CRICKET

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 3802, 12 April 1913, Page 9

CRICKET

VALE 1912-13. . Saturday saw the curtain rung down on the 1912-13 cricket season in Gisborne. For the fifth time in succession the Wanderers Club have carried off premier honors, though this season they have been given a closer run than for many years past.

• * . * The Alhambra Club, .which was in the first year of its existence in the senior grade in the Saturday Competition, made a fight with the Wander-

ers. The first meeting between these clubs 'resulted in a draw, though play was all in favor of tho older club. Wanderers won tho second match on the first innings, and the third was abandoned owing to rain.

Wanderers won every match during the season, except that against Taruheru, which was played while the four cracks of the team, McMahon, Young, Ellis and Moore, were absent with tho Poverty Bay representative eleven in Napier. * * * ' Alhambra were within one point of tho leaders- in the last round, but threw away all chance they might have had by going down to Kia Kaha at Taruheru. ' * * * * Alhambra are a young team, and with the experience they have gained may he able to wrest tho Barry Cup from the Wanderers next season.

THE WANDERERS’ TOUR.

GISBORNE’S CHAMPION TEAM PERFORM IN THE SOUTH.

A HIGHLY ENJOYABLE TRIP

The AVanderers’ tour to Isapicr, Dannevirke and Hastings was as enjoyable a cricket jaunt as has probably ever been undertaken by any band of cricketers in the Dominion.

The team was treated with the most unbounded hospitality at each centre, and proved that they could put a game which would have done credit to an average representative eleven.

At Napier the Wanderers wore opposed by a strong combined team, which included- eight men who have won representative honors. Such capable players as Creed, Richards, H. B. Lusk, Smyrk, Brownette, Rev. Blamires Boulnois and Chadwick (the exOtago rep.) figured on the Napier side.

The AVanderers went down by 195 in this match. Lusk won the toss for Napier, and Smyrk (66), Chadwick (35), Lusk (25), and Creed (23) were responsible for the Bulk of the runs.

Ellis bowled exceptionally well for AA’anderers in this match. He was turning tho ball from both sides, and varying his pace cleverly. He cleanbowled both Lusk and Chadwick with very fine leg-breaks. His five for 60 of 109 balls was a capital bowling effort.

Len. McMahon failed to strike a length with his slows, and was consequently more expensive than usual. His tallv worked out at four for 90.

The AVanderers batsmen, who had not struck form, failed to shape up to expectations in this match.

Harry Ellis, who put on 41 in good style, was the solitary exception. He made some fine forcing shots to the on,-and seemed set for a good score when lie popped Creed into Chadwick’s hands at mid-on.

Creed (four for 33) and Smyrk (lour for 42) bowled well for Napier.

AVanderers followed on, and at call of time had lost five wickets for 130. Moore (42), Young (26), Ellis (24), AViison (17), and Gibson (11) nil shaped confidently.

Tho match would haie proved an interesting one could it have been played out.

AT DANNEVIRKE. The match against Danneviike was played on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday, and here the Wanderers met another combined team, consist, ing of players from Dannevirke, Norsewood, and Waipukurau.

The home team won the toss, and made a promising start, White and J. Fayen putting on 30 for the first wicket.

L. Wilson then joined Fayen, and another good stand was made, the pair taking tho score to 63 before the second wicket fell.

The Gisborne men imagined they were'in for some leather hunting, but the batting fell away, and Leu. McMahon, coming on with his slows, went through tho remainder of the side quickly, the innings closing for 110.

A coincidence about the Dannevirko team was that father and soil were included in it. These were H. Fayen, an old veteran of -54 years of age, and his son, J. Fayen, a promising colt of 26 summers.

Tho veteran proved that there was life in the old dog yet by making 14 with the bat and sending down fifteen overs at a cost of 54 runs.

'Wanderers got going in their first innings, and! ran up tho tidy score of 252.

Jim Moore led the way with a finelymade 116. Ho showed the soundest of defence, but came down heavily on anything at all loose.

Alhol Young struck form again with the oat and his 59 was an exhilarating display. He swung them to leg in liis well-known dashing style, and drove with great power.

Dannevirko totalled 144 in their second innings. J. Fayer, the Norsewood colt, again top-scored, his 42 being a really good effort.

Fitzherbert (29), L. Wilson (28), Davis Canning (11), and Ward (11), were the next highest scorers.

The Wanderers captain put on every man on the side to have a boivl; otherwise the score would not have been nearly so large.

