W. Thomson sets record for Sydenham club

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32561, 22 March 1971, Page 18

W. Thomson sets record for Sydenham club

W. A- Thomson set the seal on a successful season when he scored 78 for Sydenham on Saturday. He was not only the day’s top scorer, on the first day of the final round; he brought his season’s aggregate to 657 and thus broke the club’s post-war record of 640 set by D. L. Gallop nine years ago.

In the strugge for final placings, most interest was in the performances of Old Boys and St Albans, which share second place with 93 points, of Sydenham, which has 92, and of Riccarton, 91. Riccarton came out of the day slightly better than the

others, with eight performance points, due largely to a plendid innings of 71 by P. A. Stubbings. St Albans, led by J. M. Ruston’s 69, scored six, Sydenham five. Although Old Boys picked up only three points, it is well placed to score batting points on the last day. Lower in the list EastShirley’s enterprising batting was rewarded with seven points, V. Pollard scoring 73 and J. W. Grocott 69. But Old Collegians also scored well, G. Mathias making 67 not out in his second senior appearance. The certain competition winner, West-University, had R. K. Allen (66) and G. T. Dowling (54) making most of the runs.

Pollard and D. S. Banks (Old Collegians) each passed 500 for the season during the day. Scores:—

Sydenham 180/8 dee. met Riccarton 190/5. St Albans 193/9 dec. met Lancaster Park 135/4. East-Shirley 250/9 dec. met Old Collegians 128/1. West-University 224 met Old Boys 125/X It was a day on which batsmen held command, although the demands of performance points brought wickets steadily. Bowlers were harshly treated at Ham,

where nine sixes were hit during West’s match with Old Boys. And on a beautiful No. 2 pitch at Elmwood

: Park, East-Shirley scored at i five runs an over and Old I Collegians replied in almost I identical terms.