Sporting Sprints.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 48, 9 February 1912, Page 13

Sporting Sprints.

The Pluukot Shield cricket match between Canterbury and Wellington ended in a win for (lie former province by 108 runs. . Scores: Canterbury, 277 <W. Patrick m not out, Lusk 61 > and li>7 (W. Patrick 47). Wellington, 17:5 /Gibbes 59) and 193 (.tiibbes 75 not out). * ♦ # Tho English cricketers gave tho Tassies a great leather-hunting at Hobart, scoring 574 for four wickets (innings closed). Woolley banged the fowling to all parts of the compass in compiling 305 not out, while Rhodes hit up 102 and Hearm; 97. Tasmania •cored 124 and 355 (I'aton 112). England won by an innings and 95 runs. Minnett pasted the Victorian howlbig "here, there, and everywhere, all over the shop," in tho final Sheffield Shield match at Sydney, his score of 216 not out including throe sixes. Cotter was also in slashing form, scoring 79 in 39 minutes. He hit six sixes. "New Souths" scores were 448 and 60 for three wickets, Victoria making 129 and 366 (McKcnxic 121). N.S.W. thus won hi - seven wickets. » » « Our sculling champ, has gone and done the trickHe fell to Cupid's dart when he lay sick ; Ho wooed and won his dear, delightful nurse, 'And took her straight for better or for worse. Congratulations to R. Arnst, the worlfd's champion sculler, who was married to Miss Amy Williams in Sydney on January 26. Miss Williams was a nurse, and attended Dick during his recent illness. m * • £11,302 was the biggest single stake •ver won by an English horse. That was by Isinglass at Newmarket in 1894. The same crack won more money than »ny racehorse on record, viz., £'57,155.

"Golf does not seem to have any clement of sport about it," writes a scoffer. "The selfishness of golf appals inc. To do the course in fewer holes than another man, whose play docs not affect your own, and who, half the time, may be out of earshot, reduces the competitive instinct (which is tdie goul of sport) to such narrow limits that interest —my interest—in the game evaporates. In no other game that I know of is this the case. Recause the game is easily picked tip, because it demands nothing of the intelligence and little dexterity, anybody can play it. Tho halt, the lame, and tihe semi-blind —men who could neither face an average bowler nor make three consecutive losing hazards—cumber the countryside. It is obvious that the men who can do nothing else, in the way of games can always play golf —a proof that it ranks low in the list of amusements. The deliberate slowness of golf is another of its drawbacks. Fishing is an athletic exorcise compared with it. Nor is the golfer equal to carrying the paraphernalia of the came himself. He must have another Bawdier to caddie for him!" * » « The most fascinating batsman to look at is Victor Trumper, according to *'Plum" Warner, who is also reported to have said that "C. 13. Fry is a wonder, both as batsman and athlete." «. « •» Australian cricket is all right in the fenain. Since 1897 eight rubbers with 'England have been played, sis having been won by Australia and _ two by England, three rubbers having been won in England and'three in Australia. Besides, in the same period Australia has won two rubbers with South Africa. (When you consider tho wealth of talent in English cricket this is a phenomenal record. It has been accomplished by cricketers who are not so faint-hearted •s seemingly are bo many of their Critics. » » » Of G. Neville Hill "Prodigal" writes thus in tho Sydney "Referee":—A well-built and cleanly-made young fellow of 20 years, he is tho makings of » great runner —even now ho is the test distance runner, in the amateur class, New Zealand has produced during the past quarter of a century. I understand ho is sft. llin. in height, and tips the beam, in condition, somewhere about lOst. 81b. to lOst. lrilb. With a fine sweeping stride, excellent staying power, and great resolution, there may fee here a world's champion in the inaking. Studying Hill's action closely and weighing up all the. chances and */>nsidorations, I should say the Aucklander could bo made into a great toiler. Candidly, I think Hill should specialise over a mile. And he must not overdo things. Men of tho Hill typo are met with in the athletic world dnee in a decade." X * • Tail ' no vie to r'ar an' buck, Spend your timo repinin'; Sou kin never change your luck Sittin' 'round an' whinin'. Whecl'll stand almighty still 'Loss you pedal with a will Up old Fortune's rocky hill, ,Whar' the sun is shinin'.

Carl Morris, the Oklahoma white hope, wears a 13 slice, and probably has the most comprehensive pedal extremities ot any present-day pugilist. » * *

Jim Harry and Dave Smith secured point-wins over Bill Lang and "Cyclone Thompson respectively ill Sidney on January 24 and 26. * » *

What next? Taking advantage <v' the decision of Winston Churchill, la," British Honi" Secretary, that rnll-r----skalingon footpaths is lawful, a skate, ringing a bicycle bell, lately scoot'd along the London pavements beiwiin Whitehall and I'arliaiiicnt street lo

the di.-miay of old ladies and perambulator propellers.

It- is announced itint 40 miiions "ill be represented at the Olympic (lames at Stockholm., including Egypt. .Lipan, Turkey, and possibly China.

To dream the dreams thai arc dreamed by a six days' cyclist is no enviable experience. Men in delirium tremens do not have such obsessions as flic hard athletic individual who rides iv one of those heart-breaking, muscle-binding contests. The wildest nightmares, when fearful phantasmagoria pass before the mind's eye during the sleeping hours—when murderers ixhoin you cannot keep hack, bottomless pits down which you are always falling, and invisible obstacles that keep you from moving forward though you can see nothing in front of you —are as nothing to •what the six days' cyclist sees in the fitful spells of half-sleep that have to be bis lot from the. time the starting pistol sends him off on Itis long journey to the end of the weary grind. The stories that the participants in the recent race in Sydney tell of the things that flash across their mental visions in their sleep are awesome and weird.

'T've seen people with the jim-jams," remarked one of tliem. "Cycle-riding for long spells would he a holiday to such a one." "The whole week is one long, fearful nightmare,"' said."another.

Dave Smith's chance is coming at last. His latest displnvs have shown that he has developed into a wonderful man for his weight, and now he has an offer from ]\lr. .Mcintosh to accompany him on a tour of the world, leaving Australia for Paris in April. The dates are being arranged to fit in with the opening of the English season, while a number of matches will also be made for America. Should be accept tho tempting oiler, Dave's career abroad will be followed with the greatest interest: by all sports in New Zealand (Ihe land of his birth' and Australia (the land of his adeiUioii.i.

Christnhureli lias got, a municipal tepid bath, and the influence of this is now being till all over I'hc city. For many years swimming as a sport was practically dead until these baths were creeled, but now each district lias its club and carries out seme very fine compel ii ions. There are a number of Socialist ladies prominent in this sport. and the names of the Misses Thorn often appear amongst the winners.

Are we downhearted? No! The fourth test match begins in .Melbourne to-day, February !), and we pin our faith to Australia.

WJiat though the Lion's won two tests, We'H barrack for tho ; Jtoo ; Tho first he won, and ere he's done, He'll win the other two.