RAIN STOPS PLAY

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 118, 12 February 1940, Page 6

RAIN STOPS PLAY

Wellington Senior Club Cricket ONLY ONE GAME With the Wellington representative team away in Dunedin, battling against Otago for the Plunket Shield Wooden Spoon, there would have been an opportunity on Saturday for promoted juniors to show their capabilities. They did not have a chance, however, as on Saturday afternoon heavy rain came on about 1 o’clock, and prevented all but the match between Hutt and Wellington College Old Boys, on the Hutt Recreation Ground, from being continued.

In spite of steadily falling rain, Old Boys, with two wickets down for 02 runs, continued their attempt to head the Mult total of 195. The not out men, N. S. 11. Burnette and R. H. Lamason, ran the score to 81, where Burnette, who had reached 21, was taken by Fowler behind the sticks off Muir. He had assisted R. Lamason to put on 70 for the third wicket. The Hutt bowlers were handicapped by the greasy ball and insecure foothold. R. H. Lamason, after a sound innings for GO was bowled by Champness, and J. R. Lamason hit hard for 39 till caught by Wall off Champness. There were two adjournments because of heavy rain, and at 4.25 p.m. the match had to be abandoned because of a heavy downpour. Old Boys’ score then stood at 156 for seven wicketa, and the match thus ended in a draw. Champness bowled exceptionally well for Hutt in taking five wickets for 60 runs. As the result of rain preventing pinion Saturday the four leading teams for the championship all come into the running. Kilbirnie, in spite of their defeat by Midland, are still leading with 31 points, but Wellington College Old Boys are hard on their heels with 29 points. Next come Midland and Hutt with points, so it will be seen that only four points separate the teams. This should increase interest in the remaining two matches. . , As the result of rain preventing play on Saturday. Midland beat Kilbirnie by 57 runs on the first innings; Karon beat University by 40 runs on the first innings, with five wickets still in hand ; and the game between ■Wellington and Institute Old Boys was left drawn, as was the match between Hutt and Wellington College Old Boys. Karori. by beating University, have now drawn level with that team, and Institute Old Boys are left at the bottom of the ladder with 9 points.

CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE

THE SCOREBOARD Hutt v. Old Boys. Hutt.—First innings, 195. Wellington College Old Boys.—First innings, seven wickets for 156: P- Rough, c. Buchan, h. Champness, 5; D. Alexander, c. Fowler, b. Champness, 4; N. Burnette, c Fowler, b, 'Muir, 21; It. Lamason, b. Champness, (!0; J. Lamason, c. Wall, b. Chainpness, 39; A. Thompson, c. and b. Champness, 6; R. Earl, not out, 11; L. Brown, c. Muir, b. Buchan, 4; <T. Reynolds, not out, 1; extras, 5. Bowling; B. J. Chainpness, five for 60; R. Buchan, one for 43; E. Gillies, none for 6; C. Muir, none for 37.

LOWER GRADES

In spite of tho heavy rain on Saturday afternoon, a number of the matches in the Wellington Cricket Association's lower grade championship competitions were continued, and some were finalized. Results :— Second Grade. Onslow, 113 anti 30 for one wicket (Bringans 20), beat Johnsonville, 95. by IS runs on the first innings, A live-point win for Onslow. Institute, 170 (Bartleet 41 not out, Rogers 43, Stevens 24), beat Hutt, 101 (Wright 17, Turner 14) and 92 for eight wickets. Bowling for Institute, Crook took four for 45 and six for 32, Bartleet four for 48. Third Grade. Brooklyn, 208 (Wright 54, Alexander 39 not out, Pickett 20), 'beat Hutt, 133 (Green 41 not out, Chapman 29). Bowling for Hutt, Pegler took four for 39. Sullivan three for 51; for Brooklyn, Reynolds Look five for 52. Fifth Grade. Petono East, 300, beat Onslow, 43 and 150 (Adams 34, Scollay 31, Reid 23), by an Innings and 107 runs. Bowling for Petoae East, Ross took eight for 63. An eightpoint win for Petone East. Hutt, 288 (Lockett 61, Heap 52, Bach 45). beat Railways, 152 (Bailey 56). Bowling for Railways, Gray took three for 32; for Hutt, Heap took five for 50, Hunt three for 30. Sixth Grade. Midland, 260 (Kennedy 97, Mouatt 41, Ilickett 32, Howatson 32). drew with Hutt, 216 for six wickets (Grant 64 not out. Grant 53, Rodgers 32 not out). Bowling for Hutt, Anderson took seven for 77, Heald two for 48; for Midland, Stewart took four for 73. Seventh Grade. Onslow, 83 and 118 for five wickets (Cotterell 51 not out, Richards 23 not out), beat Institute B, 77 and no, by five pickets. Bowling for Institute, Bean took three for 31. An eight-point win for Onslow. Johnsonville, 97 (Dean 24. Hocking 24), boat Kilblrnie B, 47 (Cameron 33) and 35. by an Innings and 15 runs. Bowling for Kilblrnie, Hawkey took six for 16: for Jolinsonville, Neal took six for 21 and live for 6, A. Masterton four for 22 and live for 20. Eighth Grade. St. Patrick's College Old Boys A. 60 for no wickets (Clifford 38 not. out), met Onslow B, the match being abandoned owing to rain. Onslow C, 20 for two wickets met St. Patrick's College Old Boys B, the match being abandoned 011 account of rain. Hutt, 125 for six wickets < King 35 not out. Liver 35, Rodgers 26), drew with Wellington.

IN OTHER CENTRES

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) Christuliureli: All cricket on Saturday was postponed because of Tain. Auckland; For the fifth successive Saturday rain interfered with the AukInml cricket championships yesterday only about, two hours play being possible. Ponsonby-Balinorul scored 81 for live against. Middlctnore; Y.M.A.C.. GO for live against Eden'; Parnell, 97 for five against University.

MERCANTILE LEAGUE

Few Matches Played Because of heavy rain, very few matches under the auspices of Hie Wellington Mercantile Cricket League wore played on Saturday. In most eases the captains of fctitns agreed to postpone their matches before a start was made. One A grade match was begun, Working Men’s Club, the leading team, sending Tankmans in to bat. After about 45 minutes’ play lite game was abandoned, Tankmans having lost one wicket for 42 runs. One G grade match was also started and later abandoned. Il is considered probable that the management committee will cancel any games purlitilly played on Saturday and order the whole round Io be replayed, a precedent for this action having already been established.

8pt. AV. ■5pt. AV. D. L. Pts. Kilbirnie o 3 0 3 31 AVgtn. Coll. O.B. Midland . 0 , 0 5 1 1 2 29 27 Hutt . 1 Wellington .... . 0 3 1 4 J < Karori . o 1 □ 12 University ..... . 0 2 1 5 12 Institute . 0 1