NEW ZEALAND ELEVEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 276, 22 November 1927, Page 14

NEW ZEALAND ELEVEN.

REST BEATEN BY INNINGS.

ALLCOTT BOWLS WELL.

ALL OUT FOR 146.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, Monday.

The New Zealand cricket team won the match against The Rest to-day by an innings and 43 runs. The weather was fine, the only drawback being a cold easterly wind that blew across the ground all the afternoon. The heavy rain had left the ground in a thoroughly sodden state, the outfield was spongy and the wicket was a bowler's paradise. Under the circumstances it was not surprising that most of The Rest batsmen failed to give a good account of themselves. The attendance was fair for an off day, the sum of £66 being taken at the gates. This made the total for the match £446. There was some fairly quick scoring when the New Zealand team resumed its innings. Some of the visitors were desirous of getting the game over and they therefore forced the pace for the remaining wickets. The total was 330 when the innings closed. When The Rest went in again every endeavour was made to get the batsmen out as quickly as possible.

As a batting effort The Rest's second innings was a dreadfully slow performance, but the play was interesting because it gave one an opportunity of seeing the New Zealand representatives in cricket under conditions in which they were striving to get the opposition out and their out-cricket was certainly distinctly good. Merritt's Improvement. Allcott demonstrated that he is a bowler of sterling merit. He kept a fine length and this made him very difficult to score from, while his break and variation of pace kept the batsmen on their best behaviour. Merritt was given a fairly good turn at the crease, and those who knew his qualities as a slow bowler before the trip to England and watched him to-day could not but be impressed by the wonderful improvement. For the most part the batsmen were completely "at sea" to him, and it was not difficult to understand why he was so successful on the English tour. The New Zealand team gave a good display in the field, so good as to give rise to wonder why it was classed as a poor fielding side in England. Jameß gave a display at the wickets quite in keeping with the great reputation he gained on the tour. It was highclasa right through, and though he accounted for only one batsman it was only because the opportunities were not there. The way he got in line with Merritt's deliveries suggested that there must have been a code of signals between them. The Best's batting was perhaps as good as could be expected under the conditions. The bowling was really good and the wicket was a typically difficult one. Of the earlier batsmen Newman was the only one who gave the bowling any trouble, and he made exceedingly "heavy weather" of it. His 65 was a most meritorious score under most difficult conditions. Foley got 35 not out in a manner that suggested that the earlier batsmen had made the bowling look more difficult than It really was. He attacked the bowling from the start, and although on* two balls that he had a hit at early in his innings narrowly missed his wickets he came through safely. He showed much good defence and many ■ice scoring shots.

The last wicket fell with the total at 146.

Details are:— THE BEST. First innings 141 Second Innings. J. Newman, lbw, b Merritt 65 J. Langridge, c Lowry, b Allcott ... 4 H. D. Gillespie, c Merritt, b Lowry 4 D. C. Nixon, b Allcott 1 P. T. Badcock, c Page, b Merritt ... 5 H. B. Massey, b Allcott 6 M. K. Boon, b Bernau 2 H. Foley, not out 35 J. McEwin, st James, b Merritt .... 0 R. J. Read, c Mills, b Merritt 0 W. Cunningham, b Lowry ........ 17 Extras 7 Total 146 Bowling: McGirr took no wickets for 8 runs, Bernau one for 18, Allcott three for 14, Page none for 21, Merritt four for 44, Blunt none for 17, Lowry two for 3, Dempster none for 14. NEW ZEALAND—First Innings. C. S. Dempster, b Read 77 C. J. Oliver, b Badcock 3 J. E. Mills, c Foley, b Newman .... 0 T. C. Lowry, b McEwin 78 R. C. Blunt, run out 48 M. L. Page, b Read 10 C. F. W. Allcott, c and b Massey .. 36 H. M; McGirr, b Newman .... 12 K. C. James, st Boon,-' b Newman .. 23 E. H. L. Bernau, b Newman >....... 16 W. Merritt, not out 1 Extras .J. 26 Total .•> 330 Bowling: Badcock took one wicket for 35 runs, Newman four for 72, McEwin one for 44, Read two for 81, Massey one, for 17, Cunningham none for 42.

