THE WORLD OF SPORT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2120, 11 April 1914, Page 12

THE WORLD OF SPORT.

; A WEEKLY RECORD OF SPORTS AND OTHER PASTIMES,

uncomplaining targets for all kinds of criticism, just nnd unjust—mostly tho latter. As to our players—our Blacklocks, Biices, Hicksons, M'Girrs, Wilsons, Midlanes, Bakers, Donoghues, Quinns, Gibbes, Hiddlestones, Southalls, Grimmetts, Robinsons, Fentons, Ryans, Tuckers, Hays, Howes, Cates, Sinyrks, and others—well, tho present writer is satisfied: ho wants no change. I can only repeat what I have often said that, aftor seeing tho play in all the large, centre's of New Zealand, wo have admirablo cricket hero—cricket which could win any shield it started out to win. Unfortitnately, as Charles Hickey once truly remarked on tho occasion of a memorablo match: "It is not wiiqi you would call a fighting side." Moreover, the whole system of practice, and practice wickets, requires reorganising from end to end.

CRICKET. ; V 1 ; ] ::. [By the Breaker.] ; .' SENIOR CLUB BATTING, I ' i The following is a list of the leading . "•'■ >b a tting averages of players in tho AVel- , V lington Association's senior grndo for { the season: — • . " ; ; . .; ■...,. I id g > ■2 -p 5 7c r, " < "' r <:;- ■.::.. \J £ S w! $ ' -' F. A. Midlano 12 -1 707 101* 88.37 < AWE. Hickson 10 2 392 109 49.00 t AV. A. Baker ... 13 1 58S 144* -18.83 ; O. G. Wilson ... 12 4 362 88 45.25 ( J- Quiuu 9 3 263 57* '13.83 , B. Hay 11 1 .416 11! 41.60 j AV. It. Gibbes... 10 1 331 100' 36.77 D, ponoghue ... 15 0 459 134 30.60 1" f!v. Blacklock 11 0 331 95 30.09 , • J. S. Hiddleston 13 1 332 91 27.60 ' A. Birch 13 2 201 103* 27.36 < !•'. Bowles U 0. 376 76 26.85 < K. AV. Smyrfc 15 1 361 103 26.00 1 ; J. G , . Kinvig ... 11. 2 233 102' 25.88 i J. Barber 12 .'1 231 101* 25.66 , 1 , . AValters ... IS 2 329 EO 25.30 . AV. A. AUlersley 16 2- 352 69* 25.14 i "A. Cate 11 4 250 96 ' 25.00 ~ V. Joplin 10 0 247 115 24.70 AV. S. Brice ... 11 1 241 55 24.10 H. C. Hickson 10 3 167 47 23.85 j D. Naughton ... 11 1 236 64 23.60 J. Kodgers 15 2 208 58' 22.92 T. M. Grace ... 11 U 213 65 22.09 i E. SI. Beechcy 13 2 24"3 42 22.09 i (J. Atinore 12 2 . 202 44 20.20 ( K. H. Tucker... 10 1 ISO 70» 20.C0 , AV. T. Bray ... 13 1 2H9 72 .19.01 , — Jonos i 0 76 40 -19.00 , J.-Hatchings ... 13 3 188 38* 18.80 G. Howo 13 1 221 46 18.6G J J. Tilyard- ' 4 0 72 28 18.00 : A. H. Fenton... 12 2- 180 31 18.00 ' H. Manning ... 12 2 175 38 17.50 < H. E. Burton... 13 0 225 G3 17,30 i G.-AV. Eobinson 8 1 119 58* 17.00 i V. Becchey 10 0 187 . 48 16.70 ; H. M. M'Girr.:. 13 0 ' 215 53 1G.53 , 1). Patrick 5 0 81 ' 43 16.20 C. V. Grimmett 13 1 190 48 15.83 AV. Hughes 12 0 189 61 15.75 A. S. Staples... 17 1 246 54 15.37 AV. WngstafTe... 10 0 150 42 15.00 ' 1). J. Neazor ... 4 1 43 2G ,14.33 AV. Pntewon ...' 4 1 43 29 14.33 C. Bold .4 0 57 21 14.25 L. Casey 9 0 124 54 13.77 S. AV. Dempsey 11 1 135 35 13.50 E. Jl'Cardell ... 10 1' 121 47* 13.44 — Hintimarsh 4 1 40 18 33.33 .T. V. Sounders 7 4 39 30* 13.00' J. A. Nnsli 8 1 91 32 13.00 — Mason 13 1 14G 33 12.18 — Smith 11 1 121 22 12.10 — Dooley 12 1 130 40 11.81 T. A. Jackson... 10 1 106 75* 11.77 ,T. Dickson 11 3 .94 23 11.75 W. Ryan 11 1 117 50 11.70 E. Judd 7 1 69 .%" 11.50 -t. Patten ' 7 0 SO 32 11.42 V,. Gleußio- 13 1 133 27 11.08 ,T. J. Hay ....- It 0 117 36 10.63 W. Wiehton ... 11 1 10G 21* 10.60 .K. L. Ma50n...... 9 0 91 23 10.44 A. Bennett 13 1 125 35 10.41 'Indicates not out. CLUB BOWLINC. The following table shows the aver- ' ages of senior bowlers who have taken ten wickets or moro than ten during tho season. - v'. " Runs. AVkts. Avee. J. Hutchings 73 11 fi.B3 T. -E. Sonthall 391 42 9.30 -.-•' J. S. Hiddleston. ... 27fi 29 9.51. ■::'.'-.'i-f-:,W. S.:-Brice ;^ : 401 37. 10.33: ■'■<: "7J.'-A r .- founders'...... 436 36 ■ ,12.11. ■ ; C. V.;;Grimmett,.... 553 .45 12.28 . : -E, AV: Smyrk 408 38 - 12.31 ■;-.'.i';-jrßarber .-.■........!.... 124 . .10 :..12.40 ;•-■;-A-.-Bennett -...: v. 187 13 12.40 Bv-an 465 37 12.56 •. ' AV; Smith- ....•.:.-........ 205 -• ■ Mγ -- 12.85 : AV.'AVishtdn „.; 168 13 12.92 C. K Hickey 151 11 13.53 L. Casey 424 31 13.67 K. H. Tucker GU 46 14.03 ' ' AV. R. Gibbes 557 39 14.28 A. H. Fenton 70G 49 14.40 H. St. M'Girr 480 28 15.00 C. AV. Robinson ■ 290. 