Sporting.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 230, 5 February 1876, Page 20

Sporting.

The Westport Jockey Club have decided to hold races next month, after the Greymouth races. Two days. Stakes £250 to £3OO. ' A protest having been entered against the decision in the sculling race pulled on first day of the regatta, the race was pulled again on Monday morning early, and, as was anticipated, the result was in effect the same as on the first occasion, there being only a difference m the precise leugth between the three competitors, Hearn, Pascoe, and Turnbull, when the winning post was reached by the winner. Hearn won the race easily, coming in first by about forty lengths ; Pascoe, second ; and Turnbull was a long way behind. Little doubt was entertained by anyone not particularly interested in the race as to what the result of this contest would be, as every confidence was felt in the man who came off victorious. By telegram from Christchurch we learn that the following are the entries for the Great Autumn Handicap :—Yeend's Rory. O'More, Yeend's King Phillip, Goodman's Blair Athol, Cowper's Right Bower, Mallock's Ranolf, Webb's filly, by Ravensworth, Barbara; Shand's The Chief, Shand's Wild Rose, Ray's Tadmor, Ray's Cloth of Gold, Faurrelle's Premier, Nosworthy's Tattler, Redwood's Korari, Redwood's Guy Fawkes, Redwood's Amohio, Zellu, and Nectar, C. F. Baker's Investment, P. Campbell's Tommy Dodd, Campbells Daniel O'Rorke, Vallance's Defamer, O'Brien's Fishhook, Watt's Parawhenua, Buckland's Ariel, Delamain's Templeton, Delamainjs Elfin King, Delamain'sPungawerewere, Prince's Cocksure. An action was brought at the County Court last week, says the Liverpool Post, which involved a rather important sporting question. The plaintiff had entered a mare for the Aintree trotting match last August under the name of Nellie, agreeably to all the conditions of the race, one of which was that were any animal falsely described it should be disqualified. The plaintiff stated at the time that the mare had never run in a match before, but on the morning of the race it transpired that she had won a match at Manchester under the name of Chepstow Maid. The stewards then wished to disqualify the mare from taking part in the race, but the owner persisted m his determination to let her run. She did so, and came in second. The proprietors and handicappers of the match refused to hand over the stakes to the plaintiff, and this action was brought to recover them. His Honor delivered iudo-ment for the defendants, stating that though the plaintiff was ignorant of the" animal's previous career, she had been falsely described, and was therefore, according to the rules of the race, disqualified from running. RIFLE MATCHES. A detachment of the Wellington Artillery proceeded to Karori on Saturday afternoon last, to fire in a friendly contest with the Makara Rifles, the former using their carbines, and the latter the medium Smder rifles The ranges were 200, 400, ana 500yds, seven shots at each. Target at 200yds., 6x4, 2ft. square centre, and 8m bullseye. Position at 200yds., standing ; and at the two latter, any. The shooting at 200 and 400yds. was very indifferent. I his was no doubt caused by the strong breeze which was blowing during the fore part of the afternoon. At 500yds. there was a decided improvement, but only on the part of the Artillery, who succeeded in completely vanquishing their opponents by 74 points. The following are the scores :

The following are the scores made in the late match, Wellington Artillery v. Christ-

The Wellington Artillery appear to be invincible in the series of interprovincial matches now going on. In every instance yet they have won by a large number of points, and have upon all occasions made high scores. Yesterday the match Wellington v. Nelson was fired, and resulted in a win for Wellington by 156 points. The shooting of McTavish, Mason, Bannister, and Webb was excellent. McTavish repeated McCredie's feat of last week, and made seven bulls'eyes at 400yds.; and Webb came only two points behind him. Annexed are the full scores of the Wellington

