All-round Sport.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 262, 1 August 1895, Page 2

All-round Sport.

[By

Vigilant.]

FOOTBALL FIXTURES.

August 10—Auckland v. Tauranga, at Tauranga Aug. 13—Auckland Rep. Footballers leave for South. Aug. 15—Auckland v. Hawke’s Bay, at Napier. August 17 —Auckland v. Northern Wairoa, at Auckland. Aug. 19—Auckland v. South Canterbury, at Timaru. Aug. 24 —Auckland v. Otago, at Dunedin. Aug. 2i— Auckland v. Waikato, at Auckland. Aug. 28—Auckland v. Canterbury, at Christchurch. Aug. 28, 29 and 31 - Association Football Tournament, at Auckland. , Aug. 31 -Auckland v. Wellington, at Wellington. Aug. 31 —Auckland v. Thames, at Thames. Sept, 2—Auckland v. Nelson, at Nelson. Sept. 6—Auckland v. Taranaki.

FOOTBALL.

The practice match of Saturday last between the A and B fifteens pointed conclusively to the fact that the Selection Committee had somewhat strengthened the A team, who were returned victors by 32 points to 13, after a fast though somewhat uninteresting game. The passing of the winning team stood out in strong contrast to that of the previous practice match, several clever passing runs being initiated with good results; but apart from this very little improvement was noticeable, unless perhaps the forwards were seen to better advantage in the scrums. In all other of the game the B fifteen were points ahead of their opponents, and on the whole the oval was to be found more often in the A twenty-five than in the B. Smith at full back for the A team was not as safe as usual, and made one or two awkward mistakes during the afternoon, the most serious being the occasion when he let Ronayne pass him so easily and score a try. His kicking was also below the usual standard. Surman and Stevenson were undoubtedly the plums of the back division, the former being responsible for two tries before retiring, whilst Stevenson made several nice dashing runs, always passing out with great accuracy in the nick of time. His defensive play was also good. “ Oily ” Riley played a sound game throughout, and grafted hard, though not particularly conspicuous at any stage of the game. C. Hay, who replaced Surman, played fairly well, doing all that was asked of him accurately. Of the forwards Mills, Murray, Brady, G-ittos, and Whitley were undoubtedly the pick, though Brown and Williamson were at times responsible for good work. Sutherland, who was substituted fullback for B in place of Masefield, played the worst game I ever saw him play, and may be said to have ruined his prospects of a trip with the “ reps.” Ronayne and Absolum were the pick of the B back division, both playing sterling games right through with hardly a mistake. The Parnellite may be said to have fairly retrieved his lost laurels, and Absolum justified his inclusion in Saturday’s team, now that Wynyard is unable to play. Caradus, behind the scrum, played one of the best games I have seen him play for some time past, and with Absolum and Ronayne initiated several neat dashes, besides showing sound defence. Of the vanguard Evitt, Hobson, Donald, Gallagher, and Luke were undoubtedly the most conspicuous, whilst McKean and Speight were at times prominent. The first-mentioned (Evitt) in particular played a slashing game.

The junior contest on No. 2 Ground between Ponsonby and Suburbs resulted in a win for the former by 6 points to nil, Heaps and Greenhough each scoring for the victors. The game was a very even one throughout, and at times unnecessarily rough, Morrison, of Suburbs, getting a couple of ribs broken, and E. Wilson, of Ponsonby, his knee injured. On Saturday next Suburbs meet Newton, and should they succeed in defeating the Newtonites the championship will go to Ponsonby, whilst on the other hand, if Newton are returned victors the struggle for first honours will be fought out between this fifteen and Ponsonby. Should such result be brought about I am of opinion that Ponsonby will just about win.

In the Church Union matches on Saturday last All Saints defeated Onehunga by 5 points to nil, the score being a try secured by Oswald and converted by Stevenson. Mt. Albert defeated St. Benedicts by 3 points to nil, A. Wright securing, the try. St. Sepulchre’s defeated St. John’s by 6 points to 3, Dacre

