Cricket youth Runs scarce on moist pitches

Press, 5 March 1982, Page 23

Cricket youth Runs scarce on moist pitches

With pitches rather moist for this time of year, and with many coaches still busily welding new combinations after the Christmas break, there have not been a lot of runs scored by young batsmen on Saturday mornings. There have been a couple of recent batting highlights in the A grade, however. David Mills (Lancaster Park) scored a century in 42 minutes against New Brighton, after being run out on 96 in the previous match. ' In Boon Hay's outright win over St Thomas's. John Stuart scored 95 before being caught on the boundary. Stuart also took nine wickets in the match. Boon Hay is one of many sides in the process of rebuilding. Stuart. Dean Thyne, Stephen Finlay and Jeffrey Huston are key. experienced players remaining in the side. Grant Honey, newly promoted to the A grade, took three wickets for five runs in a recent game. Sydenham in the B grade has five newcomers. Adam Gallagher and Julian Mason have improved markedly since Christmas, and Gordon McLeod made 30 in a recent match. Paul Lynch, a fast bowler, is successfully bearing a large burden since Christmas. The Sydenham D grade side (promoted from the E grade after Christmas) has three players, Geoffrey Thin. Gareth Edwards and Ryan Harper, who have shown improvement recently. Old Collegians B in the A grade has had a major reshuffle in personnel. Guy Jackson is a good, left-arm medium-pacer and Guy Hilson is shaping 'up well with the bat. The wicketkeeper. Matthew- Shepherd, has let through only two byes in two innings. Southern Districts in the. B grade is a team from a Suburban club, playing in the Canterbury Junior Cricket Association’s competition. Mark Rickerby is showing promise with the bat. having a good score of 69 not out since Christmas. He is also a useful bowler. Hamish Holland, an allrounder, has improved markedly.

Hornby A in the D grade met Ricearton on Saturday. For Hornby, Stuart Rooney, a ’keeper-batsman, scored 21 retired in a recent match, in which Hornby bowled out Cathedral Grammar for 15 runs. Craig Frampton, who has recovered from an operation, is beginning to perform well again.In the Ricearton side, the Stead brothers. Wayne and Gary, continue to impress. The new wicket-keeper, Haydon Tilson, is looking very tidy behind the stumps. Chisnallwood Intermediate in the B grade is yet another side with several newcomers. Gary Eyre, Scott Robertson, Lyndon Murray. John Crimmins and Lee Watene are all looking promising in the rebuilding period. Xavier College’s B grade side has been promoted from the C grade. Julian Edlin. an all-roun-der, is playing well, while Mark Sinclair and Aaron Lanyon are developing steadily as batsmen. For Old Boys in the B grade. Richard Reid is always a keen team member, and Chris Knight is bowling well. Another B grade side. Harewood, features Dale Harrison, who took two wickets in his first over on Saturday; the skipper, Liam McHugh; and the all-roun-ders Jeremy North and Craig Grimwood. Each of these boys has performed consistently well. Denis Nolan took a fine catch in the outfield on Saturday. At Elmwood Park on Saturday, St Thomas’s met Old Collegians in a B grade match. For St Thomas’s, John Rasso is bowling well and the captain, Gerard Kilpatrick, fulfills his duties with determination. Adrian Tukaki made a whirlwind 50. in 10 minutes, for Old Collegians on Saturday. If several of his lofted shots went • perilously close to fieldsmen, there were other strokes that had a classic touch about them. Among Tukaki’s team-mates. Reuben Stanley, an excellent fielder, is developing nicely. Philip Cleverly and Ricky Field are improving players while Tim Evans is batting consistently well.