OFFER TO OLIVER,

RUGBY LEAGUE PROPOSITION.

j-r- C. Oliver, a member of the New Zea- : cricket team, which toured England, r** received an offer of a position in the foathJif ona °' duba in the League ™ England. He has th« fctothan <2^l- a reputation on M wicket. A "Presented

CONFERENCE DECISIONS.

THE CLUB GAMBS.

The cricket conference in Christchurch last week reached on several matters decisions which alter conditions that have existed hitherto. Plunket Shield matches have been limited to. four days, with an extension of the playing hours, and the policy of one visiting professional player in each Plunket Shield team has been confirmed. It is rather interesting to note that the seconder of the motion relating to permitting one visiting professional was Mr. D. McKenzie. of Wellington, whose association had declared for "all or none" in connection with the playing of professionals in Plunket Shield games. This leaves Otago free to play Eastman, Canterbury may make use of Newman, and Auckland of either Bowley or Langridge. Wellington may play Badcock, who is a resident professional, and, in addition, may call on the services of Taylor (Nelson) or Milson (Taranaki).

The most important of the decisions arrived at arc:—

(1) Plunket Shield matches limited to four days. (2) Play in Plunket Shield games from 11.30 a.m. to 7 p.m., instead of 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (3) Visiting professional players in Shield matches limited to one per team.

(4) Professionals may play in Hawke Cup matches. (5) Test matches to be played alternately at Christchurch and Auckland one season, and Wellington and Otago the next in which such games are played. (6) N.Z. Selection Committee to consist of a representative from each major association, the chairman to have a casting vote. (7) New Zealand to visit Australia every six to eight years, and to tour England at a similar interval (8) Conference to be held every second year. The Playing Time. Of the four matches played the last two Saturdays under excellent conditions, three were under the new summertime schedule prescribed by the Cricket Association, and in the other the players, by mutual consent, agreed to stop play at 6.30 p.m. In this latter game (at King's College) the play was brighter throughout than in aoy of the other three, • and the finale was most exciting. In'the other games play was decidedly slow and uninteresting on the first day, and in the two games at Eden Park interest was practically out of the games after the secor d hour's play on the second day. At North Shore the home team snatched an outright win after the spectators had gone home to tea, and the tail-end batsmen of the opposing side had J changed out of cricket togs. Admittedly, cricket is difficult to schedule satisfactorily, but this first trial under ideal conditions plainly shows that for consistently bright play in which players make real use of every minute, and the interest of spectators is sustained, an earlier closing time is indicated. Further, a great number of the players have stated bluntly that they have personal objections to the present continuation of play till 7.15 p.m.

"Afternoon Tea Now On!" Arrangements have been made by the A.C.A. for afternoon tea to be supplied at the tea-rooms beneath the pavilion to players and spectators at Victoria Park on Saturday afternoons. The ground is used in the l.iain for senior B and second grade matches, and players' tea adjournment on Saturday week, without any provision for refreshment, developed into a "smoko." On Saturday arrangements were made as stated, and they will be continued. EDEN'S FIRST INNINGS VICTORY.

Only for a brief period on Saturday afternoon did there appear to be any likelihood of Eden claiming the full points for victory from University. This was during the early stages of 'Varsity's second innings. They made a sensationally disastrous start, five wickets falling for 15 runis. Had the rot not been stopped, Eden would have had an easy task, but thanks mainly to Gee, Barnes and Bannister, the score was carried to 153. The latter stages were by no means exciting, and it came as no surprise when, the innings closing at ten minutes to seven, stumps were drawn, and no attempt was made to play out time.