19 -15.20 1). Twohill 155 10 15.50 J. Stiles 295 28 17.G7 J. G. '.Kinvig 231 13 17.68 A. Pinlayson, 335 18 18.66 J. Dickson • '41fcJ 25 19.GS L. Macintosh 2s) 13 19.32 — Duncan 2G. r > ]:) 20.39 X. Patten 209 10 . 20.91) ■ .T. Hbdgers ....' 31)8 14 ' • 22.00 E. Ryan 2JG 10 24.60 -E. Leys 551 2t 25.42 •E. Judrt '420 13 32.30 ■;'.!'. ■Aγ. .Grace .'. 4!! l 11 39.45 A Successful Club. During the season the Artillery Club .'-'successfully captured.tho mid-week sen,..ior championship and also the junior "Saturday championship. The following •■ are their leading batting and bowling -averages in both competitions:— Mid-week .Batting. Inngs. Runs. H.S. N.O. Avgo. C. G. Wilson . 7 291 115 1 48.5 A r . Harris 8 219 78 2 30.5 J. Smith 9 233 54 1 29.1 .'•..P.'Harris' 2 27 14 1 27.0 ■'J. M'Mahon .. 10 220 !)!) 0 22.1) '."'R. Paton .... 5 91 30 0 18.2 , Major Hnmo 11 107 58 1 16.7 - Geo. Owles ...12 IGS 48 2 10.5 "L. Beard .... 10 80 40 3 11.4 Mid-week Bowling. : ■ • Euns. AVkls. Avge. L. Beard 298 43 1i.9 -Hume 81' (i 9.0 3B : 4 9.0 - V. Harris • ' 385 38 10.1 .. Dr. Gilmer 34 3 , 1i.3 ITHakon : IG4 13 12.6 M'lntyre '. 150 8 15.7 ■Houlihan, 118 5 23.6 ■ ■ ' ' ' Saturday Batting. Inngs.Buns. H.S, N.O. Avge. V. Harris 8 250 61 1 35.7 T, Beard 10 198 69 1 21.7 Major Hume 7 135 42 0 19.2 F. Harris 12' 163 5(1 rf 18.1 j G. Owlea 10 157 38 1 17.4 J. Smith 10 .118 67* 2 14.7 Mi Houlihan ... 9 97 51 0 10.7 J. Eyre I 42 23* 3 10.5 'Not out. Saturday Bowljng. Runs. Wkts. Avge. M. Houlihan IU7 19 5.6 «■• §552.:::::::::::::::: \l S V Harris 393 . 43 9.2 . - J. M'Mahon 204 18 11.3 J. Smith C 9 C U. 5 .T. Beard i W 5 14 - 8 Shutting up tho Box. "And now children," wrote Thackeray, in tho last two lines of his greatest novel, "let us shut up tho box, for the frame has been played." Ono feels very much likn that at the end ot a season. The pleasant little bunch of workers—scorers and pressmen—who havo assembled in the glas3 box Saturday after Saturday, now creep into thenwinter retreats like Polar bears. A chance nod in the street, perhaps, and that is all we shall see of each other for six months. Even then, perhaps, some face will be missing, A?e have not, for instance, seen Mr. Clemcntson behind North's score-book this year. And, one Wonders who oiif> will iniss npxt summer. AVe can only hope Let us hope that it will not bo Mr Hood, the informal, but respected "chairman of the gnllory." 1 suppose that in IiOM A.I), some newspaper^controversy will bo going on about The Manners and Customs of the Natives ot AVcllinglou in Ancient Times, and aomo correspondent will anihilate some other correspondent by quoting the statistics of "a Sir. Hood who kept records at tho timo in •question." I hope, too, that we shall still have our gallant littlp. band of enthusiastic umpires with us—our Dan M'Eenzies, Eocks, Lamberts, and oihers—patient heroes pirinc; Solamemc decisions on "leg before" mysteries, and forming

As to tlio Management Committee, compliments to these Napoleons are perhaps out of order, and it is not intended to pay any hero, not because such compliments may not be deserved, but because they could not possibly serve any useful purpose. The writer has Eeen tho inside story of too many management committees all over New Zea-lond-p-cricket, Rugby, soccer, boxing, tenuis, swimming, and athletics—to bo enthusiastic. Management committees are, and for a great many years, will be, the weak" spot in Now Zealand sport. They live too much in the limelight and, as soon as a man of ideas and originality comes along, at once a whole band of inferior committeemen set to work to undermine him. I hope that I will not be misunderstood. This note has no particular referenco to the Wellington Cricket Association at all. ■ 7n fact, it is easily possible to pay the Wellington Cricket Executive a very distinct compliment of tho double-barrelled kind: (1) They aro strenuously wiping out the association's debt; (2) they have framed an admirable proposal inviting the cooperation of their own association, the Outside .Association, and the- Warehousemen's Association. This, to my mind, is a master touch, for there are over 2000 players and others directly interested in the game here, and the result of this co-operation (if