INTERESTING PLAY AT DEVONPORT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 252, 24 October 1932, Page 11

INTERESTING PLAY AT DEVONPORT.

The season had an excellent opening at Devonport, where North Shore entertained Grafton. Flags and bunting fluttered in the breeze, the Domain ground looked a perfect picture after the work of levelling, which has been done during the winter months, and a record crowd assembled to see the cricket, and also to give a hearty welcome home to C. C. Dacre, ■who recently returned from England and turned out for his old club after an absence of five years. It was all very pleasant indeed and the enthusiasm and keenness shown by both teams was a good augury for the play that lies ahead. Moreover, the cricket was always interesting, and at times touched a high standard. One of the "high spots" was a first-class ball from Kerr that upset Dacre's wicket when he had scored only two runs. Another was the splendid hitting of Nicholas, who did much to retrieve Shore's bad start; and still another, late in the day, was the mighty onslaught which Bycriey, Grafton's young Jessop, made on the Shore attack in a fading and extremely variable light. Partnered by Cowie, another bold hitter, Byerley made 33 of the best in less than 20 minutes, and both he and Cowie were undefeated when the inevitable appeal against the light was sustained and stumps were drawn. . Dacre's failure was, of course, a disappointment' to the home crowd, but they had plentv' of recompense in the play of Bush, Nettieton and Nicholas. Nettieton is another welcome returner to the Devonport fold after several years' absence on business duties in Malaya. He took a long time to play himself in, but all the time he revealed attractive and stylish batsmanship, and his assistance should prove extremely useful to his club in the matches which are yet to be played. A big partnership between Nettieton and Dacre would indeed be worth .watching, i»nd may soon materialise.