THE WAIPUKURAU RAMBLERS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5342, 28 March 1879, Page 5

THE WAIPUKURAU RAMBLERS.

(Concluded.)

At 6 p.m. on the 17th inst. , the Ramblers q left Feilding per train for Halcomb, en route for Marton, which was reached J -a-t 7.30 p.m. At the station they were met and welcomed by the Rev. Mr I Towgood, as the corresponding secretary, and Mr Mitchell the captain. Vehicles i were in waiting to convey the Ramblers J to the Club Hotel, where accommodation 3 had kindly been arranged for by the before-named gentlemen. At Marton, it was noticed that the Wanganui papers announced the forthcoming . match as one I between Napier and Wanganui. This statement could hardly be allowed to pass ■unheeded, consequently a telegram was sent directing the proper authorities to contradict the announcement that the J Ramblers represented the East Coast, [ otherwise they would not play. The : match at Marton was commenced at 10. 15, \ on the 19th, and terminated on the local < team's favor .by 5 wickets. Anson for ! Marton made a grand stand, 42, not out. Wilson and Marshall were the only others that obtained double figures. For the Ramblers, Craven played a good and innings and carried his bat for 14. In the second innings Mackay and G. Crosse ran up very tidy scores, 30 and 10 respectively. G. Crosses bowling was exceptionally good in the first innings, ho being credited with 8 wickets. The scores were as follows :— BAMBLERS. Ist. Innings. 2nd. Innings. Fulton, b Witchell •• £ b Witchell .. 3 Carr, b WitcheU ... ..7c Marshall, bJ. ' C. Fulton .. 0 G Crosse, fo J. C. Fulton 0 c WitchcH, b Maru ' shall .. ..10 Maclav, c J. C. Fulton, b WitcheU • • • • 5bJ. C. Fulton . . 30 0 Herbert, c Wilson, b Witchell .. -.5 b Marshall .. 0 Sainsbury, lbw, b J. C. Pulton 0 b WitcheU .. .. _ Craven, not out . . . . 14 bJ. C. Fulton . . 4 J Herbert, c Marshall, fo j. C. Fulton . . • . 3 run out . . . . 7 T Ci'OSSP, bJ, C. Fulton 3 b Marshall . . . . 0 Mackersey, fo Witchell ._1 b Marshall .. .._gi Kinsr.b Witchell .. ..0 not out . ..7 Extras.. .. 9 Extras.. .. 21 Total 51 Total 92 Grand total 142 MARTON. Ist. Innings. 2nd. Innings. Fitzhcrbert, bG. Cros3o 7 runout .. ..3 Robinson, run out . . 0 lbw, b Sainsbury 12 Fulton, J. 0., bT. Crosse 2 eJ. Herbert, b T. Crosse .. ..3 Towgood, bG. Crosse •• 7 b Sainsbury .. 9 Anson, not out .. ..42 not out 11 Witchell, c and b G. Crosse 1 c Craven, b Samsbury .. ..3 Wilson, fo G. Crosse . . 10 not out . . „ 0 DiwTcs, c Sainsbury, fo G. Crosse ••■•,„ ' Mirshall, bG. Crosse ..12 --< Skenw'.n, fo G. Crosse .. 1 Wck lbw, fo G. Crosse . . 0 U ' Extras ..11 Extras.. .. 3 Total .. 99 Total .. ..44 Grand total 143 At 6.20 p.m. the party left per train for Wanganui, having been escorted to the Marton station by their lato opponents, who gave them three ringing cheers as the train moved off. Shortly after 10 o'clock the team arrived at Wanganui, and were met at the railway station by tjie captain and ' other members of the

