OUT DOOR SPORTS

Observer, Volume 4, Issue 96, 15 July 1882, Page 276

OUT DOOR SPORTS

McConncll came victorious out of the maul in goal on Saturday. G-raffcon and North Shore met again on Saturday, when the former won by two points to nothing. Greorge Carter did some work for his club, and also a bit of bluster. This is not like George. Is it, cli ? Arneil had the best batting and bowline averages for the West End Cricket Club. Where was big Grech on Saturday ? The game improved considerably in tone without him. Hardwicke, the new back who played for Auckland, did a lot of work,, and saved his goal several times. ! Macky, Arneil and Whiteside deserve credit for ! the prompt manner in which they passed the ball to their back when Bratind got his try. The Tauranga and Eatikati football players arc preparing for their annual match against Auckland, j which takes place shortly. I It seemed a pity on Saturday that the Auckland umpire could not give his decisions without consulting the captain of that team so often. The Australians were more fortunate against Middlesex than was hojied for. They defeated the Home team with eight wickets to spare. Darby Ryan obtained his touch for G-raf ton in the last three minutes of the game, amidst lovid cheering. McConnell, Charles Clayton, and Macky played especially well for Ponsonby, and the rest were not far behind. Arneil failed in two attempts at goal on Saturday, but the charge to Hanna was " out of the fryingpan into the fire." Walsh so far appears to be the favourite for the seven-mile match, but Huckstep finds plenty of backers. The sprint runners are talking of arranging a sweepstake, to be run on the same day as the championship seven-mile match. Jim O'Connor played a good game for Auckland on Saturday, and was always on the ball. He still, however, gets off-side a bit now and again. Although Harry Davy and R. Whiteside made made several fine runs, they were not lucky enough to place more than one try apiece to their credit. The return match between Ponsonby and Auckland was played last Saturday, when the former again won easily, getting four tries (eight points) to nothing. W. Houston (the champion mile walker of Auckland) is training Huckstep for the seven mile championship, while Walsh has placed himself in the hands of J. Taylor. Sammy Gfoodman says he is willing to run Alf . Harper one mile for £25 or £50 ; or give him 30 yards and walk him orie or two miles. He also offers to walk any boy in the province of Auckland. The North Shore and G-raf ton match was again impeded on Saturday by the growling and disputing tendencies of ono or two of the navy blue players. They were, however, not so bad as usual. Among the blue and \vliite3, Stewart, Bindon, and Croxton showed up well on Saturday. Shorfclancl played worse than he bas done previously, frequently running back and holding the ball unnecessarily. Owing to the wretched place-kicking amongst the Ponsonby men, not one of the four trys was converted into a goal. The defect exists in all the clubs, and might easily be remedied by practice. Jack Arneil got a fair " mark," on Saturday, but of course it was disputed, and the umpire who had not observed the catch, gave his decision in favour of Auckland. I Frank Clayton, playing sub. for his brother Jack for Ponsonby, showed some g-ood piny on Saturday. j He is a fine forward, of the old Grammar School type, always keeping the ball on the ground and on the move. It was not Charlie White's fault that Grrafton did not score more than they did on Saturday. "He played with determination, was always in company with the ball, and attempted some very good rung. Coleman shewed ignorance of all precedent in football matches when he insisted upon and made such a f usa about being allowed to make one of the team on Saturday last, when he came tip so late, and his club had a man playing for him. Braund, who played as well as usual, on Saturday had the ball given to him in the third term, and bya short run he dodged all the Auckland backs in succession, and touched down almost between the posts. Ho made the attempt at goal, but the kick was wide of the mark. The Domain Cricket Ground is being topdressed, in order that it may be got into condition for the approaching season. ■ It is a singular fact that nearly every window in the pavilion has been broken, and it is a pity that one of the destructive scoundrels is not caught and punished. • . . ' " .. ,