ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1960, 17 January 1914, Page 13

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

CRICKET.

TOUR OF AUSTRALIAN PLAYERS. TO THE DOMINION. THE OPINION OF THE PROMOTER. Bt Ttleirapt—Preu Aisoclatlon-OopTrislit Melbourne, January 16. There are only two vacancies in Mr. Sims's New Zealand team,- and they have boon offered to Park (Melbourne) University), and Crawford (South Australia). Tho team includes Armstrong, Bansford, Laver, M'Kenzie, Noble, Trumper, Waddy, Collins, and Dolling. It leaves on January 28. The "Herald" says that it is understood that the teams organised to tour New Zealand and America will make the tours whether sanctioned ;by the Board of Control or not. \ "A T o player," says the chairman d the Board of Control, "will be given sanction to accompany the team to America. If any Australian cricketer proceeds to America without our consent lie will never play in Australia again." THE AMERICAN TOUE. Molbourne, January 16. The team being organised for America is far from complete. Invitations were extended to Armstrong, Bansford, and Laver, but each declined. It is understood that Baring and Lampard were also invited to join. CALIBRE OF THE TEAM. (Bj TeleEraofc.—Fresi AiSoolatlon.) Chrlstchurch, January 16. Mr. Sims, in an interview, says that the Australian team is of international strength, including five players whose absence from the 1912 Australian team was deeply regretted in England. The tour was organised because lie know the New Zealand Cricket Council had failed in the last two or three years to get an Australian visit. Ho had 1 no difficulty in getting adequate support from tho players, but specially asked the council to withhold information regarding the tour until the. details were com- ' plete. A great deal of misunderstanding exists regarding the Board of-Con-trol's attitude. His team was not the first private team to tour Now Zealand. Last year also Maync took a team to America,;and Watldy now has a team in Colombo. Possibly the frequency of private teams had induced the board to express an opinion. Its consent was desirable, but the board had not declared, its consent necessary. He supplied all information to the board. Mr. Sims presumes from the absence of replies to his letters that the board does not attach any great importance to the point at issue. The personnel of the team was not yet complete. AUCKLAND TOURING TEAM. (By Teleffraph.—Presn Acsodatlon.l v Auckland, January 16. It has been definitely decided that the Auckland cricket team to make the southern tour will play Canterbury on January 23, 24, and 2b', and Wellington on January 29, 30, and 31. The team will be: Horspool, M'Cormick, Rountree, Smith, \Vrißht, Cummings, ■ Hoivden, Woods, Clarke, Smeeton, Sloman,..and Brookes, ..Emergencies: Harvey and Dacre. ' ,■>.. SENIOR . CHAMEIOXSHIP. . •FdrHhe time , beitig' I'ctbne'is leading for the senior championship, the wins, losses,- and championship points being as follow: — Played. Won. Lost. Points. Petone 5 -i 1 11 Central 5 4 ' — 10 North 5 3 2 8 Old Boys ... o 3 2 7. East B 5 2 3 3 Vic. College 5 2 3 4 East A 5 1 3 . 3 Hutt 5 0 5 0 In connection with the table, it hae to be noted that Central and East A played a pointless draw. Also some of tho wins credited to clubs are "three pointers," while others only count two points. AUCKLAND TROUBLE OVER. Cricket enthusiasts will bo very pleased to hear that tho Wellington Cricket Association has arranged for tho Auckland representative cricket team to play hero on January 29, 30, and 31. Tins is good news as previous attempts to fix dates with Auckland have failed rather annoyingly. Auckland will play Canterbury, the Plunket Shield holders, on January 23. 24, and 26, and ifthey then lift the trophy tho match in Wellington will be for tho shield. Tho game which was to have been played between tho New Zealand team and Wellington will now be dropped. BOYS , LEAGUE REPRESENTATIVES. Tho selector has chosen tho following to represent tho Boys' .Cricket League in tho match against the 'Wellington Cricket Association's third-class eleven, to tako place on January 22:—C. I)e----mutli (captain), M'Canley, Marchmont, Parrant (Manst Bros.), G. Boesley, Tierney, Bramley (United Methodist), Halley, Swinney (Y.M.C.A.), Mcnco (Telegraph), Hoar (St. Ann's), Gray (St. Ann's), Davis (Telegraph). The ground will be notified in Monday's paper. TRIP TO NAPIER. s A Wellington cricket team will visit Napier to play there on February 6 and AMATEUR ATHLETICS. THE SPIRIT OF THE SPORT. Tho old sporting spirit is not dead. At the Palmerston North meeting on January 7 Kcddell and Templeton met in tho final of the Hurdles. At tho start Templeton flow out of the holes, not actually beating the pistol, but very near to it, though not near enough to warrant tho starter bringing tho field back. With a lead of two yards in tho first fivo, Templeton cleared ono hurdlo and then pulled up, calling out to Keddel to come back for a fresh start. Off again to a level start, both kept together till tho eighth hurdlo. In tho meantime the other starter in tho race—Stagpoole, who had the same hurdlo as Templeton (there were but two lines of hurdles for the three men) — was about five yards to tho good. He struck the eighth hurdle hard, which, swinging back just as Templeton rose to it, hit tlio American, causing him to lose a foot or so on Koddell. At the finish, learning what had happened, Kcddpll (who got homo by inches) refused to take tho race, but was returned a winner much against his will, tho oihYials refusing to run it again. There are no two keener opponents than Templeton and Kcddell, but their keenness is that of the true sportsman. DOMINION TEAM'S MANAGER. Mr. W. 11. Pollock, who was appointed manager of the Now Zealand team for the Australasian Championships, lias been unable to secure, tho necessary leave of absence, and the team will now bo managed by Mr. C. E. Bridge, who was in charge of tho last New Zealand team to visit Australia—that which carried oft the honours at Brisbane.in August, 1909, through the wins of Woodger, Korr, Keddell, M'Kay,.and Dickaon. . tl would have beon particularly appropriate had Mx. Pollock been ftblo to

