LEAGUE CRICKET NOTES AND COMMENTS

Evening Star, Issue 22816, 26 November 1937, Page 4

LEAGUE CRICKET

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(By J. V. C. W.)

HONOURS LIST. Batting.—W. Walker (T. and P.) 97, J. Gould (Town Hall) 59, C. Hayden (Hillside) 54, J. Bisset (Burts) 52, L. Pay (Hillside) 60, A. Eckhoff (Hillside) 46, L. Smith (Town Hall) 45, H. Murray (Town Hall) 43, S. Clarke (T. and P.) 42, R. Rodgers (Greggs Red G) 42, C. Inglis (Roslyn Mills) 41, E. Hughes (Pride of the Leith) 38, W. Neill (B.P. and L.) 38, P. Spence Telgineers) 36, A. Higgins (Standard) 36, L. Mussen (Self Help) 34, S. Knight (Speights) 32, J. Douglas (Otago Brush) 31, T. Roberts (Otago Brush) 30. L. Lees M.C.P.) 30, G. Watt (Inglis) 30. Bowling.—Riach (Greggs Red G.) eight for 8, Muir (Roslyn Mills) five for 5, Jackson (T. and P.) one for 1, Willers (Glen Ross) two for 2, Short (Otago Brush) six ' for 12, Cullen (Speights) five for 10, Allan (Lands) one for 2, A. Stent (Self Help) six for 14, Homer (Standard) five for 15, Collett (Post Office) four for 12, Hughes (Pride of the Leith) four for 12, Halliday (Tramways) two for 6, Smith (Railway) five for 16, Smith (M.C.P.) four for 13, Rodger (Greggs Red G.) two for 7, Walker (T. and P.) three for 10, Fox (T. and P.) two for 7, Hilliker (Tramways) three for 10, Adcock (R. and G.) four for 14, Templeton (Post Office) four for 14, B. Berry (Roslyn Mills) three for 19.

So far. as weather conditions for cricket are concerned, there has been very little to complain of this season. Although for a period last Saturday afternoon the light was not good, the clouds nxovedi on, and there was no interruption of play. At the end of the day E.P. and L. were leading in the A section (8 points), Roslyn Mills {7 points) being the next in order of merit. Otago Brush were again successful, and they lead in the B section, while Burts are at the top of the C section with one drawn game and three wins. * • * • There were plenty of cheap wickets secured' at the Oval on Saturday, and many of these, strange to relate, wore the leading batsmen of their respective teams. On© team made over 200 runs, two teams had totals over 150, and seven were well past the century mark. It took one team two innings to make 75 runs. Despite the fact that many .of the games were not commenced-be-fore 2.20, all matches were played put before 6 p.m. There were no drawh games. # , . * Umpires! The League requires more efficient umpires. True, there are many good umpires connected with teams, and the players appreciate their services every Saturday. It is a pity that every team has not an official umpire. However, there are some who do not appeair to know, or, if they know, fail to practise the most elementary things that are required of them when controlling the game. One of these essentials an umpire should always remember —he is the connecting link between the play and the score sheet. During the course of meandering from game to game on© is struck by the absence of signals from a number of umpires when boundaries and 6’s are scored. All over the ground you will hear the voices of the scorers (sometimes raised' in wrathful tones) : “What was that—a four or a six?” “ Was that a hit or a leg bye?” There would be no occasion for these questions if umpires would just give a little more attention to this important duty. It is to be hoped that this little constructive criticism will he taken in the same spirit as it is given—firstly, to help the scorers and secondly for the benefit of the game in general. • • • • That there exists among League players a true sporting spirit, intermingled with the competitive, is something which even the most casual observer cannot fail to notice. It is pleasing to record that what is commonly known at “ pot-hunting ” is not a pronounced feature«of the teams which play League cricket. It is because of this that many good players have joined up and continue from season to season to fill in their Saturday afternoons at the Oval. One member of a League team, S. Ringrose, has beeu connected with the Standard Club for 20 years. Besides having taken a keen interest in the executive offices, he has proved himself a good sport on the field. He has a safe pair of hands behind the wicket, and gets the maximum amount of enjoyment out of the game, ♦ « * * Everything looked rosy for Telgineers in their match with E.P. and L. With a respectable, total of 114 runs to their credit after first use of the wicket, the hopes of the supporters of Telgineers soared high, and their chances of winning were even more enhanced when the leading E.P. and L. batsmen were dismissed cheaply. Davis’s fast bowling worried the batsmen, few of whom could do anything with him. However, he was not getting the wickets as quickly as he sometimes does, and was replaced by slow bowlers. As it proved, this was a mistake, but it’s easy to be wise after a match. Everything seemed to go wrong in the later stages for Telgineers—dropped catches were expensive, and there were many heartaches. In an attempt to force a win Patton made rapid changes in the howling, but the E.P. and L. tail-enders hung on grimly, and in an exciting finish (a few minutes before 6 p.m.) carried the game to a successful issue for their side. This is the second narrow victory that E.P. and L. have had this season. They won by four runs the previous week-end. The principal scorers for the losers were P. Spence, 11. Garbutt, C. Patton, and G. Lament. E.P. and L. were well served by W. Neill and T. Gensik. The latter is a stylish hat who scores al round the wicket, and is also a good change bowler and a keen fieldsman. * * * * Pride of the Leith registered another win on Satudray. The batting of Loco was far from their true form. In fact, it has been disappointing, and clearly indicates that more net practice is ne-

