SATURDAY’S GAMES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 562, 15 January 1929, Page 12

SATURDAY’S GAMES

INTER-CLUB DRAW The following is the draw for the inter-club matches next Saturday: CITY GAMES Grade B—Ngataringa v. St. Heliers, at Ngataringa. Grade C —Ngataringa v. Aratonga No. 2, Stanley Sti'eet, 1,2, 3; Ngatira v. Otahuhu, at Ngatira; United v. Auckland, at United. Gi'ade D—Rawhiti v. United, at Stanley Street, 4,5, 6; University No. 1 v. Unity, at Unity; University No. 2 v. Pukeroa No. 2, at University; Campbell Park No. 2 v. Birkenhead and Northcote No. 2, at Campbell Park; Otahuhu v. Ngatira, at Otahuhu; Seddonian v. Birkenhead and Northcote No. 3, at Birkenhead and Northcote; Mount Eden Cong. v. Aratonga, at Aratonga: Pukeroa No. 1 v. Seddonian, at Pukeroa. OUTER SUBURBAN Grade A—Papatoetoe v. Mangere East, at Mangere East; Manurewa v. Papakura. at Manurewa: Clevedon v. Howick, at Howick; East Tamaki v. Valley, at East Tamaki. Grade B—Papatoetoe v. Mangere East, at Papatoetoe; Manurewa v. Papakura, at Papakura: Clevedon v. Howick, at Clevedon; East Tamaki v. Valley, at Valley.

CREWS FOR HAMILTON Waitemata heavy maidens for Hamilton will be;—R. Smith (str.), E. H. Bishop, R. McGehan, J. Beasley (bow). Smith is rowing a nice stick at present, as was evidenced in Saturday’s trials and the crew should be a strong combination. G. Barker has replaced T. Impey as bow in the junior fours and Barker and E. H. Bishop have changed positions in the sculls, the former now being stroke. Light maidens will probably be: T. Wilson (str.), D. Shore, J. Hunn, A. Sherson (bow). Some West End alter V ions are also announced. J. Haylock has gone to bow seat in the heavy maidens and V. McFarlane will stroke the crew. Floyd Conway will make an appearance in the sculls, and junior pairs may be picked. CHAMPIONSHIP FORM Surveying the form of the senior fours likely to attend the championship regatta, one cannot but realise that there-appears to be nothing offering to beat the Wanganui crew this season. AVairau is the only combination likely to come within striking distance, and though they will no doubt be keen to turn the tables on Wanganui, having been runners-up last season, their chances are not particularly bright. Hamilton’s crew does not impress, though, as is Hamilton’s way, it may spring a surprise. None of the Wellington clubs were able to put a senior four on the water at the Picton re-

gatta, and the race was between Wai- f rau and Blenheim. The former crew | • won by nine lengths, paddling home as t it wished. In Christchurch the senior | J fours seen in action so far are not likely < to daunt the Wanganui men. The ' < Canterbury Club crew did not take j j part in the holiday fixtures, but though | « there are four members of the provin- | * cial eight, and two Olympic oarsmen, j j on the club's active list, great things j « are not expected of the crew, which j 1 may not visit the big fixture. Otago j ] was one of the three favourites last i i season, but little has been heard of j < the Southerners so far. AUCKLAND PROGRAMME Auckland's revised programme for | j the remainder of the season is as fol- j , lows: January 19 —Subscription fours. j i January 26—Jubilee *‘At Home.” j • president’s fours, and Caro doubles, j ' February 2 —Pairs for Mr. C. H. j J Moses’s trophies. February 9 —Walker and Hall pairs; i Smith Shield inter-club. February 16—C. H. McCormack pairs. Brett Cup, inter-club. February 23—Stuart Reid eight-oar inter-club. March 2 —Rangiriri regatta. March 9—A.R.A. championships. March 16—Ngaruawahia regatta. March 23—Final Kohn Challenge Cup; Mcllwraith Cup inter-club. * * * PEARCE MAY COME An entirely new complexion is placed on the championships by the news that Pearce lias been invited by the N.Z.R.A. to journey across the Tasman and compete in the sculls. The association has offered the Australian champion £25 toward his expenses. It is hardly to be expected that he will accept these terms, but, if he does so, there can be nothing more certain than that there will be more interest taken in this season’s | championship regatta, than has been the case for many years. Enthusiasts will welcome the chance for Stevenson to try conclusions with Pearce again on a strictly neutral course. Jackson may hear the news with mixed I feelings, and it is certainly rather unj fortunate for the second division of Dominion scullers, who probably nursed hopes of putting the Wanganui man still further in the shade. Bright was second to Jackson last year, with St. Clair third. Turner. too. started off at a great pace, and was nearly fouled by Jackson when the latter came through the ruck to take the lead. Tarrant, of Bicton, is said to be going fairly well, and it is practically certain that all these men will start in the race. It looks as though last season’s entry of nine competitors may be eclipsed. ~. . It is however more than douotiui whether Pearce will come. The attraction is hardly great enough for him, but the N.Z.R.A. nevertheless deserves all credit for asking him and, no doubt, the sum offered was the limit to which it could go. MORE MISHAPS As the season wears on, and oarsmen lose that first blush of enthusiasm which earlier prompted them to spend long hours working on the club plant, delays caused through mishaps always become more frequent. Trials were rowed by Auckland and Waitemata on Saturday, six races in all, and the accidents totalled six, including one that was certainly not the result of any defect in plant, being caused merely by carelessness. In several instances leading crews were robbed of almost certain victory by unforeseen happenings. Though it is no doubt a kindly action to allow such an unfortunate crew to go out in the final, it is really doubtful whether it is a wise practice. In "Waitemata trials, the crew that was given another chance won the final by a foot, and though no discontent was evident, it would be quite understandable if the defeated men had felt a little resentful. In brief, association rules say ‘no second chances,” and the crew that is pampered in club events may take an adverse decision or lack of consideration with considerable dissatisfaction when similar circumstances arise in inter-club fixtures. There was nothing to find fault with as far as sportsmanship was concerned on Saturday, but there can be little doubt that the principle is wrong.