JUNIOR NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 58, 8 March 1913, Page 16

JUNIOR NOTES.

The last series of matches in connection with the first round of the second grade premiership commenced to-day. The matches were begun on October 19th, and therefore it will be at least twenty-two weeks; including some unnecessary interruption, before the finish, mis clearly demonstrates that ten teams in a competition, although it sounds big and progressiva, i 8 too unwieldy, and next year the Association, or those interested in junior cricket should have the number of teams' limited in each grade, or make arrangements for dividing the grade into two sections.

The four leading teams in the competition are Waitemata, Eden \ Par nell, and Pomonby. Waitemata' have been jogging along quietly mostly with two pointers. Out of eight victories, only wins were re^isonl y def °«*t was at the hands of University at Victoria Park, -where the students succeeded in gaining a load by a narrow margin on the first innings. In the second innings Waitemata tried to save the game; in fact, they were fairly confident of doing so, but, instead, they got out in trying to get runs in a hurry, and again the students, with a team of 'make ups," managed to get the runs. fa

Parnell did a little better than Waitemata in the three-point business. They came to grief against the team at the head of affairs, and then upset Eden A on the Domain by two points Just a week ago Grafton were the means of ousting therh from their position at the head of the competition ladder. Eden A proved too stiff a proposition for most of the teams, although now and again they were favoured with a spice of good fortune, the two defeats sustained were inflicted by Waitemata and Parnell. They jnst managed to save a threepointer against Parnell after trying to pull the game out of the fire, and made it hot for Waitemata in the second innings by attempting to hit 150 runs in a little over the hour, and nearly succeeded, too.

Grafton started the season very badly, losing three matches in succesjsion. The (greatest victory was <#>- tamed against Parnell, getting a threepoint victory, when the "_e on two occasions seemed lost.

The following table shows the position of the four leading teams up to the end of the eighth round: — Pld. Won. Last. Dm. Pts. Waitemata 7 i 0 13 Parnell S 6 2 0 10 Kden A „ S 6 2 — 10 Grafton S 5 3 — G