Deserved Success

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31269, 16 January 1967, Page 15

Deserved Success

(By

R. T. BRITTENDEN)

Although the final task was approached and achieved with some timidity, Central Districts deserved its success in the Plunket Shield contest, its first victory since 1953-54. A young team under a young and inexperienced captain, Central Districts was not thought likely, at the start of the series, to head off Auckland and Canterbury. It beat both these teams outright, and the series was a triumph for the 21-year-old V. Pollard, thrust into the captaincy on the retirement of M. E. Chapple. Only 12 players were used in the five matches, and seven of them are 21, or younger. Only one, D. N. Macleod, is over 30. Pollard led this youthful band with the determination he has shown in his own batting. He set a notable exmple to a team which, if it missed a catch or two now and again, held some magnificent ones, and which stopped and ran and threw with tremendous energy and skill. Pollard’s batting was superb. Against Canterbury, Northern Districts and Auckland he scored successive half-centuries, and each time he showed the sort of bold and aggressive outlook so often lacking in New Zealand cricket. Central Districts did not start, or finish, like a champion team. But the side was a little unlucky to lose to Wellington by a few runs on the first innings. This opening match was confined to a day and a half through rain, the pitch was dreadful, and G. P. Bilby, of Wellington,

was the only batsman on either side to exceed 25. Put in to bat by Canterbury, Central started uncertainly, but survived the most critical moment of the match —perhaps of the series—when P. J. Courts was dropped in the slips at 11. Had the catch been taken Central Districts would have been 32 for three, and the whole course of the game could well have been different. However, the catch went down, Courts went on to 152, Central Districts to a huge total, an Innings win, and its first outright victory at Lancaster Park. This was a tonic to a young team, and it went on to demolish Northern Districts in a convincing performance. The win over Auckland was rather more of a scramble, but there was a reasonable margin at the end. If Central’s last performance was disappointing, it was understandable. The match at Nelson was not of high quality, and it would have been good if Central Districts could have wound up a successful campaign with an assertive performance. But the prize was there, and it was duly won.

One of the most pleasing features of Central’s record

is the wide spread of the Individuals who made major contributions to the victories. The wicket-keeper, R. M. Schofield, played at least two very important innings, the spin bowler, B. W. Yuile batted consistently, and of the 12 players, only C. W. Garrod did not enjoy some measure of personal success. The bowling was much more effective than had seemed likely. Although he did not take more than three wickets; in an innings, R. O. Collinge’s pace and liveliness no doubt helped a newcomer, J. Howell, to a useful tally of 14 shield wickets, the same number Coliinge took. Yuile, if not a great bowler by international standards, was again highly successful,.with 29 wickets at only 12.5 runs each; Pollard had 14 at about 15 runs apiece and G. W. Douglas, the young Nelson player, had two particularly valuable performances.

In enthusiasm and team spirit, Central Districts was outstanding. It seems certain, on the basis of this season's performance, that Pollard will become a New Zealand captain before long. He has all the attributes needed for leadership of the right kind, and he should enjoy many more successes with his young Central Districts side.