THE WORLD of SPORT

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 272, 16 November 1926, Page 14

THE WORLD of SPORT

CRICKET. GAME IN AUCKLAND. SEASON'S FIRST MATCHES. Players should bear in mind that the system of compulsory championship points has been changed this year. An outrifrht win counts four points to the winner, a win on the first innings givs three points to the winner and one to the loser, and for a draw or a tie each side gets two points. On the games completed on Saturday, the points are: Grafton, 4; Shore A. 3; Ponsonbv, 1; Shore B, 0. Before the war the leading wickets on the Domain were considered comparable with any in Australasia, but they have sadly degenerated through the lack of expert attention, caused partly by war conditions and partly by depreciation of revenue through the A.C.A. concentrating its attention on its senior matches at Eden Park. Superficially the Domain looks much as it used to be, but the Grafton and North Shore seniors ■who played there on the last two Saturdays, when rain had fully tested the inwardness of the wickets, found the ball flying most disconcertingly. It certainly made a field day for H. Wilson, the Grafton fast bowler, who got 13 ■wickets for as many runs against the North Shore B team on Saturday. In the Eden-Y.M.C.A. match on Saturday there were nine sixes hit during the afternoon. Four Eden batsmen were responsible for eight of the big boundaries, three coming off Brook-Smith's bat, while Bowlcy hit the ninth. Five of the big hits were made at Bowley's expense. A high wind and a short boundary down the wind were partly responsible for the unusual number of sixes hit. Cooper drove one ball from Riddolls against the wind into the grandstand. There has been a general tendency to regard R. Rowntree as being in the sere and yellow leaf. "Admittedly the best wicket-keeper in the Dominion to-day, but too old to go with the team to England" has been the dictum of some Southern critics. Of course, having recollections of Charlie Boxshall carrying on behind the stumps for New Zealand till he was verging on fifty, the Canterbury critics would not take this view. As a matter of fact, Rowntree is verging on 42 years of age. For purposes of comparison it may be mentioned (and it is to the point) that Rowntree is two years the junior of Jack Hobbs; that H. Carter kept wickets for Australia at 43 years, and Strudwick for England at 47, while Oldfield, in Australia, is considered to have arrived at his prime this year at 39 years of age. Looking at some of the first-class English county wicketkeepers of the season just past we find Dolphin (Yorkshire), 40 years; Strudwick (Surrey), 47 years; Duckworth (Lancashire), 25* years; Lilley (Nottingham), 32 year's; Smith (Gloucester), 39 years; Hubble (Kent), 45 years, and Murrell (Middlesex), 46 years. The opening matches, being on slow wickets, have not been fruitful in large scores. In fact, only one century was recorded in each association competition ■ —Beecliey, of Papakura team, got 103 against University in the A.C.A. second grade, and M. Scott made 119 for L. D. Nathan's in the Suburban Association's senior B grade. Scott is a brother of the North Shore wicket-keeper-bowler, who played co important a part in the win of tl."> A.C.A. ehnmninns ajrainst

"The Rest" last season. M. Scott is a forceful batsman and knocked up his century in ninety minutes. A DEPRESSING DEBUT.

In making their advent in the senior grade Shore B made history, being dismissed for lowest aggregate scores ever recorded in Auckland's long record of the summer pastime. With a score of 112 runs on for six wickets from the previous Saturday, Grafton considered that they were in a moderately strong position only, and went on by careful batting to build the score to the highest possible point. Alleott, who played freely on the opening day for 18 not out, "lapsed into a sedate role, while the most enterprising batting came from Fitness, who after a very shaky start, settled down to make a number of good shots all' round the wicket. When the last man came on the scene Alleott hit out, and immediately gave an easy chance. The seasiders tried eight bowlers, and none of them was impressive, and the lack of variety was apparent. Doble got a lot of spin on the ball, but it came so slowly from the pitch as to be innocuous. '

Shore's opening innings were simply a procession, and realised a paltry 19 runs. In the opening over Peopples, who was batting without a glove, was rapped twice in succession on the hand by Wilson, and he retired and took no further part in the game. To add to the Beasiders' troubles they were a man short. The second innings was a repetition of the first one, and but for a couple of dropped chances would not have realised 21 runs. It was a depressing exhibition of batting, and unworthy of senior status. True, in Wilson "and Alleott, aided and abetted by Rowntree behind the sticks, Shore were up against about the strongest club trinity in New Zealand, but it was rank bad batting rather than superlative bowling that accounted for tho dismal display. Alleott did a little in the air, swung in to the right-handed batsman, likewise did a little off the pitch iv the opposite direction; but the wicket was not helpful for overspin, and was not particularly suitable for a bowler of Allcott's methods. Wilson, on the other hand, bowling at medium pace, went straight through, and was disconcerting for the reason that the ball came at varying heights from the patch, some showing a decided inclination to kick. " The

