All-round Sport

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 151, 15 June 1893, Page 8

All-round Sport

By

“Milo.”

Football. ■' FIXTURES. SENIORS. June 17.—Grafton v. Parnell Newton v. City SECONDS. June 17.—Newton ▼. Ponsonby Grafton v. City June 24. Newton v. Parnell Grafton v. Ponsonby THIRDS. June 17.—Grafton A v. Ponsonby City v. Parnell June 24. —Grafton A v. Grafton B Parnell v. Ponsonby FOURTHS. June 17.—Native Bose v. Oxford (Surrey Hills) Clifton v. Hobson z„ » Rosebery v. Surrey . „ June 24.—Hobson v. Oxford (Domain) Rosebery v. Native Rose (Surrey Hills) Surrey v. Clifton ~ » It was by no means, a surprise when the Grafton boys succeeded in lowering Ponsonby’s colours on Saturday by two points to zm’Z. Anyone who witnessed the game Grafton played against City must have known that on a similar kind of day the former would take a power of beating, and also that the City team had ‘ lumps of luck ’ in averting defeat. Saturday last was even a worse day than' that on which the Grafton-City match took place, and as Ponsonby were compelled to play several juniors in their forward division,' the result of the match was, as above stated, in no way a surprise. The slippery condition of the ball and ground caused, as was to be expected, any brilliant play to be almost impossible; but the even nature of the contest evoked the excitement and enthusiasm which invariably accompany a scientific exhibition of the game. There can be little or no doubt that had it been a fine day the Ponsonby team would have scored on several occasions, but we must accept the day as it is and the game as it results. Grafton’s victory was in no way a decisive one, and taking into consideration the Ponsonby team were handicapped by by their backs (on whom they rely) being unable to hold their feet or the ball, I look forward to the result of the GraftonPonsonby contest in the second round being reversed. Mr Gardiner acted as referee. The Grafton-Ponsonby match was played on No. i ground. This is the first time Grafton has played in front of the Stand. Clayton at full was a great help to Grafton. He kicks with both judgment and effect, while his sure tackling robbed Ponsonby of several scores. Of the Grafton forwards Binney and McMillan were about the most conspicuous. The former evidently believes there are > times in the game when a rest is advisable. Langsford' again played a good sterling game. Keep, on, Vic; your games \ • will yet be fully appreciated. . Warnock showed that he knows what to do with the 'ball when he gets it. His run o,n Saturday was a brilliant one. ] Hay had a lot of work to do on Saturday and acquitted himself well. Whiteside’s superior speed gained him his try. Apart from this he was hot the Whiteside of old. Scott keeps improving each Saturday. Who burst the ball in the PonsonbyGrafton match ? Masefield in defence is stronger than any back we have in Auckland. In the scrum Grafton were too strong for Ponsonby. The City-Newton match will attract a deal of interest on Saturday next. If Newton’s team is strengthened to the extent it is supposed to be they will just about win. The Parnell v. Suburbs match was played on No. 2 ground, Mr O. Wells acting as referee. This game, as is evidently the rule at Epsom this season, was late in starting, and Parnell forced a few minutes after the kick off. Parnell then rushed the ball down the ground, but a long drop by Suburbs averted the danger. Parnell once more got a fast forward rush, and despite the efforts of McKenzie and Dacre got well into Suburbs 25. Jervis and Kissling now showed up well for Parnell, but Dacre responded and relieved Suburbs by a good dribble. Parnell got on another fine rush and compelled • > Suburbs to force. After the kick-out Parnell still kept up the attack, but Suburbs responded and kicked into touch. From the line out Parnell came along with a brilliant forward rush, and Elliott picked up and sent the ball on to Jervis, who passed to Kissling, who after a short run got through and scored first blood for the Marodhs. Jervis missed the kick at goal. Parnell 2, Suburbs o.

