SPORTING.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 245, 26 September 1884, Page 2

SPORTING.

THE AUSTRALIANS’ RETURN. [Reuter’s Telegrams.] London, September 24. The Australian cricketers, with the exception of Spofforth, embarked to-day per steamship Mizapore for Melbourne. Spofforth leaves by the Ganges next month. AUCKLAND REGATTA. [Own Correspondent.] Auckland, September 26. The committee have decided on the following programme :—lst. Scow Race. 2nd. Trading vessels of any rig, 50 tons and upwards, excepting cutters. 3rd. Trading cutters 25 tons register and upwards, any register. 4th. Coasting vessels, bona fide, any rig, from 12 to 25 tons. sth. Yachts, 6 tons and upwards. 6th. Fishing boats, 4 tons and upwards. 7th. Yachts and fishing boats under 4 tons. Bth. Yachts from 4to 6 tons. 9th. Open sailing boats, 2nd class. 10th. Open sailing boats, 3rd class. 11th. Merchant sailing vessel’s gigs, four oars and coxswain. 12th. Five-oared whale boats, with steer oar; prize not less than £5O and trophies. 13. Kohimarama Training School. 14. Men-of-war boats. 15th. Naval Artillery. 16th Five-oared whale boats, to be rowed by youths under 21 years of age. 17th. Dingies, by boys under 15 years of age. One of the rules of the committee is that they reserve the right to handicap any vessels in any of the races. Wellington, September 26. O'Connor, the New Zealand long distance runner, is now in Newcastle, N.S.W., training for a match with a local celebrity named Livingstone. Napier, September 26. The Petane Racing Club offers £275 to be run for on Monday, 10th November. The events are :—Handicap Hurdle Race—Of 40 sovs., about 2 miles. Maiden Hurdle Race—of 15 sovs., once round. Maiden Plate —Of 35 sovs., 1| miles, weight for age; for all horses that have not won 25 sovs. or over. The Petane Cup Handicap—Of 100 sovs., 1$ miles, the second horse to receive 15 sovs. from the stake. Nomination 2 sovs., acceptance 4 sovs. The winner of any handicap race of 100 sovs. or more after the declaration of the weights to carry 71b penalty. Prince of Wales Stakes Handicap—Of 50 sovs., mile. Ladies’ Bracelet—A highweight handicap of 25 sovs., 1} miles, gent’e men riders. Minimum weight, Ost 71b. Hack Flat Race —Of 10 sovs., 1 mile, catch weights.

THE AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS

The Australians, in the tour just concluded played 32 matches. Of these they won 18, lost seven, and made a draw of seven. Those lost were with Oxford University, M.C.C., the first team of Gentlemen, North of England (twice), AH-England, and Kent. Of what are known as the test matches, the AustraUans ’ost one and won one with the Gentlemen of England, won both against the Playe-s, lost one against All-England (when they were decisively beaten), but d ’ew the other two—one ce tainly very much ia their favour and the other slightly so ; and won Cambridge Past and Present. After the match against the South of England, which was the last on the programme (•f the Australian Cricketers, the leading c.icketers of England, together with a number of colonists, met at the Oval, and in bumpers of champagne drank farewell to the visitois. Lord Haris, referring to the visit, spoke of its benefit to the cricketing world, and he

hoped that before long they would have another visit from the Australian!?. He congratulated the team on their success, and promised them that when they again came Home they would be heartily welcomed. Mr. Murdoch replied in suitable terms, and thanked the English people for the courtesy which had Deen extended to himself and brother cricketers.