CRICKET.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 59, 10 March 1923, Page 18

CRICKET.

The great partnership of the day in the Canterbury-Wellington match began when Patrick joined Blunt soon afur the luncheon adjournment. Blunt had gone in at 20 minutes past,l2. The panset up a stand that defied all the bowlers for the remainder of the afternoon, and raised the enthusiasm ot the limited number of onlookers to a nign pitch. Blunt reached his century shortly before play was stopped, and rarely nas a century been so heartily recognised. And it certainly was a fine uphill performance. He gave two difficult chances in tbe slips, and an almost impossible one at the wickets very early in the innings, and for several overs after this he looked very unlikely to stay long, but he gradually improved, and for the remainder of his innings his defence never looked to be taxed, and though he gave another chance in the slips at 88, this was the only serious fault in a very sound performance. He was not, perhaps, in his best form as regards making the most of the loose balls offering for he let off a number that ordinarily would he sent to the fence, but the strokes from which he got his runs were, with very few exceptions, executed in masterly style. Patrick had rarely played sounder or more restrained cricket. The number of balls that actually beat him could be counted on the fingers of one hand and apart from these his defence was absolutely beyond reproach, and he never at any time looked like getting out. Like Blunt, he let off a number of loose balls, but the ones he did get on to were punished with really first-class strokes all round the wicket

The falling-off in Christchurch cricket is traced by a writer in the "Lytteltm Times" to the heavy toll made on players in the war, the deplorable lack of interest amongst players generally, and faulty methods of practice. The district scheme is also blamed for the fall-ing-off in the quality of the cricket, but there are many who urge that coac' es are required. The Canterbury Cricket Association is inviting business men to a conference, to consider a scheme for raising £5000, to provide interest for improving grounds and employing an extra coach. The present coach, Mr. Shacklock, is devoting his time chiefly to the primary schools, but there were heavy demands on his time. The association was now controlling 450 more players than in 1914. That too much attention has been paid to the Plunket Shield is the opinion of the chairman (Mr. D. Redpath), who would sooner, he said, see an extra twenty boys playing the game than that Canterbury should win the Plunket Shield. The association was investigating the means lof improving the game in all its phases. and looked to the co-operation of all I playing cricketers, old and young, to j inspire their efforts.

PRIMARY SCHOOLS' NOTES.

Two Saturdays of the 1923 season have now gone, and most of the large number of teams in the four grades are beginning to settle into form.

Tlie first day's A grade contests indicate a fairly' even set of competitors, with Kowhai 111. as probably the outstanding eleven. Berridge, the mainstay of last year's Edendale team, is a tower of strength to "K. Ill," and should do well with both bat and ball. His 4S not out, in a total of 72, against Newton East, and his 106 not out, out of 170, against "X II." last week suggest that opposing bowlers have something very solid to trundle against. There is, too, on his side, a midget named Longton who should, with coaching, become a good-scoring batsman. -In "K. II.," Vivian, Bleakley and Knight are promising bats, while Kowhai I. has a pair of good trundlers in Way and Spicer. In both games Dunn, of Newton East, has shown up well for his school. Twice he has run into double figures, and his 7 for 19 against Maungawhau was a very creditable performance.

Maungawhau started off well, and proved too strong for Remuera, Foster's four for 4, and Whitelaw's 30 with the bat being the deciding factors. Newton East, however, downed the suburban side, who collapsed for 11 runs in their second innings.

Devonport, though beaten by Grey Lynn by 10 runs, after an exciting contest, turned the tables by an innings victory oyer Remuera. The latter side went for 14 in their first strike, but did better in the second venture, though Carter was the only one to reach double figures, as he was also in the Maungawhau match.

Vermont Street are again a fairlystrong batting eleven, though their score against Richmond Road was a small one. Over Grey Lynn, however, they had an easy victory, in which the bowling of Gaw and Moore, played an important part, while Turner and Reid were chief scorers.

Beresford Street appears to have some good scorers, Henderson's 31 not out, and Deighton's 22 against Curran Street were useful performances, while on the previous week Minchin rattled up 41 in good style off the Nelson Street attack.

McOonagle, with 26 to his credit, virtually won last Saturday's game for Napier Street, though Reid and Stovey played an important part in dismissing cheaply their neighbouring eleven.

Andrews, McKearney and Peart, of Onehunga, have all started the season well, and should trouble the B "-rade bowlers as the round progresses.

The Vauxhall-Edendale game was a walk-over for the former side, who topped the century. Grant notched 00 out of a total of 140, and secured four wick ets for 1 run. Edendaie, a t. am with none above Standard IV. in it, were all out for 8.