Young with four for six howled best for Wanderers.

Requiring 3 runs to win, McColl and Muldcon hit them off without loss. Ono over finished the match, McColl hotelling three off AVard. The over was finished out, and Muldoon was given out lbw. * , * ,

The AVanderers team was entertained at a smoke social at Andrews’ Hotel on the Thursday night. Mr AV. LeVelle, vice-president of the Dannevirke Cricket Club, presided, and in proposing the toast of tho visitors, said that it was seldom that a firm could put such a strong all-round side in the field as the Gisborne Brewery team had proved itself to me. It reflected high credit on the firm that it could organise such a side from amongst its employees, and the fact that they had travelled so far afield said much for their enterprise. The visitors, lie stated, find not only won admiration on the field,- but their social qualities had earned the respect of the people of Dannevirke, who would be glad to see them back again any time they cared to come along. Mr H. Fayen, in responding to the toast of the veterans, said he would do his best to bring a team to Gisborne to return the visit next season, and would gladly make on oil the party. ',

The AVanderers thoroughly enjoyed their stay in Dannevirke, and were genuinely sorry to leave the good sports they had mot in tho clean and prosperous little bush centre. The only thing they did not wish to bring away with them was the climate. It blew great guns all tlio time the Gisbornites were there, and rain threatened throughout tho stay. A strong westerly came with an icy breath off the Ruahine ranges, which were shrowded in rain clouds. It was a new atmosphere for tho Northerners, who had come from a droughtstricken district. THE HASTINGS MATCH. The AVanderers looked forward with keen interest to their meeting with the chosen of the Christchurch of Hawke’s Bay. Cricket has taken a decided forward move in Hastings during the past two seasons. A district Association, with six senior clubs, was formed last year, and altogether now life had been imparted to the good old game.

There were representatives from each of the six clubs in the eleven which, met the AVanderers at Cornwall Park on Saturday. The Gisborne men were pleased to see some familiar faces among their opponents. These included Billy Young, Sam Geako and Dad Richardson, all of whom had visited Gisborne with Hawke’s Bay representative elevens, and Ted C'olthart, the one-time AVaingake player.

Len. McMahon won the toss for the first time on tho tour, and ihe AVanderers, despite- the fact that the wicket was kicking a good deal, put oil the rcsnectable total of 266.

Harry Ell is failed to get- going, hut on Gibson joining Young a. fine stand was made, tlie total being taken from 15 to 121 before the second wicket fell.

Young, though lie was dropped when 18 from an easy chance in the slips, gave a capital exhibition of free flitting in running up 90. His hooking and driving were a treat to watch, the strokes being beautifully timed, with all the wood behind them.

Len. McMahon got going in bis best style, and his 61 not out showed Len. at his best. He, too, had a slice of luck, as he was dropped behind the wickets early in his innings. Steve Wilson played a bright innigs for 38, hitting with the greatest confidence. The Wanderers’ luck was in, as Steve, like Young and McMahon, should have gone early from a mishit To C’oltliart at mid-oil. Hastings failed in their effort with the bat, their total only reaching 96. Sam Gcake, an old Bendigo player, who was coached by the well-known Victorian veteran, Jack Harry, handled his bat liicely for 33, and played a lot of good bowling well. Sam also got through a heavy day’s bowling, in all sending down 32 overs for 90 runs and four wickets.

Salisbury, an ex-Harrow man, who captained the team, made some splendid strokes in notching 22, but Ellis got a good one past him when lie was beginning to look dangerous. Ellis (four for 59) and McMahon (four dor 16) did the bowling for Wanderers, and both performed well. The Hastings men treated their visitors with the greatest hospitality, entertaining them at dinner on the night of their arrival and at luncheon on the day of the match, both functions taking place at the Pacific Hotel.

The batting honors of the- tour were carried off by Leu. McMahon, Athol Young and Jim Moore, each of whom came out within a point of each other in the averages, which read :

The brunt of tho bowling during the tour borne by Ellis, McMahon and whose figures work out

Tho tour proved a most enjoyable ono throughout, and as both Dannevirke and Hastings has promised to return the visits next season the trip should result in g£od to local cricket.

M4AXWX I, N.O. Ag H.S. Aver McMahon 3 1 92 61* 46 Young , 4 0 180 90 45 Moore 4 0 177 116 44.25

ns follows:— 0. M. R. W. Aver McMahon 34 4 158 15 10.53 Young 29 10 _,81 6 13.5 Ellis 37 5 161 10 16.1