STILL IN LEAD

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 301, 20 December 1943, Page 5

STILL IN LEAD

MANUKAU LOSES TO R.V,

LONGVILLE'S FIXE INNINGS

In inflicting upon the leader. Manukau, its first defeat of the season, R.V. is. now only five points behind last year's winner of the City and Suburban championship. This was not the' only surprise in the day's play at the Domain. The two Service teams, which had hitherto showed indifferent form, defeated with ease teams higher up in the championship table. Air Force scored a meritorious win over the solid Railway combination, while H.T.P. had little difficulty in defeating i the somewhat erratic DihvOEth side. Brixton, thanks to a magnificent unbeaten century by R. Longville, won the remaining match from Green Lane. F. Wood, now of M.T.P., also compiled a three-figure score of 104. By a coincidence these two opening batsmen, Wood and Longville, each registered a century earlier in the year on the same clay. I Indeed on that occasion they had both opened the Brixton innings. J. Ellis, one of the stock M.T.P. bowlers, did the hat trick against Dilworth. R.V.'a Fine Total The feature of the matches was the defeat of Manukau by R.V.. the latter side leading off with the splendid score of 222 runs for the loss of seven wickets. H. Simpson Snd N. Goldsworthy gave R. . a good start, the former playing well and rrettiiT* 86 while the latter quickly compiled 44. S. Danson played a fine innings of 44 and C. Wildman contributed 29. The task was too heavy for Manukau which at the end of the day had 176 runs on for the loss of six wickets, Rollins (jetting 39 not out. There was little interest in the match towards the end, and there was no likelihood of Manukau W AUhmigh defeated, Manukau still has a six-points lead in the championship. I/ongville's Century ■ Brilliant forcing batting by R. Longville who scored 137 .not out, carried Rrixton to victory against Gieen Lane. The latter led off with 107 for six wickets and then Longville opened the Bi ixton iniiincs with Axon as his partner. Long- " C ] Ker? f thl Auckland, representative v.ftwlpri a slow leg-break skilfully ,foi ment n bowlers. S hls fiv® Wickets for 81 runs was a meritorious effort. g G y Ul^ for 222 declared, b^iS«3g I fl| ;1 beat Green L Ai ? r Force! five wickets for 200, beat R wickets for 176 declared, b0 Mmntk|U 44, R.V. |§; Dilworth 0.8. 19, Air Force