HAWKE CUP

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 21 December 1927, Page 6

HAWKE CUP

WON BY WANGANUI. TARANAKI’S POOR SHOWING. U. G. WILLIAMS’S FINE BOWLING. The challenge match for the Hawke Gup, at .New Plymouth, concluded unexpectedly yesterday when, after making a very creditable opening, Taranaki (206 runs behind on the first innings) crumpled up before the excellent bowling of U. G. Williams, combined with the players’ very good team work. They had 54 on for one wicket and 90 for three, and then Williams went through them in sensational fashion fashion, and the whole side was out for 139, leaving Wanganui winners of the match by an innings and 67 runs and holders once more of the cup. Williams secured six wickets for 23 runs.

The weather was cooler, but conditions generally excellent for the renewal of the Hawke Cup challenge match yesterday morning between Wanganui and Taranaki. Wanganui continued their innings and before lunch were all out for 430, nearly twice the local men’s total.

H. "Williams and Holland, the not out men of the previous day, continued their batting to the bowling of Clarke and A. Wilson. Williams added eight to bis overnight score, when Clarke got one past him and he retired for 3/. Thakabau was next and had just reached double figures when lie got in front to one from A. Wilson and was out for 10. U. G. Williams came in and he also had reached the same total when he put one up which Penny held. Harris, the last man and Holland con tinued to hat steadily and the scorn ran to 430 before a ball from A. Wilson found its way to Harris’ stumps ami the innings closed at that total, 206 runs ahead of Taranaki.

The scores were : TARANAKI. First Innings 221 WANGANUI. G. Orr, b Clarke 30 L. A. Wood, c and b Penny 14 W. 1. Runny, b. Hockin SB L. Kerr, st. Kingston, b A. M. Wilson 1 J E. H. L. Bernau, 1.b.w., b B. B. Wilson. ‘lO H. Williams, b Clarke Si G. F. Treadwell, c Grayson,* b A. M. Wilson 2 C A. Holland, not out 60 Thakabau, 1.b.w., b A. Wilson ... 10 U. U. Williams, o Fenny, b Hockin 10 Harris, b A. Wilson 25 Extras 64 Total 430 Bowling analysis.—'Clarke, two wickets, 72 runs, 153 overs, 20 maidens; MeWhirter, no wickets, 64 runs; Penny, one wicket, 5S runs, 30 overs, 12 maidens; A. M. Wilson, four wickets, 111 runs, 35 overs, two maidens; Hockin, two wickets, 25 runs, 13 overs, five maidens; Nasmith, no wickets, 13 runs; B B. Wilson, one wicket, 41 runs; Barker, no wickets, 22 runs. TARANAKI’S SECOND INNINGS. An excellent start was made by Nasmith and B. B. Wilson, the opening batsmen for Taranaki, both playing confidently to the bowling of Bernau and Holland. Runs came steadily, till at 20 Thakabau relieved Bernau, and at 30 the scoring slackened for a time, both bowlers keeping a good length and the batsmen finding it hard to score. Fifty appeared in an hour and then at 54 Wilson went l.b.w. to Thakabau. 54 —1—22. MeWhirter came next and played confidently till be played forward to Thakabau and Kerr took an easy catch at point. SO —2—14. After the tea adjournment Lash join, ed Nasmith and the latter went soon, returning a simple catch to TJ. G. Williams .off his own bowling. 90—3—35. Nasmith had played again sound cricket and proved himself the most reliable batsman in the team. Kingston joined Lash and after scoring five hit U. G. Williams to square-leg and Thakabau took a very fine catch. 105 —5—3. Hockin came in, only to see Lash caught and bowled by Williams. 115 —G —ll. Penny was next and ten runs later Hockin was clean bowled by Williams. 125 —7—lo. Barker followed, and at 130 Penny went out to hit Williams and Orr took a catch in the longfield. 130 —S —6. Clarke joined Barker who, after scoring four, was nicely caught at the wickets by Harris. 1369 —4. A. Wilson, the last man, made a single and put up one to Bernau at mid-off and the innings closed for 139, leaving Wanganui victors by an innings and 67 runs. The scores were:— TARANAKI. First innings 224 Second Innings. B. B. Wilson, l.b.w, b Thakabau .. 22 O. M. Nasmith, c and b U. G. Wil-

liams otJ G. MoWhirtcr, c Kerr, Tkakabau 14 C. Lash, c and bU. G. Williams .. 11 li. J. Grayson, run out 0. N. Kingston, c Thakabau, b U

G. Williams u M. M. Ilockin, bU. G. Williams .. 10 11. IJ. Penny, c Orr, b U. G. Wil- • limns • • o 11. Barker, c Harris, b U. G. Williams 1= C. G. Clarke, not out 1 A. M. Wilson, c Bernau, b Holland 1 Byes 23 Leg byes 5 Total 12p Grand total 303 Bowling analysis.—Bernau, no wicwets, 13 runs; Holland, one wicket, 2S runs; Tkakabau, two wickets, 45 runs; 11. Williams, no wickets, two runs; U. G. Williams, six wickets, 23 runs, 17 overs, three maidens. CUP PRESENTED. After the match, Dr. E. A. Walker presented the cup to Mr. G. Orr, captain of the Wanganui team, in a happy speech acknowledging that Taranaki had been beaten by a better team.

