CRICKET JUBILEE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 4, 5 January 1934, Page 11

CRICKET JUBILEE.

PLUNKET SHIELD.

AUCKLAND V. CANTERBURY.

the game and some history

To-morrow's Plunket Shield match between Canterbury and Auckland, commencing at Eden Park at 11 o'clock, has an important bearing upon the destiny of the 1933-34 cricket championship of New Zealand. For although Auckland has 16 points and Canterbury none, outright victory for the Southerners will postpone the fate of the shield until after the Welling ton and Otago game at Dunedin in the third week of February. In that event the issue would be decidcd on averages if either Otago or Wellington had a straightout victory. According to the present rules even a loss on the first innings counts two points for the defeated side (besides four for the leading team); so that as long as Canterbury do not take full points here Auckland must regain the trophy which it last held in the 1929 season. There is very little in the averages at present, as all four games played have cost the contestants the maximum of twenty wickets per engagement, with these aggregates:—Auckland, 1170 runs; Canterbury, 1160 runs; Wellington, 1118; Otago, 1076. The points are: — Auckland 16, Wellington 8, Otago 8, Canterbury 0. Given fine weather tlie match should be one of the most interesting played here for years, especially as Auckland has two objects in view: (1) A clean-cut Plunket Shield victory; and (2) the avenging of its defeat by the Cantabs on their last appearance here. The teams are:— Auckland: Canterbury: A. J. Postles (capt.) M. L. Page (capt.). .T. E. Mills .T. L. Kerr P. E. Whitelaw G. 11. Stringer H. G. Vivian I. B. Cromb G. L. Weir W. A. Hadlee W. M. Wallace F. W. Bellamy R. H. Cleave S. G. Lester K. G. Bush 11. X>. Smith D. R. Garrard L. E. Riley A. M. Matheson R. W. Hope D. B. Edmonds Rl C. Burns H. T. Pearson F. P. O'Brien Umpires: Messrs. D. L. Ryan and D. Thomson. Pre-War Champions. As this is the Auckland Cricket Association's jubilee year—it was formed in 1883-4, and only Canterbury played that season—it is proposed to relate some history, with special reference to engagements with the' Cantabs. Canterbury was awarded the shield .as champion team of New Zealand in 1906-07, but Auckland won it in an historic game in the very first challenge next season (A. E. Relf and L. G. Hemus scoring centuries). Despite determined onslaughts Auckland held the trophy until 1910-11, when Canterbury actually got 280 to win for the loss of only four wickets (Harold Lusk 151' not out).

