not out) by good hitting raised the score to 79 for 7 wickets when the bell rang. Hawkins (2) is the other not out. Moresby proved a valuable change, getting two wickets with his patent erratics. At present United hold a mortgage over the match, but Gordon still have the equity of redemption. Onslow v. Parnell. —Onslow were put in first by their opponents, but proved their ability to negotiate a slow wicket by amassing 144, to which Lundon contributed a well hit 75 (not out), Walton 29, and Robinson and Kelly 10 each, being the other double-figure men. Parnell have 31 for one wicket, Young being still in with 25 to his credit. For Parnell Pritchard bowled with great success, securing six wickets. Juniors. Wanderers v. North Shore.—Wanderers batting first on the Shore ground compiled 85 —Smith 26, Wakerly 16, Lavers 10. Burgess bowled well for the Shore, capturing six wickets. North Shore made 43, no one reaching double figures. • Belmont v. Pitt-street MuTtrAii.— Pitt-g Street batting first compiled 45, to which Stichbury contributed 23. Smith took y wickets at a small cost. Belmont put together 77 —Morrison 23, Thomas (not out) 19, McHugh 17. Wilkinson and Holdsworth bowled best for Pittstreet. ♦

After all the Bowling Tournament did not come off, the weather being so unfavourable on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. This was the more unfortunate as a large number of bowlers had come from the South. However the Auckland bowlers treated them as hospitably as they could, despite the bad weather, and showed them over ,a good many of the local institutions. A most enjoyable smoke concert was given to the visitors at the Choral Hall on Wednesday evening. On Thursday a meeting of the Tournament Committee was held, when the following resolutions were agreed to, “ That owing to the heavy weather, and in view of the fact that many visiting bowlers have already left Auckland, and that that number will be largely increased before Saturday, it is advisable that the present tournament be adjourned indefinitely.” “The Auckland Bowling Tournament Committee suggest to the Council of the Northern Bowling Association that the tournament at Auckland having been necessarily postponed, owing to the inclement weather, they should consult the different clubs to ascertain whether it would be practicable to hold a tournament at some later period of the year, —if so, when and where.” “This committee deeply regrets that the very complete arrangements made by the Auckland Club have been frustrated by the inclement weather, and desires to express its sympathy with their disappointment, and also a sense of their generous hospitality.” “That this committee desires to record its sense of tha indefatigable exertions of Mr Gorrie in his capacity\as secretary for the Tournament Committee.” “ That a vote of thanks be accorded to Mr Paul for the able manner in which he has conducted the business of this committee.” At the second annual meeting of the New Zealand Yachting Association held at Lyttelton on the 28th ult. Mr Chapman, of Wellington, was re - elected vice-president and Mr Biss, of Wellington,r hon. sec. Messrs. R. J. Scott (Christchurch) and T. Henderson (Auckland) were elected vice-presidents. The 3 championships for the season of 1893-94 were allotted to Auckland. It was resolved that the question of the alteration

of rating for compensation be referred to the Executive Council with a request that they would fully investigate Rule 14, and report to a special meeting of delegates on the whole rules of the Association.

Hall has signed the articles which have been sent from America to bind a match between himself and Fitzsimmons under the auspices of the Crescent City Athletic Club at New Orleans ; the contest, of course, to take place at New Orleans before the members of the club named. The following are the leading features of the articles :—The club to give a purse of 40,000 dols. (how much out of it for the loser has not been fixed) for a fight to a finish between the men, Queensberry rules, 50Z gloves, each man to weigh 11.6, either man overweight to forfeit 2500 dols.. the club to elect referee, the fight to take place on or about March 1 next, each man to deposit 2500 dols., to be forfeited by the man not putting in an appearance on the day. The death is announced in England of Mr Thomas Melville, owner of Stanfordham and other good horses, as well as of many fine greyhounds. One of his best dogs was Melfort, whom he sold some time ago to go to Australia, and who there won the Australian Waterloo Cup. A match for the aquatic championship of England, £4OO, and the Sportsman Challenge Cup, has been definitely arranged between George Hosmer, of America, and George Bubear, of Hammersmith. It will come off in January. A later cablegram from England states that Wallace Ross has challenged Hanlan or the winner of the race between Hosmer and Bubear to row for the Sculling Championship of the World. Martin Costello and Alec Greggams were to have fought at the Coney Island Club, New York, on November 28th. Abe Hicken, the well - known Melbourne ex-pugilist, was 51 years old on December 31st. He fought his first battle on the turf when he was 15. The London Sportsman of November nth states that the Australian Tommy Williams is prepared to concede 41b to any man in England and box him for a-side under National Sporting Club rules. Writing to that journal Williams says : —“ I am extremely sorry that Nickless declines to give me a match, after being compelled to forfeit to him owing to illness. I would like to make Nickless the following offer. Providing he will make a bet of or £5OO on the result, and agree for the loser to take out of any purse the National Sporting Club may put up, he may weigh at 2 o’clock on the day of the contest. I only want a chance, and I think Nickless, as rost champion of England, ought to defend his title.” It will be remembered that when Nickless and Williams were last matched the latter had to forfeit through illness. A cablegram to the Melbourne papers under date of Boxing Day says . —“John L. Sullivan, the ex-champion of the boxing ring, is reported to be seriously ill. He is suffering from heart disease. Sullivan has decided to retire from the ring, and will engage in no more boxing contests.”