The game was in an open condition when play was resumed, 'Varsity having obtained 154 in their first innings, and Eden being 115 on for the loss of six wickets, with Cooper (not out, 61), and G. L. Weir (not out, 6), in partnership. The wicket was in excellent condition, but in view of , the sensational happenings of the first day, when the bowlers had done such deadly work on an equally good pitch, it was not a foregone conclusion that a first innings lead would be obtained. What little doubt remained, however, was speedily dispelled, for Cooper continued to bat steadily, taking his contribution to 86, when he was run out as the result of a smart piece of fielding by Garrard. 'Varsity's total was passed after just over an hour's play, Smith and the younger Weir coming into the picture with contributions of 20 and 44, not out, respectively. The hero of the match was undoubtedly Lindsay Weir. On the first day he took five "Varsity wickets for 34 runs, and on Saturday he claimed five for 38—remarkably good averages, when it is remembered that on both days the wicket was all that a batsman could desire. Weir kept { an impeccable' length, and none of the batsmen were really comfortable with him, though Bannister and Gee succeeded in holding their ends up in plucky fashion at a time when wickets were falling fast. The bowler's first two overs were maidens,"and at one period he had taken three wickets for three runs. As already indicated, Gee, Barnes •Hd Bannister retrieved the position, after such a bad FJSdin lu" by no means discreditable, l a second time, being , hialggg tlie points for a first

SHORE'S GOOD WIN. Features of the North Shore-Grafton game at Devonport were the big total whacked up by the home side on the opening day and the sporting spirit dis-: played by the men of Grafton in their follow-on. In their effort to clear the big hurdle set them Grafton hit the battens—hard. Their first innings closed for 207. In the early stages it looked just possible that the town team might 'get within cooee-ing distance of Shore's total, but the bowlers soon got a strangle hold on the situation. Snedden and Horspool gave the Shore fieldsmen quite a lot of exercise, but the latter, in attempting a big hit at an under pitched delivery, skied the ball to Gerrard, who held it. Sloman, Pope and Hopkins all did their bit but all fell victims to the attack when runs were coming along fairly well. From this point on the Grafton batsmen, with the exception of Dykes, who carried his bat for a most useful 40, were disappointing, four of them scoring only three runs. Being more than 200 runs in the rear, Grafton, with an hour and a-lialf to play, followed on. Vuns, at this stage, were not needed, but the early batsmen were not content to stonewall, Olsen and Wvlie being particularly enterprising, each hitting a six. This was just the play that Shore wanted, and the bowlers got the first five Grafton wickets for under ninety runs. But with only a quarter of an

hour to play the visitors still had four pickets to fall and Shore's chances of a four point win looked a long way off. At this stage, however, the complexion of the game underwent a complete change. The setting sun, shining through the trees, cast long shadows across the pitch, making it very difficult for the batsmen to keep an eye on the ball. Thus handicapped, the tail could do nothing with the bowling, a complete collapse resulting, although the last wicket fell only in the final over of the day. The finish was undoubtedly one of the most exciting seen at the Shore ground for some time.

It was in the last quarter of an hour tha,t Grafton proved themselves a team of sportsmen. According to rules, the visitors could have occupied two minutes between the time of the fall of each wicket and the time the succeeding batsman went to the crease. But not they. When the seventh wicket fell the next man was leaving the pavilion before the outcoming batsman was off the field. And so it was with the fall of the eighth and ninth wickets. Rowntree, the last man, had not expected to bs called upon to bat and was making preparation for a brisk walk to tlie boat. With the fall of the ninth wicket, he went to the crease—minus pads and wearing his street shoes. The second ball upset his stumps and Shore were four points to the good.

In the first innings Snedden played sound and patient cricket for two short of the half century, while Dykes hit up a useful 40. Sloman scored well off anything fast, but was never at home to Saunders. Hopkins reached the twenties in both innings, putting plenty of weight behind his strokes. With a little more experience in senior cricket he is likely to develop into a most useful member of the eleven. Player was the most successful of the Shore bowlers in the first innings, getting three wickets for 52. Johnston was expensive, 107 runs being scored at his expense. Webb has a nice action and will probably be given more overs in coming matches. In the second innings Saunders did most of the damage, getting the wickets, which gave Shore their extra two points. Breaking well, he bowled six men at a cost of 33 runs. Johnston claimed three for 30 odd.