Suburbs now pulled themselves together, and Rhodes got on a useful dribble, but the Parnell forwards were not to be denied and responded with a fine rush, compelling Suburbs to force. Some fast play ensued, and Suburbs gained ground by a long kick and fast following up by the forwards. From a scrum Suburbs came through, and carrying the ball over the line compelled Parnell to force. Half time was then called. Suburbs kicked off, and Jervis returned with a long punt and Suburbs were once more on the defensive. Good play on their part, however, brought the ball back to the centre. McKenzie and Rhodes gaining a lot of ground for their side. The same pair got on another rush, and Rhodes dribbled past all the Parnell men, but owing to the ball being so slippery he could not pick up, and the Parnell backs were on him before he could score. Parnell now got on another rush, from which Hodgson scored a try, but the kick at goal was a failure. Parnell 4, Suburbs o. From the kick out Jervis got the ball and made a useful run, and Rhodes responded with a long punt. Another forward rush by Parnell brought the ball back to Suburbs 25, and a long kick by Jervis compelled Suburbs to force. , After the kick out Rhodes and McKenzie made a short run, but Parnell responded and swept the ball over the line and compelled Suburbs to force. After the kick-out some exciting play took place, Jervis eventually scoring Parnell’s third try. He took the kick himself but failed—Parnell 6, Suburbs o. The game now got very exciting, Suburbs making great efforts to score, but Parnell were too strong, and the game ended with no change in the score —Parnell 6, Suburbs o.

In the Junior matches Parnell beat City by 5 points to nil. “ Proteus ” writes me from Wellington as under: — “In the Championship matches played last Saturday the Ponekes had a hard srtuggle with Petone, the game ending in a draw, each side scoring 5 points. In the Athletic-Wellington match the former proved victorious by 6 points to love. The contests for the Junior Cup were played in terrible weather— cold and exceedingly stormy, which to the football enthusiasts was rather unpleasant. The Melrose 11. defeated the Wellington 11. by a large margin, the scores being Melrose 12, Wellington 5. The winners are a picked team for this contest. The Selwyns beat Petone 11. by two points to nil after an uninteresting game. The Rugbys were defeated by St. Patrick’s College by 11 to 6. The Rugbys played a splendid game throughout, although the College frequently obstructed the play with their wrangling about certain points of the game. The spectators concluded they were playing under rules peculiarly their own as on one occasion for the St. Patricks rushing the Rugbys were awarded a free kick. The “ Pats” contested the point and the referee ordered a scrum. If this isn’t a new departure in football, how long has such a law been in force ? The Rugby’s Second were beaten by 2 points in the match with the Wellington Third.”

During the progress of a football match, at West Maitland on May 27th, a young player named Cobb suddenly expired. The match was between the Centennial (of which deceased was a member) and another club, and was being stubbornly contested when the accident occurred.

My Napier correspondent writes: —On Saturday last the Napier v. Caledonians match was played at Farndon Park. The weather during the past week having been so inclement the Recreation Ground was unfit to play on, and players had to journey out to Farndon. The Caledonians won the junior cup last season, and have started very well as seniors, having met and defeated the Pirates and Te Aute Clubs. Then success is due in a very great measure to their systematic training and combination. Last year’s champions (Napier), however, proved too good for the erstwhile juniors, and defeated them by five points to nil. The score cannot be taken as a criterion of the game, as the Napier men had the best of it all through, and had hard luck in not scoring on several occasions, whilst the Caledonians were not dangerous at any time during the game. Napier was not playing its full strength, Barnett and Page being laid up with the measles, and Ryan was unable to get away. Their places were filled by E. Rudman, Dixon and Ludsbrook. The game was principally a forward one, and the Caledonians were not able to hold their own against their opponents. Wright made a neat dribble and scored between the posts, and Howard placed an unmistakeable goal. For the

winners Wilson and Whyte (forward), and Howard, Donnelly and Bennett (back), were far and away the best. The play of Weisman and Bowes at three-quarters was decidedly weak and not up to senior form. Cattanach and Ludbrook showed signs of shirking the scrum For the losers Laws at three-quarter played the best game on the field, and was well backed up by Macfarlane, while Simmonds and Lucas worked hard amongst the forwards.