securing a try and Sloman kicking a penalty goal for the victors. St. Mark’s defeated St. James by 8 points to nil. The Tabernacle defeated Pitt Street by 6 points to 5. In the last named match J. and H. Stevenson each secured a try for the winning team, and J. G-unson one for the losers, which was converted. The contest between the railway clerks and porters at Epsom resulted in a win for the latter, after a close and exciting game, by 12 points to 11. For the victors, who were spoken of by the barracking fraternity as the “ toilers,” Cameron, Stehr, and Poland secured tries, and Hinton kicked a goal from a penalty kick; whilst for the losers, who were dubbed the “inkslingers,” Mitchell, Brown, and McDonald were each responsible for a try, one of which was converted by Mitchell. Roseberry defeated Clifton by 13 points to 3. For the victors Somerville scored two tries and Mills one, two of which were converted. Spiers secured the try for the losing team. Takapuna won their match with Newton 11. by 9 points to 5. Gerrard, Walker, and Chamberlain each secured tries for Takapuna, and Kelly one for Newton, which was converted. The employees of the well-known retail drapery firms of Smith and Caughey and D.S.C. played a friendly game, which went to Smith and Caughey’s after a very even contest, G-ilmore for the winners scoring a try in the last two or three minutes.

Native Rose defeated Imperial by 7 points to 3. After a toughly contested match Albany secured a verdict over Avenue 11. by 8 points to 6. For the victors Grindrod and E. Smith were each responsible for a try, one of which was converted; whilst for the losing side Freeman and Jones both secured tries.

The following teams have been selected for the practice match to be held on Saturday next: — “ A ” Team.—Smith, Riley, Absolum, Stephenson, Braund, Brady, Gittos, Murray, Brown, C. Speight, Clarkin, Heffernan, Mills, Whitley. “ B ” Team.—Masefield, Breen, C. Hay, McPhail, Ronayne, Edmonds, Martin, Eaton, McMillan, Williamson, Evitt, Green, Luke, Donald, Freeman. Emergencies. — Full-back, Sutherland ; three-quarters. Siddle, Warnock; fiveeighth, Ramsay; half, Caradus ; forwards, Gallagher, Hobson, Sterling, Thomson. From this it will be seen that several alterations have again been made in both teams. Wynyard and Surman are missing from the back division of the “ A ” team, and rumours are abroad that neither of these players will be able to go South with the reps.; whilst several alterations have also taken place in the vanguard, the most notable being the inclusion of C. Speight and Clarkin in place of Williamson and Eaton (who gained his place owing to the absence of McMillan). If in anything like old-time form the intro duction of Speight and Clarkin will greatly strengthen the forwards, though it is hardly to be expected that either will put in an appearance on Saturday unless the Union pays their expenses. On Saturday week the Wanganui reps, visit Auckland, and judging by the high ■opinion held of the visitors by the football scribes of that district it is to be anticipated that the contest will be well worth witnessing. A Thames correspondent writes :— “ On Saturday last the Waihi team played the Rovers at the Thames, the game being witnessed by a large number of spectators. There was little between the two teams, though if asked to choose I should say that the visitors were just a trifle better than the home team. The Rovers winning the toss decided to play with the sun, Waihi kicking off. Following up fast the visitors soon had the home line in danger, but from a scrum the Rovers placed themselves out of danger. Open play resulted, the Thamesites finally rushing the leather over the Waihi line, where Bestic (an old Thames boy) cleverly saved. From a penalty kick which followed shortly after, Moore landed an unmistakeable goal for the visitors, the call of time leaving the score, Waihi 3, Rovers nil At the opening of the second half the home team, playing with great dash, placed their opponents on the defensive, a force eventually resulting. The game continued of a very even nature, several nice passing runs being got off by either side, Paul for Thames making a splendid

