CRICKET.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 51, 6 October 1880, Page 3

CRICKET.

Notes by Round Arm.

I was much gratified to see such a good muster on the Hawera ground on Saturday last, not only of players, but also visitors. The pitch for the match was in splendid order, and does the club great credit, and should be the means of making some good batsmen before the season is over: there is certainly now no excuse for bad fielding or bowling. The game was represented by good men, and was well contested, but I am sorry to state that it was painlul to notice the failures in the .fielding, especially by the eleven. I know that it was the opening of the season, t and that the majority of the eleven tiad had no practice, but one would expect better things from such known good players as Parriiigton, Beresford, Bayly, Cunningham, and others. The fielding of the twenty-two was in comparison much better than that of the eleven. The Waihis had had Borne practice, and Gorton kept wicket well, and will be dangerous in any match. Miller played well, hitting freely, and gave no chances ; his 30 were well put together. Gray's bowling would have done better if the field had been placed more forward, and not so many round the wicket. Griffiths, Arden, Flint, and Fowler all bowled well ; and on the eleven side, Bayly and Southey. Riddiford's 32 won the whip. .1 hear the committee have decided that the return match is to come off on Saturday, the 16th October. They have also, arranged a match to come off ,on the 9th October, between the Normanby, Mangawhero, and Waihi versus Hawera, and no doubt this will be a closely contested match, as the northern players will have a strong team. I hear also that the committee have decided to have nothing to do with Mr. Anson's cup business, and in my opinion very rightly too, as all the spare cash can be well expended on their own ground. An enthusiastic lover of the game sends us the following contribution : — King of Games ! that's played by lords and all their noble strain, Whilst your ground is sought as a pleasure spot by the fairest of their dames s May you ever hold the reins, and be the foremost of our sports, On these, our wide-spread Plains ; For in thee there is nothing found that -would our sons Aeiaxoe, And in that you stand aloft from any other game. Let rogues and fools play at devils-pool, and all such brawling games, But thee, O Cricket ! shall' not allow such things in thy domain. Ancient Greece and Borne had games of their own, '/ But then? glory has long since fled, And their gomes are dead, and buried in their stains ; But thee, O Cricket ! bat, ball, and wicket, shall ever more remain, Whilst the flag of civilisation doth waft upon the main. [We like to give local poets a chance of entering the arena of fame, through the medium of our columns. We would, however, suggest that poetry such as the above might be sent to some of the highclass sporting journals in England and Australia.— Ed. Star.]