AMONGST THE JUNIORS.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9604, 19 December 1896, Page 3

AMONGST THE JUNIORS.

[Bt Light Blue.] The various matches commenced on December sth were continued on Saturday, when the weather was fine and the various grounds were in fair order. Junior Cof Matches. In the match Midland and Lancaster Park, the Park, with five wickets for 23, continued their innings, and made 128. J. Jackman made 44 by steady play, and H. Bromley hit hard for 33; D. Hawkins 14 not out. Manson and R. Smith bowled well for the Midland. The Midland in their second innings made 147 for seven wickets (S. Forsyth 43, W. G. Garrard 38, and C. H. Manson 31 not out). In the Park's innings Jackman showed his nsnal solid defence, and had it not been for his careful batting the Lancastrians would probably have had to follow on. Bromley got most of his runs by on-drives and, although he did not play very attractive cricket, his innings was a very useful one. Manson, who had been so successful with the ball on the first day, was comparatively a failure on Saturday, but he had hard luck, as he frequently beat the batsmen and the ball went over the wicket. The Midland fielding was fair. When the Midland went in for a second time Forsyth showed good defence and Garrard and Manson hit freely. The fielding of the Park was moderate, and Mason withe pick of their trundlers. Xhe abovefamewas continued ep MojmUj,

when the Midlanders' second venture was brought to a close for 201, and at the call of time the Park had lost three wickets for 45 runs. Bromley had the bad luck to be run out in each innings. The match was finished on Tuesday, the Midland winning by 158 runs. The contest St. Albans v Sydenham and Addington was advanced another stage on Saturday on the latter Club's ground, when the St. Albans Club obtained a lead that should enable them to win easily. On the first day the scores were :—-St. Albans 98 (C. Colville 27 and Chapman 19), Sydenham 64 (Barker 20 and Wright 17). St. Albans, in their second venture, scored 195, Ritchie being top scorer with a fine innings of 79. Frith gave a vigorous display for 54, and Pearce contributed 25 (not out) and Taylor 15. Sydenham, when time was called, had scored 58 for the loss of six wickets. Joll, T. Lawrence and Wright bowled best for Sydenham, and Chapman and Frith bowled throughout the match unchanged for St. Albans. The above match was brought to a conclusion last Monday. Sydenham, requiring 171 with four wickets to fall, added 20 runs, the last wicket falling with the total at 79. St. Albans therefore won by 151 runs. Sydenham batted a man short in each innings. In the first innings of St. Albans C. Colville showed a glimpse of his old form in making his 27, and Chapman batted well for his runs. In the second venture Ritchie played good cricket in making his 79, although he gave a couple of easy chances. Frith hit hard,but was missed several times, but Pearce was well set when the last wicket fell in the second innings and would probably have considerably increased his score had he anyone to stay witli him. Joll was the most successful of the six bowlers tried by the Sydenham captain, but the others appeared very easy to play. For Sydenham Barker hit hard-in the first innings for his 20, a splendid catch on the boundary by Pearce disposing of him, but Wright played streakily for his 17. Frith and Chapman bowled unchanged for St. Albans, the latter having the better average, and the fielding was good. The Sydenham men it should be mentioned did not field up to Junior Cup form. The United, continuing their first innings against the College, put on 19 more runs for the last two wickets, being all out for 101, and 36 behind their opponents. In their second innings the College completely collared the United bowling, and after knocking up 186 for four wickets, declared their innings, closed, leaving the United 223 runs to make to win. Ollivier (83), W. Weston (54 not out), Harman (25) and C. Weston (15) all batted well, but many chances were given. At the call of time United had lost eight wickets for 93 runs, so the College should win easily. Maxwell 20, Reeves 21, W. Wood 15, Webster 13, and Jameson 13 not out, all reached double figures. M. Louisson, for the College, took six wickets with underhand bowling for 36 runs. Webster was the most successful bowler for the United. The above match furnished an example that has often puzzled mc. According to the rules of cricket a side can only declare its innings closed on the last day of a match, and yet the College—and other teams have done the same thing in the colony—declared their venture at a close on the second day of their match, and at the call of time the game was unfinished. It appears to mc, according to the reading of the rule, that, as the game has to be played out, according to the laws governing Cup cricket in Canterbury, as the state of the game stood the College captain had no power to "declare," and as he did not and his team failed to dispose of their opponents before the call of time, the match was drawn. It is a nice point, and the Association should be asked to give its decision on the question. But little need be said of the play on Saturday. The fielding of the United would have been a disgrace to a President's Cup team, and both Ollivier and Weston, who made such a long stand, gave several chances. The United in their second venture made a poor stand against M. Louisson's slows, but early in the innings G. Reeves hit freely for 21, and Maxwell again showed stubborn defence. The Junior Cup match, High School v College, was finished on December 9th, when the College won by an innings and 67 runs. The previous Wednesday College had made 262 and High School 75 for four wickets. The innings closed for 109 (Nurse 41, Williams 26, Revel 11.) Following on they lost eight wickets for 36, when Byrne and Milsom made a stand and raised the total to 85 (Byrne 30, Milsom 27, O'Brien 17). K. Ollivier got nine wickets for 49, and Grant six for 80 for the College. The match, Post and Telegraph v Boys' High School, was finished on Saturday, when the former won by six wickets. Scores —Post and Telegraph 111 (Treweek 48, Gerard 16, and P. Mansell 12), and 120 for four wickets (Treweek 56, King 24, Daniel, not out 12, Maguire 11). Boys' High School 148 (O'Brien 37, E. Harper"32, Revoll 25, Williams 17) and 82 (O'Brien 46 and Mason 23). Mansell, Treweek and King bowled best for winners, and Mason and O'Brien for losers. The result of the above match proves that the Junior Cup Committee were correct in their estimate of the Post and Telegraph team when they refused to allow them to compete as a President's Cup team. Treweek, as was anticipated, has proved beyond a doubt that he is a cut above even Junior Cup form, and in the last two matches he has scored just on 250 runs for three times out. President's Cap Matches. The match Midland v St. Albans was brought to a conclusion at Hagley Park.on Saturday, when the former won by 36 runs. Scores—Midland 132 and 91 (Barry 28, Harrison 17 and Barge 12); St. Albans 68 and 119 (A. Cornish 42, O'Brien 30 and Newton 13). Simpson bowled best for the winners, and Burleigh for the losers. In the above game the suburban club made a plucky attempt to pull the match out of the fire, but the Midland always had slightly the best of the deal, and they won as above stated. The Midlanders did not deserve to win as their fielding in the second innings was simply atrocious, and if some of the younger members in the team wish to retain their places in the eleven they will have to pay more attention to this important branch of the game. Simpson dropped two very easy catches, and H. Garrard also missed two chances, although it must be mentioned one was a difficult one. A. Cornish was top scorer for the losers, and if he sticks to the game he should have a future before him as a cricketer. He is a hard hitting batsman and a useful bowler and field, and with coaching should make a useful man. O'Brien also batted fairly, and of the St. Albans bowlers Burleigh, who is a left hander and has a slight off break, gives most promise. In this match Ayrey may fairly claim to have won the game for his side, his share of the runs being no less than 175 out of a total of 290. This batsman had but little defence last season, but he has considerably improved this year, and as a consequence he has been scoring most consistently. Andrews deserves mention for his plucky batting on behalf ot the Park.