SPORTING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9563, 9 August 1909, Page 5

SPORTING.

[ RACING. I TURF NOTES. I (By "Zetland"). \ The latest addition to H. Fletcher's 1 team at Tauherenikau is the Love shot gelding Gold Bird. The lot in work at this stable are Silken Rein, Golden Rein, Rill, Purakau, Merrie Chimes and the first-named. Sherlock Holmes has been put into work at Tauherenikau by T. Ross. A lease of Mataari has again been taken by Mr Ivan Thomas, snd the Saraeen horse has gone into J. J . Gravestock's stable at Clareville. Entries for the Wairarapa Hunt Club's Steeplechase meeting are due on Saturday next. A good response on the part of owners and trainers is confidently anticipated, and the meeting ig being looked forward to~by a large number of the sporting public.

Judging by the acceptances" received for the Grand National Meeting it should be a distinct success. Fine weather has ruled for some time in the South, and the tracks are in splendid order for fast times. Such are being recorded for the track x work, most of which is ot a hehigh order. Wairarapa will be represented on the first dav (Tuesday) by Merre Zealand, Kelso and Longner, the latter being owned in this district, although trained at Trentham. Diplomatic will probably be a starter in the Steeplechase on Thursday.

The Grand National Hurdle Race, two miles, will bring out about fourteen starters. Popular fancies are Tauira, Auratus, Ben Johnson and Rendrock. The first-named showed excellent form at Trentham recently, where he won two races in a very convincing style. Auratus and Ben Johnson will probably find form going in their favour, and the others that say show up prominently in the race are Compass, Rendrock and Gold Dust. Including, as it does, the best hurdlers in the country, the race should provide a spirited finish.

A fine lot of twenty have been accepted for in the Winter Cup, of one mile. Backers have a rare puzzle set them to select the winner, for the task is no easy one with such fine- performers as Zimmerman, Pdnates, Grenadier, Longner, Federal, Gwendolina North East and Merrie Zanland among the contestants. Ihis lot are doing excellent track work, but it is quite on the cards that the winner may come from the lower weighted division. AUSTRALIAN RACING. By Telegraph—Press Association. Received August, 8, 5.5 p.m. MELBOURNE, August 8. At the Caulfield Races, yesterday, the results were as f )How: — Crimea Handicap.—Token 1, Queen of Scots 2, tfeile Seibreicht 3. Won by two lengths. Timr, lmin ISfsee. Moondah Handicap.—Aberdeen 1, Socialist 2, Otus 3. Won by three lengths. Time, lmin 30Jsec. Hurdles.—Night Light 1, Sun 2, Louise 3. Won by eight lengths. Time, 6min 4sec. Balaclava Handicap.—Nobel 3, Sweet Bad 2, Keiiie 3. Won by three-quarters of a length. Time, lmin 57fsec. Wiliah Stakes.-- Haeremai 1, Confederate ?,, Kyappa 3. Won by five lengths. Time, 3min 32£ sec. ADELAIDE, August 28. At the races, yesterday, the following was th'i result of the Grand National Hurdla tface,: Deception 1, Thorrinyeri 2, San Toy 3. FOOTBALL.' SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. RED STAR v. LOWER VALLEY. At Greytown, on Saturday, the Red Star Seniors had an easy win over the Liwer Valley Seniors by 23 | points to nil. The ground was against j good football, and from a spectator's point of view the game was anything but exciting. The Star forwards played a good game, handling a very greasy ball well, while the backs were safe. The score was made up 'of seven tries, one of which Ball con Verted. Those scoring tries for Stars were—R. McKenzie (2), W. Darvill (2), Moana Paratene, G. Allen and W. Minett. Mr Roydhouse refereed in an efficient inanner. CARTERTON v. GLADSTONE. The Carterton and Gladstone Seniors met at Carterton, on Saturday afternoon, the visitors being defeated by eight points to nil. No score was registered in the first spell. In the second spell V. Fairbrother crossed the line for Carterton, and kicked a penalty goal.' A good deal B. McKehzie converted, Masson also of interest was taken in the fixture. JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. RED STAR v. DALEFIELD. The Red Star Juniors met the Dalefield Juniors in the final match for- the Junior Championship, on Saturday last, on the Masterton Showgruunds. The ground was very heavy, and was covered in places with pools of water. Notwithstanding this a very good game resulted being exciting from start to finish. The nome forwards werd too good forthe opposition, ani mainly through their efforts the Stars won somewhat easily by 9 points to 3, A few minutes after the game started one of the home players was put off the