Charlie Mitchell, the pugilist, was present at Mr. ‘ Abington’ Baird’s funeral, but his presence was evidently distasteful to the deceased’s relatives, and he was not allowed to join the cortege. Mitchell’s wife had a baby recently, and the fact was announced in the English sporting papers with as much importance as if it had been some infant of the blood-royal that had come into the world. At last definite statements are made as to the losses sustained by the New Orleans Club during their unprofitable tournament in March. The net loss of the Crescent City Club on the Gibbons—Daly and Hall —Fitzsimmons fights amounted to 22,000 dols. (£4,400). Mr Sam Allen, the well-known Melbourne metallician, has received a letter from his brother Barney, now on a business tour in the United States, informing him of the safe arrival of himself and companion voyageurs at San Francisco. The tourist is accompanied by Martin Denny, the Australian light -weight boxer, and also the bookmaker Joe Harris, who has in tow a pair of fighting kangaroos for exhibition purposes in the States. The party were met at the boat by Dan Creedon and Tom Tracey, the boxers, who have been in the land of the stars and stripes for a considerable time. Dan and Tom both had a dismal tale to tell about boxing in ’Frisco. The fatality which took place some time since had put the stopper on local boxing completely. D. and T. having failed to get on a match in the Western States were going East; with the object of challenging the fighters of that region in their respective classes. Martin Denny has challenged Stanton Abbott, the English light-weight champion, Barney Allen having posted 500 dols. as a deposit on his behalf The party have gone on to Chicago, and expect to receive an answer there. Joe Harris has been very lucky in getting engagementsfor his pugilistic marsupials. The Yanks have so keen an eye for boxing that they look with favourable eyes —especially in these dull times of the art —upon anything that savours of boxing. The idea of exporting from Australia animals that can fight as well as men touches them immensely. The kangaroos have been engaged during the run of the Exhibition at 1000 dollars a week.

The June coursing meeting on the DJ.C-’s Plumpton, under the management of the Dunedin Jockey Club, was concluded on the 9th inst., when the finals resulted thus: —St. Leger, for 26 puppies, at £2 each ; winner runner up two dogs at three dogs at £2 each. —Mr M. Taylor’s f w b Bird-on-the-wing, by Brewer —Deception, beat Mr A. Cursey’s f d Philosopher, by Newton —Briar Root, and won. Forbury Cup for 16 all-aged dogs, at 10s each ; winner £32, runner-up £l4, two dogs at .£5 each. —Mr M. Taylor’s bd f b Bess Morley, by Brewer — Deception, won ; Lizzie Woods being withdrawn, owing to the severe course she ran in the semifinal. Supplementary Stake,’for 14 allaged dogs, at £1 los each ; winner £\z. runner up two dogs at £ 1 10s each. —Mr Scanlon’s br w d Marine, by Mariner —Miss Theresa, beat Mr Davis’ r w d Red Jack, by Red Pine—Misfortune, and won.

In the deciding course of the Victoria Derby Mr F. D. M’Gillicuddy’s blk w d Goldsmith, by Hedley—Sonnet, beat Mr S. Bladen’s blk w d Bentley, by Livingstone —Bliss, and won the stake. The betting was 10 to 1 on the winner. In the Oaks Mr S. Bladen’s blk w b Bloomer, by Livingstone- -Bliss, beat Mr J. Manning’s blk’w b Myrtle Exeter, by Rufford —Lady Bowenvale, and won the stake. Betting 4 to 1 on the winner:

The Boston Police News says of the Australian Joe Goddard :—Goddard was seen at the Hot Springs, Arkansas, the other day, and said: —“I think I’ll go back to Australia right away. I can get a fight there sure. Steve O’Donnell wants to meet me, and I am sure of a match with the winner of his fight with Ned Ryan. Jackson don’t want my game. Corbett and that fellow Mitchell have frozen me out. Smith won’t fight again, because he knows he’d lose; and big

Paddy Slavin is out of reach. There is no money in any of the others except Choynski, but he’s shy. and thinks atjcl do—that the American game is gone for awhile. lam a good man, yet the malaria—or ‘ grip ’ as you call it did me sure. I’m 33 ; that’s not old, and I’ve got £16,000 or so laid up. I don’t have to fight, but I like it and don’t mind being hit, and money comes easy that way. I admit that my legs are none too good, but I wasn’t right that night. The fighters who lick me must be better, than Smith. From what I’ve done and what I know it’s certain that Smith’s victory was a scratch.”

