With The Gloves.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 307, 28 December 1935, Page 1 (Supplement)

With The Gloves.

Riverhead Wicket-keeper .Impresses the Critics. ; The man who kept wickets'-forfßiver-head in the match against Xorth Auckland in the country tournament at Mixien Park to-dav was faultless in Ms work, and his artistry eoon attracted the attention of the critics, for the 'keeping in Auckland this season has been, only of a fair average. Who was the new 'keeper who was taking them so, cleanly on the leg side and flicking them ibacK to the bowler on the full—not along the ground as was so often the casein the Auckland-Otago Plunket Shield match? When the 'keeper took his hat off to mop his brow he disclosed his ■ identity. It was R. W. Rowntree, now in v cricket retirement, and in his day - the. ■' most capable man with the gloves, that, New Zealand has known. Rowntree's 'keeping attracted most of the attention on the ground. He did let an extra or two go, but the Riverhead attack was not always directed at the wicket. ... '.'

Rowntree can plead only a slender connection with Riverhead cricketl' The team was short of a man to-day,.and'he stepped into the breach, arid,.of, course, they offered him the gloves./ Recently "Dick" Rowntree went to see an oculist, and the veteran was-told ; that his eyesight was just as keen as-that of a man in his early twenties. _, _