CRICKET.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 634, 11 October 1909, Page 4

CRICKET.

NET PRACTICE :AT,THE BASIN. y There appews to be substantial increase in the number who intend to follow. cricket this season.- The ,newly-established district scheme may not immediately accomplish a groat deal, °, U £. "f^aOToentes , aro confident that it will' ultimately raise both tho standard and the number of players to a very considerable extent.. No doubt, at the present time, many Wellington cricketers rcgnrd tho wholo cricket .system as disorganised. Tho pangs felt at' tho.breaking, up of stronglyrwelded clubs and: tho severing of old associations will soon pass however, and new interests arise. Knights of the willow blade turned' out in good numbers for net practice at the Basin Beserro'on Saturday-nftornoon. The day could not have b*en better; it was jnst tho kind of genial weather in which unpractised cricketers could forgive themselves ■ for the nsual want' Of form so noticeable at.tho beginning of a season. The : -wickets wore in fair order, all .things considered. The schoolroom of cricket to at the nets, where there is opportunity for stolio practice, the acquirement of good methods, and the correction of risky strokes on the oif-side, and other undesirable things. Saturday also brought out veterans who havo headed the loeol honour lists for years, and again this season they will be examples for the younger playors. How is it that Wellington has not yet nbvanced into lino with other cricket centres of the Dominion and obtained thorseryiees of a coach. Of what inestimable benefit tho advice of such a man would have been to'the" practising teams at the Basin on , Saturday. Perhaps the day is not far distant when the city will havo a Mentor for its young encketors. .

" 'IN OTHER CENTRES. % < ASSOCIATION. ; <p ; UIT Telnrrepb.-Prcclal CorraipondcnU ■■•."_iv ■"* •!•"■ Carterton, ■ October 10. i 'The annual.meeting of the Wairarapa Cricket Association wo 3 held last night, Mr. E. Colhnge presiding. . The roport and balancesheet (the hitter showing a credit balance of £i 10s. lid.) were adopted', The • Masterton, Carterton and United Clubs (Masterton) each entered.semot.and.junior .teams, Carlton (Masterton) a senior team; while Mauriceville and St. Matthews'.Club (Masterton) entered in tho junior grade: - Officers elected were as follow :- President, Mr. W.C. Buchanan, M.P.; vicepresidents, U. L. Galway, W. E. Bidwill, X. Nix, D: Caselborg, and J. E. Moodioi-' secretary arid treasurer, Mr.. S. E Edwards; delegated the New Zealand Conncil.TMr. J. CWeston; selector, Mr. B. Col-

lingo. It was decided to givo a sum of jES towards the. expenses of-the proposed tour of an Australian second eleven, provided WairV rapa got a match. An effort is to bo made to' send a team to Hawke's Bay, also to get other associations to send visiting teams to the iAVairarapa. The season opens n«t Saturday.' .■--■■. •■ ■• •■. ■ ■■ .. ■ "A FIELD DAY FOB THE!BOWLERS/ , Fellding,' October 10. The first'cricket match of tbo season in this district was played on Saturday at Bunnvfthcrpo between the local club's team and the Feilding senior team. It proved a-field day for the bowlers. • Bnnnythorpo scored only 15 and;lß in its'two efforts, and the Feildin'g batsmen 44 in their one innings (Trovenn,-18). Of the Feildinj bowlers Ongley took six wickote for .9 runs, Holes three for nil, and "Ken" Bartholomew, four for 4. MATCHES BEGtTN.'AT CHEISTCHCRCH. ■ IliJ Telcsr*i>h.-Prp»iA«ioclaitop.i Christchurch, October 10. Glorious weather prevailed for the pommencement of the grade cricket matches for the season 1809-10, The wickets afforded the bowlers some assistance, and, generally spoaking, tho scoring was low. Scores in first grade matches were as follow:—Linwood, 142 and 15 for ono wicket, v. West Chrietchuroh, 53; St. Alhans, 118 (E. E. Crawshaiv, 50), t. Syden, hnm, 52 for one wicket; East Christchurch,\ 221 (A. H. Addison, 93,. E. Bilstead. 51), v. Eiecarton, 38. for two wickets. In this match Bain took six wickets for 48 runs.