OLD-TIME CRICKETER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 15, 18 January 1941, Page 5 (Supplement)

OLD-TIME CRICKETER.

Dies At Auckland. One of Xew Zealand's outstanding cricketer* of the 'eighties and 'nineties, Mr. Henry Wallace Lawson, passed away this week at No. 3, Sunnyside Crescent, Mount Eden, aged 75. A right-arm medium pace bowler with an easy high delivery and immaculate length, he took 10 wickets for 30 on his debut for Wellington against Nelson in 18S3. A season later he had the fine double of five for 68 and six for 70 when Auckland had Wellington fighting hard in a drawn game at Basin Reserve. Wellington, with five wickets in hand, still required exactly 100 to win when stumps were drawn. The not out men were Lawson

(3) and Sam Alpe (20), father of Fred and Frank Alpe, now well-known iu business circles in Auckland. Lawson subsequently came to live in Auckland, and played for this province until 1807. He was in the touring XI at New Year 1894, when L. A. Cuff (176) and J. D. Lawrence (123, not out) were associated in a first wicket stand of 306, and it is still a record for that wicket partnership in this country. Lawson on that occasion took three for 79 off 25 overs, his victims being Cuff, A. Harman and A. M. Labatt. Declaring at 400 for five, Canterbury won by aa innings and 156 runs. Four overseas teams had Lawson as an opponent —Australia, 1886 (Sam Jones, now living in Auckland, hit 159 as opening batsman against Wellington) ; England, 1888; New South Wales and Australia, both 1896. Many of the visitors are still ranked amongst the famous cricketers of all time.