SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP.

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 23, 27 January 1923, Page 15

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP.

(By "Not Out.") Tha completion of the fifth series of Hatches in the senior competition has accounted for a marked change in the state of the championship ladder, Hutt by their decisive defeat of Wellington have increased their 'lead from one point to four points—a commanding advantage at this stage of the season, but one that has been earned. On performances this season. Hutt are undoubtedly the best all-round team in the competition, and in ..point of keenness they lack nothing. After, their meritorious .performance last season in getting the* maximum . result from five successive matches prior to the championship final, it was anticipated that they would be to the fore.in this seasons competition.. They were doing ■well, though not quite .-what, was expected of them, until they met Thorn : don, when, in an effort to change a certain three-point loss into a. fourpoint win, they fell short of. success by a small number of runs, and their opponents gained the full win. Against Wellington, who were running them close for leading position, the suburban team showed their true form, with the result that they have established a lead that will take a good deal of catching. On present appearances Hutt are the likely champions, but the final issue is far from settled, and surprises do occur in cricket. The Southern tour of the Wellington representatives ne^J month may have an effect upon the club matches, which will be continued while the representatives are away. The personnel of the representative team has not yet been made known, but it is certain that some of the senior teams will have their strength diminished 'more than others. For instance, Hutt are likely to be without four of their principals for two Saturdays. M'Girr Aldersley, and Condliffe being among the players chOEen to practice in view of the Southern tour, and Hughes, having been appointed to act as manager of the representative team. Midland] who are now running second to Hutt, may be without three of their players— Baker, J. Hutchings, and J. 'A. Bruce. Wellington, who have already suffered by the departure of Bernau from Wellington, will probably have two members chosen for: the Southern tour— Kortlang and Hiddlestqn. The. absence of those. players will give the teams which are not so much affected by the selector's choice a reasonable chance of success against the three leading' teams in the senior competition. There is just a chance, however, that matters may work out in such a way as to enable the representatives to assist their clubs on one day of each of the next two series of matches: According to the programme mapped out for the Southern tour, the representatives will be absent on the second day of tha club matches to commence on the 10th February, and on the first day ofHhe club matches commencing on the 24th February. It is unfortunate that the season's programme cannot be arranged in such a way as .to avoid the necessity of playing club matches when teams are handicapped through calls upon,players to take part in representative cricket, but there are so many big. games on this season's programme and so much time has been lost through bad weather, that any further postponements of club cricket would mean that the majority of players would receive scarcely half a season of cricket. _ The .continuation of the senior competition while the representatives are on tour will add interest to f.hft championship outlook. PLAY AND PLAYEES. " Wellington cricket is particularly well off for all-round cricketers this season, a statement' easily justified by a glance at the- list of outstanding performances each week, and' it is probable that the selector, would have very little difficulty in choosing a second eleven that jvould give an excellent account of itself against any of the provinces. Two players in the V.M.C.A.-Institute match last. Saturday who have distinguished themselves in both the batting and bowling departments of the game in recent, matches, were Fulton and Watson. Both men, although they have not so far found places in the Wellington representative eleven, have played consistently wejl this season, and there are few who would have i criticised Mr. Tucker had he included either of these men in the team to meet the Englishmen or to train in view of the Southern tour. Both Watson and Fulton have placed some fine batting and bowling performances to their credit, and they, appear to be right at the top of their form. In the match concluded at Kelhuru Park last Saturday, Watson played attractively for a score of 75 in Institute's first innings, and he was mainly responsible for dismissing V.M.C.A. so cheaply in their first innings, his bowling figures being six wickets for 63 runs. He sends down a nice length ball, which often succeeds in puzzling the best of batsmen. Fulton howled well in Institute's first innings, taking five wickets for 98 runs, and, although his batting in the same match was not out of the ordinary, he gave a sample of his prowess in that department of the game in the previous match, scoring a century in his first innings and going very near .to the hundred mark in the second. Apart from their value as run-getters and wicket-takers, however, both Watson and Fulton would be of great value. , as they are experienced men, and are bath endowed with the cricketing temperament. Watson's captaincy of the Institute eleven has been a feature of club cricket this season, and he knows how to place his field in order to get the most out of**it.