The Aucklanders took it back at Lancaster Park in February, 1912, in the most sensational game of New Zealand's cricket history. Canterbury opened with 86 (Oliff sis for 37), to which Auckland replied with 220 (Negsie Snedden 76—rated as the best_ "deceptive" wicket innings ever played in this country). Canterbury was dismissed again for 192 (Oliff five for 67), leaving Auckland only 59 to make. But it cost eight wickets in the failing light (some harsh critics said it was dark!) to score the victory (Joe Bennett four for 35, and the late R. G. Hickmott three for 23). Back came Canterbury the very next season, and Harold Lusk, with another great final innings (82), enabled Canter-, buryonce more to move the shield south, by eight wickets. There it stayed until after the war. Meantime, the rules had been altered to permit of games on the challenger's ground. Apparently the first such fixture was the jubilee engagement with Otago at Carisbrook on February 14, 1914, Canterbury winning by an innings and 132 runs—Joe Bennett doing some great bowling. Hostilities Resumed. Apres la guerre the ' shield holders were:— 1918-19: Wellington; beaten by Canterbury three weeks later at Basin Reserve (scoring 303 for four wickets), so back to Christchurch went the championship. 1919-20: Auckland. The Cantabs. travelled with the shield and at New Year, 1920, Auckland knocked up the record P.S. score of 643 (S. G. Smith 256, Hemus 140, E. Horepool 92, A. H. Anthony, the ex-Canterburian, 63). Canterbury made 255 (R. C. Blunt 72) and 228 (Blunt 56). A- S. Player, five for 45, was the best bowler of any innings. So the title was left in the North, by an innings and 160 runs. 1925-21: Wellington. Auckland took the shield on tour next season and at New Year, 1921, again annihilated Canterbury, this time by 352 runs. Auckland 291 (N. C. Snedden 91) and 361 (Anthony 113, Cyril Snedden 87). Canterbury 178 (S. G. Smith five for 100; and 92 (Nessie Snedden five for 13). But on the homeward journey Wellington beat the hereditary enemy by 105 runs and came into possession of the championship for the second time. Wellington 333 (J. S. Hiddleston 144; Player six for 139) and 276 (H. E. Burton 66—he won the shield against Canterbury in 1918-19 and afterwards played for Auckland—Smith six for 70). Auckland 168 (Harold Lusk "back home" 45, Anthony 44) and 336 (Horspool 90, Smith 62, N. C. Snedden 60, Lusk 31). Stan Brice, now a New Zealand selector, did the damage—six for 64 and seven for 112. Challenge System Abolished. 1921-22: Auckland. Then the present system was instituted, every province to meet the other. Auckland beat Canterbury here by eight- wickets. Canterbury 248 (A. Grant 66 not out, Blunt 57; Smith six for 67) and 198 (Grant again 64 not out; D. R. Garrard eight for 58). Auckland 352 (N. C. Snedden, run out, 99, Garrard 60 not out; Dan Mcßeth eight for 96) and 95 (Snedden 47 not out). 1922-23: Canterbury. The southerners beat Auckland at Christchurch by 66 runs. Canterbury 358 (D. McK. Sandman 82) and 181 (M. L. Page 65; Anthony four for 61). Auckland 204 and 269 (H. E. Burton, run out, 65). 1923-24: Wellington. Auckland beat Canterbury here by ten wickets. Canterbury 110 (Cyril Allcott six for 38) and 242 (Blunt 104; Allcott five for 79). Auckland 258 (S. G. Smith 76, N. C. Snedden 68) and 97 for no wickets (R. E. Frater 43, Anthony 35). 1924-25: Otago, for .first time. Canterbury overwhelmed Auckland at Christchurch by 342 runs. Canterbury 214 (Smith six for 48) and 289 (W. R. Patrick 129; Smith five for 105). Auckland 88 (Smith 30; Roy Read six for 38) and 73 (Frater 30; W. Cunningham six for 33). Two Double Centurians. 1925-26: Wellington (won on averages from Auckland, after beating Auckland by the record margin of 512 runs—B. J. Kortlang 214, Hiddleston 204). Auckland conquered Canterbury at Eden Park by 32 runs. Auckland 416 (P. Gerrard 75, Ivan Cooper 70, Player 58) and 287 (Frater 88, Anthony 56, Smith 51; Sandman seven for 99). Canterbury 423 (F. Woods 124 not out, A. Cox 87; Smith five for 59) and 248 (Woods 76). 1926-27: Auckland. Canterbury was beaten at Lancaster Park by five wickets. Canterbury 128 (Player six for 38) and 257 (Page 78, M. Boon 72). Auckland 220 (J. E. Mills 55, Cooper 51) and 167 for five wickets (Frater 51 not out, H. D. Gillespie 54 not out). 1927-28: Wellington. Canterbury beat Auckland at Eden Park by eleven runs. Canterbury 244 (Gregory 67) and 251 (Page 76). Auckland 198 (Mills 64; W. E., Mcrritt five for-69, Read four for 5/) and 286 (Cooper 80, C. C. Caere 76; Read five for 77).

Auckland's Last Victory. I 1928-29: Auckland (won from Wellington on averages). Auckland beat Canterbury at Lancaster Park by ten wickets. Can- i terbury 153 (Page 44; J. A. Duniling five for 44) and 254 (Merritt 84, Page 76; I G. L. Weir four for 73). Auckland 330 (Gillespie 75, Allcott 69) and 78 for no wickets. 1929-30: Wellington. Auckland beat Canterbury at Eden Park by 91 runs on the first innings. Canterbury 394 (Page 78, A. W. Roberts 76, J. L. Kerr 61, P. Allen 59) and 152 for two wickets (Kerr 69). Auckland 485 for five wickets declared (Gillespie 183, G. L. Weir 105, Anthony 116). 1930-31: Canterbury. Auckland was defeated at Lancaster Park by four wickets. Auckland 164 (S. G. Lester four for 21) and 537 (Weir 134, A. M. Matheson 94 not out, H. G. Vivian 81, Mills 66, Allcott 65). Canterbury 229 (J. Jacobs 52) and 473 for six wickets (A. M. Hamilton 80, R. O. Talbot 74, Kerr 73, Roberts 64, Page 58, Jacobs 46 not out). 1931-32: Wellington. Canterbury beat Auckland at Eden Park by eight wickets. Auckland 56 (Frater 17; J. T. Burrows four for 24, Merritt three for 6, Croxnb two for 24) and 256 (Frater 74, Weir 51, Matheson 50 not out; Merritt eight for 105). Canterbury 218 (Roberts 78;' H. G. Vivian five for 59) and 98 for two wickets (Kerr 47; A. W. McCoy two for 38). 1932-33: Otago. Canterbury beat Auckland at Lancaster Park on the first innings. Canterbury 316 (Page 78, F. W. Bellamy 60, Talbot 55; H. G. Vivian five for 100) and 255 (Talbot 117; Bush four for 54). Auckland 305 (Vivian 65, Mills 50; Cromb four for 90) and 168 for four wickets (P. E. Whitelaw 47, A. J. Postles 47, Mills 41).

