PLUNKET SHIELD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 10, 12 January 1934, Page 8

PLUNKET SHIELD.

Canterbury's Tactics—Criticism Resented. (By Telegraph.—Special to " Star.") CHRISTCHURCH, this day. Players and officials of the Canterbury cricket team who returned this morning are sorely puzzled. They arrived back after "one of the happiest Plunket Shield games I have played in," as one player put it, and find that allegations have been made against them, not only of poor cricket, but of bad sportsmanship. Statements published in the "Chrifitchureh Star" alleged deadly dullness in Canterbury's first innings, bad tactics on the part of the captain, Page, in hm refusal to go on with the game at .5.10 p.m. on the last day—in response to an appeal made to Page by the chairman of the Auckland Cricket Association to go into the field and pacify the spectators. M. L. Page this morning refused to say anything on the subject, but Mr. E. E. Luttrell, manager of the team, had no hesitation in giving an absolute denial 1 to all allegations made by the Auckland writer, and expressed surprise and resentment at the* bitterness of the criticism .to which the Canterbury, tgani has been ''-•subjected. J "This writer is wrong from start to finish," said ■Mγ. Luttrell. "We had a'happy time and a most enjoyable game. The officials and members .of the Auckland team were most hospitable, and the only criticism of Canterbury's conduct in the game came, it appears, from this one writer. The-impression created that there was any unpleasantness or lack of sportsmanship in the Auckland game is entirely false."