effort for a goal, which, however, fell short. Finally Waihi penned the local men in their own 25, and after a grand struggle Garvey crossed the line, scoring a try for the strangers, which Moore, however, failed to convert. Moore retrieved his failure at kicking shortly after with a grand run from half-way, and getting through his men in good style, crossed the line and recorded a second try for Waihi, McGregor failing to add the major points. Time was called shortly after, leaving Waihi victors by 9 points to nil. In the evening the visitors were treated to a smoke concert, a very pleasant evening being spent.” In the senior football matches at Wellington on Saturday Poneke defeated Melrose by 3 points to nil, and the Athletics defeated Wellington by 9 points to 8 The Selection Committee of the Taranaki Rugby Union have picked the following as certainties to represent Taranaki in interprovincial contests this year: —Full-back, J. Robinson ; threequarters, A. Good, A. Bayly, and H. Good; five-eighth, L. Allen; halves, J. Laing, A. Humphries, and W. Bayly; forwards, D. J. Hughes, F. Livingston, W. Watson, J. Wells, W. Lambie. The other two forwards will, it is understood, be chosen from the following:—W. Sangster, O’Carroll, O’Dowda, and Buck-' ley. This is a combination that will take a lot of beating and if the local “ reps.” are to be returned victors in their match against Taranaki they will needs be at their best. At the recent meeting of the Management Committee of the Thames Rugby Union it was decided to endeavour to get Wanganui to play Thames on Arbor Day, August 7th, the Union to guarantee the visitors £lO. A letter was received from Northern Wairoa stating their willingness to visit the Thames, and a reply was sent asking that the match be arranged for August 24tb, the Union offering a guarantee of £B. In the matter of the representative match with Auckland the Secretary was instructed to reply that footballers and the Thames public generally desire to witness a contest between Auckland and Thames representative teams, and not a second selection from Auckland. They ask that the match be arranged for September 14th or 21st. During his recent visit to Auckland Mr Frank Jervis tied the matrimonial knot, and all footballers will join with me in wishing the old three-quarter long life and happiness. At the meeting of the Wellington Rugby Union on July 17, the following programme was decided upon :—Wellington v. Manawatu, at Wellington; Wellington v. Canterbury, at Christchurch, August 17 ; Wellington v Taranaki, at Wellington, August 24; Wellington v. Auckland, at Wellington, August 31; Wellington v. Hawke’s Bay, at Wellington. Sept. 14. The football writer in the 'Yeoman inclines to the opinion that the forthcoming match between the Wanganui and Auckland “ reps.” will result in favour of the Wanganui fifteen. He says : —“ A great deal of course will depend upon how D. Blair shapes, but I take it if he passes well our team will prove strong enough in all departments of the game for Auckland. The latter’s ‘reps.’ are no doubt scientific and up to all the clever and tricky points of the game, but during the next fortnight our men can make themselves conversant with such, in which case they will have nothing to fear from the Northerners. Our forwards only require a little coaching to be able to hold their own with any team, while so far as it is possible to judge, the backs are quite strong enough for the Auckland back division.” Referring to Frank Surman this writer advises the local men to take a lot of care of the Northern sprinter, who (Surman) unlike the the majoritv of very fast men, can take a ball splendidly, while his phenomenal speed enables him to intercept many passes. Should the vanguard be strong enough the Wanganui “ reps.” will in all probability take Craig from the wing to « mark Surman.

The Wellington Rugby representative team is almost sure to come from the fol - lowing—Backs: Bourke. Davidson, Galloway, Hales, Roberts Duncan, Warwick, Crawfurd, Baumber, Kelly, and Pudney. Forwards: McKenzie, Kelly, Pauling, Poland, Hardcastle, Swindley, . Young, Pringle, Campbell, Calnan, and King.

The following teams are in practice at Wairoa in view of the forthcoming match with Auckland on August 17th: —“A” ' Team.—Full-back, Walker; three-quar-ters, Harrison, Butland, Elliott; halves, Hitching, A. Smith, Phelan, forwards, « Baoker, Woolams, Keegan, F. Molloy, J. Neill, E. Harrison, C. Molloy, J. Smith. “ B ” Team. —Full-back, McKay ; three-quarters, Hauraki, Johnstone, Phelan ; halves, F. Brown, G-. Moros and Chambers ; forwards, G-. Nield, Bonella, W. Smith, Keane, Nelson, Wormington, Dunn, and Baker. The Wairoa boys seem fairly confident that with practice and training they will prove too strong for the opposition of our second fifteen, and judging by what I can hear of the form shown by them this season I should certainly say they have every reason to believe that they will hold their own with the local men. In their practice match of Saturday last the “ A ” team defeated the “ B’s ” by 6 points to nil, the game being a closely contested and interesting one from the fall of the flag, and though returned victors the chosen division had to graft to win. . A correspondent, “ Spectator, writing to the Wellington Mail, says“ In view of the forthcoming Association tourna-

ment, I send my choice of the Wellington team as I think it ought to be comprised. I have carefully watched the ' form of these players, and think that if they are selected Wellington will be thoroughly represented: Goal keeper, Bell; full - backs, < Courtenay and Shields; halves Bichard son, Helf ord, C. McLeod ; forwards, Plenderleith, Fernie, Hallwood, Fraser, and Heather. New South Wales has adopted a new uniform. The caps are of royal blue velvet, with silver braid and tassell, the jerseys light blue, having on the left breast a waratah worked in silk. It costs about £450 to maintain an Oxford or Cambridge Bugby football team for a season, and about £3OO to keep an Association team going. Last week a contributor wrote me that Eden had defeated Ellerslie by 35 points to 11. The captain of the latter team informs me that such was not the case, the game resulting in a draw, each side scoring a try.

