All-round Sport

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 150, 8 June 1893, Page 8

All-round Sport

By

“Milo.”

Football.

FIXTURES. Saturday, June 10. SENIORS. Suburbs v. Parnell Grafton v. Ponsonby SECONDS. Newton v. Grafton Ponsonby v. Suburbs Parnell v. City THIRDS. Suburbs v. Grafton A Grafton B v. Parnell Ponsonby v. City The threatening aspect of the weather on Saturday afternoon last was responsible for the poor attendance at Epsom. In fact, many were of opinion the matches would have been postponed, more especially when it became known that the Racing Club had altered the date of their fixture. JHowbver, the club contests were continued, and the ground was not in so bad a state as might have been expected. Ponsonby managed to defeat Suburbs by 2 points to nil, and City only succeeded in making a draw with Grafton, greatly to everybody’s surprise. The Ponsonby-Suburbs match resulted in the former winning by 2 points to nil. Nothstanding the heavy state of the ground the play at times was of a very interesting description. Suburbs had the advantage of the services of Siddle and McKenzie, while Ponsonby’s team was rather weaker than usual. The difficulty which the players experienced in holding the ball prevented numerous scores being gained. It was generally understood that the Union had devised some method by which the match would be' started punctually; whatever the method may be it did not work very well on Saturday, as it was an absolute impossibility to distinguish the players, or even to know where the ball was, so dark had it become when this match terminated.

The Suburbs taam did some very clean passing, from which they, however, gained no advantage, owing to the men passing before they had run a single yard in a forward direction.

The pick of the Suburbs forwards on Saturday was Major, who played a hard and clever game. Charlie Stichbury again played a splendid full-back game. In fact Ponsonby may thank him for having averted defeat, as had it not been for the cool and clever manner in which he stopped some of the forward rushes a score must certainly have resulted.

Andrews and Dacre were frequently prominent in the forward rushes. Masefield was in rare form. His kicking and collaring were very serviceable. “ Masey” actually passed to Scott. If he only went in for this passing game he would be about the host three-quarter back in Auckland. Neither Herrold nor Rhodes were seen to much advantage on Saturday. Rhodes interfered with Braund when the latter did not have the ball, and Ponsonby were granted a free kick. The moral is “ not is obstruct a player who knows how and when to appeal.” Ramsay and, Braund played well together. It is strange how such men as these are overlooked in the face of the brilliant games they play every week. Siddle was not in the best of form, owing, no doubt, to want of practice. In Marshall and Absolum Suburbs possesses two very fast men, who will make things rather lively on a dry day. Langsford, Flynn and Green were about the best of the Ponsonby forwards. Flynn would have scored on one occasion had he not passed. Unselfishness is a good feature, but there are two instances in which it is wise to be selfish. (1) When you have no opponent to pass ; (2) when there is no member ofyourown team to whom you can pass. This was the case with Mick Flynn. The place kicking of both teams on Saturday was very much off. The Suburbs full-back was very safe on Saturday. Warnock kicked well, but he still refuses to take part in the Ponsonby passing runs. He may say he does not get the pass, but it is his own fault, for he does not get into his position. Both Suburbs and Ponsonby have a lot to learn on the line-out play. Why not copy Parnell ? “Dandy” Cole’s exclusion from the New Zealand team was a great shock to the City forward. City Second have secured a slashing forward named Anderson from Wanganui. They intend playing him next Saturday. '

City is said to be anxious to have their match with Newton on Saturday next postponed. Willis, of the City Second, plays a very good game at times, but should pass more. Mr Jack Webster made a capital referee in the Ponsonby—Suburbs match. Fred Murray says if he ever gets to Australia he will say good-bye to Maorfland. Albie Braund was in something like his old form last Saturday. Marshall, of the Suburbs, continues to play up to his reputation. On Saturday he ran, tackled and kicked in great style. Footballers would like to know how Billy Dickey comes to be qualified toplay for Suburbs. The A uckland Rugby Union, in answer to an enquiry from Northern Wairoa footballers, sent the following letter along which will be of interest to local reader^: —“J. Stall worthy, Esq., hon. secretary Wairoa Rugby Union, Aratapu.—-Dear sir,—We have received a letter from W. W. Holford of Aratapu asking for an opinion as to whether he is eligible to play as a junior this season. He states: ‘ Our Union consider that I being a senior player last year, cannot play as a junior this year, my club not thinking me fit to play as a senior.’ As our custom is that all requests for rulings, &c., shall come through the Union directly interested, I am instructed to inform you what the ruling of the committee would be if a similar case occurred in connection with our own Cup matches, viz.—if the circumstances are as stated by Mr Holford and we are correct in assuming that the junior team for which he wishes to play is the second fifteen of his own club, the committee consider him eligible to play as a junior. Our interpretation of Bye-Law ; 29 is that when a club has chosen its best 15 men as a first team, any members remaining are entitled to play in the second team. I have written Mr Holford referring him to you for an answer to his enquiry. — Yours truly, G. H. Dixon, secretary.” My Taranaki correspondent writes: — “On Thursday last the Stratford and Star first fifteens met in the second round of the Cup matches, the game being played on the Star ground. In the Stratford ranks were six Taranaki reps., namely, A. Bayly, R. Lusk, Davies, Sangster, Pearson, C. Bayly, and Coutts. The country team averaged 141bs heavier than their opponents, but in spite of rep.' men and weight the Star dusted their jackets (or rather guernseys) to the tune of 9 points to nil In the first spell S. Humphries, the Star captain, scored a try, and in the second spell H. Ford add A. Humphries scored a try each, the latter converting the one scored by himself. The Stratford backs, especially A. Bayly and R. Lusk, made several determined efforts to score, but the collaring and defence of the Star men were too superior. Bob Lusk’s brother played full-back for the Stratford. The Star players were good all round, and it would be difficult to pick out any for special distinction. Robinson, at full - back, proved himself a good man, his marking and kicking being excellent. L. Allen and Kingsley played well at three-quar-ter, and A. Humphries played his usually serviceable game at centre-half. A. George, Ryan, and Rutherford headed some good forward rushes, but I must admit that the whole eight forwards played so well that it would be difficult to pick out any one as being especially prominent. The Star play Clifton in about three weeks, when a great battle is expected. So far the Star are unbeaten, having beaten Clifton once and Stratford twice. On Queen’s Birthday the Star 11. met Tukapa in the Junior Cup round, the former winning by 4 points (2 tries l to nil I forgot to mention that the Stratford-Star match was unnecessarily rough, several of the players on each side being temporarily laid out.”

