CITY CRICKET

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2595, 18 October 1915, Page 7

CITY CRICKET

SOLDIERS AGAINST CIVILIANS

A PATRIOTIC MATCH HANDSOME SUM RAISED. With the object of providing Christmas gifts for our troops at the front, the combined sports bodies throughout New Zealand decided some little time ago to approach the public by means of a shilling fund.' The shilling is merely a standard and any subscriber is entitled to contribute any number of shillings. An excellent start was made with the collection on Saturday afternoon, when the Wellington cricket season was opened at tho Basin Reserve with a match,'tho proceeds from which were to go' to the fund. The result was a pool of over thirteen hundred shillings. The contestants in the game were the Wellington representatives and a first-class eleven selected from -the men in camp at Trentham. Now Zealand representative players figured in both teams, the Trentham combination being a particularly strong one. Among those present were: His Excellency tlws Governor and Her Excellency the Countess of Liverpool, the Prime Minister (the Right Hon. W. F. Massey), the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, Sir Francis Bell (president of the Cricket Association), tho Hon. James Allen, tho Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke), and Mr. J. P. Firth (a vice-president o.f the Cricket Association). The camp band attended, and played New Zealand's national song, "Tho Soldier," and other selection's. "Give Freely." , ' Mr, Firth made a speecn for the cause during the afternoon tea adjournment. He 'congratulated the Cricket Association on its effort to provide comforts for our heroes at tho iront und to prove to them there were hero real heart throbbings ol admiration and gratitude. The Government and the country had been pledged to raise and equip certain forces, ami a stago had now been reached when difficulties appeared to be in the way of keepiug reinforcements up to the required strength.. It was beyond doubt that our 1 young men who were incdically fit should j offer themselves, and he personally had no doubt that those of them who'realised tho absolute need for their services would oft'er themselves freely. Those who had to stay behind had cast upon them a duty to bring homo to the young men of tho country the need for their services at tho front, and one way of carrying out this duty was to bo ready and eager to bear the finaueial strain. Tho war tax should be welcomed, and those who had income tax to pay should pay it gladly and givo as much more as possible. When thf Dreadnought was given it had been eaui ("hat we could not iifiord it, but m his opinion we could afltord several. AVc could afford motor-cars, theatres, pictnro palaces, tobacco, and fine clothes, but one thing we could not afford was "not to give." Why? Because if we lost, in this struggle we should lose our honour, our well-being, and everything that made lilo livable. Thrift was a good trail, in a nation's character, but to economise by refusing to give at such a time as this was selfishness and base ingratitude. Mr. Firth concluded with a strong appeal to those present to give, and givo freely. He hopod-that thoso who did not give, would meet the fate which he trusted wan in. store for those rich men who worn doing their best to make fortunes out ot the needs of tho nation. A Successful Canvass. The l'riino Minister in a brief speech expressed the'hope that the efforts of tho sports bodies would be successful in raising a substantial amount for the very laudable object in view. The sports bodies had taken a leading part in recruiting, and thoso who had distinguished tlicm selves on the playing fields had gained higher honours on tho battlefield. Ho trusted that they would continue to play the game with energy and enthusiasm— in a patriotic sense and on tho military field. The Mayor called for cheers for the speakers, for the players, and for I ho soldiers at tho front. These were given with enthusiasm, and a. collection war, then promoted on the mound. This result.

Ed in. tiie raising of a sum of .£37 165., including a clicquo of iI2O from Mr; Firth. The takings at tho gates totalled JE27 10s. lid., making an aggregate amount of .£GS 6s. fid. for the afternoon. The gatemen gave their services for the afternoon and the ground was available without fee.

As l'or the game, it proved really in. teresting, or, as one of the speakers remarked, "a good shilling's worth." Trentliam went in first, and made 191 runs, and this proved too much for the Wellington men, who were all disposed of for 122 runs, the military men-winning on the first innings by 69 runs. The Trelithnm tally included two capital performances by Naughton and Sandman, who both reached the half-century, the latter's total including ten fours. On the Wellington side, Brice and Robinson went ill for .some lively hitting, the former gaining two sixes and three fours while ho lasted. Iliddlestone's bowling average of 8 Trenthaiu wickets tor G2 runs was a, notable piece of work for tho afternoon. Details of the Play, Details of the scores arc as follows— Trentham—First Innings. Hickmott, b. Hiddlestone 2 Naughton, c. Beechey, b. Iliddlestono 50 Sandman, b. Robinson 54 Sneddon, b. Iliddlestono : 2 Dempsey, "nit wicket, b. Hiddjestone ... 13 Bernau, b. Hiddlestone 8 Hawke, b. Hiddlestone 32 Saxon, c. Robinson, b. Hiddlestone ... 2 Bennett, c. and b. Hiddlestone 13 Cameron, b. Itobinssn 0 Arkwright, not out 2 Extras 13Total 191 Bowling Analysis. Hiddlestone obtained 8 wickets for 62 runs; Robinson, 2 for 12; Southall, none l'qr 33; Brice, none for 27; and Gibbes, none i'or 11. Wellington—First Innings. Midlane, b. Bennett 0 Beechey, b. Sandman „ 2 Hiddlestone, c. Bernau, b. Bennett ... 0 Burton, b. Bennett 17 Gibbes, c. Saxon, b. Sandman 12 liray, b. Sandman -. (i Baker, c. Siuulman ,b. Hickmott 27 Brice, b. Bernau 37 Robinson, Naughton, b. Hickmott 12 Gate, not out 2 Southall, c. and b. Hickmott 0 Extras 7 Total 122 Bowling Analysis. Bennett obtained three wickets for *17 runs; Sandman, three for 29; Hickmott, thveo l'or 22; and Bernau, one for 17. PETOXE AND LOWER HUTT. At Lower Hutt, Petone defeated tho local team by 91 lo 54. Smyrke scored 31, not out; Taylor, 10; Trescar, 14; and Christian took live wickets i'or 14 runs for Petone. Kor Jlutt, Mabov tool; three wickets for 10 -runs. MATCHES ELSEWHERE. Bj TclozraDh.—l'ress Association. Christchurch. October 16.' Grade cricket matches opened to-day. Tho results arc:—Sydenham, 205 (J. Gray, G7 not oul). versus West Christchurch, 151 for no wickets (H. B. Lusk, 101 not out). Riccarton, 209 (H. B. Whitta. 97 not out) versus St. Albans, CI for two wickets. Liuwood, 138 versus East Christchurch, 72 for nine wickets.