go to Melbourno in charge of this,team;; for ten years ago to within two or throe; days ho competed as a New Zealand:; representative at the last, Australasian: Championships held in that city. :Jami-; ary, 1904, was indeed a notable month; in the career of this ene-tifflo'- v great, atliloto and present-day administrator.'; in the local athletic world. ■ }iy.y^SUNHAPPY FAMILY. ff|j ATHLETIC & CYCLING UNION.^ (By Telegmuh.-Prcji JUeoelivtlwi.i '||; Auokland, January \IW.% The annual conference of the New Zealand Athletic and Cycling Union considered a communication i'rom the Auckland Union announcing its intention to secede. It was oxplained that one rea6on was that subsciiptiona to tho union kept tho local centre financially impoverished. It was asserted that tho greedy, grasping naturo of the union exacted every penny, and that it put the money tojio useful purpose. Auckland hoped to form a North Island Union, with headquarters, central and easy of access. .. , The southern delegates intimated that their unions would remain loyal, and that tho "Auckland scheme would be frustrated. No definite action was taken. , ,- The following officers were elected:-;-Patron, Mr. Woods, Invereargill; president, air. Kennedy, Geraldine; vicepresidents, Messrs Clurte (Nw,flymouth), M'Kay (Dunedin), and WiUon (Groymouth): committee, Messrs. tollingwood (Fmlding), Fisher (Blenheim), Hansen (Eltham), Lavery (Wairarapa), and Deakson (Christchuroh); secretary and treasurer, Mr. Fraser (Timani). Tho next championship meeting wiU bo at Blenheim on March 1, and tho annual conference at Christchurco m January, 1915. - .. . OLYMPIC GAMIB FUND. BRITISH'COMMITTEE DISSOLVED. By IWegraph—Pre»J /i>i<ool(i.tlon— OopjTlstlsl London, January 15. . The Committee of the Olympic Games Fund has voluntarily dissolved, onb" £11,000 was subscribed, of which half was given conditionally on a sufficient comprehensive scheme being evolved. The committee allotted £6200 for various purposes, including tho salary ot Mr. W. Knox, Canadian chief trainer. The conditional subscriptions have been handed to the British Olympic Council.' SET-BACK IN GERMANY, if OLYMPIC VOTE REJECTED BY THE REICHSTAtf. . .. Berlin, .Tannery .15. The Budget Committee of tho Reichstag rejected a vote for £2300 as a first instalment towards tlw expenditure on preparation lor tho Olympic Games to bo held in Berlin. , ; OVERSEAS SPOItT. By IWesraDh—l'rere Association— CsSirlsM ENCLISH HOCKEY TOUR. London, January 15. Tho English Hockey Council discussers on January 24 tho mat-tor of the visit of an English team to New Zealand. Nineteen players, including- several internationals, are willing to go to Wow Zealand. BILLIARDS CHAMPIONSHIP. : London, January 15. , In tho billiards championship match, the scores now are: Recce, 14,063 (including a break of 394); Gray, 14,320.