At last the Selection Committee, Consisting of Messrs. Henderson (Auckland), Logan (Napier), and Campbell (Wellington), have made their choice, and it has given satisfaction, but, of course, there is the usual heartburnings in certain quarters. Auckland has five representatives, and 'out of these Parnell claims three, Newton one, and Suburbs one. The team is as follows:—Fullback: A. D’Arcy, Wairarapa, 13'8. Three-quarter backs: A. Good, Taranaki, 12,0 ; F. M. Jervis, Auckland, 11:8; G. Harper/Nelson, 11.7. Half-backs: D. Gage, Wellington, 12.2 ; Biitland, West Coast, 12.2; W. Elliott, Auckland, 12.4; M. Herrold, Aiickland, lt.o. Forwards: Lainbie, Taranaki, 13.6) A. Stuart. Wellington, 11.9) S. Cockroft,

Manawatu.’ 'I2AO; W. Pringle, WelHhgton, s 12.2; Ti Hiroa. Hawke’s Bay, 12.7; W. McKenzie, Wairarapa, 13.0; . Gardiner, South Canterbury, 11.4; T. R. ■Ellison, Wellington, 13.8; C. Speight, Auckland, 12.5; F. Murray. Auckland, 13.4. Emergencies—Back : A Bayly, Taranaki. Forwards : Mowlem, Manawatu ; Howard, Hawke’s Bay. Only 18 out of 20 men have been selected, it being uncertain whether a certain couple can ■■ I riFpr City Second the scorers were Willis (2) and Leikis (1). Owing to the wet state of the ball none of the City Second tries were converted. Mr Twiname acted as referee in the junior match between City and Newton. City Second beat Newton on Saturday by 6 points to 5. The biggest surprise of all on Saturday last; /was the fact of Grafton making a draw with City. The day had all to do it.?) ja rur >“i / • . J. TParnell Second beat Ponsonby Juniors by 15 points to 4. Greatly to everyone’s surprise “ Buff ” was left; out s of the N.Z. team.

Charley Mitchell gives the following version of how Hall and Slavin came to be matched :—On the night of Hall’s return to England, Slavin and Hall met at a well-known hostelry on the Surrey side /Qf{.the water and had several drinks. They had more than was wise, and became very talkative, ending by “ snackiWg ’’{each. Other. > Replying to a taunting remark from Hall, Slavin said he could ; lick Hall in three rounds, to which the last-named replied that he could not do itin three years ; whereupon Hall rushed at Slavin and struck him on the face. Slavin did not retaliate, but remarked that, he would get even at some future time., Afterwards both cooled down somewhat, and £5 aside was posted with Mr Calder to bind a match. "Warner, the middle-weight champion of New Jersey, expressed his intention of standing before Robert Fitzsimmons for four rounds on March 30th, at Kernan’s Monumental Theatre, Baltimore. Warner was disposed of in just one minute. Fitzsimmons tapped his antagonist lightly on the right side of the head with his left, and then gave a short, jobbing blow on the left jaw with his right. Warner got up in about eight seconds and walked off 'the stage. At a meeting of the Plumpton Committee of the Dunedin Jockey Club, held on May 20th, the dispute at the last meeting between Messrs Black and Kett (remitted back by the general committee of the club with power to act) was fully considered, together with a letter from Mr Black asking the committee to revise the evidence before endorsing the action of the; National Coursing Club, and a petition from a few dog owners asking for a change of judge. After discussion it was resolved, “ That the petition be npt entertained, and that Mr Kett be retained as jfidge”; “That Mr Black, in place of being called on to apologise, be censured for his conduct at the late meeting.” The next intercolonial eight-oared race will ! take place in Melbourne in May, 1894 , .' I?,U i '-''' W. L. Murdoch, whose non-inclusion in the Australian team at present playing inEngland has been the subject of some discussion, has written to the London Sportsman concerning the matter. The famous Australian batsman, who is evidently very muchi annoyed at being left out of the team, states that during the period of its formation correspondence passed between himself and Mr V. Cohen, the manggei l , in which the latter invited Murdoch to join the combination, and