Mr. Orr said a great factor in the victory had been the good play of the young members. Cheers were exchanged and the ceremony concluded. NOTES ON THE PLAY. EXCELLENT TEAM WORK. HEAVY SCORING. TARANAKI’S COLLAPSE. It would appear that once more lias the vision of the trophy at the. end of the match had its- influence on the play of some at least of the memhers of the teams. Some' of the play was dreadfully slow, but that occurred with both, teams. On the other Land, there

were many bright spots in the scoring, such us the partnerships between Nasmith and Grayson and the former and - Kingston. Nasmith had by that time played himself in, and put a lot o. power into his strokes. Again, Hockm and Penny gave snectators a very interesting time. Both ran into thenstride early, and they botli went for the bowling that was at all loose, the former in particular. He was, however, a bit lucky, but there was no doubt about his being out to make runs. There is no complaint about a batsman being careful when he opens his innings. He must “get his eye in” and play carefully the difficult, good length ball. What is very trying to the spectator is to see the batsman block, block, block, whatever _ the bowling is like. It must be admitted that throughout both innings there | was an ample number of balls that should have been punched hard, especially as the players were the elect of two provinces. A ball can be hit hard with a- straight bat without the man beino- accused of recklessness. Similarly in the Wanganui innings Orr and Wood opened carefully, but hit anything loose as a rule. _lt was when Bunny and Ken- went in that the “rock” game began. The latter played that game practically all through, as is shown by his stubborn defence for over four hours for 8S runs. Kerr certainly did brighten up, and later showed himself a. punishing batsman when ho liked. Part of his innings was very good indeed. Bernau went for the bowling merrily, and when he made up his mind to' liit there were no half measures. He was bright and breezy. He ap]>eared to find not a great deal of difficulty with the bowling. H. Williams, too, played a. nice, , vigorous, attractive innings. A ser-1 viceable stand was made for the last i wicket, Holland, an all-rounder who often makes good scores, being in capital form, and with the wicketkeeper, Harris, giving a good display. The collapse of the Taranaki team was very disappointing, especially after a very satisfactory opening which gave promise of another solid score. But when Nasmith and B. B. Wilson had gone, and the rest began to fall rapidly, the hopes of their supporters fell to” the ground. W. G. Williams- bowled splendidly, being helped by a wicket that appeared to be showing signs of wearing, though Nasmith and B. B. Wilson scored well :it the opening of the second innings. Williams was bowling with a good deal of pace and getting some work on the ball. Tie was materially assisted by excellent fielding, no less than five catches being taken off his _ bowling. He -showed clever tactics in his attack, and trapped several experienced players. . , . , ~ The Wanganui total is one or the largest ever made in Taranaki, and completely dwarfed what was considered a very satisfactory total of 224. There are several features that help

to mar tlie play in local as in representative matches in Taranaki and take a lot from the interest of the' discerning spectator. And all may and should be remedied, with or without a coach. h’irst is the running between the wickets. Dozens of runs are not secured that could easily be taken — they are there to be picked up by the enterprising batsman, the man who is merely average between the wickets. Judgment naturally is necessary, anti that comes partly by instinct and most by observation and practice. But more than anything is the need to be prepared and for the non-striker to follow up the bowler. Then if it is his call he can have the advantage of the few yards less to run, besides being on his “toes” and ready to accelerate at a moment’s notice. He must as, a rule

risk only when the ball is pretty certain to be thrown to the end for which

he is making. Naturally in the reverse case more time is necessary, because the batsman has those extra yards to go and cannot make a flying start. But the want of backing up loses many runs. There is another point, the keeping the field on the move is apt to bustle them and often to spoil their accuracy.

The fielding could in many instances have been improved —on the whole it

was not bad, but there were laches that should not have occurred. There were,

however, many cases where nice clean picking up was badly marred by very indifferent, wide, or high returns to

the wickets. Often, too, it was very slow. The accomplishment- so often quoted of our champions in the field, of one action in picking up and returning. was never seen. Mostly was it that valuable time was wasted from

the time the ball was taken till the re-

turn was made. The real champion is to a. certain degree born, not made—else would there be many _ more —but everyone strong, fit and active can become a sound, accurate fieldsman. Surely it is. up to every player to be fit and sound.

The wicketkeeping on both sides was quite good, and much of it was as sound as could be seen in any match, while often it was brilliant. One might travel a good way to see better. New Plymouth clubs and the association are naturally very pleased with the results secured on the new wicket, the first they have tried of the Jxmgburn soil.

The cup 1 1 aS' gone back to Wanganui, who have held it on several occasions and 'have replied several changes. They will be a hard team to defeat at any time, and especially on their own >I ground.

VISIT OF AUCKLAND TEAM. The Auckland team which will tour under the direction of Mr E. O. Beale will ho in Taranaki from December 28 to January 2, and will play two matches, one at Now Plymouth on December 28 and 29 and the other at Hawera on December 31 and January 2. The former wi 1L ho solely North Taranaki players while in the latter, the South will ho assisted by three from North Taranaki. The visiting team is expected to be fairly strong.