batsmen made him literally unplayable by their methods, and Wilson finished with the freakish figures of thirteen wickets for 13 runs. King, who was a good stock bowler in Wellington cricket last season, was given a trial, and Grafton will probably find him a useful change to reinforce their already strong bowling combination. Had the Shore batsmen gone resolutely for the bowling and got at it on the half volley whenever a chance presented itself, they would have done better, but as it was stay-at-home tactics were fatal. They could possibly be pardoned for a reluctance to leave the crease when there was a wicketkeeper of the genius of Rowntree camped on the back step, for the veteran was at the top of his form, which means that he is the best wicket-keeper in the land. In shifting Wynne in Shore's second innings, Rowntree rose to superb heights. The batsman jumped when playing at a bumping ball, and during the fraction of a second while he was in the air, Rowntree flicked the bails off. It was a very much surprised batsman who landed back in the safety zone. Among the Shore batsmen one player stood out alone. It was Lusk, a young left-hander, who was unconquered in both innings, carrying his bat right through the second essay. His aggregate score of 22 runs does not appear much in actual figures, but seeing that he scored that number out of the Shore aggregate of 40, his performance was quite an achievement. Playing good shots all round the wicket, and cleverly alternating his forward and back play, he was at all times master of the situation, and the Grafton attack had no worries for him. NORTH SHORE'S WIN. The match between North Shore and Ponsonby was at no stage exciting, the Shore players scoring a comfortable win by a margin of over 50 runs. Of | Shore's total of 152, P. Gerrard, who | went to the crease when the first wicket j fell, compiled 61 and carried his bat. He i played a characteristic innings, patient | and orthodox, a number of his runs! being the result of good ground shots.! Player made the most of his time at the wickets, two sixens being included in I his tally of 30. Nettleton added a! useful two dozen. Newdick and Taylor

P. Gerrard. A. Player. ;j shared the Ponsonby bowling honours, j each capturing four wickets. Ponsonby, l'■ with over three hours to get the desired • number of runs, made a disastrous start, the first two wickets falling for as many runs. Smith and Snedden then - *; made a stand, but the last-named went after reaching double figures. With the j dismissal of Smith (28), Ponsonby's j hopes •v/i' victory faded away and the j innings closed for two under the century. I With the exception of Brinsden (21) | and Kemp, the remaining batsmen I failed to settled down. Dacre, Johnston, ■ Coates and Townshend did the damage! with the ball. ! V.M.C.A. IN ACTION. ' In their first game as seniors against j Eden the V.M.C.A. team did not disclose a formidable attack, and they were rather lucky to get rid of Eden for 217 runs on the No. 2 wicket at Eden Park on a day when there was a strong wind carrying to a short boundary. It was quite obvious that Bowley, with his change of flight and pace, combined with a big leg break, is an effective change bowler for breaking a partnership, but the V.M.C.A. skipper, Lewis, used him rather as a leading bowler, which neutralised the gain of his get- ' ting Gillespie and Weir cheap. Lock, a fasti6h right-hander, of steady length, and with an occasional spin and break, proved the best bowler on the day, with four wickets for 4 runs. The wicket did not suit Riddolle.

Mills (18) was shaping for a big score when he was beaten all the way by Lock and bowled by the only ball sent down which he had not played confidently. Cooper's 30 was a good all-aound kntook, and ho was unlucky to be run out. Brook-Smith made the most of the slow bowling, but. he could not get on to the

faster leg stuff with his usual accuracy, otherwise his score would have been considerably larger. Simpson,«*as usual, used the long handle effectively in getting 33.

When V.M.C.A. opened, Bowley's welltimed leg play, with a iate chop-glance to the fast bowler, and full strokes to the others sent the score along merrily. Gorrie was often in trouble, but he scored several times with a nice shot through the slips. None of the tvundlers troubled Bowley, and it is obvious that while he remains at the wicket, V.M.C.A. has a good chance of getting a first innings lead, for the coach is a fast, as well as a

stylish nin-getter. The V.M.C.A. fielding was not by any means faultless, though it was keen enough and at least a couple of comparatively easy catches were dropped. A LOP-SIDED INNINGS. There was nothing very inspiring.) about ParnelVs three hour venture against Varsity. But for Irvin°-, who| made 81 out of a total of 161, the inn- i ings would have come perilously close! to a debacle The wicket was Xoo dead , am! th e T Cll , aSSiS . tance to the bowlers, I and the bowling itself was made to I look much more formidable than it really was by the stodgy methods of the bat?' Irving played a very solid knock. He' was missed in the slips when he was 31 but otherwise he seldom looked like getting out, and seemed set for a century when he was unexpectedly dismissed. He showed a strong partiality lor the leg side, and was quite content