it happens) promises to be extensive. Another.' class of enthusiast connected with cricket here are those who will put their hand in their pocket to help on tho ganio at any and every call. I could namo forty or fifty of them offhand, and some hundreds on reflection, but do not propose to do so because, as soon as their names aro mentioned, someone else flies to them with a subscription list for an ambulance, or something totally unconnected with cricket. As to the reporters, who roport criccet, I suppose it does not matter. I have it on the authority of bluff, honest John V. Saunders that, "not one reporter in New Zealand can report cricket." Ho quotes "Felix" and other writers in Australia, whose writings really shook a continent. It is all very true, as far' as it goes, but it does not go far enough. "Felix," and others, were specialists, with timo at their disposal. Nowadays, a cricket match comes only as a hurried incident in a journalist's day's work. Moreover, there is another thing to be said:—Give us tho cricket, and we willquipkly give you what yoir call reporting. In the meantime wo aro waiting for, for, more- cricket. . . , ■ . Some Stray Shots.' The championship points are: —North 19, Petone 19, Central 12, East A 10, Old Boys 9, East.B 8, Victoria College, 0, Hutt.O. Curious that two teams like Hutt and Petone should dwell so near together, and bo so.far apart in points. The name of John V. Saunders has just been added to the honour board established by the cricket control in Victoria. . Since the old club names were blotted out by tho district scheme in 1909, Central have won tho championship twice, East A once, and North once. This year North and Fetone tie for top honours; / Those who watched East A and Old Boys on Saturday last were 'fortunate enough to seo the real Blacklock. Ho mado 22 in five hits. Off the two last balls of Gibbes's seventh over he smoto two "sixers" iu succession. He was going very strongly when "Wighton bowled him at 43. Fred Midlane, with an aggregate of 707 runs for the season, hns broken all club records in Wellington, Wiri Baker being next. Tho 500 has only been topped four times here—once each by Arnold Williams and C. A. Richardson, and twice 'by Midlane. Blacklock, Tucker, Brice, and Gibbes figure in tho "four hundred" honour list. On Monday last the "Evening Post" solemnly stated that Brico batted with "characteristic caution." On Slight Provocation. They seem to compliment each other on very slight provocation down in Dunodin., In the cup final, Grange v. Opolio, we read, in one of the papers: "Cheers wore exchanged between tho teams and Mr. Downos (captain of tho Grange team) complimented Opoho, etc." Yet Opoho's total was only 70, and nine of tho men scored as follow:— 'J, 1, 7, 4, 0, 4, 1, 0, 0. "Wonderful Rate, Truly!" Associated with tho fast scoring by tho Australian team in Now Zealand, it is claimed, are some world's records. It is reported that SO runs were scored in five minutes twice in the course of tho afternoon when J. N. Crawford mado tlio 354. A wonderful rate, truly! (remarks "Not Out"). It is not easy to pick out a small section of a man's innings and timo it, nor is it of any particular value in the records of cricket, inasmuch as so many big innings aro allowed to pass without such an operation being performed. However, in Sydney wo have tho case of Victor Trumpor in his innings of 89 for l'addington against Wavorloy on the Wavorloy Oval in 1907, scoring 50 runs in 5J minutes, while- his partner, Norman, Winning, scored ono. Four overs sent down by T. Roso produced 67 runs, Trumper liiting 32 oft ono over—viz., 4, 4, G, G, G, G. > ■ Ransford's Gorreoted Average. Mr. A. E. Beswiek, of Palmetston L North, who furnished the averages for ' the New Zealand totir of the Australian team, writes as follows Ausi tralian cricket ayeragfis: Most (if not all) my clippings Were from • The Dominion, and on going over thorn ; 'again last Saturday, I found that in onn 1 match you gave Itunsford as scoring 2 ! iiislond of 2 not out, which mnkes ft big 1 riiiicrenco in his averages, This was in I the second innings of Australia v. 5 Ilawko's Hay. Knusfonl's jiverago ■ sliould read: 12 innings, 155 highest > score, 1 not tut, 449 total, average F 40.818. I would be glad if you would 1 note this in your next week's cricket 2 remarks."

