ITEMS OF SPORT

New Zealand Tablet, 2 May 1912, Page 31

ITEMS OF SPORT

(From our Correspondents and Elsewhere.)

GENERAL.

• Mr, Douglas, who captained the English cricket t aam in four of the recent Test matches; in an interview published by the Pall Mall Gazette y attributes the team’s success in its Australian tour to good-fellowship* and good cricket. He considered the Australian batting below expectations, but said there- were splendid possibilities among the younger players. Australia’s bowling, he added, was very weak.

j Arthur Postle, the - world-famous Queensland sprinter, is now at home at Memerambi, near Kingaroy,

and will remain there for a few days making preparation for his coming tour of England. Postle proposes to travel via Durban and Capetown. Immediately after his arrival in Sydney Postle called at the Referee office. I[e reported most hospitable. treatment at Auckland, Te Kuiti, and Waihi, and that he had thoroughly joyed his New Zealand trip. His coming tour of Tlngland will be his last, and on his return he will settle down for good.

j Donaldson, at the Richmond City Reserve, Melbourne, on April 15, attacked the records for 75, 100, and 120 yards, and though the previous bests still stand good, the world’s champion, under the circumstances, put up highly meritorious performances in covering the distances respectively in Bsec., lOsec., and 12 4-ssec. Donaldson was stale from travelling, and the running track was rather uphill and sodden, whilst there was a slight head wind. -

| The curtain was rung down on Ireland’s international Rugby campaign for the season on March 9, When, on the finely-equipped Show Grounds at Balmoral, Belfast, the pick of Ireland and Wales met to decide supremacy for the ensuing twelve months. The game is one of , a long series between the two countries, which, commencing on that now far-away afternoon in 1882, when, at Dublin, Wales defeated Ireland by 2 goals and 2 tries to nil, extends, with one 'or two breaks, down to the present time. Through that period Wales can lay claim to the major portion of the honors, for iii the 26 matches played the Principality has emerged victorious on no fewer than 16 occasions, while just half this number has seen the Hibernians successful, while one has been left drawn. On this occasion Ireland won by 12 points to 5.

CHRISTCHURCH.

| The second week’s matches in the Canterbury ■^ u gby Union’s competitors were played on Saturday, when the grounds were in fine order, and the weather conditions were excellent. The following are the results;—Old Boys (3) drew with Albion (3) Merivale (16) beat Linwood (0); Sydenham (27) beat Canterbury College (8); Christchurch (13) beat Marists (3). j _ The Marist Brothers’ Old Boys’ Association (writes our Christchurch correspondent) placed four teams on the football field for last Saturday’s round of contests. The seniors (playing one man short) met Christchurch, the junior flag contestants also met Christchurch, and the president’s cup team Linwood A, suffering defeat in each game. ■ The Marist Brothers’ fourth' grade met and defeated Linwood at Linwood Park in the fourth class competition by 18 points to nil. Tries were scored by McCormack (2), Davidson (2), Kouri, and Evans,

DUNEDIN,

In the second grade Association football at Montecdlo Christian Brothers defeated High School Old Boys by 3 goals to 2. For the winners Deans, Hayes, and Salmon scored, while Randell, Salmon, and Brennan Were the best players for that side. ' ■ J The Association season opened on Saturday for first and second grade teams. The Christian Brothers met Northern . on Culling Park, and defeated them by 2 goals to 1. Northern won the toss. A number of likely openings went unavailed of early in the game.

Bayles accepted a centre from Chambers (right winger),. and opened . the , scoring : for Northern. A centre by Tom Laffey found Higgins handy, the latter cutting in and equalising with a fine shot. Almost immediately Higgins successfully essayed a long shot, which took - the opposition by surprise. Christian Brothers 2, Northern 1. The remainder of the game showed no alteration in the scoring. The members of the St. Joseph’s Harrier Club held their weekly run from the St. Clair Baths. . There was a very satisfactory attendance. On account of the wind, paper was dispensed with. The pack, under Captain J. Swanson, struck around the second beach and up the track towards the castle, where the course was directed towards the caves. Here a turn was made to the right, over some ideal cross-country, till the cattle yards were reached. From these the Main South road was followed to Lookout Point, following the road to Mr. Sidey’s residence, where a change was made to the adjoining paddocks in the direction of the golf links, passing through' Corstorphine on to the Cliffs road, which was followed till home was reached. ■> The Rugby season in Dunedin opened on Saturday- The grounds were heavy, and there was some rain during the afternoon, Kaikorai created a surprise by beating Alhambra by 17 points to 4, and Dunedin by drawing with Zingari-Richmond, the score being 6 all. - This year the number of teams entered in the various grades of the Rugby football in Dunedin shows a falling off as compared with last year. Last season there were 50 teams playing football in and around Dunedin, but during the present season there will be only 44, or a decrease of six. In the First Grade the figures remain unchanged, there being still 10 teams in this competition, but in the lower grades there is a slight falling away. The following shows the number of teams entered this year, last year’s figures being given in brackets: —First Grade, 10 (10) Second Grade, 11 (13); Third Grade, 10 (11); Fourth Grade, 6 (8); Fifth Grade, 7 (8).

WELLINGTON.

(From our own correspondent.)

The Marist Brothers’ Old Boys’ Rugby football team, organised by the members of the Catholic Club this season, takes the field to-morrow afternoon against the Old Boys (Wellington College). It. will be interesting to record the names of the members of the first team to play in Wellington bearing the title of their alma mater Marist Brothers’ Old Boys. The team is comprised of the following:—Messrs. Hopkins,' McKeowen, McGrath, Ryan, Anderson, Box, Cudehy, Bryant, Gould, Cotter, Finnegan, Devine, Monaghan, McArdle, Eller, and Alley. The team this year is entered for the third-class championship, and if they show the same adaptability for football as they do for cricket a successful season is anticipated. St. Patrick’s College are also competing for the third-class championship, and will take the field tomorrow against Oriental. ; In Association football, which opened last Saturday four teams from the Marist Brothers’ Schools competednamely, a team each for the third; fifth, sixth A, and sixth B championships. The third division team defeated the Newtown Congregationalists r by 1 goal to nil, Carruthers and Turner doing/gpod.work for the winners. The fifth division team drew with St. David’s. The sixth A division team easily defeated Seatoun by 4 goals-to, nil, Mahoney (2) and Hickey, (2) scoring for the winners. The sixth B division team were defeated by 3 goals to 1 by the Swifts. -■ J - . ' According to a press message the senior Rugby championship matches were continued in Wellington on Saturday.-> The weather was dull and threatening, but the rain held off. The grounds were in fair playing order. A stiff northerly wind blew, and : affected play somewhat. All the games were well contested. . The following are the results: Athletic (9) beat Ppneke (3) • Oriental. (9) beat St. James (5); Petone'72o) beat Southern (9) Wellington. (6) drew with Victoria College (6) Melrose (34) beat Old Boys (5).•; . ,