The details of the Nelson score are not known, but the total as reported per telegram is 610. The carbine match, Wellington v. Napier, has resulted in a victory for Wellington by 124 points, Wellington having made 732 and Napier 608. Stevens, Bannister, and McCredie, who made 84, 83, and 81 respectively, were the highest scorers for Wellington, but they were beaten by G. Sellars, who made the high total of 91. This was spoiled however by the poor show made by some of his fellow-marks-men. CRICKET. WELLINGTON STAR CLUB V. HUTT CLUB. On Saturday a match was played on the Basin Reserve between the above-named cricket clubs, and resulted in a victory for the first named by six runs, the result being taken on the first innings. The win may fairly be scored to Haughton's superior bowling. The Star Club made a very poor show in their first innings, and with seven wickets down the Hutt team had only to get seven runs to beat it, but Haughton in three balls disposed of as many wickets. It is somewhat remarkable that the previous match with the Hutt Club was won in much the same way. Annexed are the scores, with an analysis of the bowling of each team : star c.c. first Innings. Second Innings. Turner, c Lockett, b Mason .. ..7c and b Lockett .. o Belcher, run out .. 1 c Lockett b Cudby .. 0 Lewin, c Lockett, b Mason -- --2 b Cudby ' Bond, run out.. .. 0 runout o Haughton, b Lockett.. S b Cudby 0 Cell, run out .. ..4 not out .. .. .. g Salmon, I. J., runout 9 c and b Lockett .. lb Goddard, run out .. 3 st Cudby b Mason .. 0 Maplestone, b Lockett 1 to bat 0 Howard, b Lockett .. 1 b Cudby.. . .. ■ • 0 Kainie, not out .. 0 not out .. .. .. 1 Byes, 7 ; wides, 3.. 10 Byes, 10 ; wides, 0.. 19 Total .. • • 46 Total for S wickets 54 HUTT C. C. Pringle, b Salmon 3 Corbett, run out * J. Mason, b Salmon 10 Cudby, b Haughton * J. Lockett, c Howard, b Salmon .. .. o Winterburn, b Salmon 1 J. Mason, b Haughton 2 King, b Haughton .. | Allen, not out * H. Lockett, c Salmon, b Haughton .. 0 Udy, b Haughton 0 Byes « Total 40 Bowling Analysis. Star C.C—First Innings.

GREAT BOAT RACE ON THE THAMES. On Wednesday, November 3, the first of the creat North against South contests at present engaging the attention of the world of aquatics was brought to an issue on the Thames. The competitors were Ralph Hepplewhite, of Dunston-on-Tyne, and Thomas Green, of Hammersmith, and the representative of the Thames was victorious. At seven minutes past four o'clock the men placed themselves at the stake-boats, off the passenger gangway at Putney. Mr. Ireland at once called out, " Are you ready?" and receiving no reply, despatched them to as fine a start as was ever seen. The water was beautiful rowing, and it just suited Hepplewhite, who at once broke into a, tremendously fast stroke. During the first half minute of the race Ralph's skulls cut the water no fewer than twenty-three times, showing that he was striking at the amazing rate of fortysix to the minute. Green went away in quite a gentle and different style, rowing no more

than thirty-eight to the minute. Thus Hepplewhite's boat showed in front before they had gone twenty yards, and keeping straight t as an arrow from the point at which he started he increased his lead to a length when two hundred yards had been covered. Then he eased down his stroke to about forty, and Green, who had now got fairly settled into a nice long swing, at once held him. The pace was not very fast for the next quarter of a mile, and there was not the smallest change in their relative positions. Hepplewhite was rowing the liveliest stroke, and he was striking iron two to four per minute faster than the Londoner, whose greater power and longer hold of the water enabled him to prevent the North-country man from getting any further away. So satisfied were the Thames men with this state of things that when half a mile had been traversed they offered to take the smallest shade of odds about their man. Green gave them some reason for their confidence almost the next moment, for just below Craven Point about three-quarters of a mile from the start, he came up to Hepplewhite with a tremendous spurt, and decreased his advantage to half a length. Ralph was pulling so well within himself at the time that it was evident he must have been taken by surprise, but he quickly answered the Southerner's challenge by an extra half dozen, which once more sent his boat its own leugth in front. But the pace was so good that spurting to increase it -was murderous work, and Hepplewhite, who seemed to labour a good deal when he put the steam. on, dropped down his stroke to 39 directly he regained his length's lead, and by this distance he was in advance at the Craven Point. Percy took him nicely round this bend into the reach above, losing not an inch at this difficult place, whilst putting his man in the best of positions for the shoot across opposite the Crabtree, but Green, on the contrary, pulled too strong with his left, and drove his boat right out into the middle of the river. This enabled Hepplewhite to draw himself well clear, but Green showed that he had plenty of pulling left in him by driving right up to his stern again the moment they were fairly under weigh up the stretch of water between the point and the Crabtree. Hepplewhite passed underneath the Hammersmith bridge with rather more than a length and a half lead. Time, 9min. 24secs. Hitherto Hepplewhite had kept to his own side, but directly afterwards he crossed over, and sent a staggering backwash upon his man, he then increased his lead to about three boat lengths as they rowed up the front of Hammersmith Mall. The race now seemed to all intents and purposes over, as Hepplewhite's stroke had come down to 34, and he drew slightly out and backwashed the left-hand scull of his antagonist. This state of things lasted for nearly half a mile, that is, until they came to Chiswick Eyot, at the head of which took place one of the most singular incidents that in our experience of boat-racing was ever witnessed. Below the foot of the Eyot Percy had brought Hepplewhite in, and Ralph, who seemed to be laboring more severely at his work than should have been the case, dropped back to within two lengths of Green, who had thus to go close in shore. This compelled the Londoner to keep a course which, had they gone two hundred yards above Chiswick Church, would have given him the disagreeable option of fouling a great barge which was moored right in his way, or of dropping behind, and coming round on the other side at the risk of a foul, and with the certain effect of giving Hepplewhite the much-needed time he required to get his wind. But the race was not fated to be rowed so far, and was indeed now almost at its finish. When about twenty yards from the head of the CheswicK Eyot, Hepplewhite suddenly faltered two strokes with a mere catch at the water, and then came to a dead stop. The sculls dropped from his hands, and his head came forward on his breast. The confusion which prevailed at this unexpected turn of affairs may be imagined. Just a moment before, Hepplewhite seemed to have the race safe in hand ; in fact, he had signalled Percy to that effect, and had been inclined to chaff the other pilot a bit, but now he seemed to be seriously ill, and beyond all doubt the race was lost, for Green was off and away as hard as he could scull. Thoughts of the fate of Renforth were in everybody's mind, and both cutters as well as the two steamers were brought to a standstill, in order that all might know the state of the case. James Percy was rowed to him by his cutter, and for a moment or two Ralph was unable to answer his inquiries or to make the smallest attempt to get out of his boat. Percy then lifted him into the cutter, and mindful of the mistake made by the crowd in the tragedy on the Kendebecassis he at once gave orders to be rowed to the nearest hotel. The hero having stopped and put on his body shirt when he found there was no pursuit, simply paddled over the remainder of the course at his leisure, and it was almost dusk when he finished. HOW TO LEARN BOWLING. A correspondent of the Argus, signing himself " Block," makes the following suggestions regarding bowling : —The change the Sydney play resulted from the visit of Grace's team. Coates had up to that time been accounted the best fast bowler in Sydney. He, made wise by observation, came to the conclusion that fast bowling was radically unsound, and it was easier to puzzle and perplex a batsman than to batter down his wicket. He commenced "brain bowling," following the rules which were established years ago in England ; and other bowlers—notably Spofforth, Evans, and Tmdal —seeing the wisdom and success of the change, followed suit. The improvement was such an established fact that after six successive defeats, the Sydney Mail in December, 1874, was able confidently to predict a victory, though the team sent down was without Evans or D. Gregory, and was to fight on alien soil. The victory was obtained, and was the precursor of the two following. The Sydney Mail deserves well of the colony. To teach the

