ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1570, 14 October 1912, Page 3

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

CRICKET.

• THE FIRST OP THE SEASON. Cricket practice was to have commenced on the Basin Reserve on Saturday afternoon, but rain put an end to tno idea,

and.no play was indulged ill. At Hutt and Pctonu the season was opened with practice matches. At Lower Hutt, two sides wero selected from the senior and junior elevens, but after play had been in progress for an hour, rain fell, aiid the game was abandoned. A married v. single game, which toolc place at Petone, was also stopped 011 account of the weather. "Married," lioy.ever, went to the wickets first, and m about an hour the two opening batsmen put on a fine score. Both teams, will practise at the nets every evening this week. AT CHRISTCHURCH. ■ (By Tolcsraph.—Press Association.! Christchurch, October 13. The weather was not very pleasant for the commencement of grade matches to-day, a somewhat cold southerly wind, with a little rain, not giving ideal conditions. The.feature of the .day. wj.s ..a magnificent innirigsby London, the crack College bat,-who- put up the fine score of 277 against East Christchurch in the second grade. The results of the first grade matches were: Riccartqn 124 v. Sydenham 151 for five wickets (P. Woods 65); East Christchurch .63 and seven for one wicket v. AVest Christchurch 80; Linwood 323 (E. Perrin 55, A Thomas 128, S. A.'Orchard 58) v. St. Albans 35 for ono wicket.

: BOWLS.

THORNDON CLUB'S OPENING. The bowling season was formally opened on Saturday, afternoon 011 the d'horndon green bv the Prime Minister (the.Hon. W. F. Massey). Mr. Massey has recently become a member of the. Thorndon Club, ne was introduced by the club's president, Mr. M. Murdoch, who alluded, to Mr. Massey as a "top-notch bowler, having just bowled out the Government. In reply, Mr. Massey said that he had been so much absorbed in the game of politics that he had. never had timo to become a bowler. He was a great admirer of the game so celebrated in English historv, if for 110 other reason than that Drake and his captains played it on Plymouth Hoe before they sailed against the Spanish Armada. He hoped that one day he. would be able to deserve the-president's praiso of hini as a bowler. Mr. Massey then called upon Mrs. Grant to bowl the first jack, and himself followed up with the first bowl. Thus, although, the rain prohibited play, season opened to the strains of He s.- a Jolly Good Fellow,", the reference being to Mr. Massey. HUTT AND PETONE GREENS. 1 .The attendances at the opening? of the ftutt. and Petone Bowling seasons on Saturday were not very large, this being owing to the wet weather, and the spirits of bowlers, as well as the sward, were considerably dampened. At Lower Hutt Mr. C. Hollard, club president, in declaring the season 'open, congratulated members on the successes of last year, and hoped that this season would be one of enjoyment to the large membership. He then called upon Mrs.- Hollard to bowl tho first "jack," and rinks were soon busily engaged. During the tea adjournment occasion was takoa 'by, Mr. Callender to present Mr'. HoHard with a set of bowls-and bag from the members, in recognition of his services in connection with the improvements to the green. / There was not a very large attendance at tho Petone green. Mr. Smith,- president, in the courso of his opening remarks, stated that this was the sixteenth year of tho club's existence. Last year had been the most successful in their history, the club having ■ won the. Edwin "leathers," Hill Pins, and the, Hutt Cup for the fourth time in succession. Ho hoped that all would have a good season this year, with plenty of good games. Mrs. Smith then sent up the first bowl, and the usual president's v. vicerpresident's match was played. During the afternoon Mr. Johnson asked tho president to accept a framed enlarged photograph of the treasurer, Mr. J. G*. Castle, whom, the speaker said, was a man whom the club could ill afford to lose. The scores in the rinks played were as follow, the president's side being .mentioned first in each case:— Cowie, Mudge, Beynon, Smith (s.), 18; M'Ewen, Ward, Cate, Henry (s.), 13. Findlay, Matthews, Duff, Ross (s.), 12; Cooper, Dowsett, Warwick, Marsden (s.), 14. Allan,"'Mothes; Walton, Stephens (s.), 10; Ryder, .Handcock, CarteT, Wylie (s.), 17. Colquit, Maynard, Johnson, Coles (s.), 16Commetti, Wilson, Cooper, Bush (s.), 17. , Wakelin, Barnett, Melhuish, Pollock (5.), 11; Rennie, Lowin, Leahy, Southgate (s), 14. Pearson, Dixon, Head, Hay (s.), 17; Holmes, Bartlett, Castle, M'Arthur (s.), 6. Mr. Wilford paid a visit to both clubs, and on each occasion the presidents took the of thanking him for his donation of silver cups for competition-

. ATHLETICS.

AMATEUR ASSOCIATION. At the annual meeting of tho Wellington .Amatour Athletic Association held on Friday evening, the following'officers were elccted for tho ensuing season Patron, his Excellency tho Governor; president, Mr. T. S! Eonaldson; vice-presidents, Messrs. J. 'H. B. Coates, J. P. Firth, A. A. • Marryatt, J. Ellis, H. D. Bell, L. Blundell. V. E. Meredith, C. E. Bridge, A. J. Abbott, W. F. Larkin, and J. H. ♦Pollock; lion, secretary, Mr. F. Crowes; hon. treasurer, Mr. L. W. Cozens; committee, Messrs. C. T. Young, A. C. Ivitto, A. C. Johnson, J. B. Holt, F. Hodson, W. 11. Pollock, A. Evensen, and W. L. Dunn; handicappers, Messrs. W. H. Jones, W. L. Dunn, and A. C. Kitto; hon. auditors, Messrs.. J. Eonche and F. Beamish; delefates to the, Wellington Centre, Messrs. i. W. Cozens and C. T. Young; hon. starter, Mr. T. W. Leslie. ■

.'. \ LAWN TENNIS.

THE BOULCOTT STREET CLUB. . The Boulcott Street tennis court presented an animated appearance on Saturday, tho occasion being the opening of tho season'. There' was a large attendance of members and friends, and all thoroughly enjoyed themselves, notwithstanding the weather. Amongst those present were Misses Neston, Conlin, Sullivan (2), O'Leary, Bradley, and O'Began, 'and Messrs. Burns, Keaney, Eller, Sheehan, and Thomas. The .arrangements for tho opening wore well- carried out, and reflected credit on tho secretary (Mr. F. Eller) and his committee.

LEAOUE FOOTBALL.

(Bj TelesraDh.-Pre«s Association.) Blenheim, October 12. In the League football games, Nelson boat Marlborough by 21 points to 6, after a poor gnmo.

BOXING.

THOMPSON DEFEATS. GODFREY. . By Telecranh—Press Association—Conyrlehl > New York, October 11. At Fond rtu Lac, Wisconsin. "Cyclone" Thompson defeated "Art." Godfrey, 'oi Minneapolis. The fight was stopped in the eighth round, the referee desiring tc Bavo Godfrey from further punishment.

I \ GOLF.

IMIRAMAR CLUB. The mixed foursomes match which wa; begun on the Miramar links last Satur day resulted in n tie, and will be fmallj decided next Saturday. Mr. P. C. Freeth president of the cl.ub, distributed tho cluT championship prizes. Mr. Horton is thi: year's champion. It really makes no difference to th< WOOD MILNE GOLF BALL whether th turf bo hard, dry, or soft. Beautifull; ' steady, it docs equally well on a slov or fast green. Your dealer ran snppl; you. Try i f against others. Ulinthnrne Hnrtridjo and Ltd-, Aeelll» Wellington. 8'