ITEMS OF SPORT

New Zealand Tablet, 12 March 1914, Page 43

ITEMS OF SPORT

GENERAL. J. Matthews, captain of the Manst Brothers’ School cricket team (writes our Christchurch correspondent), playing in the fourth grade for Linwood against the Boys’ High School, made 110 runs. Mr. J. A. Power, American half-mile and mile runner, on a visit to Masterton with, the American athletes, visited the Catholic schools the other day (writes our Masterton correspondent). He took the children from St. Patrick’s and St. Bride’s Schools'to the old fishpond grounds, where a sports field has been marked out. Mr. Power began his instructions by making the children run a relay race, to which they took very kindly. He showed them how to start for a 100 yards race, and started them in the usual athletic style, ‘ Get set,’ ‘ Go !’ Then he gave them the American idea of high jumping and broad jumping. The children enjoyed themselves very much. It was very refreshing to be there to see the little one of eight years run, and to hear the cheering of the boys. The children will hold their sports on St. Patrick’s Day, and if the weather is fine it ought to be a day of very pleasant memories for them. The programme for the sports is extensive and varied. CRICKET. THE FIRST TEST MATCH. The first test match between the Australians and the New Zealand representatives was commenced at Carisbrook, Dunedin, on Friday last. The Australians took the field, and New Zealand took first use of the wicket. The start was not auspicious, the first wicket falling at 18, but the next partnership carried the score to the half-century mark. And with three wickets for 111 New Zealand may be said to have been in a fairly good position. After the luncheon adjournment Crawford and Armstrong were bowling particularly well, and three wickets fell rapidly, the score for the sixth wicket being 157. The New Zealanders, however, ran into the second century, but, with the score at 218 for nine wickets, heavy rain descended, and at 4.45, further play being impossible, stumps were drawn for the day. The match was resumed shortly after 12 o’clock; on Saturday, when the two not-outs, Wilson (4) and Bennett (1), took up the batting on behalf of New Zealand. The wicket on opening was dead, the rain of the previous evening having given it a thorough soaking. Only 10 runs were put on to the over-night score, New Zealand’s first innings yielding 228. Shortly after halfpast 12 the Australians opened their first innings. The visitors made a bad start, and succeeded only in running up a small score for the loss of four wickets. From that out matters improved, and the innings closed for 354 (Armstrong 96, Trumper 72, Waddy 59, Crawford 53, being the principal scorers). With less than half-an-hour to play Whitta and Condlifle opened the second innings for New Zealand. The position when stumps were drawn on Saturday was that the New Zealand team wore 126 behind the Australians on the first innings, and had notched 44 runs for no wickets in their second strike. Whitta took his score to 53, and Condliffe to 23 before being dismissed, but the batting then sagged badly. The New Zealand innings closed for 209, leaving the Australians 84 runs to get for a win. Three of the visitors’ wickets fell for 31 runs. Cody and Waddy then set up a solid partnership, and by strictly correct cricket knocked up the runs required to win. M. 8.0.8. ASSOCIATION, CHRISTCHURCH. (From our own correspondent.) The annual general meeting of the M. 8.0.8. Association was held on last Wednesday evening. Sir George Clifford, Bart., presided, and the attendance was large. The annual report stated that during the year the committee was faced with heavy liabilities, but although

the committee had many difficulties to overcome, the debt had been considerably reduced. During the season the committee had ente.j -d four teams for the various Canterbury Rugby Union competitions. The senior team, although not fortunate enough to win a match, had nevertheless put up some good fights, and the number of points registered against them was not of a large nature, being considerably lower than in previous years. The Junior and President Cup teams were more successful. The fourth grade team, although not so successful, had kept well together. The committee congratulated Mr. A. Fanning in securing New Zealand representative honor's, and Mr. P. Amodco in securing Canterbury representative honors. With a view to keeping members together during the summer months, the president (Sir George Clifford) had very generously offered to donate a set of cricket material for the purpose of running a team in one of Ithe various competitions next cricket season. The balance sheet showed receipts £ll2 15s, expenditure £IOB 14s, assets £65 16s 6d, liabilities £3l 11s 3d. The report and balance sheet were adopted. Sir George Clifford is president, and Very Rev. Chancellor Price, Adm., and Rev. Dr. Kennedy are vice-presidents of honor. The following other offices were filled by election: —Vice-presidents— L. Corbett, J. Power, W. Rodgers, T. Cahill, A. J. O’Malley, S. Flood, E. Kelleher, J. Kavanagh, and Dr. Morkane ; captain, Mr. F. Smyth; lion, secretary, Mr. A. McDonald: assistant hon. secretary, Mr. P. Greenlees; hon. treasurer, Mr. F. Smith; committee— Messrs. W. J. Barnett, A. Fanning, E. L. McKeon, and M. O’Malley; hon. auditors, Messrs. W. J. Dobbs and M. Mannix ; delegates to Canterbury Rugby Union— Messrs. A. Fanning, P. J. Amodeo, L. Corbett, and F. Smyth : delegate to Sports Protection Association, Mr. P. Greenlees; delegate to training hall committee, Mr. F .Smyth; selection committees (the club captain to be on each) —seniors, Messrs. B. Fanning (coach) and E. O’Connor (selector) ; juniors, Messrs. J. McQuillian (coach), W. McKay (selector) ; President’s, Brother Calixtus (coach) and M. F. O’Malley (selector) ; fourth class, Mr. E. McQuillian (coach) and Brother Jarlath (selector) ; delegate to Catholic Federation, Messrs W. Rodgers and C. Baker. The proposed alterations in the competition rules, submitted by the Canterbury Rugby Union, were approved . It was decided to open the season on Saturday week. Sir George Clifford, in responding to a vote of thanks, said it was always a pleasure for him to help in a work that was doing so much good among our young people. He recalled a suggestion made by one speaker to the effect that a canvass should be made for new members. He considered it a very good suggestion, for the more varied the membership the better it would be for this club. There was one body to whom they owed a great debt gratitude—they are really the origin of our being here to-nightthe Marist Brothers, They provide us with a large modicum of spiritual help and a large modicum of secular learning. They do this work unselfishly and look for no other reward than one hereafter. SWIMMING. The second distance in the Canterbury schools’ swimming championship was won last Saturday (writes our Christchurch correspondent) by J. Ellis, of the Marist Brothers’ School.