young idea how to play, it printed m ful Grace's hints on batting and Southerton's hints on bowling. These articles were republished in pamphlet form by one of the Mail staff, and every cricketer in Sydney was thus able to avail himself of the best English experience. In the rest of this article the term " battery" bowling will be used to describe ordinary fast bowling. Fast bowling is a misnomer as the term is used now. Much of the bowling spoken of as slow or medium will travel as far as bowling apparently much faster. How to Bowl.—The object to bowl is to pxxzzle the " eye of the batsman." So long as he can "time the ball" and " play a straight bat" he is safe. Some four or five years ago, a cry arose in England—the batting is killing the bowling, which really meant that fast or " battery" bowling had been mastered. Patience, a straight bat, and fine turf had settled it. This led to a more general adoption of " brain bowline." The essential characteristics of any given ball bowled are spin, curve, pitch, and pace. Evans, Allan, Coates, and Spofforth command all these. Horan, Boyle, and Tindal vary their pitch and pace, but have no spin, and, excepting Boyle, do not understand the curve; their bowling is not " curly." Spin.—A good ball has two motions, a forward motion to the opposite wicket and a revolving motion of spin; with the first motion only it would continue a steady course from ' the bowler's hand to the mark aimed at, and it is easy to be timed. With " spin," immediately it reaches the ground there is a change of direction called "thebreak;" the deflection may be to the off or to the leg, up or down, and generally not only the direction but the velocity is altered by touching the ground. A ball with a good break is at least ten times as dangerous as a ball without break. This spin or break may be easily acquired by practice. The ball must be held with the fingers (not the ball of the hand), the fingers on the seam. At the moment of delivery a twist is given, and the hand must be made to follow the ball as the cue follows in a rolling stroke at billiards or croquet. I have seen Southerton's hand still moving when the ball has reached the opposite wicket. With practice the spin becomes mechanical. East or battery bowling rarely has spin ; the strain upon the muscles of the arm and shoulder prevents the twisting of the fingers ; it may break on bad ground, never good ; here it is the ground, not the twist, which gives the break. The impetus in fast or battery bowling tends to destroy the spin, the impelling power overcoming the rotatory. An illustration of this may be seen any day on a bowling green. In driving the bias of the bowl is destroyed by the pace. Our bowlers must at once know how to spin. It is a mistake to suppose that any bowler can on a perfect turf break both ways ; but turfs never are perfect, hence the enigma, one break, and the most common one is given by making the fingers twist over the ball. The only illustrations of the other I can call to mind are Barnes and Hailes, who give the twist by working the fingers under the ball; "but understand, slow lobbing bowlers almost invariably give the under twist. Curve. —This must not be confounded with pitch. Pitch is the spot at which the ball touches the ground. The curve is the course it takes in the air—the curl. This curve materially determines the after rise or course from the ground. Further, of two balls pitched on the same spot, the higher the curve the more puzzling to the eye of the batsman. East or battery bowling has no curve ; the ball travels in a straight line, and is easily watched. Boyle, Tindal, and Coates ara curvers, but the two first do not vary it sufficiently, and the batsmen soon master any one particular curve. Coates uses an infinite variety. "Variation of curves must be carefully practised. Pitch is an important point, and the old distinction between the length-balls and notlength must be abandoned. Grace, Southerton, or Shaw never hesitated to put in a full toss or a pitcher, as it is called here. They, for variety's sake, will even venture on a long hop ; and Evans, Coates, and Allan don't decline to do the same. The batsman must never know what he is to expect. Tommy Horan's Yorkers often come off as a diversion. Pace.—While variety is to be commended, as in curve and pitch, fast bowling should be discouraged for reasons already given. It is easy to play and fatiguing to the bowler. The Griffiths and Tarrants, the Jacksons and Mynns, have given place to men who rely upon brains or devil, not on cannon-balling. W. G. Gx-ace would probably make the fastest bowler in England ; he carefully avoids systematically bowling fast. A hot one comes in occasionally to puzzle the batsmen by the change, but that is all. As I said at the outset, with sedulous attention to spin, and practice in varying curve, pitch, and pace, we shall soon have plenty of bowlers—they only want tuition.

