ITEMS OF SPORT

New Zealand Tablet, 23 July 1914, Page 43

ITEMS OF SPORT

GENERAL. Mr. J. Nil martin, Dunedin, has been elected a delegate to the annual boxing conference which is to bo held at Wanganui. The English ladies’ hockey team arrived in ' Sydney on July 5. They will play eight matches there, and compete in the Now South, Wales tournament, and will sail for New Zealand on the 25th inst. For the sixth time, Hairy Vardon, the famous golf player, has won the open championship of the world. Tie had a great struggle with his' old rival, Taylor, who finished three strokes behind the champion. Ouimet, the American player, who defeated Ray and Vardon in an open championship in America, was one of the competitors, but he might well be labelled in racin'* terms as ‘ also ran.’ ° Challenges are flying about in cycling, circles (says the Sydney Freeman’* Journal). An admirer of P. O’Shea, the New Zealand champion, has offered to put up a side wager of £SO and back him to beat George Horder, the champion of this State. As llordcr has accepted the challenge, all that is now necessary is for both riders to put up a deposit to bind the match. Veteran llorder is in particularly fine form just now, and, while admitting that the New Zealander is a hard man to defeat, he is confident of lifting the stake money. RUGBY. About 6000 people witnessed the Northern Union football match between England and Hawke’s Bay on Saturday afternoon, at Napier. A very interesting game resulted in a win for the visitors by 30 points to 7. The second Northern League representative match of the season was played at Wanganui on Saturday afternoon in dull weather. The result was a win for Wanganui over the visitors (Manawatu) by 17 points to 8, after a fair game. Following arc the results of Saturday’s matches in Christchurch:—Old Boys beat Christchurch by 8 points to 6 ; Mcrivalc beat Linwood by 11 points to 5 ; Albion beat Sydenham by 16 points to nil; University beat Marists by 12 points to 10. Following are the results of Saturday's matches in Wellington : University beat Athletic by 10 points to 3; Wellington beat Oriental by 11 points to 3; Bet one beat St. James’ by 44 points to nil; Poneke beat Melrose by 11 points to 6. University’s defeat of Athletic, who still lead for the championship, was a great surprise. The tie between the Bonsonby and North Shore League teams for the first grade championship was played off at Auckland on Saturday afternoon in the presence of 7000 spectators. The sum of £3OO was taken at the gates, a record for club matches. North Shore outclassed Bonsonby in every department of the game, and won by 13 points to 2. On Saturday last the first Rugby test match of the season between Australia and New Zealand was played in Sydney, in the presence of 0000 spectators. Owing to the heavy nature of the ground, tho forwards on cither side had all the play, and the game resulted in a win for the All Blacks by 5 points to nil. It is expected that the team will give a much better account of itself when it works up some combination. In Rugby football in Dunedin on Saturday there were no . outstanding features in the various grade matches, the bad weather militating against first-class back exhibitions, the play in {ill the matches being confined to the forwards. The results were as follow; University (30) beat Dunedin (nil), Zingari (25) beat Alhambra (3), Kaikorai (20) beat Pirates (nil), and Southern (14) beat Port Chalmers (3). The second round of the Auckland Rugby Football Union’s senior grade championship was concluded on Saturday, in fine weather. City beat Marist Brothers by 6 points to 3, and Ponsonby beat College Rifles by F 7 points to 3. The championship points are;University 14, City 14, Bonsonby 11, Marist Brothers 7,

Old Boys 7, College Rifles 4. University and City will play off for the championship, probably next Saturday, In the primary schools’ senior football competition (writes our Christchurch correspondent), Marist Brothers met and defeated Woolston by 69 points to nil Tries were scored by Tucker (5), Batchelor (4), Williams (3), 1 atrick (2), Gibbs (2), Neilson, Fahey, McLaren, Mam and Williams converted three each. Playing against East Christchurch School Marist Brothers scored, 35 points to nil. Tries were secured by Gibson (2), Sloane (2), Williams, Barker, Neilson, and Patrick; Sloane kicked a penalty goal, Williams converted three and Main one. • On Thursday last (writes an Oamaru correspondent under date July 13) the Celtic Club met and were defeated by the Athletic team by a considerable margin of points. At the present time the Celtics are suffering from that bugbear of all our local clubs and institutions— namely, the removal of members (to other towns. The Greens played five men short of their match team, the places being filled by novices and juniors, and this soon told against such a heavy team as Athletic put into the field. At' the close of the first spell, the Celts were holding their own, but tho second half told on the'weakened team, with the result that points were quickly piled against them. Tho ound being heavy also suited their opponents, and the final scores read—Athletic 20 points, Celtic 8. For the Celtic, Harper scored a good try, which was con\cited by O Donnell, who also placed a beautiful penalty goal. Mansell and O’Donnell played up to their usual form among the backs, and the forwards all ■worked well. Last- Saturday (writes a Hamilton correspondent, under date July 10) St. Mary’s senior football team improved their position in the championship ladder by defeating Frankton by 3 points to nil (a splendid goal kicked by Mouat from just on half way). Much interest was centred in this match, and it was the general opinion that the Green and Whites would go under. It -was, however, not to be, although the issue was in doubt right up to the call of time. • The score, however, is a fair indication of the respective merits of both teams. This match places our seniors level with Morrinsville, the leading team for the championship. It is hard to single anyone out for mention as the whole team played a dashing game. Roach, Devine, Murphy, and Brown were specially' prominent. St. Mary’s juniors suffered a totally unexpected defeat at the hands of Frankton by 9 points to 6.’ Frankton had a weak team on the field, and it was doubtful right up to the last moment as to whether they would be able to muster a full team. There is absolutely no excuse for St. Mary’s defeat (on previous form they were ‘ stone morals’), and if they continue to play the same as they did last Saturday they will be very lucky if they win another match this season. Our forwards were outclassed by the opposing pack and the only remedy I can suggest is to play two wing forwards in future matches. Had this been done last week, the score would probably have been more favorable to St. Mary’s. ASSOCIATION. The following are the results of the Soccer matches played in Dunedin on Saturday:—Mornington A (3 goals) beat Green Island (nil), Northern (3 goals) beat Mornington B (nil). High School Old Boys (5 goals) beat Roslyn-Wakari (2 goals), Ravcnsbourne (6 goals) beat Maori Hill (1 goal), Kaitaugata (7 goals) beat Christian Brothers (nil). HARRIERS. The St. Joseph’s Harriers held their run on Saturday from St. Joseph’s Hall, as guests of Mesdamcs M. A. Jackson, Stone, and Rowley. Paper being dispensed with, the pack, with F. O’Sullivan as pacemaker, had a good run, and afterwards sat down to an excellent tea provided by. the hostesses. Mr. Butcher thanked the three ladies for their kindness, at the same time eulogising their keen interest in the welfare of the harriers.