SCULLING MATCH.

Kumara Times, Issue 1169, 28 June 1880, Page 3

SCULLING MATCH.

R. EDWARDS v. C. A. MESSENGER. An impromptu mateh for £SO was rowed on Monday the 31st ult., over the Champion course, on the Lower Yarra, between the above-named scullers. The preliminaries were only arranged on Monday morning between Mr R. Edwards and Mr J. Austin; of Sydney ; the latter a well-known bookmaker, and backer of E. Laycock, laying £3O to £2O on Messenger. The match evidently arose from a belief on the part of Messenger’s friends that he could have beaten Robert Edwards in the big race rowed on the SaturcTay previous. The steamer Rescue was

engaged t'O follow the face, and left the wharf with a fair muster of spectators including & sprinkling only of rowing men and a .strong detachment of the talent, which, in this instance, meant A number of small bookmakers and their satellites. There was a long delay at thfe starting-place, awaiting the arrival of the Geelong steamer} and when once that vCssCl had passed and the competitors Were ready, it was decided to start, notwithstanding that another large steamer was on its Way down the river. The light, too, was getting bad, and ag Captain Scott of the Harbor Department, had kindly instructed the pilot of the South Australian to ease on the approach of the racing boats, the competitors Were ordered to their posts. Messenger had been the favorite rtt 0 to 4 on him, till everything was in. readiness for the start, when Edwards suddenly supplanted him, and started at 6 to 4 on him, After one false start on the part of Edwards, Mr Michie gave the word “ off,” and both dashed away, steered from the bows of the two eights. A slight foul occurred after about a dozen strokes had been rowed, the blades of the sculls touching, but it was not material, and the scullers went away at a very lively pace. Edwards led by about half a length at the Sugarworks, after passing which Messenger quickened, and drew again on his opponent, but was not holding so good a position as was expected. Both men steered an excellent course for the Junction, Edwards holding his own at about two strokes a minute less than his opponent, and having a clear lead of about half a length, as the Yarra was entered. Messenger, rowing in the wake of his leader, kept close to the bank all round the turn, but had lost ground as Humbug was passed and the straight reach to the bone-mills was commenced. From Humbug to the gasworks the race was simply a stern chase, Messenger being apparently overmatched, and merely following young Edwards without any prospect of getting on terras with him .again. After passing the bone-mills Edwards was getting gradually out of sight, while Messenger was struggling along in front of the steamer, apparently rowed out, as his strokes were ineffective, though his form was still preserved. At • Haliburtou’s “ Bobby ” had bid the spectators on the steamer and Messenger a final adieu, as he was not seen again until he had pased the winning post, which he did at least 100 yards ahead of his opponent, Mr A. D. Michie acted as starter and umpire, and Mr B. Rolls as judge.