LACROSSE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 888, 6 August 1910, Page 12

LACROSSE.

(BI "CEHTBB.")

Tho chief event in lacrosse circles this week has been the doparture of tho representative team for Auckland, and the minds of local enthusiasts are engaged in anticipating the probable result ot the annual inter-city match to be played this afternoon. Wellington has only one victory to its credit (at ■. Wellington in August, 1907) whilst the northerners have thrice scalped the men of tie Empire City. A fairly strong team has gone north to uphold the honour of Wellington, and it is felt that the defeat of Auckland on its own ground will atone u.uch for our past losses. The exhibition match, played at the Basin Eeserve last Saturday,drew a creditably large attendance, lind it is evident that lacrosse is steadily gaining in public favour. It is anticipated that next season will, seo the number, of players considerably increased, and it is reported tint e\en for , the remainder -of the present season thero aro several new players already enrolled. A few weeks' practice during.the prosent season would enable a beginner to become creditably proficient in the game, thus helping him greatly for next season's play. Reverting to the match between tho representative team and the next best fourteen, it may be said that it proved to be decidedly one-sided. The Greens (next best) were nu match in oit'hor defence or attack, for their more experienced and more skilful opponents. The Black attack had a grand opportunity of obtaining combination, and they used this opportunity to their own advantage as a team, and to tho complete rout of the opposiug defence. There were faults M their work, the most noticeable being the running-in of the wingers, and the crowding of goal by tho homes, and, in fact, all the attack. Grant alone seemed to be an exception. Some excellent stickwork was shuwn by Robinson and Borrodale. Ryder and Jama also caught and passed well. ' - The dofence work of Conrtenay, Hurray, Verschaffelt, Jordan, and Nash was, under the circumstances, highly commendable. ' • . The Black defence was sound on the whole, but tho Greens i got through several times after determined efforts on the part of Casey, McCarthy,. M'Namara, Forbes, and Leydon. The goal scored by the Gresn captain, after successfully eluding Proud, Mayor, and Moran in turn, was a particularly flue effort. The selection of Martin as the representative goal-keeper was, in the writer s opinion, the right decision, based, as t it no doubt was, upon his effective showing in the exhibition match, and his brilliant play in cup matches. Penlington, in goal, on Saturday, stopped and cleared well at times, but, on tho whole, suffered in comparison with Martin. ' A busy market is reported for the sale of tickets for the lacrosse concert j and the art union which are being used by tho association as mediums for the raising of funds to defray the travelling expenses of the representative team, and to promote Hie genera! interests nf local lacrosse. Early application should be made for tickets for the concert m St. Peter's schoolroom oh Friday, August 12. as a special "draw" programme has been arranged," and a splendid evening's entertainment is promised. TO-DAY'S FIXTURES. . This afternoon at the Basin Reserve a combined practice match between teams to be selected from the four clubs will be played in lieu or the cup matches, which latter will be resumed on August 13. ' '