Mixed fortunes

Press, 18 January 1979, Page 16

Mixed fortunes

St Albans, the club responsible for the organisation of “The Press” twilight cricket series, has, in just one week, experienced extreme contrasts of fortune in that competition. Last evening it went into its fixture against the bottom side, Riccarton, fresh from a victory over the leading side, Lancaster Park, in the sixth round. But St Albans could muster only 104 runs from its allocation of overs and Riccarton scored the winning run in [the last of its 21 overs. The surprise defeat has iplaced St Albans in the ! middle of a group of six i teams separated by 10 points in a tussle for second I position behind Park, which had 12 runs to spare over High School Old Boys and is nine points clear of its pursuers.

Old Boys, however, retains the runner-up role, ahead of Marist and East-Shirley, with St Albans now fifth and being challenged by Sydenham. Vaughan Brown, of Old Collegians, was the only batsman to reach a maximum 40 runs before retiring, but, ironically, his club had the lowest combined total of the evening in its loss to EastShirley. The “Cedarwood man of the match” awards went to Greg Brown (Sydenham),

IMicahel Johnston (Park), Kevin Cowan (Marist). Lind-, say Thorn (Riccarton), Tre-j vor Luke (Supporters) and' Robert McKay (East-Shir-1 ley). Johnston also beingchosen as the “Lion Breweries player of the day.” Points: Lancaster Park 79, Old Boys 70, Marist 67, East-Shirley 67, St Albans 65, Sydenham 62, Old Collegians 60, Suburban 58, Burn-side-West 55. Supporters 55, Schools 54, Riccarton 53. Results: Sydenham 151,'6 (J. Larter 38i retired. G. Brown 37 retired. I.j Thomson 23, K. Congdon 23) beat! Secondarv Schools 128,46 (D.l Boyle 35, C. O’Malley 30. J. Rut-; ledsje 25: Larter 3/34. Thomson.! 2/28i. Lancaster Park 152/6 <A. Col-i lins 33. M. T. Johnston 35 re-j tired. M. Smith 21 not out; R.; Page 2/20, M. Spinks 2/27' beat Old Boys L2O/4 fj. Bierwirth 35 retired, C. Marks 2a, Spinks 28;: Johnston 2/21). Marist 149/4 (G. Hills 35 retired. K. Cowan 35 retired, S. Johnston 37 retired: R Wilson 2/43) beat' Suburban 132/7 'B. Harris 34. G.l Baxter 36 retired: M. Bradley: 3/20. G. Sligo 2/21). Riccarton 108/6 (J. Ruston 20.) G. Seaborne 22, L. Thorn 25; K. Ferries 3/23Y beat St Albans 104/4 (G. Moore 35 retired, G. Nicol! 35 retired). Supporters 141/4 (J. Airey 37 retired, J. Blatchford 35 retired, B. Cummings 21, T. Luke 26; J. Preece 2/15, A. Farrant 2/20) beat Burnside-West 138/4 (K. Collins 39 retired, J. Boyle 35 retired, R. Rickard 34; R. Walker 2/29).

East-Shirley 142/4 )R. Jones 35 retired, R. McKay 36 retired, K. Moorfield 29 not out; L. Forde 2/27) beat Old Collegians 99/7 (P. McEwan 20, V, Brown 40 retired, R. Leggat 30 not out; R. Parlane 3/27).