EAST AND WEST. Eaßt and West did meet at Eden Park on Saturday, and the outcome was that Ponsonby gained a win over Parnell on the first innings, the East team finding the task of overhauling their opponents' lead of 223 runs too difficult, although at one part of the journey a good fighting stand was made, and the situation, as long as it lasted, was full of possibilities. In a bad light on the opening day, Parnell lost two wickets for 32. Another two wickets went cheaply on Saturday, and the fight from thence on was decidedly of an uphill nature. Irving batted brightly at a critical stage, and showed a glimpse of the fine form that he disclosed a few seasons back. The most prolific partnership was between Anthony and Kissling. Right from the opening ball, which lie glided to the fine leg line, the veteran was at home, and he went on to play free, forcing cricket, with a nice range of shots. Kissling was the foil, holding one end with defensive play, but occasionally getting in a hard ground shot in front of the wicket. With Snedden and Langridge away, the Ponsonby attack

I was comparatively weak, and it meant that Smith was called upon to make a; special effort. The veteran left-hander set out deliberately to angle with a net of fieldsmen set qA the Off, and bowling a ball that was turning away wide of the off stump, a special "delivery which has yielded Smith hundreds of wickets in his time. In spite of the dangers, Anthony kept going for runs, and occasionally managed to pull the ball round high on the on side, a safe stroke with no fieldsman there- In the end Anthrny wai trapped, as Smith intended he shoiold be. He lifted a ball out. to deep, extra-cover, where McLeod made a brilliant catch. Aitken, who followed, fell to precisely the same ball, once more the result of superb work in the air by

McLeod. After Kissling had been beaten by a good length ball from Newdick the end soon came.

With two men short, Pqpsonby's second innings realised 138. With the exception of Commons, the batting was not impressive. The latter gave a brief but vivid splash of colojur to the play, his score of 42 being the result of spectacular hitting. . One over from Anthony yielded 28 runs, five shots reaching the boundary, and one sailing high over the line. He fell to a great catch "out in the deep" by Turbott. Parnell were faced with the impossible task of getting just over 200 runs to win, and just over an hour to do it in, and as the hopelessness of it was realised, stumps were drawn 25 minutes before scheduled time. JtfcCoy played a colourful innings, and once more Kissling revealed good batting form. The latter's batting was quite a feature of the game. The young left-hander has a neat stance, a watchful defence, and! a sweet carpet drive through the covers, which he alternates with a crisp stroke through the slips. ,

Y.M. RISES TO OCCASION.

United Suburbs made a splendid attempt to take full points from Y.M.C.A., but the latter made equally praiseworthy efforts to thwart them, and did 60. The finish was one of the most sensational ever provided in the senior league, and thrilled players and spectators.

As a result of their good second innings, Y.M. left the United the task of getting 57 in something like 45 minutes. Against very ordinary bowling, this, on the good wicket provided, would have dismayed few senior elevens, but Bowley was a factor in attack that few teams set to get runs even at a normal rate could ignore.

The United made a good start. Hendy and Davis batted crisply and scored at a rate far above that required to get the necessary runs, but after the dismissal of -the former, scoring was not so free, and when Davis departed both teams and spectators began to take very keen interest in the result. When the third wicket fell at 56, with ten minutes to time, and one run still needed, the struggle became really intense. Still it seemed great odds on the Suburbs.

Then the real fun started. Bowley joined Riddolls, and the bowlers set themselves the seemingly almost impossible task of preventing that one run.

Almost immediately Wetherill lost his wicket caught by Paton. The traps werfe acting. Never did Bowley show to greater advantage. Instantly he threw practically every fieldsman to the off, with four in the slips, and like a wizard worked the off-theory game, so seldom seen in these days of slowish bowling. He increased his pace and it acted. Williams could not resist touching out to one—one had to be scored from and time was passing—and instantly Riddolls made a brilliant catch at second slip. United had got warning. Seeing the need for prompt action to mitigate loss of time in changing the batsmen, three of their remaining batsmen had lined up on the boundary, and immediately a wicket fell another jumped in. But all their enterprise was unavailing. Bowley sent down a similar cdaxer, Somers. touched, Kiddolls made another spectacular catch, and the game closed. Time, Bowley and Co. had beat them.

