Ashley’s cricket success

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33804, 29 March 1975, Page 4

Ashley’s cricket success

Ashley, deservedly, retained the Subassociation Shield in the competition conducted annually by the North Canterbury Cricket Association for the five areas which make up the minor association.

Ashley’s win took on extra merit as its first match, against Hurunui. was abandoned because of wet weather, and both sides scored only three points. In each of the other three matches, however, Ashley not only won the game but also took the bonus points. Apart from Hurunui, all other teams played four matches and points, with the number of times bonus points were won in parentheses, were:Ashley, 3 wins (3), 33; Banks Peninsula, 3 wins (1), 28; Hurunui. 1 win (3), 21; Ellesmere, 1 win (2), 18; Malvern, 1 win (0), 14. Roger Sowden (Hurunui) and Peter Williams (Ashley) were easily the leading run-scorers. Sowden’s batting was often brilliant and it was largely due to him that Hurunui took the bonus points for the faster scoring rate in each of its three games. His highest

score was a splendid 137 against Banks Peninsula.

Williams was also in fine form, scoring centuries in two of his three innings. He has had a good season, as he was also the leading batsman for the North Canterbury representative side.

The only other centurymaker was Michael Johnston (Banks Peninsula), who, in his first year out of St Andrew’s College, established himself as a player with a future. He won a place in the North Canterbury team, and in the Canterbury Brabin Cup and Kiwis sides. Easily the most successful bowler was Murray Homes (Hurunui), who took 18 wickets in only three games. He has left the district to return to Methven, but could well make his presence felt in representative cricket for Ashburton in the future. Michael Beecroft (Malvern) was the only other bowler to take more than 10 wickets, hut Bruce Dunbar (Hurunui) was remarkably economical with his off-spinners.

In the under-23 competition for the Norm Allen Memorial Trophy, Ashley and Banks Peninsula were joint winners. Leading averages in the senior games were:-

BATTING (Two innings, average 25) Inn. NO. Agg. Ave. P. R. Williams (A) 3 1 236 118.00 R. J. Sowden (H) . . 3 0 267 89.00 J. McIntosh (B.P.) 3 2 75 75.00 P. C, Devlin (A) .. 3 0 149 49.66 A. Wall. (M) 9 0 90 45.00 M. Johnston (B.P.) 4 0 173 43.25 R. J. Kerr (E) 3 0 129 43.00 A. J. Jenkins (M) 5 0 183 36.60 T. A. Turner (B.P.) 4 0 145 36.25 R. 1. Taylor (A) . 2 0 70 35.00 J. J. Ryan (E) 4 0 132 33.00 A. F. Raplev (A) .. 2 1 31 31.00 B. J. Gardner (H) . . 2 0 55 27.50 P. J. McKay (B.P.) . . 3 0 81 27.00 B. G. Taylor (E) .. 4 0 104 26.00 G. Lea (M) 3 0 78 26.00 N. Bailey (A) 3 1 51 25.50 S. J. Ryan (E) 4 0 100 25.00 BOWLING (Five wickets) O. M. R. Wkts Ave. B. W. Fine (A) 12 2 34 5 6.80 M. Holmes (H) 52 10 150 18 8.33 W. G. Jones (E) 14.5 0 62 7 8.86 B. Dunbar (H) 22 9 48 5 9.60 T. Jenkins (M) 19 3 76 6 12.66 M. J. Beecroft (M) .. 42 7 212 14 15.14 E. J. Bailey (A) . . 35.5 7 121 7 17.28 A. F. Rapley (A) 32 2 104 6 17.33 M. J. Loffhagen (H) 34 9 123 7 17.57 C. J. Heslop (E) 32.5 9 89 5 17.80 P. J. McKay (B.P.) 33 110 6 18.33 A. J. Jenkins (M) 30 2 149 8 18.62 W. H. Newton (B.P.) 40 6 172 8 21.50 R. L. Lanauze (E) 33 8 158 5 31.60