Title Candidates In First Round Clash

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31499, 13 October 1967, Page 17

Title Candidates In First Round Clash

Two of the leading candidates for this season’s senior cricket competition, West-University and Lancaster Park, will meet at Hagley No. 1 in the first round tomorrow.

However, both will be without a key player. Lancaster Park will not have the veteran, R. T. Dowker, who last year headed the Christchurch batting averages, while C. M. Kirk, the promising left-arm spinner, will not be playing for West-University. West-University, however, has made a notable gain in the Wellington opening bowler, N. A. Huxford, and his presence gives a powerful look to the side’s attack.

Apart from D. N. Macleod, who should stiffen the early batting, Lancaster Park’s new strengths are the opening bowlers, W. R. Wilson, and G. Walklin. A left-arm bowler of medium pace, Wilson performed with distinc-

tion for North Canterbury last season.

Last year’s champion, Old Boys, and the second team, Riccarton, are to meet at Hagley 3, and this could be a close struggle between teams which, on paper, appear strong in batting. However, Riccarton’s major bowlers—R. C. Motz, J. W. Kiddey and E. R. Hignett—should be more of a force than D. R. Hadlee, W. M. Duncan and W. R. Barbarel. Old Boys will be playing without C. J. Stevens on the first day. One of the most interesting games could come from Sydenham and East-Shirley at Sydenham Park. East-Shirley has B. R. Taylor, the New Zealand fast bowler, this season, and he and another New Zealand player, J. C. Alabaster, could be potent forces.

As well there is the mediumpacer, N. Kelly, who took 50 wickets last season. There will be interest in two young East-Shirley batsmen, P. A. Hern and G. D. V. Pulley. Hern, only 17, made 44 in very promising style against Riccarton on Sunday and Pulley also batted very well against Motz. Sydenham has promoted a second-grade left-arm bowler, A. Walsh, to open the attack with P. McKenzie and has a string of four slow bowlers in support, including J. M. Mclntyre, whose results last season slipped from the exceptional standard he set in 1965-66. D. L. Gallop, too, will be looking for a better season, with both bat and ball than he had last year. The final match, between St Albans and Old Collegians at Elmwood Park, should also be close. St Albans has a team very little different from that of last season but Old Collegians include three new players: a young batsman, M. C. Bidwell, N, H. Lindo, the wicketkeeper, and J. Baxter, who will open the batting with D. S. Banks.