PLUNKET SHIELD

Evening Star, Issue 22261, 12 February 1936, Page 4

PLUNKET SHIELD

WON BY WELLINGTON LAMASON'S BRILLIANT CENTURY GREAT THIRD WICKET STAND [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, February 11. Though Auckland secured a first innings lead Wellington avoided outright defeat with comparative ease in the Plunket Shield cricket match at the Basin Reserve to-day, and won the shield. Wellington beat Canterbury and Otago outright, and lost on the first innings to Auckland, scoring 18 points. Auckland scored an outright win over Otago and beat Canterbury and Wellington on the first innings, scoring 16 points. To-day Auckland, replying to Wellington’s first innings total of’ 152, made 235. A declaration in an effort to force an outright win was not made, the visiting captain preferring to let his batsmen get the runs quickly or get out. Wellington batted all afternoon for 308 for five wickets, the feature being a great stand of 201 for the third wicket by Lamason, who played a brilliant innings of 127, and M'Leod who shaped’ very solidly for 94. The Auckland batsmen sought to push the score along in the morning so as to leave sufficient time to dismiss Wellington. Two wickets fell quickly, Wallace (45 not out overnight) being brilliantly caught after making 56. Hook was clean bowled by a fast one, and Auckland then had five men out for 134. Postles and Garrard then added 46 in 22 minutes. Postles (23 not out at the end of the first day) helped to raise the score from 40 to 180 and played a most valuable innings. Garrard batted aggressively in making 40 in 46 minutes. Cowie, who was sent in with instructions to hit, slammed a slow ball into the hands of Griffiths, and Edmonds was well taken at deep fine leg. Pearson forced the pace well at the finish of the innings before Andrews, the last man, was run out at 235. The Wellington bowlers, who were well handled in the morning, made it not at all easy for the visiting batsmen to score runs at a fast pace. Griffiths was effective with his slow bowling, taking four for 55 in 14 overs in the morning, making it five for 90 for the innings. P.arsloe, a fast-medium bowler, worked very earnestly, and for a time bowled well. For its effectiveness the bowling depended almost wholly on these two, especially the slow bowler.

Moloney and M'Leod, opening for Wellington on a perfect batting wicket, took their time in putting up 55 in 75 minutes. Since Wellington could not win on the first innings, the only other game open to the home team was to prevent an outright win by Auckland. From a tactical point of view the slow batting in the first two hours after lunch was justified. Some of the spectators, however, did not relish the dullness of the play and barracked the batsmen. After Moloney had gone Lamason and M'Leod in a great partnership put all prospect of a collapse out or count and made the shield safe for Wellington. M'Leod took 215 minutes for 94. Following the cheap dismissal of Ell, Lamason attacked the bowling with resolution and effect. He reached 50 in 60 minutes, not being troubled by the bowling, though he was dropped on the boundary at 77. He then went on complete a brilliant century in 95 minutes. He was in for two hours for For variety and soundness of stroke play it was probably the best innings he has ever played for Wellington. The Auckland bowlers stood up to their heavy task _on a hard wicket with great determination, though they showed signs of tiredness after the afternoon tea adjournment, when it became obvious that the fate of the shield was decided. Details: —-

M.C.C. TOUR MATCH AGAINST* POVERTY BAY £Per United Press Association.] GISBORNE, February 11. Excellent weather conditions prevailed for the commencement of the match between Marylebone and Poverty Bay. Holmes won the toss, and Sims opened the visitors’ score with a single, but a few balls later was clean bowled by Blathwayt. Hardstaff joined Parks, and by noon the pair had carried the score to 38. The two slow bowlers reduced the scoring rate, but the half-century appeared in 35min. Hardstaff, with fine scoring strokes, soon overhauled Parks, but after scoring 39 was bowled by Blathwayt. Holmes, after opening quietly, was tempted to open out to Stewart, and was caught by Sharp. At the luncheon adjournment three wickets were down for 90. Buns came freely after lunch, Mit-chell-Innes scoring especially quickly, and eventually being given out Ibw with his total at 43. Human followed, and immediately attacked the bowling, but lost Parks, who played very solidly for 46. Human hit out at everything and the score mounted rapidly to 206, when the closure was applied. With slightly less than two hours to play, Poverty Bay opened its innings. Boon scored five off the first three balls, but was soon out to a catch for 12. Four wickets were down for 26, but a fine fighting innings by Reeves, who played chaneeless cricket, took the total to 105 just before stumps. Reeves Kit three 4’s in his 51 and frequently found gaps to the off for dashing drives. Details:—