RUGBY. [Bγ Lock.l ON THE RIM OF THE SEASON. Club Prospeots. Practice games have now been in progress long enough to givo eonio idea of the prospects of the Rugby clubs in this year's championships and tho general impression Beems to bo that in tho senior contest the teams to bo reckoned with will bo Athletic, Oriental, Wellington, and Petone, with tho Poneko men to mako things interesting on special occasions. The Athletic Club promises to bo strong again this season, though at tho present time there is said to lie some doubt as to whether Evenson, Cunningliaine, Murphy, and M'Vay will all bo available in tho opening matches. There ia oven talk of Murphy retiring altogether, but those who know him best say that ho is certain to stick to tho game as long as his former clubmate, Ready, dons the jersey for Petone. Both veterans seem now to bo slowing down with increasing weight, but popular opinion (founded perhaps on tradition or something like that) credits them with being as good as ever in front of. tho scrunii The Wellington Men, Forty players attended practice from the Wellington Club last Saturday and this was considered very satisfactory. The club has of course lost Lambert, M'Kay, Dow, and Perry since last year, but in their places it lias gained Okey (forward), Jenkinson (three-quarter), Beard (three-quarter), Courtney (half), and sovoral other promising men. .Six teams will be entered for the various contests and prospects are considered good. Very shortly players will be called upon to allot (by vote) tho Pownall Cup for last year's play, and a big effort is to bo mado to revive the Levin Shield competition, which was allowed to lapse last year. Cheering Item for Poneke. Mitchinson will soon be back from the country. This is a cheering item for tho Poneke Club for, besides being such a great player himself, the All Black is very keen on encouraging the youngsters of tho club. Dennehy is back to his old club, after playing for the Marist Bros.' team in Auckland, and other promising men are: M. Mahoney (formerly St. Patrick's College), Murphy (from Taihape), Israel (formerly St. James), and Hedges (promoted fourth-class player). Six teams (and possibly seven) will he entered for tho championship matches and in the lower grades the club will be strong. Secretary B. Mageo and the committee have been specially looting after the young blood tor some '.years past now, witli tho l'esult that the club is gradually coming back to its old strength in the top grades. Serious Losses. Two serious losses have been suffered by the Oriental Club in the transfer from Wellington of H. Patou and Gillespie. Tho latter will this season bo playing for Ponsonby, in Auckland. Paton is now located at Greyinouth. In all probability another of tho club's best players, Kinvig, will bo leaving for Melbourne, but the club's selectors are at present in the hopo that something will happen to prevent this. Even if they should loso Kinvig, however, the "Magpies" will still havo strong backs and forwards from which to gather a capital team. These will include: H. M'Leod, C. Carrad, T. Sullivan, H. Little, J. Moffitt, G. King, S. Chapman, Shearer, K. Shaw (full-bapk.for the junior representatives last year), Pearce (Auckland University live-eighths), M'Pherson (three-quarter from Port Chalmers), Kyne (returned from Christchureh), and a lot of junior talent of the class of Avery and Owles. The. club will bo well represented in all tho lower grades, may enter seven teams, and best of all will have a really good Wednesday team. Feeling the Pinoh, Molrose clubmen do not view tho immediate Rugby future with very great hope. To be candid they say tiia,t the prospects for the present season are "not too good." ±Jut there is the consoling thought that the younger players have been looked after, and that the present senior team is representative of youth. The club can boast of no new men, but it retains sucli capital backs as Twomey and Capper. j The Wednesday Competition. "Very promising" is how the Wednesday Rugby competition is spoken of this season. Last year the Wednesday matches were right down to the low-water mark, but