to carry on in imperturbable fashion until he had sorted out those balls that were particularly to his liking. As an opening effort, his innings was a meritorious one. Garrard handled Ms bowling well, and I had the catch fielding been better, would , have obtained, better results from his battery of six trundlers, of whom Barnes made a distinctly promising debut. The , newcomer was very accurate, and with , more experience and regard to varying his bowling, should strengthen the students' attack considerably. Garrard : was, as usual, the mainstay of the bowling, and even under conditions not altogether advantageous to a spin bowler, seemed to be getting more life into his deliveries than was the case towards the , end of last season. A WIN FOR PAPATOETOE. The game between Papatoetoe and Eden B was concluded on Saturday at Papatoetoe, when the home side had a comfortable win, the visitors responding with 86 runs to Papatoetoe's opening score of 109. At their second essay Papatoetoe had five wickets down for 87 runs when the call of time came. The Papatoetoe Recreation Ground has practically no shelter, and throughout the afternoon a strong westerly wind swept straight down the pitch, and made matters unpleasant for batsmen and fieldfmen alike. Only three of the Eden batsmen managed to reach double figures. Hockin, a left-hander, hit in refreshing style, and on one occasion landed a beautiful sixer clean out of the ground over the square-leg boundary. Right through the bowlers had the upper hand. The Burnside brothers, who bowled in turn with the wind behind them, both mustered a lot of pace for the occasion, and between them gathered in half the wickets that fell. P. Swaffield, bowling into the wind, kept a remarkably good length, and gathered two victims at a low cost. The Papatoetoe fielding was good, nothing being given away in the air, while sharp i returns to the wicket caught two of the Eden batsmen on the wrong side of the crease. Papatoetoe played care-free cricket | when their second turn came to bat, the I scoring was consistent, and in an hour's ! play 87 runs were hoisted. Wilson, I moderately fast right-hand, bowled well, I and secured three wickets. Sheldon, a I slow left-hander, with a break both I ways, was also impressive, but had no luck. Papatoetoe have made an impressive ' entry into the senior grade, and as the I players are enthusiastic and have faciliI tics for practice, the team should do j well. It is intended to play with a ! matting wicket throughout the season, ! and possibly some of the city teams, I accustomed to the turf variety, will find ] that there is a subtle difference between the two.

THE SUBURBAN FIXTURES. Following are the fixtures for matches to be played under the auspices of the Auckland Suburban Cricket Association on Saturday : — Senior A Grade.—Harbour Board v Ponsonby, Domain No. 3; Ellerslie v. United Suburbs Domain No. 2; Glen Eden v. Green Lane, Domain No. 1. Senior B Grade.— Railway v. Ellerslie, Domain No. 5: Auckland Harbour Board v. Gas Works, Victoria Park No. 9; L. D. Nathan's v.'Ponsonby, Victoria Far.: N0,7. Second Grade.—Tamaki v. Geo. Court s, Ellerslie; Power Board v. Invicta, Domain No 9; Green Lane v. Manurewa, Manurewa : Takaninl v. Tramways A, Victoria Park; Victoria v. Tramways B, Remuera No. 2 ; Otahuhu, a bye. Third Grade. —Green Lane v. Gas Garage, ■ Ellerslie; Akarana v. Carlton, Domain No. 115 • Victoria v. Glen Eden, Glen Eden; iE B B.A.C. v. L. D. Nathan's, Remuera No. j1 ; Ellerslie v. Takaninl, Takanini: Tamaki v. Fawcett'B. Tamaki; Power Board ViChel- ! sea, Victoria Park; Remuera v. Otahuhu, I Otahuhu: Bycroft's v. Gordon ana Cotcn, i Domain No. 11. : _ i Fourth Grade. —Akarana r. Carlton a, i Kemuera No. 3; Chelsea v. Green Lane, VieItoria Park; Carlton C v Carlton A, 1 Remuera No. 4; Richmond Rovers v. I "Herald." Victoria Park. Fifth Grade.—Carlton v. Blamford, Outc Domain; W.Y.M.I. v. Carlton A, Outer Domain; Comrade* v. Tramways, Outer °Lodga Wickets.—Top wicket at Victoria Park, and Remuera No. 5. BUR-HART TAKES NINE FOR 19. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHANGAREI, this day. Saturday's cricket matches resulted as follow (home team mentioned first) :— Waipu 60 (Sloane 42 not out) defeated Marsden A 53 (Boggs 17, Atkinson 20) ; ■Alaungakaramea 76 (Crawford 20) defeated Old Boys 41 (Macken 15) ; Onerahl 136 (Mason 42, Colthart 39, S. McKenzie 83) beat Marsden B 50 and 44; High School 159 (Nelson and Kelly 33), beat Portland 37 ahd 26 JBurkhart took nine wickets for 19) ; Whangarei 98 (Balgent 18 not out, Harrison 18), defeated V.M.C.A. 50 and 52.