M.G.C. —First Timings.— Parks c and b Sharp ... 45 Sims b Blathwayt 1 Hardstaff h Blathwayt 39 Holmes e Sharp b Stewart 8 Mitchell-Innes ibw b Robertson ... 43 Human not out 50 Langridge not out 15 Extras ... 5 Total for five wickets (declared) 206 Bowling Analysis.—Blathwayt, 16 overs, 9 maidens, 2 wickets, 45 runs; James, 23 overs, 6 maidens, 0 wickets, 52 runs; Robertson, 11 overs, 0 maidens, 1 wicket, 40 runs; Sharp, 9 overs, 0 maidens, 1 wicket, 37 runs; G. H. Stewart, 5 overs, 0 maidens, 1 wicket, 27 runs. POVERTY BAY, . ‘ —First Innings.— Boon e Langridge b Lyttelton ... 12 James b Baxter ... ... 5 C. Fraser c Langridge b Baxter ... 1 Robertson Ibw b Baxter 2 Dow c Human b Langridge 3 Reeves Ibw b Sims 51 Bennett b Read ... 3 Carroll c Mitchell-Innes b Langridge ... 0 Blathwayt c Lyttelton b Langridge 0 Sharp riot out ... 12 Stewart b Sims 0 Extras ... ... 16 Total 105

OTAGO TEAMS The Otago team to play Canterbury in the Plunket Shield match will leave for Christchurch by the 11.35 a.m. express to-morrow. The team to meet Southland will travel to Invercargill by the 4.40 express on Friday evening. The team which will play North Otago will leave by bus from Manse street at 7 a.m. on Saturday; and the Colts’ team to meet South Otago at Kaitangata will leave by bus from Manse street at 8 a.m. the same day. The match between Otago and Central Otago will be played at Carisbrook, commencing at 10.30 on Saturday.

Any members of the above teams who are unable to play are asked to advise the secretary (Mr E. S. Wilson) immediately.

BOYS' FIXTURES The following is the draw for the boys’ matches to be played on Saturday : Senior A.—Christian Brothers v High School IV., at Logan Park No. 1; M’Glashan v. Carisbrook, at Logan Park No. 2; King’s A v. High School VI., at Littlebourne. , Senior B.—King’s B v. High School V., at Littlebourne; Kaikorai v. High School VII., at Logan Park No. 3; High School VIII. v. IX., at Logan Park No 4. Junior A.—Christian Brothers B v. King’s C, at Logan Park No. 5; M'Glasban v. High School X-. .at Logan Park No. 6; Grange v. Dunedin, at Logan Park No. 7. Junior B.—Christian Brothers O v. King’s D. at Logan Park No. 8 : King’s E v. High School XT., at Littlebourne: High School XIT. v. Boys’ Brigade, at Logan Park No. 9.

FOOTBALLER TRANSFERRED HEA2LEWMD FOR CHRISTCHURCH L. K. Heazlewood. the well-known Rugby full-back, left Auckland this week" on transfer to the Addington Railway Workshops. He has had a distinguished football career, having represented the South Island (at_ centre in 1927) and fielded as custodian for Otago, Wellington. Auckland, and the North Island (1929). During his stay in Auckland of nearly four years, “ Toucher ” has played for the Manukau Rugby Club, and lias been a useful all-round cricketer in the Manukau team which won the 1934 and 1935 senior championship of the Auckland City and Suburban Cricket Association, and is in. the lead this summer, too.