WELLINGTON ARTILLERY. 200 400 500 Tl. Bannister .. IS 22 18—58 Diamond .. 19 15 20—54 Webb .. Mason .. .. 13 .. 20 23 16 13 —49 13—49 McCredie .. 15 14 18—47 Stevens ... .. 11 12 22 —45 Total .. .. 96 102 104 302 MAK ARA RIFLES. Monk .. 19 20 13—52 Lancaster Robinson Eagle -. Monk, G-. .. .. IS .. IS .- 9 .. 4 1G 21 5 12 17—51 5—44 17—31 10—26 Donald .- .. 10 11 3—24 Totals . .. 78 S5 65 22S Majority for the Artillery, 74.

church Artillery : — WELLINGTON 200 ARTILLERY. 300 400 500 Tl. McCredie .. 21 21 17 19 IS 17 IS 26 92 20—88 24—81 Bannister Stevens Mason GrayDixon .. IS .. 21 .. 19 .. 17 ..10 14 21 22 19 24—78 20-78 18—74 20—73 19-73 13—71 13—62 Webb Diamond .. 19 .. 19 19 19 16 20 McTavish .. 15 14 20 Grace .. 14 10 19 12 —55 Totals .. 179 172 199 1S3 733 CHRISTCHURCH ARTILLERY. Hill . . 21 22 21 17—81 Roberts -. is IS 20 21—77 Fox ltowen .. ' .. 20 . - 16 19 23 12 22 22 —73 S—69 Strange .. 17 15 20 12—64 Paton .. 19 12 15 17 —03 Burnet .. 13 IS 20 10—61 Collier . . 11 10 16 11—54 Win ny .. 10 15 15 3 —50 Craig ..IS 12 4 Totals .. 169 170 166 126 G31 Majority for Wellington, 102.

team: — 200 300 400 500 Tl. Lieut. McTavish .. 23 22 28 14--87 -S5 Bombardier Mason .'. 20 21 22 Bandsman Bannister . 17 21 23 23 -- S4 Bombardier Webb.. .. 14 17 26 24—81 -SI -77 -77 —70 Reserve Stevens . IS IS 21 Bandsman Dixon .. .. 17 17 20 23-Sergt.-Major McCredie . . 19 19 23 15Gunner Grace . 12 IS 25 Corporal Diamond.. . 18 21 13 15—69 Bandsman Grey . 15 11 14 -oo 766

Balls. Buns. Mdns. Wides. Wkts H. Lockett 24 5 1 2 0 J. Mason .. 48 1(5 2 1 2 J. Lockett .. 27 15 0 0 3 Second Innings. J. Lockett.. 54 10 2 3 2 J. Mason .. 18 19 0 0 1 Cudby 36 0 2 Hutt CO. 0 4 I. J. Salmon 54 19 1 0 4 Haughton .. 51 15 1 0 5