After his score of 64 not out against .Wellington, Jones failed to come to

light against Institute, and disappointment at his display was plainly expressed pn his face as he left the wicket. He opened Y.M.C.A.'s first innings with Fulton as his partner, and after blocking a number of balls from Malcolm and Wntson, and scoring a' single, he stepped out to a very good ball from Watson, and missed. It was not the action of a finished batsman by any means. Going out inopportunely to good balls has been the cause of many an early dismissal, and there are numerous batsmen who simply refuse to learn the lesson of patience. Patient batting, however, does not necessarily mean slow, unattractive batting, for there are few bowlers who keep on the wicket all the tim,e. A man^who can stay at the wicket and watch for loose ones until he is sum-' ciently " set" to take liberties with good balls is an asset to a team, although his popularity with those on the bank might not be as great as that of the man who'is able to force his play all the time.

Frank Joplin, the University man, who was a Wellington Representative some years ago, has been a long time finding his form this season, but he appears to have struck it at last. Playing against Auckland University at Christmas time he made 81 not out and 51 not out, and on Saturday, against Wellington, albeit a much-weakened Wellington, he made 174. Not before it was time, either, for in reply to Wellington's 135 University went down before Bartholomew so rapidly that six were out for 38. Joplin and Dighton then came together, and the two College masters took the score to 145 before the latter was' out for .30. What a pity Dighton neglects practice so much! Cousins was next, and forsaking his ,osual cautious methods, rattled up 54 very rapidly, 232 showing when he left. Broad and Joplin remained in possession until stumps were drawn, on the first day, with the University score 327 for eight -wickets. Broad's 36 not out was long overdue. It was carried to 65 last Saturday, and' then Tracy, the last man, joined Joplin, and held out until the latter was bowled by Bartholomew, 'Varsity's innings closing for 399. Wellington, in their second innings, were disposed of for 44, Spaekman, the Hawkes Bay representative, who is in Wellington on holiday, being top scorer with 10. During the match Joplin took four wickets for .16 runs, Lusk five for 18, and Cousins four for 15, so . whatever others may say about Duppa street, they at any rate should have no fault to find with it.

Griffiths, the' popular Institute secretary, did well with the bat in the last match, his 116 against V.M.C.A. bringing him well up in the honours list' for the day. Searle made 66, and but for these two, who took the score from three for 20 to four for 169, the Institute total would have been very moderate, as Lambert's 11 was the only other double-figure score. Sugden (79) arid Grant (35) added 66 for V.M.'s second wicket, and as the innings realised only 25 short of -Institute's, who had four down for -35 in their second essay, it looked pji if Institute would be hard put to it to record their first win. They were. The second innings realised only 77, and V.M.C.A. knocked up the necessary runs for the loss of two wickets, Sugden (54) again rendering good service with the bat. x There is no more sporting • team than the V.M.C.A. Third B team, who are really a band of young fellows connected with St. Mark's. s Most, if not all, of them, are young enough for the Fourth Grade, but as Arthuc, Birch has them in hand", and occasionally plays for them, they entered in the higher grade. Since they commenced operations at the beginning of last season they have had only one win, but they turn up smiling every Saturday, and appear. to enjoy their game thoroughly, even if success does not come their way. It was oh Saturday last that they met success for the first time, Birch (who, by the way, was farmery a Wellington representative) being ing mainly responsible for their defeat of Selwyn. Birch carried his bat for 76.

Tattersall, who has found a place in the Wellington representative ieam, is a late addition to the ranks of the Midland seniors. In, the reports of last Saturday's games the Midland wicketkeeper's name was shown as Wilson. Tattersall occupied the position, and during the course of Petone's second innings he assisted Bruce and Patrick in capturing the wickets <jf Finlayson and Cate respectively. Cate, himself a good 'keeper, had the novel experience of being stumped. It is many years since a rival with the gloves has accounted for such a decision against Cate. In the 1913-14 season Tattersall, then playing in Auckland, was selected to go to Australia with the New Zealand team, and on the tour he gained second place in the batting averages—innings 5, not out 3, total runs 67, average 33.5. Formerly he played for the Boys' High School in Christchurch.

Two bowlers who have been regarded as unlucky in not finding places in the Wellington team, are Holland (Wanganui) and Aldersley (Hutt). They continue to register good . performances; Playing for Wanganui against -North Taranaki this, week, Holland took eight wickets for 50 runs (5 for' 34 and 3 for 16). Aldersley's figures for the HuttWellington match read: Overs 19, maidens' 2, runs 75, wickets 6.