Unquestionably Bowley was the man responsible for Y.M.O.A. making bo fine a fight. He forced the bowling from going in, and in consequence gave two hard chances, but he got what was wanted —runs... His later exploit has been told. Two wickets for 21 is merely good, but it was the manner of his getting them that told. Both teams fielded in general well, but Y.M. reached greatness on Saturday in the closing stages. It only served to show what could be done. The fieldsmen were on their- toes and moving as the ball left the bowler's hands, and the taking of the shots were simply magnificent. Kerr, a medium to fast pace bowler, a colt, acquired some measure of fame by bowling Bowley and obtaining four wickets for 48, but while paying tribute to his success, one must await his further performances before classifying him as a real find.

SUBURBAN ASSOCIATION. WALKER SHIELD TOURNEY. At the weekly meeting last night of the Suburban Cricket Association executive, Mr. J. F. W. Dickson presiding, the secretary (Mr. E. Stallwortliy) reported that arrangements had been made with the Hockey Association for the use of wickets on the Remuera ground. The Wellington Suburban Association advised that it was holding a tourney for the Walker Shield from December 26 to December 31, and arrangements were being made to billet fifteen players from each province. An Auckland team was invited.

The meeting decided to invite the Waipa Association to play a match in Auckland at Christmas, and the junior board was advised with a view to having a junior representative eleven selected for the match.

Mr. A. H. Brown (one of the Association's umpires) was appointed sole selector of the senior Tep. team. Considerable discussion on the closing time of matches was evoked by abatement by the chairman that 7.15 p.m. was much too late. After the matter had been talked over, in conjunction with the view of giving on-day matches a fair trial, it was decided that all games in future be closed at 7 p.m. The fixtures for Saturday are:— Senior A Grade.—Harbour Board v. Ellerslie, Domain No. 2; umpires, Messrs. Malloy and E. H. Brown. Ponsonby v. Harbour Board B. Domain No. 1; Messrs. Johnson and Pool. Green Lane y. Glen Eden, Domain No. 3; Messrs. Price and Lutner.

Senior B Grade. —L. D. Nathan v. Ellerslie, Domain No. 15; Messrs. Stevenson and Von Der Hyde. Victoria v. Ponsonby, Domain No. 11; Messrs. Butler and Dawson. Tramways v. Harbour Board, Domain No. 7; Messrs. O'Grady and Tabener.

Second Grade. A Section.—Otahuhu t. Green Lane, at Otahuhu; Victoria . ▼. Invicta, at Victoria Park ; Power Board v. Ednedale, at Victoria Park. Second Grade.,-B Section.—Tramways r. City Council, at Victoria Park;. Takanlni v. New Lynn, at Victoria Park; Tanraki v. Manurewa, at Manurewa; Public Works Department, a bye. Third Grade, A Section.—Waratah t Auckland Meat Co., at Victoria Park: Hallway v. Chelsea, at Victoria Park; P. J. Fawcett, Ltd., v. Gas Garage, «t Domain. No. 6; Green Lana v. Parnell A at Remuera; Epsom Baptist t. EUerslle. at Remuera. Third Grade, B Section.—Victoria ▼ Power Board B, at Bemnera; Public Works Department v. Otahuhu, at Otahuhu • Takanlni v. Power Board A, at TakanlniTamaki v. Richmond Rovers, at St. Heller's Bay. Third Grade, C Section.—Harden v Amburys, at Remnera; Parnell B ▼. Glen Eden, at Glen Eden; L. D. Nathan t. Edendale, at Domain; Carlton v. Auckland City Council, at Grey Lynn Park ; Manurewa t Avondale, at Remuera. Fourth Grade.—Postponed. Fifth Grade.—W.Y.M.l. ▼. Bayfielt' at Outer Domain No. 3; Carlton ▼. Com rades, at Outer Domain N^i

CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOLS. MATCHES FOR SATURDAY. Tlie draw for next Saturday la as follows:— Senior Grade.—Grey Lynn A v. St. ■ Patrick's, Victoria Park No. 1; Sacred , Heart A v. St. Benedict's, luner Domain No. 1; East Suburbs t. Takapuna. at Takapuna; Paroell v. Good. Shepherd, Inner Domain No. 2; Onebunga v. Sacred Heart , B, Inner Domain No. 3 ; South Suburb* y. , Grey Lynn B, Victoria Park Xo. 2. Junior Grade A.—Rerouera v. Grey Lynn A, Victoria Park No. 3 ; Sacred Heart A v. St. Benedict's A, Inner Domain No. 4; St. Benedict's Convent v. St. Patrick's, Outer Domain No. 1; Onehunga v. Good Shepherd, Outer Domain No. 2; South Buburbs v. Grey Lynn B, Victoria Park No. 4; Paroell v. Sacred Heart B, Outer Domain No. 3.

