Sporting Sprints.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 71, 19 July 1912, Page 13

Sporting Sprints.

The first test match between Australia and the touring New Zealand Rugby League footballers was played in Brisfconts on Saturday, July 6, and after a Vhry strenuous and exciting game the borne side won by 13 points to 10. The first half was splendidly contested, both twims showing brilliant combination. while the tackling was deadly. This ■pell ended in favor of the visitors by 8 to 5. The second half was fast and furious, and a number of the players wero temporarily laid out. Offside play lost the match to the New Zealanders, M«Bsoliger kicking four Splendid pen■l'j goals. There, was intense oxcitcwaent in the closing stages, and Heidke. ttoo Quran-Bland half, was ordered off for kicking an opponent.

Our Socialist friend, Jack Harris, has "•bobbed up serenely" in Auckland. Ho •dvises us that he was trainer and ad-vimr-in-chief to a fellow Socialist, George McKenzic, during the progress •f the provincial amateur boxing championships at Auckland, and his protege (a modest, clean-living chap) succeed* ■*! in winning the f<e a tho r weight championship. McKeny.ie is a good twoluwded lighter, with a punch in either hand, and Jack tips him to secure New Zealand premiership honors in Wellington. Mac is not as young as ho onoo was —neither is Jack—but the Auckland feather has a few good fights loft, in him. Jack is after a "steady job" in Auckland, nnd if he is successful will turn out) some hot 'uns for fnture engagements. Our revolutionary friend also records it as his opinion that the verdict in the recent MaxwclLGault fight was unjust to the firstnamed, who, if he did not win, at least made an even light of it, and therefore a draw would have been the fairest decision.

Both "Porky" Flynn and Jimmy dabby have written to Hugh Mcintosh expressing regret and indignation at tho interview given to an Auckland paper hy Jim Harry, in which the Chicngoan complained of the money he received and the treatment accorded ttim while he was in Sydney. Flynn, in his letter, says, "Thcro were a few reporters on the boat looking for Gabby and myself, but we were up town. One of them found Parry, and ■sked him for a story, and Jim gave him one. Parry used my name, and also Clabby's, and we were sore when W» heard of it. I did not have anything to say to any reporter. I did not even see one." Gabby did not waste any words in tolling the promoter his view of the trouble. "Please do not think either Flynn or myself Ind anything to do with that stuff in th© Auckland paper," ho wrote, adding "It was all Jim Barry's work."

Talk about your "Deeds that won the Empire." At the recent Cooktown show, Mick Finn swallowed five dozen bananas, and established his claim to the proud titlo of champion bananaeater of North Queensland. ■ — Q. "Worker."

The Dunlop Company's Yvarrnambool to Melbourne road race (IC-3 miles) has up to this reason ranked as the longest 'distance road event hold in Australasia, but a longer contest is now mooted. It is proposed by the cycle traders of northern N.S.W. to organise an xnxiual road race from Tamworth to Newcastle, a distance of 170 miles, as it is recognised that such a contest will give a great fillip to cycling in that part of New South Wales ranging from Newcastle to the Queensland border. __c first pri;'-o will be £25, donated by tho Dunlop Rubber Company, whilst many other valuable prizes will be forthcoming.

A New York cable of June 29 to the Bjdney "Sun" states that tho English boxer, Bombardier Wells, has made

an inauspicious start with his AniMi■can programme of lights. Ho met Al. Palscr at Madison-square Gardens in a ennt-cst scheduled ior 10 rounds. In the third round I'alser scored a clean knock-out. Apropos, an American writer recently bad the following to say L-onc<M-ning Wells and Palscr: "Wells came over for the express purpose of meeting Al. Raiser, the white hoj'O whom Tom O'Rourko thinks will beat the world. Wells is a lino IVllow, and should make many friends on this side.. He is not given to blowing or anything of that kind, but is a straightforward man and fair to a fault. He is abo (•lever, and has a longer reach than any lighter living. For a big man he is [ ;<\i on his feet and ho-knows how to sidestep as well as Kid McCoy, lie lias n fairly good punch with either band, and it will be a surprise to mc if Falser ever hands him a beating; in fact, I look to Wells to defeat Falser on points. Just 1 remember this—if Al. Falser can defeat the Britisher decisively he can be put. down as the best white hope in the world, and capable of going against Jack Johnson, Jim Flyiin or any oilier liea\yweight."

Skating is a pax time that has its hundreds of devotees wherever opportunities for indulgence m 1-he pastime aro available. This i.s not to In l wondered at. There is a peculiar joy in skating, either on the ice or the rollers—preferably the former —that few things can quite exec!. Possibly it is that in reality the motion is more akin to (lying than anything else nr are likely to indulge in, unh ss we have an aviation expert in the family. The art of good skating is really easy to acquire. Three or lour lessons from an expert, then all that is necessary for the student to become a graceful skater is practice and experience. It is healthy, it is indoed a most valuable exercise, and to those persons inclined to indulge in "the blues" there is nothing more exhilarating or better calculated to take one, out of the doldrums.

Cluh football in Auckland is usually too .stereotyped nowadays to furnish many lessons on the art of Rugby, says a writer in the "N.Z. Herald." Tho average spectator at Rugby Union matches in Auckland—l refer to chih foothall only—does not expect to be thrilled hy restless, eager backs sweeping dowuhcld, passing, swerving, and dodging, withal handling the hall with splendid accuracy, in the manner which is sometimes to he found where forward play is not considered to he so important as in Auckland. Instead, the onlooker usually anticipates forward play of the heavy brigade order, and back play more safe and orthodox than daring and versatile in its methods. There, was a time when Auckland forwards handled and passed the hall like good hacks, but that day is not now, although another may come. True, there are some forwards who caJi dodge and pass as well as hacks, but they are not as numerous as of yore. The strict orthodoxy of the day has lessened tho value of Auckland Rugby football as a means of tuition for young players. In fact, sins of omission rather than matters of commission are the. basis for most of the few lessons afforded by club matches this season. The game lacks the salt of variety.

An American writer has figured it out that not long back Abo Attell Mas the real heavyweight champion of the world. This is how he works it out: Attell got a draw in his fight with George Dixon at Denver; Dixon beat tho English lightweight champion. Johnson; Johnson boat Joe Walcott: Walcott beat Joe Choynski; Choynski boat Jack Johnson. Dixon is dead, leaving tdie heavyweight title to Attell. And there you arc.

Tommy Burns, it is cabled, has challenged Jack Johnson for the world's boxing championship. Tommy will do anything, say any fool thing, if he can only, like the fat girl in the musical comedy, "get mc nyme in the paper."