ATHLETICS, Etc.

The cross-country steeplechase meeting of the Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club will in all probability be held at New Brighton on the 21st of September. That a rough draft of ’the

Christchurch Cycling Club’s grand cycling carnival, proposed to be held on January 13th and 20th, ’96, shows

prizes totalling £223. That cyclists Holbein and Stocks recently rode in England 100 miles on tandem in 4hrs. 46min. 48sec. The crack English middle-distance runner, E. C. Bredin, was 29 years of age on Monday last. A recent cable from New York to a London journal says the religionists intend trying to prevent the contest between Corbett and'Fitzsimmons taking place at Dallas, Texas. This, however, - is a useless endeavour, as there is no law in the State against boxing. Mendellson’s jumps in the long jump trials at Cambrige University on June 4th were:—2oft lOin, 21ft 4£in, 21ft Gfin, and 21ft 9fin. The best of the other competitor’s jumps was 20ft 7|in by A. J. P. Warlow. Subsequently another trial was held. Mr C. B. Smith, the Hon. Sec. of the *New Zealand Cricket Council, has received the following cablegram from Bowden, the Secretary of the New South Wales Cricket Association :—“ Decided to send team; letter following.” This will be the first occasion that a representative team has been sent under the auspices of the New South Wales Association, and their visit should be looked forward to with interest.

For some months negotiations had been in progress for a contest between a team selected by the Inter-collegiate Association of America, and a team from Oxford and Cambridge, the proposal being to hold the contest in England. Much correspondence had passed between the parties interested and various suggestions had been made, but up to the time of the mail leaving nothing definite had been arranged, though a committee from Oxford and Cambridge had discarded the idea to unite and meet the picked athletes of the American Universities. This committee, however, in view of the fact that Yale had visited England last season, decided to form a team and meet representatives from Yale and Harvard, in America, if those bodies feel disposed to fall in with the suggestion, which very likely will be the case. The West Coast Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club now claims a membership of 134.

New Zealand’s Agent- General in London, Sir Westby Percival, playing in a cricket match for New Zealand and Tasmania combined against Australia-at Ewell on June 4th., put up top score of 35. However, Australia won by 110 runs and three wickets.

The Irish Championship Meeting was held on June 3rd, at Dublin, with the following results : —Throwing hammer, T. F. Kiely, 133 ft 7in (Irish record) ; half-mile, J. J. Mullen, m 2min 3|sec; 100yds, J. C. Meredith, in 10 2-ssec; 440yds, J. C. Meredith, in 513-ssec; one mile, J. J. Mullen, in 4min 35 3-ssec; high jump, J. M. Ryan, sft Ilin; one mile steeplechase, J. Archer; 120yds hurdles, T. F. Kiely, in 17 l-ssec ; putting shot, D. Horgan, 45ft 4in; long jump, T. F. Kiely, 20ft 7in. W. Mendellson, of Jesus College, Cambridge, the ex-New. Zealander, has been winning more athletic and cricketing laurels. He stands second in the cricket average for his College, his figure being thirty-four. He won the trial long jump with 21ft 9|in, and subsequently jumped successively 22ft 4fin and 22ft three times consecutively. His merits have been recognised, and he has secured his “ blue ” as a member of the Cambridge University Athletic Team, an honour which he naturally appreciates. The sum of £378 is to be given away at this year’s Austral Meeting. The prizes have been apportioned as follows : —Austral Wheel Race, two miles, £250; One and a half Mile Wheel Race, £25 ;

M.B.C. Plate, one mile, £27 ; ’ Second and Third Class Bicycle Race, one mile, £l4; Ten Miles Championship, £l3; Tandem Bicycle Race, two miles, £9. The Austral carries with it £2O more in prize money than last year, as the winner of each heat will receive £2. If Zimmerman arrives in Australia in time for the meeting he will be eligible to compete in five of the seven events.