field for, it is alleged, striking an opponent, but notwithstanding that the Stars played with fourteen men they never left the result in doubt. Barr and Golder scored tries, and Clarke kicked a penalty goal for Stars, and A. Whelcb scored a try for Dalefield. Mr L. Armstrong was referee. Red Star have now secured the Junior Championship, having won all their eleven matches. This is the second year in succession that they have won the Championship. THIRD-CLASS CHAMPIONSHIP. MASTERTON v. CARTERTON. Masterton and Carterton Thirdclass teams met at Carterton, yesterday, when after a .good game Masteron won by 7 points to 3. For Masterton S. Dixon scored a try, and L. Johns potted a goal. Nix scored for Carterton. Masterton have not been beaten so far this season.

PONSONBY DEFEATED. By Telegraph—Press Association. Received August 8, 5.5 p.m. SYDNEY, August 8. There were about 20,000 people present yesterday at the match between Ponsonby and the Metropolitan team. The weather was fine. Early in the game Francis missed a goal from a fairly easy position off a penalty kick. A fine bit of work by McCabe ended in a try, which Burge converted. After a lot of even play Francis secured a fine goal off a mark. Thio success spurred the visitors on, and from a good forward rally Elliott scored but Francis failed to convert. The home team kept on the go. Off a mark Francis added another goal. In the second the visitors were on the defensive most of the time. At the start Francis made a feeble attempt at eoal off a mark. Some rough play on the part of one or two of the visitors called forth a caution from the referee. The home team then began to run all over Ponsonby, and a couple of tries resulted, one of which was converted. The Metropolitan j team thus won by 13 points to 9.

QUEENSLAND DEFEAT THE MAORIS. Received August 8, 5.5 p.m. BRISBANE, August 8. A match was played yesterday be-1 tween the Queensland and Maori professional team. Play waß fast and open. The Maori team's defence and passing was good. The local men scored rapidly, the score at half time standing Queensland, .13 points; Maoris, 2. In the second half the game became faster, but Queensland pressed their opponents almost continuously, and their tackling became erratic as the tide of play went against them, i'onwhinwhiu in th.3 first half and Wharvpapapapa in the second spell scored tries fcr the visitors, but neither were converted. Pukutae got a try, which Harris converted After moro hard play the whistle sounded with the scores:--Queensland, 21; U ions, 9. Taranaki defeated Wanganui, at Wanganui, on Saturday last by 14 points to 3. NEW SOUTH WALES v. QUEENSLAND. BRISBANE, August 8. New South Wales defeated Queensland by 13 points to 6. v HOCKEY. JUNIOR REPRESENTATIVE TEAM. The following is the Junior representative team to play Wellington, at Masterton, on Thursday next:—Goalkeepsr: P. Church, Knox. Fullbacks: W. Williams, and G. Barr, W.F.C.A. Half-backs: T. Byrn, W.F.C.A.; N. Ellis, Carterton; C. Cole, Knox. Forwards: Fairbrother, Carterton; Boyd, Knox; Cummins, W.F.C.A. Wing forwards: Berry and Barry, Knox. Emergencies-Full-back: Hornblow, Knox. Halfback: N. Williams, W.F.C.A. Forward: Dudson, Carterton. Any of the above who will not be able to play against Wellington, at Masterton on Thursday next, are requested to notify the secretary at once. The team will play in the Knox colors, i.e., blue and white jerseys and white pants. By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, August 8. The Taranaki representatives endeavoured to wrest the New Zealand Hockey Association challenge shield from Auckland yesterday, but success did not attend their efforts, they being defeated by 4 goals to nil. In the first half Barry and Mason scored for Auckland, and Mason and Mather again in the second spell. Although it »vas their first match this season the Aucklanders showed splendid combination, and the pace and tackling abilities of the forwards frequently non-plussed the opposing rear-guard, of whom Anderson (2), Avery and Nicoll were the most prominent. Owing to recent rains the ground was on the heavy side.