SPIRITED FINALE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 69, 23 March 1931, Page 14

SPIRITED FINALE.

Grafton made a fine sporting effort :o pull the championship out of the fire, and their performance was highly creditable throughout, but especially in their final spurt to again dispose f Ponsonby and force" a four-pointer to enable them to tie with Eden. They adopted the only practical course in thcs circumstances. However, they were 'net by a stolid defence when the way seemed clear for success. Replying to Ponsonby's first strike, which had produced 170 runs, Grafton resumed with one wicket down for 93, the not out men, Horspool (48) —'1 (24), opening up in promising style, to take the total to 114, when Horspool was snapped behind by Hoare off Cleverley, who was right on his best form. The veteran batsman, whose run getting record in club cricket this season approaches 700, again proved that he is ono of the most consistent cricketers in the Dominion. Cowie, who created an impression earlier at Shore by his forceful batting, partnered Alleott, who took a liberty with a well-judged full-pitcher from Cleverley and lost his leg stump. It was left to Cowie and Sale to infuse renewed vigour into the play and they.

collared the bowling like champions for a merry period, boundaries and sixes being piled on to the delight of spectators. Cowie at 75 was stumped by Hoare, who had dismissed Allen by tbe same route, and Sale made a redoubtable stand for 59, Snedden clean bowling him. He and Cowie, after Horspool's lead, were the backbone of the attack. The end came rather sharply, with the total at 277.

Aiming to dispose of Ponsonby in a.i hour and a half for less than 107—the difference in the first innings tallies — Grafton met with early success, and Cleverley, Clark and Taylor soon trooped pavilionwards with a total of only 18 runs to their names. At this juncture Snedden and Fletcher saved the rot, scoring respectively 36 and 27 before being defeated. They left little for the remaining batsmen to do, Smith beir.g chiefly responsible for holding np the tail. Lendrum's wicket —the eighth — fell just on time, and Grafton, who rung on a judicious variety of bowling, with alert fielding, had to be satisfied with second honours in the 1931 premiersh'.r.

GKAPTON. —First Innings. Horspool, c Hoare, b Cleverley 58 Slieen. b Snedden 11 Allcott, b Cleverley 42 Cowie, st Hoare, b Snedden 75 Allen, st Hoare. b Finlayson 1 McCormick, b Cleverley 2 Sale, b Snedden 59 Martin, e sub., b Smith 4 Byerlpy, b Smith 0 Rowntree, e Hoare, b Snedden 6 Wils>n, not out 3 Extras 1° Total 277 Bowling: Cleverley took three wickets for 40 runs. Smith two for 30, Snedden four for 72, Finlayson one for 110. PONSONBY. First innings 170 PONSONBY. —Second Innings. Cleverlev, b Cowie 3 Clark, b Allcott 4 Taylor, b Allcott ♦> Fletcher, b Wilson -« Snedden, st Cowie, b Horspool 31 Smith, not out I|> Finlayson. c sub., b Martin o Hoar'', c Cowie, b Martin !'■> Lendrum, b Martin 1 Extras jj Total for eight wickets 1 18 Bowling: Allcott took two wickets for 44 runs. Wilson one for 22, Martin three for 31, Horspool one for none; Cowie one 12.