AN ADULT NOW

NZ Truth, Issue 1153, 5 January 1928, Page 8

AN ADULT NOW

N.Z. As Athletic

Entity

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Athletic Corres.) The Athletic Union of Australia and New Zealand will shortly be no more, as New Zealand has served notice of her intention to quit, and in future she will be represented directly on the International Amateur Athletic Federation.

THIS marks a definite advance in yet another branch of sport in ( this country, where most sports flourish under, the beneficent influence of a temperate clime and the hardening influence of a rugged country.

The alliance with the Australian States has always been a happy one, and the parting has not been effected without regrets. The founder of the union, Richard Coombes, still an active president of the union, referred to New Zealand as the "brightest flower in the athletic garden," and, indeed, when history of the bi-ennial contests is looked back upon, it is easily realized what an important and creditable part this country has played in the union. CREDITABLE Despite the fact that New Zealand has been under the disadvantage of having had to send a team across the Tasman, often at times when the straitened state of our finances made it almost impossible to get anything like a worthy representation, we have won the championship shield more, times than any of the states and on occasions the number of wins scored by the New Zealand representatives have been more than the rest of the States put together. Prior to the formation of the union, three contests were held. In 1893 on the Melbourne cricket ground, N.S.W. scored seven firsts, Victoria five and N.Z. three. In 185)6, at Lancaster Park, Christchurch, N.Z. wiped the slate with eleven firsts as against three to N.S.W. and one to Victoria.

Then came the turn of N.S.W., wherf the contest was held in '97 on the Sydney cricket ground. N.S.W. secured six wins as against N.Z.'s four, Victoria and Queensland's two. After that, the union was formed and the meeting became a biennial one, in which firsts only counted for the shield, except in the event of a tie, when the State getting most firsts and seconds gained the trophy.

This happened in 1924, at Hobart, when N.Z., represented by a small but select team, deadheated with Victoria with six firsts each. Victoria, by virtue of "her weight of numbers, secured the decision, because she had eight seconds as against N.Z.'s two.

New Zealand has won the premiership on six occasions, Victoria on four, and N.S.W. three. Queensland and Tasmania have never managed to get there.

The following record shows the respective wins scored on each occasion: 1899 — Bowen Park, Brisbane. — New Zealand 5, New South Wales 4, Queensland 4, Victoria 2. 1901 — Domain, Auckland. — New Zealand 8, Victoria 3, New South Wales 3, Queensland 1. 1904 — Melbourne Cricket Ground.— Victoria 7, New South Wales 5, New Zealand 3, Queensland 0. 1905— Sydney Cricket Ground. — New South Wales 10y 2 , Victoria 4, Queensland Yz, New Zealand 0, Tasmania 0. 1908 — Hobart Cricket Ground. — New Zealand 7, New South Wales 4%, Victoria 1%, Queensland 1, Tasmania 1. 1909 — Exhibition Ground, Brisbane. —New Zealand 7%, New South Wales 5, Victoria 2y 2 , Queensland 1, Tasmania 0.

1911 — Basin Reserve, Wellington. — New Zealand 10, Victoria 2, Queensland 2, New South Wales 1. 1914 — Amateur Sports Ground, Melbourne. — Victoria 6, New South Wales 5, New Zealand 2, Queensland 1, South Australia I.'

1920 — Sydney Sports Ground. — New South Wales 7, New Zealand 4, Victoria 4, Queensland 0, South Australia 0

1921-2 — Adelaide Oval. — New South Wales 10, Victoria 5, New Zealand 2, South Australia 0, Queensland 0. 1924 — North Hobart Grounds. — Victoria 6. NeAV Zealand 6, New South Wales 5, Queensland 2, Tasmania 0, South Australia 0. 1926— Exhibition (Ground, Brisbane. Victoria 8, New South "Wales 6, Queensland 3, New Zealand, 2, South Australia 0, Tasmania 0. 3927— Athletic Park, Wellington.— New Zealand 10, New South Wales 7, Queensland 2, Victoria 1," Tasmania 1.