cessary. Twenty-eight is the highest score made by any of the Loco batsmen this season, but there were no 28’s on Saturday—the Lodge bowlers, Hughes and E. Hellyer, saw to that. Loco were all out for 48 runs. The three E’s in the Pride of the Leith team—E. Hughes, E. Kerr, and E. Hellyer—with W. J. Duncan and R. Blyth, punished the bowlers to such an extent that nearly three times Loco’s total was reached. * * « * A surprise victory was scored by Hillside over Town Hall. The latter had first use of No. 13 wicket, which, by the way, had a had bump at the town end, from which many fast balls flew right over the heads of the batsmen. Several of Crawford’s (Hillside) deliveries rose sharply and struck the players. One found the ribs of J. Gould, who gamely carried on although he was badly hurt. This wicket should be given special attention by the groundsman at an early date. The Town Hall Cricket Club started well, and four of their number made the major portion of the good total of 181. The Hillsiders set their hacks to the wall and gave a bright hatting exhibition, the poor fielding of their opponents giving many chances to the batsmen, who took liberties and got away with them. When six wickets had fallen Town Hall’s total was passed, and the victors were heartily congratulated. The best batsmen on both sides are mentioned in the honours list at the head of this column. ».♦ * • As the scores clearly indicate, the piece of turf known as No. 2 pitch, on which the R. and G. v. Uoslyn Mills match was played, was a straightout batsman’s wicket. Stan Muir and Bert Berry, of the Roslyn Mills, would not take no for an answer, and a procession took place. These two bowlers shared the honours, Berry taking five for 19. Muir’s average (five for 5) was phenomenal. Only one R. and 6. batsman (A. Turnbull) reached double figures. The slip fielding of the Roslyn Mills team was first class, Berry again taking a sensational catch. The Roslyn Mills batsmen also found it hard to get going. However, C. Inglis came to light with a good knock of 41, and this gave his side a win. ' • • • • Speights (the winners) had an even gave with Railway. Stan. Knight gave a good all-round exhibition. He compiled 32 runs and took five wickets for 26. Cullen (Speights) also had a great howling average, five for 10, and Smith (Railway) kept a perfect length to take five for 16. * * « Eight of the Glen Ross batsmen, were dismissed before, . they had got-pror perly set and Inglis were, faced; with a very light task for. a win., Gensik and Watt (the only Inglis" bowlers necessary) did the damage. The howling analysis shows that the former took seven for 32 and the latter three for 25. Per medium of G. Watt, V. Gensik, P. Hanna, and A. Campbell, the Inglis team scored almost double their opponents’ total. * * * * Most of the Lands batsmen failed to maintain form against Post Office, the latter winning by 129 to 54. Ford was the only Lands player to make a stand. Many of the new team to League were tried out as bowlers and their performances varied considerably, the only qne to take more than one wicket being Carnahan, three for 32. The fielding of the Post Office side was keen, and both their bowlers, Collett and Templeton, had good averages. Baxter and Smiley were in their twenties when dismissed. « * * * Otago Brush, the leaders in the B section, had first use of the wicket in their match against M.C.P. Five of their batsmen reached double figures, I. Douglas being top-scorer with 31 runs, T. Roberts (30) was next, and P. Reid and A. Short were in the twenties. The last-named again showed the value of keeping a good length by taking six for 12. M.C.P. were defeated by 140 to 63 rhns.

In view of their excellent total of 212 against United, made in an hour and 20 minutes, it would appear that the Taieri and Peninsula team is coming back to its batting form of last season. On Saturday they were without the services of that hard-hitting batsman, Dave Trevathan, who has only been able to turn out in one match. It is pleasing to note that the other members have at last struck form with both hat and ball. Bill Walker played forceful cricket for his 97, and it was indeed unfortunate that he did not get his century. Two great hits from his bat sailed over the pavilion into the roadway. Clarke neatly compiled 42, and Harry Ashton was going well when he mistimed a slow one. Tom Walker and Harold Humphrey are slowly, but surely, getting into form. Chirnside (a natural hitter) has so far not been able to restrain himself, but with more practice he should get back to last season’s form. The young members of the team —Hogg, Adamson, and J. Fox —arc gaining more confidence with each match. The latter has shown himself to be a good change bowler, and this also applies to W. Jackson. Hill did not bowl on Saturday. This bowler’s first match feat of taking four wickets with successive balls has not been equalled, nor is it likely to be. Against United Bill Walker took three for 10, W. Jackson two for 2, Clarke three for 15, J. Fox two for 7. United’s best bowler was Greig, who took six for 43. Ashton is leading in the T. and P. Club points for the best fieldsman. He allowed no byes last Saturday. Ashton is closely followed by Walker and M'Donald. Mr A. Barnford w r as an impartial and efficient umpire.