It was rumoured in New Orleans the other day that John L. Sullivan was attacked with heart disease while taking part in a boxing scene in ‘ The Man from Boston.’ The facts which gave rise to the rumour are these: Sullivan and Dwyer were sparring. At the close of the round it was noticed by those in a position to see behind the wings that Sullivan was bend.ing over and rubbing his side and ribs over his heart. The second round was a repetition of the first, but at its close Sullivan removed the gloves and rubbed himself again over the heart. It was remarked that the last round was very light. Sullivan admitted after the play that he had had ‘ a bad spell.’ He denied that he has heart disease and says his ailment is pleurisy. The big fistic event of Derby week, the fight between Frank P. Slavin and Jim Hall, took place on May 29 at the National Sporting Club rooms, London, and resulted in the defeat of Slavin at the hands of his fellow countryman, Jim Hall, who created a great impression by his marvellous display of science. Slavini according to the special correspondent of the Sydney was in a miserable condition and totally unfit to fight. Hall, however, was in magnificent form, and looked fit to fight all night. Slavin did not seem to have the slightest chance against his younger and more active opponent, who showed superiority throughout the contest. The entire exhibition of Slavin was miserable in the extreme, and he was loudly hooted by the large audience gathered together in the spacious club-room. From appearances Slavin looked ill and not fit to fight. He floundered about hopelessly, and his blows were weakly delivered without the smallest regard for judgment. Slavin missed several opportunities of getting home on his man. Hall, on the other hand, was very active in the ring. In the early part of the fight he delivered a smashing blow on the jaw which com-, pletely dazed Slavin. So exhausted did Slavin appear to be that Hall did not take full advantage of several opportunities he had for dealing out punishment. As this became more evident there was increased grumbling amongst the spectators. At last the referee deemed it necessary to interfere owing to the, poorness of the exchanges, and cautioned both men that they would have to fight on their merits, otherwise they would receive no portion of the purse money. This intimation had the desired effect, and Hall resumed the attack with great vigor. In the seventh round Slavin was floored three times with terrific right-hand blows, and on the last occasion that he went to the boards he failed to come up to time within the stipulated lOsec, and Hall was accordingly declared the winner. For this match Mr Fleming, the manager of the National Sporting Club, London, offered £IOOO for the contest. This offer was finally accepted by both Slavin and Hall, who proceeded to sign an agreement straight away. In addition to the purse a wager of £SOO aside was put up I y the respective backers of the principals, thus bringing the amount at stake up to £2OOO. The articles stipulated that the contestants should box the best of 20 rounds at catch weights, with 4oz gloves, and the purse was to be divided in the following proportions :— Winner, £700; loser, £100; with £IOO each for training expenses. Both men deposited £IOO each with the club, on the understanding that either of the two failing to take the ring on the night specified would forfeit the sum deposited to his opponent. After being in progress since April Ist, the match between Roberts and Dawson terminated on April 18, at the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly. The result furnished another proof (says the London Sportsman) of the old adage that the pitcher can go too often to the well, as Roberts, who allowed a start of 9,000 points in 21,000, had to acknowledge defeat by 1993 points. It would be folly to assert that the loser played up to his great reputation in the encounter just terminated, and for this a variety of reasons might be adduced, the

principal one being the fact that for some days Roberts suffered severely from pldHrisy. Stilly sight must not be lost of the circumstances that all through the piece Dawson exhibited the greatest pluck, and rarely allowed a good break from the Champion to pass without a creditable reply. Dawson has succeeded where McNeill, North. Diggle, Mitchell and Peall failed. Only on one occasion did he finish up an. afternoon or an evening without being able to boast of a considerable handicap advantage, and it is undoubted that such a long string of big breaks as he compiled were never before made in a game against Roberts. The following records, made by amateurs affiliated to the New South Wales Amateur Athletic Association, were passed as the records of the colony at a meeting held by the Association on May 25th :—lOO yards, 10 seconds ; 120 yard r2" jr 10 second ; 200 yards, 20 4-5 seconds ; ! 220 yards, 22 3-5 seconds; joo yards, 32 2-5 seconds ; 440 yards, 50 2-5 seconds; 880 yards, 1 minute 59 1-5 seconds; 1000 yards, 2 minutes 21 2-5 seconds ; 1 mile, 4 minutes 25 seconds ; 3 miles, 15 minutes 54 1-5 seconds; 1 mile walk, 6 minutes 59 seconds; 2 mile walk, 1,5 minutes 15 seconds; 3 mile walk, 24 minutes 18 4-5 seconds; high jump, sft Gin; long jump, 19ft; hcp-step-and-jump, 44ft; 120 yards hurdles, 17 seconds.