a little enthusiasm was maintained, and tho competition was kept going. Since last winter one or two enthusiasts have been hard at work, and the success of their efforts is shown by tho fact that six teams will be playing in tho competition. They are l'etonc, Oriental, Tramways, Butchers, Artillery, and Post and Telegraph. Tho lirst four were in tho field last year, wbilo' Artillery is a club that is being brought bank to life from an earlier period. The Post and Telegraph team is new, and will no doubt he a strong one. Saturday football has brought to light some first-class Rugby men from tho G.P.O. building during the past twenty years, and among some names that just como to memory arc those of J. G. Roache, M. E. Wood, F. E. Beamish, A. Grace, C. Ty'rell, and the late A. H. Baske'rville, not to mention another hundred lesser lights. It has been recognised that where such Saturday players wore to be found thero also must be some Kood Wednesday material. By perseverance, tho team has now been launched, and it will nu doubt prove a team to bo reckoned with. Mr. W. F. Hornig, a member of the Rugby Union, who takes a particular interest in Wednesday football, si>eaks very hopefully of tho mid-week competition, and considers that there is now every reason to expect that Wednesday play will soon bo of a standard to attract much bigger crowds of the public than hitherto. Departing Poneke Player. The young Poneke player J. ("Snowy' , ) Morris, who left for Sydney during the week, will no doubt bo heard of in tho Rugby ranks there before very long. Mr. B. Magce, secretary of tho Poneke Club, states that tho records show that Morris has played for the club for fourteen years, working his way right through from the fifth-class team. For three years past Morris has played in representative football. Trip to Chrlstchurch, At tho invitation of the Christohurch Football Club, tho Wellington Football Club has sent a team south to j>lay in tho Cathedral City this afternoon. The mnn left on Thursday night, and will return on Tuesday morning. For tho match this afternoon the team Will be picked from the followpiig men, who made tho trip:— J. A. Munro, J. Justice, 11. J. Beesley, (J. Millor, It. Brown, AV. Higgiiis, H. Drake, N. Irons, C. Irons, 10. Meyers, L. Bridge, K. Jenkinson, l< , . Uarrell, V. Shollny, A. L'oddiiigtoi), 11. L. M'.Gregnr, T. J. Dwyor, and G. IF. AVnir. The malinger of tho team is Mr. I). I). Woir. A Vital Question. . A movement is on foot to organise a deputation to the Wellington Rugby union to discuss the question of limiting the number (if third-class clubs, that is to say, clubs that do not enter teams for ally grade above, third-class. The deputation is bring headed by the Melrose Football Club, but it is understood that several other clubs are readily joining in. In speaking of the question a few days ago, Mr. J. Bums,

of the Meiroso Club, had some interest- i ing observations to make. Mr. Burns, . along with Messrs. Colin Campbell, i Georgo Spencer, J. Patterson, and a i couplo of other hard lvorlsers, have hatt i their hands full during tiro past decade 1 keeping the old club togother. During ! that period they have seen some changes in football among the residents of Wei- '. lington South, and, while not be-ins; al- ] together pessimistic as to the future, i Mr. Burns says emphatically that tlio < changes have been for tlio worse. No ' one can doubt, ho says, that tlio ill- ' crease of clubs in that portion of tho city lies resulted in n lowerimj of the Kcnoral staudnrd of play. Hh points to the strcneth of Molroso in tlio days before St. James and Southern started operations. Both these clubs rose steadily for some seasons, but then new clubs and tho advent of tho League clubs struck a bloiv at tliein, oven as they had previously struck at JldrofMJ. Now there is talk of nnether third-class club to be formed in Wellington South, Whore, asks Mr. Burns, is it to end? It must mean tho scattering of the third-class and the junior pleyors generally, and most of tlio time tlio plmy. ers in these smaller clubs an>. losing tho benefit of gymnasium practice iiiui the experience- of senior players. Hα unrds the whole question ns vitnl, end suvs that in the interest!) of UugUy ibo