Wanganui cricketing world. Arrangements having been made for accommodation at the Commercial Hotel, the visiting team found their way there as quickly as possible, aiid shortly after their arrival, in conjunction with the captain of the local team, settled the vexed question of tho East Coast representation. It appears they had been styled a Napier representative team, in order to draw money for the gates, s but as they did not see things in the same light, in justice to the cricketers in Napier, the Ramblers insisted on an explanation being printed. At 10.20 on the 24th instant the match ■was commenced on the Wanganui racecourse, where an excellent pitch had been provided. Wanganui went first to the wickets, and succeeded in putting together 42 for tlie loss of three wickets, chiefly contributed byLockett (21), when rain stopped further play for the day. A number of the local team seemed anxious for the Ramblers to get out and field, no matter what the weather, but the skipper was firm and did not go. In the evening the Ramblers were entertained by the Wanganui cricketers at a sumptuous dinner at Ormsbee's Prince of Wales Hotel, Mr Cross, the captain, occupied the chair, and keptup fun until a late hour, songs and jokes being the order of the evening. Mr Sainsbury, in reply to the " Waipukurau Ramblers," expressed a, hope that the team he had that day played would find it convenient shortly to visit Waipukurau, and, if time permitted, thence to Napier, for at each of these places he was certain a hearty welcome would be afforded them. At 11 o'clock the dinner was over, each and all having thoroughly enjoyed themselves. At 9.30 on the 21st the match was resumed, and, as will be seen from the scores appended, the Wanganui men ran up the alarming score of 181, mainly contributed by Cross, who showed splendid form. This gentleman is undoubtedly a finished cricketer, his hitting being very clean and hard. It is true that with a good wicket-keeper he is not so dangerous, but it cannot be denied that he is a tower of strength to any team he plays with. Rawson played a good innings for 21. After lunch the Ramblers went to the wickets, and with the exception of Fulton, who played a pretty innings (going ih first and seeing all out), made no stand at all, all being out for 50. The stumps were drawn at 3 p.m., to allow the Ramblers time to pack up and get away by the 4. 15 train. The scores at Wanganui were as follows : — WANGANUI. Ist Innings. Lockett, c Craven, bT. Crosse . . 21 Kitchen, cT. Crosse, bG. Crosse . . 0 Lacey, b G-. Crosse . . . . . . 12 Fort, absent , 6. Barton, bG. Crosse . . ... . . 9 Cross, b J. Herbert 83 Ranson, bT. Crosse . . . . . . 21 Notman, b T. Crosse 10 M'Gregor, c Mackay, bJ. Herbert . . 4 Rotherarn, bT. Crosse . . . . I Broughton, not out . . . . . . 4 Extras.. .. .. ..10 Total 181 , RAMBLERS. Fulton, not out . . . . . . 16 Craven, b Lockett . . . . . . 4 G. Crosse, b Lockett . . . . . . 6 Carr, b Lockett 0 Mackay, c Lockett, b Cross . . . . 3 Sainsbury, b Cross . . . . . . 0 O. Herbert, b Cross 0 J. Herbert, c substitute, b Cross . . 2 King, run out 4 T. Crosse, b Cross . . . . . . 0 Mackersey, run out . . . . 5 Extras 10 Total .. ..50 The Ramblers left Wanganui on their journey homeward at 4.15 by rail; reached Marton at 7.30, and put upfthere for the night, as next day they were to play the Marton return match. Play commenced at about 10.30 on 22nd, Sainsbury winning the toss and sending his opponents in. The first innings of Marton closed for 121, of which the Rev. Mr Twogood made 35, Anson 28, and J. Fulton 18. These three players are steady, patient bats, not brilliant hitters, but safe men to break bowling. The bowling and fielding of the Ramblers were only fair. Mackay and Sainsbury had their day out and secured 4 wickets a piece in the, first'innings. The Ramblers' innings closed for 85, to which J. Herbert, C. Herbert, and Mackay were the chief contributors, their scores of 13, 17, and 18 respectively, being knocked up in a very short time. The Ramblers were unfortunate in the match in losing in the field the services of C. Herbert ; he became very unwell and had to retire. The match was decided by the first innings, as the Ramblers had to leave per train at 6 o'clock. The following are the scores : — MARTON (return match). Ist innings. 2nd ixninqs. Towgood, c Sainsbury, b J. Herbert 35 not out .. ..41 J. C. Fulton, st Mackay, b Sainsbury .. ..18 cMackersy,bSainsbury .. ..10 Fitzhcrbert, b Sainsbury 0 c Substitute, b G. Crosse .. ..24 Anson, b Mackay . . 28 c and bT. Crosse . . 4 Fort, b Mackay . . . . 2 bJ. Herbert . . 11 Williss, b Mackay. . .. 3 b Suinsbury .. 0 Marshall, b Mackay . . 3 bT. Crosse . . . . 1 Davies, c Mackay, bSaiusbury 7 b Sainsbury . . 7 Skerman. b Sainsbury . . 1 run out . . . . 1 Smith, not out . . . . 5 c Fulton, b Sainsbury .. ..2 Laurie, c and b Sainsbury 0 not out . . . . 0 Extras .. ..19 Extras .. 12 Total .. ...121 Total ..113 Grand total 244 RAMBLERS. Fulton, b Anson ... .. .. ..9 Carr, b Marshall . . . . . . . . 1 J. Herbert, c and b Full ;on .. .. ..13 Mackay, b Fulton ... . . . . . . 18 Craven, c Smith, b Fulton . . . . . . Q G. Crosse, b Anson .. .. .. ..1 C. Herbert, b Fulton . . . . . . . . 19 Sainsbury, not out .. .. .. ..8 , Mackersey, c Marshall, b Fulton.. .. ..2 King, b Fulton.. .. .. .. ..0 T. Crosse, c and b Anso n . . . . . . 1 t Extras.. ... .. .. ..13 Total .. .. ... .. .. S5 At 7.30 on the 23rd inst. the Ramblers started from Palmerston North, per coach, homewards. Tahoraite was reached at 12 o'clock, where a halt was made for dinner. By the way, it is well for travellers ; > know that an excellent meal is always to be found at Sandy Scrimegeour's. The Ramblers finally separated at Waipukurau on the 24th, where last good byes were said, and parting glasses indulged in. Altogether!) the Jtrip was a most enjoyable one, the utmost harmony prevailing amongst the team. Care was taken by the Captain (Sainsbury) that the teams the Ramblers came across met them on the distinct understanding that they were no more than they professed, viz. , a scratch team from Waipukurau. Too much praise cannot be accorded to Mr Sain.sbMr- 'for the gentlemenly and pleasant manner in which he managed his team, and whilst it made its due impression on the eleven, it went far towards obtaining from the cricketers on tho West Coast promises to visit this district at some future date, and should any foreign team find their way here, they may rest assured that as far as the Ramblers are concerned, they will be most cordially welcomed.