The Sun.
London, England, 1866-03-29 00:00:00

PROFESSIONALS v. AMATEURS.

A match is in contemplation, arising from the late Ox-
ford and Cambridge race, which will settle the oft-disputed
question as to the supposed superiority of the professional
rowing men over gentlemen amateurs It has often been
remarked, when either of the University crews, in the
course of their practice, have rowed a trial with a picked
crew of Thames watermen, that the latter, after the first
few strokes, have rowed in almost as good form as the
gentlemen, who have been practising together, it may be,
for weeks, although, at the same time, some of the water-
men never rowed together before in their lives. Mr. M.
Brown, the celebrated Oxford oarsman, is to select a crew
of the best gentlemen amateurs he can find, without re-
stricting himself to his own University, and Harry Kelley
will have the management of the watermen's crew, him-
self rowing the strok oar. The gentlemen will pay the
training expenses of botn crews, and, in the event of their
being defeated by the watermen, the latter are to receive a
sum of £2OO, so that each man will be' on a " pony" to
nothing clear. The race would certainly create a deal of
excitement, and on a good spring tide, with a fair wind,
the pace would be something terrific.

SCULLERS' MATCH FOR £2o.—Yesterday a rowing match
took place on the river from Battersea to Hammersmith-
bridge, between two landsmen named Lamb and Baker.
With a good start they got off together, and continued
till abreast of Battersea Church, when Lamb began to
draw a head, continued to have the best of it, and finally
won by 50 yards.

C RICKETING.

THE NOTTS COLTS' MATCH.

The following are the sides chosen to play in the Notts
Colts match, at the Trent Bridge Oround, Nottingham, on
Monday and Tuesday next :
THE ELEVEN.—S. Biddulph, T. Bignall, R. Daft, J. Jack-
son, W. Oscroft, G. Paling, G. Parr, A. Shaw, J. C. Shaw
R. C. Tinley, and G. Wootton.
THE COLTS.—J. Grundy ((captain), T. Burrows (Kim-
berley), (W. Clements (Walford), G. Howitt (Lepton), G.
Martin (Nottingham), E. Mellor (Nottingham), H. Nixon
(Snenton), J. Oscroft (Arnold), H. Parker (Ratcliffe-on-
Trent), H. Scottorn (Burton Joyce), A. Sears (Notting-
ham), H. Slack (Hyson Green), J. Smith (Nottingham), J.
Wheeler (Bonnington), and S. Wightman (New Radford.)
The Trent Bridge Ground, although at present very hard
and "bumpy," is rapidly being got fit, and the committee
have determined to spare no efforts to make the match suc-
cessful. It will be seen that G. Howitt, who last season
played for Middlesex, but who really comes from Lepton,
near Nottingham—forms one of the selected team.

The Dramatic Club play their opening match at High
bury Barn on Good Friday.
The Grosvenor Road Club play their opening match for
toe season at Bexley, next Friday.
Fmcn's GROUND AT PUTNEY.—This ground is -open
throughout the season for Saturday afternoon matches.
MR. THOMAS Box's BENEFIT.—It is reported that the
long-expected benefit for this celebrated cricketer will be
played at Lord's on July 9, 10, and 11. This match, it is
stated, will be the Marylebone Club and Ground v. Sussex,
but, as we have not been communicated with, we cannot
vouch for the correctness of all this.
KENNINGTON CLUB.—Practice Ground, Surrey Ground,
Oval. Subscription, £1 Is. There are a few vacancies in
the above club.. Gentlemen desirous of becoming members
should without delay make application to the Honorary
Secretary, G. F. Davies, at the Oval. The general meeting
will take place on Monday, April 9, at 8 o'clock precisely.

SIIERWOOD AND SPEAR.—These men met yesterday at
Tenbury, to decide their 440 yards race (Spear being
allowed 13 yards' start), for £2O a-side. Sherwood woxt. by
20 yards.

WRESTLING.

THE CORNWALL AND DEVON WRESTLING

SOCIETY.

The committee of the Cornwall and Devon
Wrestling Society, under the patronage of the
Prince of Wales, have announced to the nobility,
gentry, and inhabitants of the " two counties," as
well as the public generally, that they will celebrate
their annual sports at Hackney Wick on Good Fri-
day, Easter Monday, and Tuesday, when £lOO will
be given to be contended for in wrestling (in the
good old style of the fair " back-fall "), foot
racing, pole leaping, and other athletic sports.
On Easter Monday next, O'Baldwin and Iles
will appear, with the best of the Ring ; and on
Easter Tuesday, the deciding trials in all the sports
will take place, and the prizes be given up. We
are pleased to observe that this the most " anciente"
society, established from time immemorial, and
spoken of even by immortal Shakespeare in "As
You Like It," when Orlando makes the renowned
athlete of the duke to " kiss the dust," will again,
on the greensward, as in the good old time, and
not under cover, bring forth the stalwarth sons of
Cornwall and Devon. We have been requested to
insert the following notice :
"It is respectfully requested that all wishing to join in
the sports of Good Friday, Devon and Cornwall wrestling
(open to the world), under 12st., will be in attendance at
Hackney Wick by one o'clock, for at that hour will corn
men ce the weighing.
" The committee have decided to give prizes to stan-
dards,' and other advantages will be held out, so that the
sports of IlvckneY Wick at the Good Friday and Easter