ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1809, 23 July 1913, Page 4

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

OUR CRICKET.

SUMMED UP BY AN OUTSIDER. After a lapse of fourteen year?, and after having refused the terms offered for the visit of a representative New South Wales team last season, the NewZealand Cricket Council has determined to send a touring ted in to Australia, says "A Sydney Tourist" in the "Keferee." There is wisdom in it. Tlie scheme, as at present outlined, provides for representative matches against New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland, as well as fixtures at Newcastle or Maitland, Glen Junes, Goulburn, Toowoomba, -in(l Ballarat, or Bendigo. The New Zealand Association is asking for a guarantee of £00 per match from the smaller associations, and of A 75 from the three representative bodies. There should be 110 difficulty in' securing these guarantees. As for the Country Association in New South Wales, they have received considerable assistance from the New South Wales Cricket Association, and should now be fairly established, and prepared to do something to secure representative games of this character. Doubtless, they will find it to their interest to do so. As a fact, some have already decided to do so.

The hist match New South Wales v. New Zealand, played in Sydney, yielded a gross gate of ,£ll6 13s. Od. Tho expenses exceeded this amount by a few pounds. Still, the New- South Wales Cricket Association, though faced- with certain loss, has not to give the guarantee asked for. if New /ealund cricket can be so developed_ as to render the Maori'landers capable of meeting with even chances ail eleven 1 of this State, it will be good for the game here, inasmuch as more first-class opportunities will bo provided for our plavers. Think what it would mean if the New Zealanders were to become as formidable in the summer game as the famous "All Blacks" 011 the football field. Though a representative New Zelaaud team could not at present bo given a chance against a strong side from either New South Wales or Victoria, yet they would have a good fighting chance against Queensland. They would probably defeat both Tasmania and West Australia. ■ New Zealand's Strength. The least promising feature of their cricket, insofar as 1 have hfld an opportunity of observing it, is the smallness of tho crop of young players with possibilities—'this, too, in spite of tho fact that tho authorities and supporters of the game have been exceedingly enterprising in providing many capable coaches. A. K Ifelf and G. J. Thompson at Auckland, J. V. Saunders at Wellington, W. Carlton at-Christchurch, J. H. Board at Napier, and others have dono good work; but i think have deserved better success than / they have achieved. A representative New Zealand team to-day would be almost entirely composed of players who have been before the public for many years. Tho special features of New Zealand cricket as they strike an Australian might be summarised thus:—

First: There appears to be plenty of public interest in the game, ana the press uevotes much space to it. But, on the other hand, the players, as a body, do not exhiibt that keenness and sense of responsibility to which we are accustomed. During lust season, for instance, I heard of a senior team in Wellington which turned out 011 tho second day of a match with two men! The management of tlio governing bodies, too, appears somewhat apathetic, and will admit of improvement in respect to the details and organisation, and to the adoption of a more energetic policy generally. Second: The game is, in parts at least, encouraged among the juniors, and in tho schools, whence good results must assuredly iollow. .Most of the young players, too, learn their cricket from the beginning on the turf—a distinct advan-. tage compared witli the liard-wicket training of so inauy of our young players. But against this is the fact that the turf wickets are rarely, true.. Tho pace and flight of the ball from the pitch is' commonly very uncertain, having the effect of making the batsmen unduly cautious and cramped on tho one hand, or unduly reckless on the other. This is one of the causes why the game does not progress in' tho Dominion as rapidly as one could hope.

Third: Greater facilities for playing in first-class cricket is the other gieat requirement of New Zealand players. If cach of the principal provinces, Auckland, Canterbury, Otago, and Wellington, were to met each other once every season —which is not always the case—it would mean only three first-class matches —firstclass, that is, according to New Zealand standards—in each year. Now Zealand Wickats. Yet the making of a turf wicket in New Zealand is a comparatively easy matter. Soil, suitable for top-dressing, is plentiful and distributed, and the grass is much more easily brought along than in Australia. The outfields in most ■of tho grounds are really magnificent. Scarcely any of our grounds, except tho Sydney Cricket Ground, can compare with several I have played oil in New Zealand in this rospect. They are generally as level as billiard tables, and nro covered with a beautiful velvety grass sward, which is refreshingly green.

RUGBY CODE. THE RETURN FROM AUCKLAND. The Wellington' Rugby representatives returned tu Wellington yesterday from Auckland, where they were defeated by it narrow margin in their match against the Auckland representatives for the Kanfurly Shield. Members of the team state that the game was played in u good spirit on both sides, and they returned with pleasant recollections of the flip. They stated that they had been "fairly and squarely beaten."

WHOLE-HEAHTED RUGBY MEN. (By Telegraph—Prct?s Association.) Feilding, July 22. The Manawatu Rugby Union decided last night as the Feilding senior, junior, •and third teams have established so great a lead in the respective competitions that it was no uso goin" on. Tho Feilding teams were declared champions for the season. Feilding seniors have won the Manawatu championship six times during tho last eleven years. • LAWN TENNIS. IRISH CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES. By Telegraph—PreEO Association—Copyright London, July 21. In the Irish doubles tenuis championship final games, Jones and Rice (Australia) beat Parke and Stokes, 6—B, 6—3, 7-5, 6-3. YACHTING. AMERICA YACHT CLUB. RACE CONDITIONS SIGNED. By Telegraph—Press Association—ConyrteUt London, July 21. The- Ulster Yacht Club, on behalf of Sir Thomas Liplon, has signed • conditions for the America Cup contest. Tho first race will take place oil September 10, 1914. The challenger will be named "Shamrock IV." LATEST SPORTING TALENT. WORK OF THE OLYMPIC COMMITTEE. By Telegraph—l'reffl Association-Copyright (Sydney "Sun" Special.) London, July 21. The report of the British Olympic Committee stalej that it has provided (he Athletic Association with .EI2OO, comprising .£50(1 for novice trials, with a view to discovering latent talent, ami .£7OO to assist affiliated clubs. Besides, it lias granted the Swimming Association .1:300 for holding time tests in five districts, and lias also supplemented tho fund of the Cyclists' Union lor sending representative's to Berlin in August next. It is intended, to make a further appeal . for funds« ,