MERCANTILE CRICKET

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 103, 25 January 1939, Page 6

MERCANTILE CRICKET

Enterprise Of Taubmans In

A Grade

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(By

Quidnunc.)

A remarkable change has come over the A grade competition in the Mercantile League cricket in the past tew weeks. With seven rounds completed, Amalgamated Bricks had a lead of eight points from Taubmans and Taxes Department, but their last three matches have each been drawn, yielding three competition points. Taubmans, on the other hand, showing commendable enterprise, have secured H points in their last three games (one five-point win and two three-point wins), and only just missed converting one three-point, win into an innings victory. As a result Taubmans have drawn level with Amalgamated Bricks. Their success has been due largely to the team s excellent bowling. J. Sandholm, in particular, having been in great form m recent games. In the last two matches he took 20 wickets for 117 runs, and now leads the A grade averages with 4o wickets at a cost of slightly over eight runs each. Taubmans' bowling strength may be gauged from the fact that three of their stock bowlers, Sandholm, Potier and Torrington, head the A grade averages. .

T. Barr’s Double Century. Sixteen sixes and nineteen fours were included iu T. Barr s 200 against bar* goods on Saturday. .The Gasco batsman gave a very dashing display. In such a free-hitting innings there were naturally many risky shots, but his knock was a delight to watch. Some years ago Tom Barr was a very successful senior cricketer for Institute. Particularly strong on the off, he is a most attractive batsman when in form, and gave the Sargoods fieldsmen a trying time. There were two singles only in his second 100 , remainder consisting of boundaries, three ballo were lost during the afternoon. A week or two ago Barr made 91. He has also run up other useful scores this season. It is rather a coincidence that at a period when he is having a most successful run, his brother, A. S. Barr (Celtic) is also showing a returu to his best form with 94 and 44 in recent games. A. S. Barr was also a former Institute senior player, and also excelled at Rugby, representing Athletic at full-back a few seasons ago.

More Than 700 Runs. So far this season F. Holz (Colonial Carrying Co.) has scored more than 790 runs, and appears to have excellent prospects of topping 1000. But. of even far greater merit is Holz’s interest in young players in the G grade, who he has also been coaching. On Monday of this week a team organized by Holtz, consisting mainly of bis colts, scored a meritorious victory over a scratch side which included a number of A and B grade players.

Among Holz's colts is quite a promising left-ha-nd bowler E. Montgomerie, who took four wickets for 20 runs, including the “hat trick,” on Saturday .

Close Finish. Neither Woolworths nor Prestige Hosiers’ were at full strength on Saturday. The former, in particular, fielded a very scratch side, Jeffrey, Wiren and Davies being notable absentees, and did very well to total 252. Prestige Hosiery fell six runs short in their reply. The side was given a great start by Kemp and Moore, but the later batsmen were unable to withstand Goodson’s steady fowling. Moore, a newcomer from Victoria, compiled a very sound century. His three innings since joining Prestige Hosiery have yielded 35, 57, and 10o> Ji total of 197 runs with an average oi 60.

First Win of Season. After a lean run so far this season, Customs Agents registered their first win in the A grade on Saturday. To beat the solid 'Working Men’s Club team was to create a surprise, but the win was clearcut and convincing. A feature of the game was the pleasing return to form shown by S. Brooks for Customs Agents in taking three wickets and rattling up 68.

Hatch’s Century'. The sparkling century scored by K. Hatch for public Service against a Wellington eleven captained by C. S. Dempster last week was extremely popular among Mercantile League cricketers, Hatch being a member of the laxes Department A grade team. A former Manawatu'representative and brother ot It. Hatch, who has represented M ellington, K. Hatch has been showing fine form tor Taxes Department and is one of the leaflets in thp Mercantile League A grade batting averages. He was not available for the special matches set down for

December 3. when Mercantile League teams were heavily defeated by Wellington Cricket Association elevens. Some degree of satisfaction, therefore, was gained from his enterprising century last week against some of Wellington’s leading senior bowlers.

Lively Scoring. Some lively scoring was seen in the B gxade match between Justice Department and Grey Cabs on Saturday. M. K. Boon, who made 40 for Justice Department, hit 30 runs__off one over. Thompson, who made 53 in Grey Cabs' first (linings, bit 29 off one over. Boon and J. C. Dow. who made an attractive 67. both gave excellent displays for Justice Department, scoring with welltimed shots to all parts of the field. The fielding of Justice Department was another pleasing feature of the match, and played a big part in the team being able to force a five-point win, thus placing it two points ahead of U.L.M. iu the B grade.

Last Wicket, Last Over. After Gasco had piled up 377 runs for six wickets in 2} hours, which is one of the highest scores recorded in the Mercantile League, Sargoods fought bard to avert, defeat, being content to play for a draw. Fine bowling by Hardie had the side struggling, and amid excitement the last wicket fell in the last over of the day.

Leading Averages. Following are the leading A grade averages:— Batting: J. -Moore (Prestige Hosiery), 3 innings, 197 runs, average 65.6; B. Mitchell (Harbour Board), 9 innings, 3 not outs, 311 runs, average 51.8; K. Hatch (Taxes Dept.), 8,0, 384, 48; W. Smith (W.M.C.), 9, 1. 360. 45; W. Jupp (Harbour Board), 10, 1. 374, 41.5; J. Ward (Amalgamated Bricks), 8,1, 290, 41.4; A. Ers'kine (Jasco), 7,2, 204. 40.8; J. H. Potier (Taubmans), 10, 2, 317, 39.6; M. Liddicoat (Amalgamated Bricks). 10, 0, 351, 35.1 ; J. Allen (Taxes Dept.). 9, 0. 295. 32.7; R. Kemp (Prestige Hosiery). 9,0, 2.89, 32.1; A. Davis (W.M.'C.), 9. 0.'273. 30.3; F. de Clifford (Amalgamated Bricks), 9. 3. 174 , 29; D. Wiren (Woolworths), 10. 1. 256. 28.4; H. Lowe (Hannahs), 9. 1, 222, 27.7; H. Prince (Harbour Board), 9, 3. 165, 27.;5. Bowling: J. Sandholm (Taubmans). 45 wickets for 369 runs, average 5.2; J. 11. Potier (Taubmnn.«). 33 for 283, S.S; P. Torrington (Taubmans). 13 for 116, 8.9: M. J. Goodson (IVoolworths). 42 for 409. 9.7; G. Herd (Amalgamated Bricks). 30 for 319 10.6: C. Murphy (Amalgamated Bricks). 13 for 148. 11.3; F. de Clifford (Amalgamated Bricks), 35 for 401, 11.4; Tj Beveridge (Taxes Dept.). 24 for 299, 12.4; L. McGirr (WLM.C.). 15 for 204. 13.6"; K. Hatch (Taxes Dept.),. 33 for 46° 14: F. Brvant (Customs Agents). 22 for 238. 15.3 ;’W. J. Matson (W.M.C.). 19 for 311. 16.3.