MERCANTILE CRICKET

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 151, 23 March 1938, Page 16

MERCANTILE CRICKET

Performances Of Champion Teams Reviewed NOTES AND COMMENTS

(By

QUIDNUNC.)

■ One of flip most successful seasons experienced by tbe Wellington Mercantile Cricket League was concluded last Saturday so far as grade matches are concerned, finality being reached in all champiohships, although at one stage there were prospects of play-offs. Congratulations are due to the management committee for its able administration. Few sports organisations have such a comprehensive and efficient administrative system, which includes among other things the compilation and presentation at each meeting of valuable statistical information. Since its’formation the Mercantile League has made substantial progress, the only bar to the acceptance of more teams being the shortage of grounds. '■ A Grade Champions. Hannahs Cricket Club, winners of the A grade, has been affiliated with the Mercantile League for the past 10 years and has had a fine record, having at different periods won the C and B grades. Among the members of this year’s team, F. Oliver and R. Allen have played continuously since the club was formed, and S. Gridley has been a member for a number of years. The captain, G. H. Green, was also captain last year when Hannahs finished runners-up to Smith and Smiths in the B grade. The secretary , of the club since its inception has been R. Dockery, who has played a big part in its organisation. The leading averages for the season were: — Batting: F. Oliver, 17 innings, 3 not outs, 677 runs, average 48.35; H. Lowe, 16, 4, 549, 45.75 ; S. Grindley, 15, 3, 256, 21.33; A. Cullen, 12, 1, 217, 19.72. Bowling: G. Rait, 55 wickets for 730 runs, average 13.27; Oliver, 19 for 395, 20.78; R. Allen, 13 for 319, 24.53; J. O’Brien, 12 for 427, 35.58. The B Grade. Jasco, winners of tbe B grade, was affiliated for many years under the name of James Smiths, the team comprising mainly staff members. For the past three years it has been known as the Jasco Social Club, a number of its members being drawn from outside the firm. Transferred from A to B grade at the commencement of the season because of mediocre performances during the past two seasons, the club set about reorganising its ranks, and was fortunate in obtaining the services of H. D. Smith,’ the former New Zealand representative. F. D. Kilby, the former All Black, was in fine form with the bat, gaining not only the highest aggregate of runs in this grade, but also for the league, falling only 57 runs short of 1000. A. Erskine and N. J. Windsor were also very valuable members of the team. Following were the leading averages:— Batting: F. D. Kilby, 17 innings, 4 not outs, 943 runs, average 72.5; A. Erskine, 18, 9, 689, 76.5; N. J. Windsor, 10. 2, 310/38.7; H; D. Smith, 10, 0, 348, 34.8: Bowling: H. D. Smith, 47 wickets for 569 runs, average 12.1; A. Erskine, 25 for 500, 20. /

The C Grade. Winner of the C grade, tbe Tramways Cricket Club has been affiliated with the Mercantile League for three seasons. The club comprises some 30 players, it being necessary to field different teams on alternate Saturdays because of the tramway shifts, the first eleven being known as the Tramways club and the second eleven as the Dollar club. In past seas</.is the second eleven fias been weak, but this season it has had a splendid record, winning 10 of its 11 matches. The first eleven won eight, lost one, and drew one. J. T. Tilyard, better known as the former Poneke and Wellington Rugby footballer and captain of the 1920 All Black team, captained the Tramways team and J. Darroch the Dollar team. The leading averages were:— Batting: B. T. Clothier, 8 inuings, .2 not outs, 566 runs, average 92.66; A. Bennett, 14, 1, 575, 44.23; C. Chambers, 9,1, 326, 40.75; J. T. Tilyard, 7,0, 222, 31.71; B. Beaton, 8, 0. 241, 30.12; J. Howard, 11, 1, 277, 27.7; J. Darroch, 8,1, 142, 20.28. Bowling: J. T. Tilyard, 29 wickets for 307 runs, average 10.59; T. Russell, 13 for\l37, 10.69; J. Darroch. 18 for 208, 11.55; B. Beaton, 24 for 303, 12.02; E. Tanner, 11 for 144, 13.09; A. Bennett, 29 for 387, 13.34; G. Dumbleton, 17 for 269, 15.82; E. Killick, 11 for 179, 16.27. Of these players, Clothier, Bennett, Tilyard, and Beaton were in the Tramways team, the remainder being in the Dollar club. The D Grade. The Wright Stephenson team, winners of the D grade, has been in the league for three seasons, gaining promotion each season, this season being its first championship success. The leading averages were :— Batting: J. Davenport, 19 innings, 2 not outs, 644 runs, average 37.88; D. Blewett. 18, 3, 406, 27; A. Chudleigh, 17, 2, 345, 25; D. McLennan, 20. 1, 376, 19.8; H. Blewett, 19, 2, 318, 18.7. Bowling: A. Chudleagh, 69 wickets for 650 runs, average 9.42; I. Joy, 62 for 731, 11.8; D. McLennan, 38 for 480, 14. A Grade Averages. Following are the leading A grade averages : — , ■ Batting: ®. R. Jeffrey (Woolworths),

15 innings, 5 not outs, 659 runs, average 65.9; F. Oliver (Hannahs), 17, 3, 677, 48.3; J. H. Potier (Taubmans), 20, 3, 811, 47.7; M. Liddicoat (Amalgamated Bricks), IS, 2, 757, 47.3; H. Lowe (Hannahs), 16, 4, 549, 45.7; O. Meech (Woolworths), 19, 0, 815, 42.8; M. Morris (Amalgamated Bricks), 18, 2, 685, 42.8; A. Davis (W.M.C.), 17, 2, 626, 41.7; A. Ramsay (Prestige Hosiery), 14, 3, 452, 41 ; C. F. Wynne (Customs Agents), 16, 5, 452, 41; C. Murphy (Amalgamated Bricks), 12, 8, 154, 38.5; C. L. King (Celtic), .18, 2, 528, 33; J. A. Davidson (Celtic), 18, I. 550, 32.3; P. Kimmo (Celtic), 10, 2, 252, 31.5; G. Essen (W.M.C.), 16, 1, 450. 30. Bowling: F. E. de Clifford (Customs Agents), 42 wickets for 458 runs, average 10.9; L. MeGirr (W.M.C.), 43 for 503, 11. R. Hardie (Gaseo), 55 for 677, 12.3; Al. J. Goodson (Woolworths), 34 for 433, 12.7; G. Rait (Hannahs), 55 for 755, 13.7; W. Smith (W.M.C.), 36 for 495, 13.7; G. W. Johnston (Taubmans), 31 for 461, 14.8; Al. Morris (Amalgamated Bricks), 40 for 611, 15.2; P. Stiver (Woolworths), 44 for 702, 15.9; A. A. Jennings (Customs Agents), 55 for 910, 16.5; W. J. Matson (W.M.C.), 38 for 658, 17.3; R. Stephenson (Amalgamated Bricks), 36 for 638, 17.7; H. Bolt (Taubmans), 23 for 410,17.8 ; R. Phillips (Prestige Hosiery), 36 for 648, 18.2; J. H. Potier (Taubmans), 38 for 721, 18.9; F. Law (Celtic), 22 for 439, 19.9.

Meech and Potier had tbe highest batgting averages, and Hardie, Rait and Jennings each took 55 wickets, the highest number for the grade.