Cricket Youth

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32797, 23 December 1971, Page 18

Cricket Youth

In the intense heat and humidity of last Saturday, the pre-Christmas half of the Junior Advisory Board’s Saturday morning competition for primary schoolboys moved towards its conclusion. For many players it was the last day in this grade of cricket and several coaches were voicing doubts about the strength of their teams with the loss of older and more experienced players. It must be consoling, however, for these enthusiastic workers to know that through their efforts, the seeds of many a bright cricketing future have been well established. In recent vears the intensification of coaching schools at the intermediate level has stimulated a tremendous growth of enthusiasm for the game of cricket among these younger players. It is hoped that as these players move into a higher grade, they will carry with them (he lessons they have learned, and will in turn, attempt to pass on their knowledge to the next generation of players.

The Riccarton club plays a dominant role in the C grade competition. The club’s A team has enjoyed considerable success so far and much of this has Been attributable to the keenness and team spirit of the players. There have been some excellent batting performances, notably from the consistent Stephen Sheahan and Geoffrey Black, who has shown attacking ability in several innings. Joining the latter players as all-rounders are John Queen and Stephen Pankhurst who are both capable of playing a major role with either bat or ball. Greg Albertson has proved valuable as a change bowler with his happy knack of capturing a vital wicket, while Bruce Rogers has been the best fieldsman in a lively fielding team.

In the Riccarton B side playing in the same grade, there is a further sprinkling of talent. Wayne Burtt, perhaps in imitation of his namesake, has been a most reliable top-order batsman with a highest score of 48 this season. He has combined in several fruitful partnerships with Mark Neave, another stroke-maker of promise. Wayne Kerry who captured 3 for 4 against MerivalePapanui has the makings of a good medium-pace bowler and Stephen Clarke has fielded with agility and skill in a variety of positions. One player who is relatively new to A grade cricket is the Riccarton batsman Murray Bailey. However, this batsman proved to be far from easy to dismiss, as he batted with considerable authority against some excellent bowling from the East B fast bowler Peter Carr. The batting of the former was notable for excellent footwork, which took him into position in behind the line of the ball. Many batsmen throughout the grade would find fast bowling less unsettling if they adopted similar positioning. In the C grade match between High School Old Boys and Lancaster Park there was an excellent batting

display by the Old Boys pair Peter Woods and Christopher Todd who scored 20 and 15 respectively and demonstrated a refreshing willingness to play front-foot drives off the faster bowlers.

The Sydenham D grade team began poorly on Saturday losing their first wicket very cheaply, but a solid partnership for the second wicket saw the side on its way to recovery. The participants in this stand were Stephen Burney and Neil McKay who both showed the value of concentration and sound defence, besides being able to score runs with hardhit strokes whenever the loose ball was, bowled. Two brothers, Michael and Rodney Palmer, were conspicuous in the field for Lancaster Park. The former took a high catch at mid-

WEEKLY REVIEW

wicket with fine judgment, while the latter took one catch off his own bowling which many more senior players would have been pleased to have held.

Among the most impressive bowling feats in recent weeks was that of the WestUniversity B grade medium pace bowler John Blackmore who took a hat trick in his fine analysis of 3 for 20 off 6 overs.

Another bowler to take the coveted hat trick was David Gillespie of the Lancaster Park A team, who took 6 wickets at the amazing cost of only 5 runs and hit the stumps five times in his seven-over spell. Perhaps when matches resume on January 15, there will be more individual performances of this quality.