OUTDOOR SPORTS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 72, 25 March 1919, Page 8

OUTDOOR SPORTS.

{By ACTAEON.).

CRICKET.

'flic cricket on Saturday was marked by a couple of centuries, Midlane adding to his list with an innings of 105 not out, and Elliot, a North Shore colt, who has improved out of sight during the present season, yetting his maiden century iv senior cricket, with an innings of 124 not out. Uoth these players, enguged against University bowling, appear to be in process of making a local record for a tbiril-wicket partnership, for they have already put on 24.') runs together, and are still not out.

The chief interest of the day's play centred in the championship play-off between Grafton and Ponsonby. The former, on a tricky wicket, cannot lie said to have performed well in making luo against the bowling of X. C. Snedden and .Smith, and Ponsonby have taken every advantage of the lapse by putting on 133 for four wickets. It will now be a ease of Grafton lighting all the way for a recovery. THE CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF. The features of Uraf ton's lirst innings of 10.1 against Ponsonby were tlie consistently deadly howling of \. (. . Snetlden and Smith on the wicket that helped them, tiie line effort made by 1C Hurspool to knock the bowlers off 'their length, and the steady stand made by I\. Sloinan. Snedden was petting a sharp turn eitlier way, and Horspool soon ma<le the discovery that the lot of the batsman was not to be easy. He decided upon reversing the attack, ajid went for the bowling a la JesFtop, with the result that the .-core began to move along with a rattle. Despite Sneddon's pood length, the batsman scored occasionally off him witli a strong square-cut, and a swinging pull-str ; ke. but he pot most of his runs by accepting Smith's challenge to keep hitting, and he had made 4H before the logical end came by way of a catch in the longfield, the retiring batsman having made all but seven of the total runs then scored.

-•lonian kept the other end going at a steady pace, playing a solid innings, but Hughes (II) was the only one of his partners who gave any promise of standing uji to the bowling. After the dismissal of Horspool. Smith altered his style of delivery, deserting his cutomary dropping flight for a faster hall with a sharper break, a delivery much resembling that of Snedden. and he then began to get wickets faster than his eolleaguo, with tlie result that when the end came, he bad slightly the better average Sloman, however, held both bowlers at bay, and cirried his bat for J". made without a mistake. Snedden finished up with four wickets for 4(1 runs, while Smith got six for ,">S. Although Ponsonliy lost Sneddcn early. Ciillimore and Smith put on 70 runs for the second wicket, and practically caught lirafton's score, t'uliinore played v good forcing game, while Smith played a particular cautious innings, with the result, that when the former hail finished up with -I'-J his partner iiad barely got into double figures. Smith, too. had been lucky, for a trap set for him at short leg had caught him napping, but Sioman failed to snap tho chance.

It is very doubtful if l.ralton got full value for their bowling, which, though it lacked the -nap of the I'onsonby attack, should have showed to better advantage on the wicket. Tlie policy of keeping the slow bowlers on together did not seem the right one for the occasion, and it failed to come off, for though Burton and Spoor were dismissed cheaply, the damage had previously been done by ( ulliniorr. and then I?igh|oti was allowed to get settled, and he quickly knocked up 2fi. while Smith nlso played himself in, and had 47 to his account hy the time play ceased, with 133 up for four wickets. SHORE'S mO TOTAL. SlioiP followed up their record score for tiie season placed to their credit in their previous engagement by amassing another large totai on Saturday last, at University's expense, losing only two wickets in compiling :>l!0 runs. Several showers during the afternoon favoured the batsmen, the slippery ball and outliehl being circumstances which did not assist 'Varsity. Even taking this into consideration. University fielding and attack was lamentably weak, especially so in regard to the latter, in which poor generalship was di played. Garrard and Jones maintained the attack against Midlane and Frater until over eighty runs were put on. though it was not until this stage that Graham put in an appearance. The pioneer batsmen put up a creditable first wicket partnership and topped the century before Frater was caught by Nicholsen. The ball prior to the one which brought about his departure he put up to Cox, but the chance went begging. Unabashed by this let-off he had another go at Graham, and this time paid the penalty. Midlane meantime had given A difficult chance at square leg early in the game. fiosnell fell v victim to Cox after contributing nine, and then Midlane and Elliot became associated in their prolific partnership, which added 24,> runs to the total before stumps were drawn.

Neither batsmen gave a perfect display, both giving several more or less difficult chances. Elliot scored very quickly, mostly as the result of boundary hits. His weakness is his footwork, which was in distinct contract to his partner. Midlane was very aggressive throushout his innings, and gave an interesting display. His strong legplay n-.ade him quite at home to Oarrard, and lie soon collared the latfcer's bowling. Cox was the only trnmller to take wickets for the students. Both Graham and IV. Oarrard were unlucky, having several opportunities for effecting a separation of the partneriehip missed off their li owl ing. PARXKLL V. KDKX. There is really nothing of great moment to record of the Parnell-Eden game, opened on Vivtoria Park in rather unprofitable weather on Saturday afternoon. Kdcn batted during almost the whole afternoon, and amassed the total of 210, playing a man short. The game was rather slow, and occasional showers made the players run for shelter now and then. Heighway, with 5(3 runs, was top scorer for his side, with Rountree (~>4) a very close second. The wicket and the field were not very reliable, and the fielding of the Parnell men was not particularly brilliant. Irving (28) and Blair (29) opened the batting, and covered r>4 before Irving, after quite a lair innings, was bowled by McLeod. This batsman continues to show a steady improvement, and may possibly be a front-ranker later on. Tie lias some very good off-strokes, and l>a<s freely with easy footwork. aiiH a good, strong wrist. Blair"? action is a trifle stiff. BrookeJSmi.th went jnsl into double figures before McLpod caught him. Cuinmings-, too, had just got

nicely started, when Burns caught him napping, and took his bails off. Shepherd, the not-out man, was the only other who covered double figures.

The bowling of Moore and McLeod, especially the former, was rather tricky, and often had the batsmen beaten. The weather conditions rather favoured them. Many bowlers were tried, but none did so well as these two. who eventually were put back to the trundling. Moore's average was three for 37, and IVlcLeod's three for 55. llemus took two wickets for 34, and neither Simpson, Sotnervell nor Andrews had any success. PI'BLIC SCHOOL FIXTURES. The following are fixtures for the week's primary school mntciips:■A Grade. -Mount Helen v. Hemuera. at Domain, No. 1 pitch: Devonport v. Vermont Street, at Victoria I'ark. No. 1 pitch: Mount Albert v. Napier street, at Victoria Park, No. ■_' pitch; Grafton v. Epsom, at Domain. No. -J pitch B Grade*— Parnell v. Tonsonliy. at Viclorla Park. No. :s pitch: Ellerelie v. IJnytleld. at Domain. No. 3 pitch: Newmarket v. Normal, at Victoria I'ark. No. 4 pitch: Grey Lynn v. MaungLWhaii, at F.den Park.

«' Grade.—Point Chevalier v. Stanley Bay. at Domain. No. 4 pitch: Nelson Street v. lilchinond Road, at Victoria 1.-irk, No. 5 pitch: Newton West V. ICdondale, at Victoria Park, No. f< pitch i D Grade.—Meadowbank v. Helmont lat Domain. No. •"> pitch: Xnrthe.ote v Avoudjilr. at Eden Park; To I'apapa V. Ueresford Street, at Domain, No. <3 pitch.