Junior Grade B.—St. Benedict's C r. Grey Lyon C, Outer Domain No. 4: Grey Lynn D v. Sacred Heart D, Outer Domain No. 5: Sacred-Heart C v. St. Patrick's Convent, Victoria Park No. 5. TEN WICKETS FOR FIVE. HAURAKI PLAINS FEAT. In the third round of the Hauraki Plains Cricket Association's inter-club competition on Saturday, Turua. ISI (Macklow 77), secured a two point victory over Pinlroa, 53 (O'Neii 33). In the match between Kopuarahl, which made 64, and Kaihere, 53. R. Connors took the 10 Kaihere wickets at a eost of five runs.

At Orongo, Ngatea scored a three-point win against Oronga. Young (Ngatea) secured 12 Orongo wickets for 15 runs.

THAMES CHAMPIONSHIP.

In the Thames cricket championship matches played on the High School grounds on Saturday afternoon. Tararu continued its run of victory by securing a four-point win over Ramblers, by an innings and 41 runs. City defeated Karaka by 21 funs on the first Innings, a three-point win. Several good performances were made with bat and ball. In the City-Karaka match, R. Buchan's dismissal of Wells by a great running one-hand catch on the boundary was meritorious. The best individual performances were :—Batting: Hamerton (Tararu). 40, not out; Wells (Citv), 45; Cleave (Tararu), 33; Gibson (City), 31: Shepherd (Tararu), 30; G. Satchell (Ramblers), 30. Bowling: Brokenshlre (Karaka), eight wickets for 12 runs; Cleave (Tararu), six for 5; Morgan (Tararu). four for 12: Gibson (City), for 1.1; K. Dare (Tararu), four for 15; Gorbey (City), four for WALTERS CUP. The cricket competition for the Walters Cup was continued on Saturday, Te Aroha A, 175 runs (Lavpr 61. Bovd 42) defeated Te Aroha B. 50 (Turner 18. Harrison 12. not ont). by 125 runs on the first innings. Mcßeth, three wickets for 3 runs, and Harrison two for 4, were the best bowlers. WAIPA COMPETITIONS. In the Waipa Cricket Association's competitions Paterangi defeated Kar&konui by 71 runs and Te Awamutu defeated Puahue by 184 runs. High school decisively outplayed Te Kawa. Te Kawa was dismissed for 52, and High School compiled. 172 for the loss of one wicket (J. Philp, retired. 70). Te Kawa had lost five wickets for . 75 In-the second Innings when time was called. TAURANGA V. TE PUKE.

A cricket match between tl>e Tauranga and Te Puke Clubs was won by Tauranga by 243 runs to 179. The highest Rcore was made by Mason, who registered 45 runs in the first innings and 70. not out. in the second, for Tauranga. Walker, 46, made the top score for To Puke. DARGAVILLE CLUB MATCHES. In the cup cricket matches continued on Saturday at Pargavllle, DargaviUe, the leading team in the competition, defeated Pnkehuia A in the first innings In a low scoring match, nargaville made 51 (Morris 13, Purdie 6). Sower took four wickets for 20 runs. Dodds two for 13. Watts two for 6 Pnkehuia A made 35. Sundberg took live wickets for 22. Rush four for 4. Danks one for 8. Dnrgaville in the second Innings, made 104. Watts took four wickets for 18 runs. Sowtcr three for 17, Priestly one for 2.

Southern played Pnkehuia B at Pnkehuia and was badly beaten in the first innings, scoring only 29 in the first innings and losing four wickets for 98 In the second. Bowling for Pukehuia in the first innings Sowter took eight wickets for 12 runs Pukehuia made 85 (Carter not out 34). Game took four wickets for 15, Searle three for 12. In Southern's second innings Doyle made 44 not out. and Corkill 33 not out. Windlebohn took three wickets for 23 runs.