HEATHCOTE WILLIAMS CHALLENGE SHIELD.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13610, 20 December 1909, Page 3

HEATHCOTE WILLIAMS CHALLENGE SHIELD.

The metch between the Christchurch Boys' High School and the Auckland Grammar School for possession of the Heathcote "Williams Challenge Shield was concluded on Saturday morning. The local team, requiring 93 to win with nine wickets in nand, resumed batting with Bleckmore and Tattersail. A good stand was made by very solid batting, but at 68 Blackmcre chopped a ball on to hie wicket. Wellis was next, but on backing up, the bowler, Jacobsen, m-

steed of delivering the ball, whipped off tho bails, and Wallis was run out. Xteans left at 74, and the excitement became intense, as the runs were coinini with painful slowness. Tattcrsall lefi at 89, aft?r playing a splendid defensive innings. Booth then joi R f c j Hickmott, end though tho runs still came very slowly, the total gradually rose until, with the scores even, Booth made the winning hit —a capital drivo for 4. Hickmctt's 18 was an invaluable contribution, and was market! by very solid defence. AUCKLAND GRAMMAR SCHOOL. First Innings .. .. 276 Second Innings .. •• ■*' BOYS , HIGH SCHOOL. First Innings .. .• 213 Second Innings. V. \V. Miller, b Giimore .. *' „*, l<. Blackmore, l.b.vr., b Jacobsen .• -* H. TaMersfiil, b Waikcr 3e o R. G. HicVniott, not out .. ..18 A. Deans, c WaUace, b Walker .. -.9 S. VaKis. run out ° K. Booth, not out .. •• •• l \ Extras .. ..., •• •• 5 Total for five wickets .. .. H* Bawling Analv«is.—"Walker. 30 overs, 8 maidens. 51 runs, 2 wickets; Giimore, 10 oven 3 maiden?, 24 runs, 1 wicket; Somerville. 1 over, 2 rune, 0 wickets; Jacobsen, 19 overs, 7 maidens, 31 runs. 1 wicket.. PRESENTATION OF THE SHIELD AND TROPHIES. At the conclusion of the match tho shield and the trophies were presented. Mr F. C. Raphael, in th? unavoidable, absence of tho president of the New Zealand Cricket Council, presented the shield to the team which, he isaid, had so worthily won it. (Ap-pi-aiise.) Hβ congratulated the winners on their brilliant vi-ctory. The gftino throughout had been an example of sudden callouses and rapid revivals, and the last innings of tho Auckland team, they must admit, was rather surprising;. The challenge of the Auckland school was a most plucky one— (applause)—and it was to be hoped that other schools in ths Dominion would emulate their courage and example (Applause.) The match would long be remembered as an historical contest, especially by the players who took part in it. The magnificent batting of Somorville (Auckland) and Wallis was excellent. Ho was sure that the batting of these two boys would not have disgraced a first-class cricket match anywhere. (Applause.) The fielding by both sides was well up to first-class cricket, and tho spectators had but one opinion, and that was they could not have seen bett?r fielding anywhere It was a matter of great regret that the donor of the shield, Mr Heathcote "Williams, was not present to present the shield to the Boys' High School team. On account of the pluck

they had shown in coming all the way from Auckland, he called for three hearty cheers for the visitors. These were given, and also cheere for tho captain of the Auckland team. They were fallowed by cheers for the winners. Deans and Peterson wore called forward, and were presented with the shield. Mr C. E. Bevan-Brown (headmaster of the Boys' High School) then presented the trophy given by Mr Raphael for the best batting performance to

Sotnerville, and Mr Orchard's trophy to Guiney' for the best bowling average. In doing so he referred to Somerville ? s batting as a magnificent display—(applause)—though he was glad to say that one of his own boys had come close up to it. A. H. Guiney (Boys' High School) had secured the prize for tha best bowling performance, with six wickets for sixty, and S. Paterson was so very close that the school had decided to give him a little trophy. Referring to the match, he said that he thought all were of opinion that it had been a most thrilling experience of the sudden reversals ol' fortune. It would bfe long remembered for the. brilliant batting of the Aucklanders in their first innings. He desired to express how sorry they were in Christchurch that the Auckland team had'had the misfortune to lose the service of one. of their number through illness. Ho was quite sure that it helped to throw a damper over their spirits, and they would have very much liked, if they could havo dene so, to put in another for them. As regards the performance of the Boys' High School, he thought they would say that they had fought a very good uphill game, had kept their pecker up, and had given an illustration of '• 'tis dogged that does it.' . They had all been impressed with the Auckland team, who were a fine manly set of fellows, and they were pleased that they had come such a long distance to play one of the most exciting matches they had ever witnessed. He then presented the trophies, and announced that Mr Sims had presented a bat to Wnllis for his fine performance for tho Boys' High School.