C. Dacre and D. R. Garrard have been 'batting exceptionally well since the second Test match. In Auckland last Saturday Dacre scored 124 (including three 6's), and Garrard scored 72. On the previous Saturday'Garrard knocked up 102. .

Canterbury is to lose one of its best players in E. D. Worker, who has accepted an appointment on the teaching staff of the Otago Boys' High School. Worker is an old boy of the Auckland Grammar School, and made'his introduction to Canterbury cricket about three seasons ago by starting off with a cen-' tury. -He learned his cricket under F. ahacklock, the veteran coach, now in Uinstchurch. LYALL BAY GROUND. < ,The Lyall Bay ground, familiar enough to iootballers, has just been brought into commission for cricket this season, and although Caretaker Longhurst is struggling along manfully and doing good work under difficulties, it is hardly suitable for grade cricket yet. The trouble appears to jie in the'porous nature of the soil, and an additional 'difficulty arises from the fact that those who fornied the ground in the first instance did ifct look • far enough ahead, and buried rocks all over it, so that most of the kinds of ground referred to in the parable of the Sower may be found within the compass of a wicket square. The only way to have decent wickets there would appear to be to specially lay them dowii;, This means money; but why should not the people of Lyall Bay, if they want to see their team playing in their own district, raise the needful themselves ? ". CLUB CO-OPERATION.' Mr. RoyS. Johnston, a former'secretary of the Wellington Cricket Association, has lost none of his interest in the game. In a recent issue of the "Dunedin Star" the following letter appeared above his signature:— "As one who has always taken a keen interest in the grand old. game of cricket, I have read with a great deal of pleasure your several sub-leaders on the sport. ' They prove your evident desire to stimulate interest in what is generally considered the finest of all pastimes*. The thought has flashed across my mind on many occasions as to what a splendid opportunity the Otago Association has of

improving its finances this season. It has occurred to me, after seeing the ordinary gate at the Auckland-Otago fixture, that some special effort is required to secure the full 'financial advantage of the remaining attractions. Owing to the weather interfering with club matches, the public have not had the opportunity of witnessing much cricket to waken up their interest sufficiently in the more important fixtures, and consequently the need for the special is urgent. Might I suggest to the association's officials that they organise the clubs and launch a ticket-selling campaign for, cay, the Wellington-Otago fixture, which is to take place next month. To encourage the clubs to give the campaign every help, they could be given 25 per cent, of the proceeds from'the tickets they sell, and the movement would thus also assist their finances. Next season the Otago Association will be called on under the Plunket Shield rules to again undertake the tour North, which will post at least £250, and I feel sure that if the sportloving public of Dunedin were appealed to they would readily respond and assist the association to fulfil this obligation. I will-be only too happy to co-operate in any way in working out details and launching the campaign on the lines suggested." Commenting upon the proposal tjie "Star" states:—"This club co-operation is ibeing successfully tried in Wellington, in view of that team's Southern tour this season, ( although the Wellington Association, possessed of a credit balance of about £900, stands in a far better financial position than the Otago Association, whose balance is understood to be at present on the wrong side of the ledger. Mr. "Johnston was actively connected with Wellington cricket, and prior to being transferred to Dunedin he had been hon. secretary and treasurer to the Wellington Association, whose funds on his departure showed the very healthy state above indicated. The Press reports .of the farewell given him by Wellington cricketers (our old friend Mr. 'Gillie' Wilson being one of the chief speakers) show that one of the association officials said that 'never in the history of the Wellington Cricket Association had local cricket been in such a position, financially and otherwise, as at the time of his departure,' and the financial state had been brought about by the untiring energy which Mr. Johnston had put into his work.' Thus the 'scheme now being put forward for the benefit of X)ta£o cricket is sponsored by no tyro, but by one who has worked hard and successfully for cricket elsewhere. For that reason we have all the more pleasure and confidence in cordially commending its whole-hearted- adoption by those whom it concerns and its generous, sunport by the public."

Out- First right Inn. Win. Win. L. Hutt 2 2 1 Midland 12 2 Wellington ... — 3 2 tnstitute ...... — 3 2 Petone ..i 2—3 Thoradon '1 1 3 Did Boys — 2 3 y.M.C.A — 14 Champ. D. Points. — 14 — 10 — 9 — 9 — 8 — 7 _ <i — 8