Another cablegram of the same date says : —“ The settlement of the pugilistic championship of the world is exciting great interest in sporting circles in America. Corbett some time ago definitely declined a meeting with Goddard, when the latter challenged him after the defeat of Sullivan. The sporting press, however, have contended that Corbett cannot afford to ignore the pretensions of a pugilist of Goddard’s reputation, and the New York Police Gazette has gone so far as to maintain that according to the rules governing the championship Corbett’s refusal to fight Goddard practically surrenders the championship to the Australian. Goddard has no desire to take the championship by default, and to settle the matter finally he has put up 3000dols. at Chicago as deposit to fight Corbett. In the event of Corbett refusing Goddard will claim the championship of the world, and be prepared to defend the title against all comers. The Australian intends to take an early opportunity of challenging Charles Mitchell.” Griffo, the champion feather-weight of the world, has met his match at last. Seldom has a boxing match in Sydney occasioned the excitement which prevailed at Darlinghurst on December 20th, when Griffo and Jerry Marshall fought for a side wager and the gate receipts. Griffo felt so confident of thrashing the clever negro that he did not take the trouble to train, contenting himself with the preparation which he said weeks before was all he would require—a Turkish bath, a seidlitz powder, and a shave. He

did no solid work, and when he entered the ring he looked flabby and unfitted to fight. Marshall, on the contrary, had implicitly followed the instructions of the capable general Stepper Patterson, who left him well nigh in a state of perfection. Marshall forced the fighting, and had Griffo next to beaten in the 12th round. Then (says an exchange) the crowd went mad. The rowdies overleapt the seats and were at the ropes. Now or never it was Marshall’s chance. Griffo was helpless. If he could get in one or two smashers now the fight was his. The darkey fought all he knew. The blood streamed down the champion’s ear, but when he had recovered, he made a violent attack, which, however, was harmless. A red-hot rally ensued, and it looked as if Griffo would be knocked out. Jerry had matters all his own way, and was fighting as cool as possible. He tried hard to get the right home, but failed, and the gong gave Griffo a rest, which was invaluable. It seemed simply a matter of a few minutes to settle the champion, and the rowdy element in the crowd leaped on the stage and appeared resolved to prevent another round. Just as the men were ordered to fight again the tumult became so great that the police feared a scene, and without delay ordered the fight to stop. The ring was rushed, and the referee, who was called upon to give his decision, hesitated Griffo’s seconds and several roughs surrounded him and the latter, with menacing gestures, clamoured wildly, “ Griffo won, give it to Griffo.” “ Yes,” was the weak reply of the referee, who valued his personal safety, “ I fancy Griffo had the best of it; I give the fight to Griffo.” Loud cheers from the gang around him greeted the decision, but the impartial section of the spectators who had retained their seats groaned with vehement dissatisfaction “ I’ve a word to say,” said Jerry, advancing unassumingly to the ropes, “ I’m not satisfied with this fight. I’m not afraid of Griffo, and I’ll fight him at any moment for £500.” “ Bravo, darkey,” was the greeting he received from the friendly section of the audience, but the gang yelled madly, “ Oh, shut up, you’ll do a stroke. Be careful or Griffo’ll stiffen yer in a single round.” Then a few friends surrounded the darkey, and hurried him to his room. America is determined to get on top in the athletic world, and the New York Athletic Club’s final meeting on October 8 resulted in the records being again altered. M. Sweeney, of the Xavier A.A., headed W. B. Page’s world’s record (amateur) of 6ft 4in for the high jump by just a quarter of an inch, while the second man, Herrick, of the Manhattan A.C. landed over 6ft 2in. Schwaner, in the standing broad jump, cleared 10ft 9|in, one-eighth of an inch more than M. W. Ford. They are mighty fine measurers in America, perhaps, but such records as these lead one to doubt their genuineness. Mitchell threw the hammer away 145 ft f-in, and E. W. Goff in the long jump cleared 23ft 6in, but half an inch short of record. Most interest, however, was centred in the 300 yards race, between Harry Jewett, of Detroit, the American champion, and E. W. Allen, of New York. They ran neck and neck for 200 yards, but Allen got away in the last hundred and won nicely in 32sec.

The New Zealand Cycling Championship Meeting, which was concluded at Dunedin on Saturday last, was well attended. The Canterbury rider Hayward took all the championships but one, in which he made a dead heat with Kerr. Reynolds, the Aucklander, was second to Hayward in the Half-mile Championship, the Sydneyite Kerr being third. Reynolds was also second to Hayward in the One Mile and Twenty-five Mile Championships. In all three races he made good finishes of it. A meeting of the Auckland Regatta Committee was held at the Waitemata Hotel on Monday evening. After collectors had been appointed to canvass for subscriptions it was resolved to compile and print a statement of the receipts and expenditure and a list of the subscribers to the regatta for distribution as soon as possible after the conclusion of the regatta. Some discussion ensued regarding the rating of yachts in the races, but it was decided not to interfere in the matter. It was resolved to issue tickets for the flagship on the same terms as usual, available for the regatta on the 30th inst. The rowing races are to be held at Pine Island on the 28th.