OARSMEN SPECULATIVE PROVINCIAL EIGHT PUZZLE SUGGESTED SELECTIONS DISCUSSED [By Coxswain.] What is Otago’s eight to be? Who are to be the lucky oarsmen selected to challenge Wanganui in the ninth interprovincial eight-oar championship at Easter? How many old and experienced members, who have given faithful and reliable service in past contests, are to be substituted by younger but keener rowers? These queries and many more fill, ■to the exclusion of. every other topic, the minds of a number of local oarsmen at the present moment. These young men comprise the Upper and Lower Harbour eight-oar crews, which will race at Dunedin to-morrow evening, not only in an event of marked public interest, but also "for the benefit of the provincial selectors. When the interprovincial eights were instituted in 1928, and for at least five subsequent seasons, this province was favoured with a reserve of capable oarsmen, who won for it the distinction of a second in the initial contest and wins in the five successive ones. Over that period no drastic alteration was required from year to year in the representative _ crew; in fact, in that time interprovincial honours were conferred on only 16 oarsmen. But the backbone of the selections, so to speak, has deteriorated with time. Oarsmen of those days showed a tendency to lose their dash and had to be forsaken for worthier representatives to uphold what prestige they had earned for the province. Thus, in the past two seasons, when the title has been claimed and retained by Wanganui, the total number of representatives has increased to 20, though this is still a minor consideration when remembered that it extended over eight years. RECOGNITION OF YOUTH. Nevertheless, Otago has taken second place in the Dominion championship for rowing, and, since it has the strength to do so, it should be given an opportunity to retrieve it. Youth would do this. “ Coxswain ” has pressed their claims throughout the current season—even before it began—and while the selectors have not favoured such a scheme, according to the personnel of the Upper and Lower Harbour crews, it seems as though there remains a chance for the introduction to interprovincial ranks of some new blood. It is necessary; it must be done if Otago is to earn again space for its name on the Hallyburton Johnstone Cup. So here again is expressed, the hope that the best combination will be constructed from the pliable material at hand. It is far from the writer’s mind to criticise the present selections. They are admirable, and the crews should, by their performances, only succeed in making it more difficult for the selectors to find their rep. eight. Experience has been sandwiched with the vigour of novices, though the latter perhaps does not fulfil expectations. But it appears certain that, whatever eight is chosen from the members of these crews, it will worthily uphold the interests of the province. Crew after crew can be pencilled out of the names presented. One can spend much time m doing this, and yet be little further ahead, so many features having to be considered—features which will also puzzle the selectors when confronted with them after to-morrow night’s race. FORM v. REPUTATION. On their form this season —and ..especially in the interclub eights and, at last Saturday’s regatta—the following cannot be overlooked :—Solomon’, Verngreen, Mitchell, Pithie, Thorn, Binnie, Bae, Hogan, and M'Calhim, On past performances find the reliability already referred to, one recognises the claims of Vallis, Clark, Stiles, Brough, Matheson, Eggers, and Neilson. Some come under both headings —Solomon, Pithie, and Thorn, for instance—and that takes in every name except the emergencies, who, are both sound oarsmen. So where is one to start? After due deliberation, always keeping an eye for youth at any hurdle, one finds himself settled on the following eight:—Mitchell (stroke), Solomon (7). Vallis (6), Stiles (6), Verngreen (4), Pithie (3), Neilson (2), and Thorn (bow). Sound arid well-balanced, without question, and allowing for a definite change in the mould for the crew.

Mitchell has, by his performances in the Port eight and club four, earned a niche for himself, and stroke is the logical seat. Vallis is not fitted for it this season. His worn-out finish in the Otago Club eight was sufficient proof, yet elsewhere in the crew he will be of value. Solomon is perhaps the “ moral ” of the boat—No. 7 in six crews so far and No. 5 in the other two. And he still rows well. Stiles, after his win with Vallis in the senior pairs at Port on Saturday, has to be considered. Verngreen is a man whose weight has always handicapped him, and it is to be hoped he may be fitted in somewhere, as suggested, this time. He deserves it. Pithie rowed With the eight two years, ago at Dunedin, arid has since maintained a fine standard or oarsmanship. Neilson is a light but powerful man—just the type for bowend of a boat—and his experience is something which cannot casualty be waived aside. Thorn is a bow in a hundred, and a worthy successor to Pritchard, who has rowed many a tine race for Otago. Thorn occupied this position two years ago, _ and seems ready to step into it again. FEW ALTERNATIVES.

That explains the reasons for the winter’s selection, but there is still some talk that Clark, who has certainly been off colour lately, may he iriven control of the boat again. True, he would not wittingly let down his province—nor would “ Mick Brougn, for that matter—but he seems to be iiusuited for the job at this juncture. Were he selected, however, it would appear as if Mitchell might substitute for Neilson, though Clark himself will realise that such a course might not be as wise as if he were left to carry on for his club at the popular Queenstown regatta. Speculation must necessarily continne until the final announcement is made, probably some time after the race to-morrow night, but it is confidently expected that the combination selected will, even if it fails to regain the championship, contribute a performance that will in no way disgrace Otago, the home and training centre of many notable oarsmen.

WELLINGTON. First innings ... ... .. 152 Second Innings. Moloney b Garrard ... 29 M'Leod b Hook .... 94 Ell st Edmonds b Garrard 4 Laraason c Edmonds b Garrard ... 127 Morgan not out 20 Blandford c Edmonds b Garrard 4 Gallichan not out 5 Extras 25 Total for five wickets .. 308 —Bowling Analysis.— O. M. R. Cowie 12 2 34 Townsend ... 21 6 53 Andrews ... 23 5 48 Garrard ... 31 5 95 Postlcs ... 5 — 29 Hook ... ... 5 1 24 W. 4 1 AUCKLAND. First Innings. Whitelaw b Symes 10 Mills b Parsloe 4 Townsend st Blandford b Griffiths 9 Wallace c Lamason b Griffiths ... 56 Postles st Blandford b Griffiths ... 51 Hook b Parsloe 8 Garrard b Griffiths 40 Cowie c Symes b Griffiths 4 Edmonds c Ell b Parsloe 8 Pearson not out 27 Andrews run out 2 Extras 16 Total 235 —Bowling Analysis.— 0. M. R. Parsloe 22 5 51 Symes 13 5 30 Griffiths ... 23 — 90 Gallichan ... 14. 2 41 Lamason ... 5 2 7 1 I