CRICKET

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 15 December 1927, Page 7

CRICKET

SOUTH v. NORTH. MUCH INTERESTING PLAY. While the result el the match between Soutil anil North to decide the supteinaey and tile possession of the line (.1 ralliaan Clip lor the year, was most disappointing to the' lpimklersi ot the game in the South, the day was lull ml interest in many ways, and certainly gave several hints, to the selectors and to all interested in cricket.

Til© greatest interest probahlv attached to the play iff tile professional, U. B. Wilson, and it is of special signilieance to see a man out, here in this iarthest Dominion, who has played a worthy part at’ Home, where, lor some lime several years ago he had been a foremost member of the famous Yorkshire team. It. shows quo thing, that a knowledge, ©1 and -an appreciation ot the game out here lias grown at* Homo and of the efforts made Jdr im pro vemeiit in standard. N'o doubt tliis is due largely to the tour of the Dominion team Jasi, season.

Spectators did not see enough of him for lie was given out Lb.w. after making only .11, but what they did sec was masterly placing of the ball, .specially to leg, when the bowling was at all short pitched, combined with a nice easy style and good defence. ‘ the placing of the field, no doubt, under his guidance was. too. worth studying, and was quite .different, from what is seen here as a rule. Anil again, it was remarkable how frequent ly the bowling was changed when wickets were not forthcoming and this, no doubt, also was inspired by bis judgment.

One could see, too, the results of Jus good work in the North in many ways and must assume that some of the members of tlie team had had the ait vantage of his help. Much praise must bo given to Been tor a very fine innings, Ins form being very sound and has hitting when he was set very forceful and bright, (t was a really good “knock.” Nasmith anil Lash both played in their usual .sterling form, some times h bit’slow but quite kite resting to watch.

Kingston, however, i.s the -.tar batsman to, watdh and while he was at the wickets there was not a dull moment. His watching of the ball was an object lesson to young players and bis placing most effective. He lays on the wood too with great vigour.

The North innings up to (he time of the skipper’s dismissal was good and bright to watch, but tho rest wa.s very dull.

South players have themselves alone to blaine for tilio score bein<£ vso Jarge. for they missed catch after catch, many by no means difficult and with the Hawke Gup fixture on this week, one could wish that the field work was much more round all round. Besides the failure to hold catches, there is need of much improvement in returning to the wicket. Much good ground work had the “bloom” taken off by the slowness of the return and often Co its inaccuracy. There were of course many exceptions, but there was much slackness in the field. Crisp, keen, accurate fielding goes a long way towards winning matches. The South batting was fairly indiiterent. and a lot or it excessively slow and over cautious. But there were ■several bright .spats.

Barker was playing himself in nicely and showed excellent form :n getting his .twelve, when lie was unfortunately howled off his loot by a ball that was actually off the wicket.

Hock in gave one of his box-displays Hitting with power and force and driving in great style, and showing good defence. His was one of the best and one could have wished he uad stayed longer. Penny and Betts, while together, hail a bright partnership and laid on the wood vigorously t’o anything at all loose.

Tliere was in many eases a lack of understanding between the batsmen, and often, too, a ,sad Jack of judgment in getting runs. Better and quicker bacKing up and care in calling would make lor much improvement and 1 get mali v more runs.

The feature, of the South play wps the excellent bowling of A. Wilson. He always had the batsmen guessing, aud, combining an extraordinary amount of work from both sides of the wicket with a good length, lie always needed watching. He would have had several more wickets hut for faulty work in the field.

But perhaps the greatest need in the team was a fast howler with a variety in action from the- very medium paced howlers they possessed. Cole, McKenzie or Giblin would have been invaluable.

A tribute must be paid to the wicketkeeping on both sides, Kingston and Thomas both doing great work behind the stumps. The former is, of course, in a class above the Hawera man. and his work is* very pretty, but Thomas is very effective, and it was a long time before a bye was recorded against him. I’lie wicket, as has been stated, was excellent, and earned much praise from B. If. Wilson, anil there was no excuse for batsmen not playing with confidence. If the game is to hold the attention of the public, batsmen must, put some sting into their play. Over and over again one saw balls' that had no difficulty in them ami pitched for a drive simply blocked when they should have' been dispatched to tlie longfield. There is no need' for recklessness. but hitting hard at a straight, well-pitched hall is safe and sound tactics, and gets runs. The public will not come to see such slow, dull play. THE SOUTH COMPETITION. There is one more match for each of the teams' lo finish the eliminating round, with the exception of Old Boys and Patea. who have an unplayed match to play. Tlie position is as below :

Okaiawn P. g "vy. L. D. 1 Pts 18 .Mid lands 8 6 — 2 13 Kaponcra g •*) 3 — 14 High School . 8 3 2 3 !) Old Bovs 7 3 2 2 8 Stratford ... .. 8 1 4 i 8 Mail aia .. 8 •> 1 2 G Kltliam .. 8 2 (j o ICxccIsior — .. S 2 •5 i ■”) Pa tea •.. 7 0 r> i 1