that the invitation was accepted. Mur"doqh . was, - in consequence, surprised when on the announcement of the final selection he found that his name was not included. Replying to Murdoch’s letter, Mr Cohen has written to the Sportsman,

explaining the negotiations which took place and the circumstances which led to Murdoch’s non-inclusion. Mr Cohen states that his early letters to Murdoch dealt with various matters of detail con-

cerning. the probable personnel of the team, and that he finally wrote requesting Murdoch to state what amount he would require for expenses. That question he avers was never replied to, and when the selection was finally made the committee who chose the Australian pl Ayer s'were unanimously in favour of Murdoch’s exclusion. Wallace Ross, the oarsman, who is now thirty-six years of age, has arrived in England in company with Captain Paul Boypton, who was under engagement to

aTMa V 3 d 1 ’ ?~fV •. control a great water carnival that was to,be. opened at Earl’s Court in May Ross states that he is unable to say whether he will row a race in England. The Dunedin case alluded to by Mr Justice Conolly in his charge to the Grand Jury in the case of manslaughter against Nicholson and others, came before Mr Carew, R.M., at the Dunedin Police Court on May 20. John William Dix and Sidney J. Williams were charged with unlawfully intending to fight at the City Hall on Saturday night, May 20, and the informant prayed that they be bound over to keep the peace. Mr Carew asked the accused if they consented to be bound ovdr to keep the peace, or if it was their wish that the case be heard ? Accused Williams said : “ I wish to state that we did not intend to fight to a finish. The person who published the bills made a mistake.”—Mr Carew: Have you any objection to be bound over to keep the peace ? If you object the case will be gone into. —The accused : We are satisfied to be bound over. —Mr Carew : You quite understand. If you say you’re content to be bound over to keep the peace you will have to enter into a bond to keep the peace. If you object the case can be heard, and then we will see whether you should be bound over to keep the peace or not. If you are bound over to keep the peace for six or twelve months, whichever we decide, and if you commit any offence during that period the bonds will be estreated. —Accused Williams : We did not intend to fight to a finish. The bills were worded wrongly. —lnspector Pardy said he would be satisfied if the accused were bound over in their own recognisances. He simply wished to prevent the fight taking place. —The Bench decided not to hear any statement from the accused if they consented to be bound over. They would be bound over in the sum of to keep the peace for 12 months W. Bates, the old Yorkshire cricketing professional, does not seem to have got on very well with the cricketers at Johannesberg, South Africa. He was engaged by the Wanderers O.C. at a salary of £3OO a year, but owing to some disagreement he has been paid off. A writer to Cricket of April 13th sums up the performances of the various Australian teams that have visited England, and gives a complete table .of the averages, reckoning in the whole of the matches played by all the teams, together with the match Smokers v. Non-smokers at Lords, in 1884, in which several of the Australians took place on each side, and which was indeed arranged chiefly in order to see them pitted against one another. W. L. Murdoch heads the list of batting averages with 26*3 runs per innings, having scored 5385 runs in 225 innings (18 times not out). The others who have averages of over 20 runs per innings are:—H. H. Massie 24’37, C. Bannerman 24’2, J. E. Barrett 22’51, G. Giffen 21’124, H. J. Scott 21’70, P. S. M’Donnell 21’72, T. Horan 20‘63. The leading bowling averages are : 0. Turner 11 398, F. Spofforth 12’368, H. F. Boyle 13’103, J. J. Ferris 13’286, T. Garrett 14’278, G. I aimer 15.266, G. Giffen 18’143.

Ryan, of Chicago, and Dawson, of Australia, fought half-a-dozen rounds at Chicago on April 8 th. Ryan weighed 10.2 and Dawson lOst £lb. No decision was given as to the result, but it was generally admitted that Ryan had a shade the best of the fight. The outcome of the meeting was sportsman named Daly deposited 1000 dole (£200) to back Dawson against Ryan for '5OOO dols (£1000) aside and the largest purse offered. The deposit was covered by Ryan’s backers.

In view of the definition of the law re glove . fighting laid down-by Mr Justice Conolly in connection with the Nichol-son-Forgie case, the Premier has issued a circular to the police authorities throughout the colony instructing them to suppress all public glove contests in future. The Minister gives it as his opinion that more deaths have resulted from glove fights than fair stand-up fights with bare fists. The Premier explains in his circular that this is so because in the glove fights the combatants endeavour to strike at a vital part to check circulation or give a shock to the nervous system by a blow, indirectly but immediately reacting on the spine, whereas, in the ordinary English prize fight, the object was to close up an opponent’s'eyes or to knock him out of wind, and so disable him. . After this lucid explanation' one may well ask the Premier “ Who made thee a judge over /Israel ?V'tin these matters. : ' !l!1