SUBURBAN GAMES.

CLUB MATCHES TO-MORROW. Club match competitions will be resumed to-morrow by the Auckland City and Suburban Association, when the senior matches at the Domain will be the start of the fifth series. On No. 1 wicket R.V. will meet Green Lane, the match Harbour Board v. Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys will be p laved on No. 2 area, and the Pon-sonby-Mount Roskill match on Imo. 3. Teams: — MOUNT ROSKILL. Seniors. —Anderson, Bleakley. Burton, Gough, Ileazlewood. Longville, Lund, Matthews, Martin, Power, Yates, VVood. Second Grade. —Armstrong. Barrett. Ea«les (2). McSki mining, Mosley. Phipps, Robison, Stephens, Stewart, Whltcombe, Wilson. TELEGRAPH. Senior B. —Rykers, Stoupe, Davis. Sparnon, R. Larsen, H. Larsen, Duneen, Robertson, Keesing, Minogue, Allen. Reserves: Lee, Hooton. MT. ALBERT GRAMMAR OLD BOXS. Seniors.—Aickin. Butler, I. CaoUay K. Cantlay, Hebden, Hook. Howell, Uoolloxall, WHdman, Vnllance, Mills. Senior B.—Faweett, Bellamy, Gardner, P. Smith, K. Burgess, G. Burgess, Miller, King, Kennedy, Atkins. HARBOUR BOARD. Seniors. —Breesc, Mann, L. Martin, Dunning, Cheeseman, W Illiams, Bendy, Wctherlll. Bell, Moyle. Senior B. —Hayes, Candy. Turbott, Wright, Lush, Bakalich, Learning, Wilson Bcecli, Calder, Illckey. Meet Grafton Bridge 1 p.m. sharp. GREEN LANE. Seniors. —R. Lonergan, A. Kerr, Gillespie, A. Lonergan, Watts, A. Tomlinsou, Gcdye, Morman, Williams, Elliott, Menzles. Senior B.—L. Robinson, Kilgour, Hayson, Chapman, McGehie, Sowter, R. Robinson, Walters, Baxter, McAlpine, Hart. R.V. Seniors.—A. Cloke, N. Goldsworthy, Burton S. Guiniven, Metge, W. Peebles, D. Peebles, Finlayson, Hunt, Mills, Bainbury. Senior B.—R. Simpson, P. Simpson, Nelson, Culluin, Marshall. Rabbidge, Smith, Bowe, Riminer, Burford, McKeown. Second Grade (at Walker Park).—Bowater. Simpson, Guiniven, Daniel, Miller, Mitchell, Woolford, Corin, Trembath, McDowell, Morgan.

OTAHUHU ASSOCIATION.

The first round of the senior grade competition will be brought to a conclusion on Saturday next. At the present time Challenge has a four-point lead over the next team, Kempthorne's United, but as the former team has a bye on Saturday it Is quite possible that the lead will be taken by Kempthorne's. The following are the games to be played on Saturday and the grounds allocated for same: — Sturgess I'ark No. 1, Passenger Transport v. Hellaby's; Abattoirs No. 1, Railway v Kempthorne's United; Abattoirs No. 2, St. Joseph's v. Returned Soldiers; Challenge, Abattoirs v. Borough; Challenge a bye. Junior Grade.—Owing to a number of Railway players not returning from t:aelr Iwlidavs until next Sunday, the association decided to postpone the meeting of Railway A v. Railway B until a later date. On Sturgess Park No. 2 Trinity United will try conclusions with Challenge. The postings of umpires to the different games will be made ou Friday evening. Players are reminded that all games are timed to commence at 2 p.m. ASTONISHING RECEIPTS. M.C.C. TEAM IN AUSTRALIA. LONDON, January 4. The "Daily Mail" discloses the fact that the Marylebone Cricket Club's balance-sheet, to be published in April, will show an astonishing total of receipts on the Australian tour. The gross amount taken was £100,682, representing a total attendance of 1,300,000. The Marylebone Club received £36,737, which was £7000 less than the 1928-29 total. This decline was partly due to the depression and partly to the shorter time of the matches. The Tests yielded £69,969, of which the Marylebone Club's share was £25,519. The English counties received about £300 each.