FIELD OF SPORT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 111, 20 February 1935, Page 2

FIELD OF SPORT.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. (By “Onlooker.”) No senior batsmen in the Ashburton County Cricket Association’s matches on Saturday afternoon reached the 50 mark, M. O’Reilly 49 and G. Stephen 45 being the nearest. Ashburton B lias to thank B. McSherry’s bowling for its win over Methven. Requiring 136 runs to win, Methven scored 112 for the loss (of seven wickets. The last three wickets, however, only compiled 6 runs, leaving the B team the winner by 17 runs. McSherrv’s figures are worth studying. Bowling 5.2 overs, the first four of which were maidens, he took three wickets for four runs. The match was full of interest from start to finish, the last wicket falling but a few minutes before time. The Rakaia and 1 Ashburton A fixture was chiefly notable for the batting and howling of jVI. O’Reilly and the

bowling.of A. Doig. O'Reilly's performance with the ball was ten overs, four maidens, five wickets for 9 runs. A. Doig bowled 8.1 overs, three maidens, and took four wickets for 19 runs, his wickets being obtained with the last four consecutive balls. This was the eleventh hat trick for the season (the third in the senior grade) and the second time that four wickets have been obtained with consecutive balls. The other performance was that of H. Adams. There was some good batting and bowling in the junior, H. Jordan 100 not out, A. Kelly 100, B. T. Clothier 77. R. Wear 71, L. Taylor 65 not out, and B. McKenzie 53, being the best bats. Wear's 71 was knocked up in just under 20 minutes. It included 11 tours and one six. His bowling is also worthy of- mention, the figures being nine overs, four maidens, three, wickets for 18i i High School's best bowler on the dav; was IJ.1 J . Zouch, who took one for none and five for 8. A. Colquhoun took lour for 16 and one tor 15. juauriston bowlers were also in good form, W. Goodwin capturing four tor 14 and three for 7, b. Goouwin four for 19 and none for 10, and H. Adams none for 25 and six for 20. Adams now leads in the bowling

aggregate, having taken 01 wickets. it. VV. Biggar is second with UU, if. '! Willis third with 55, and H. Lennon and VV. U'Grady equal fourth with 61 eaon. In the batting aggregate, B. T. Clothier leads the way with 683, closely followed by ii. W. Biggar 0/0, K. Drennan 006, J. Dillon 534, S. Willis 432, and 11. Wear 407. There are several more approaching the 400 mark.

Postponed on account of other attractions, the jubilee carnival of the • Ashbiirton Amateur Swimming Club will be held on Saturday evening, and arrangements already made indicate that the meeting will be an excellent one, and worthily celebrate the silver anniversary of the club. Entries are coming in well from clubs throughout the County and elsewhere in Canterbury, and patrons are assured of a first-class programme of races.

The associate-secretary to the Auckland Swimming Centre (Mr Hi. Moore)

has received by telegram an assurance from Mr B. O'Neill, of Christchurch (secretary to the New Zealand Council), that the Frenchmen, Jean Talis and Emile Poussard, and the Chinese, Kwok Chun Hong, are prepared to take part in races when they swim in Auckland on March 4. The Centre had been concerned by a report that the visitors would only give exhibitions, as it has plans of matching Taris with local champions over 220 yards. The annual New Zealand Swimming championship, decided in Auckland, is notable in one respect. It marks the first concerted bid for Honours at swimming by the Maori race. Six Maoris have been sent in the interests of the South Auckland Centre, nevertheless, their participation can be described more as a Maori challenge. All command esteem because of their performances, one being W. Whareaitu, and their gaining of success may fortify the advocacy! of Maori championships. As the first large South Auckland team, and as the first Maori one, they are doubly welcome.

The late William Beach, who died in Sydney recently at the age of 84 years, had a wonderful record in connection with the world's' professional sculling championship. In fact he won it on no fewer than seven occasions. E. Haulaii, from whom Beach won., the title, had six successes, li. Arnst, and E. Barry, five each, and G. Towns four. Beach's successes were recorded as follows : —' August 16, 1884—v. E. Hanlan, Paramatta River, Sydney. February 28, 1885—v. T. Clifford, Paramatta River, Sydney. .March 28, 1885—y. E. Hanlan, Paramatta River, Sydney. December 18, 1885—v N. Matterson, Paramatta River,, Sydney September 18, 1886—v. J. Gaudaur, Putney to Mortlake, England. September 25, 1886—v. Wallace Ross, Putneyi to Mortlake, England. November 26, 1887—v. E. Hanlan, Nepeah River, New South Wales. After his last success Beach resigned the championship to P. Kemp, another Australian.

One of the finest oarsmen of his day, Mr Walter Sharpe, nassed away at the Wanganui Public Hospital last week, at the age of 60 yearsr The late Mr Sharpe had been in poor health for the past eight months, so that his death v/as really a happy release. Oarsmen all over New Zealand, however, will mourmjiis passing. "Wally" Sharpe, as he was always known, and will'always be remembered, was the dominating personality in Wanganui rowing circles for many years. As a youth, he .joined the Union Boat Club in the 'nineties, when rowing in Wanganui was still in its infancy. His splendid physique and generous enthusiasm soon placed him in the forefront, and in 1907 he had the honour of stroking Wanganui's first New Zealand champion four at the Christchurch exhibition. The crew .was W. Sharpe (str.), C. Drew (3). J. Green (2) and D. Corby (bow), and its performance v/as the first of many victories for the now-famous shed. Sharpe rowed for, several years, but it was not until 1915 that he was again boated in a winning championship four. On that occasion he rowed bow in a crew stroked by C. A. Wadman at Picton.