NOTES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLV, Issue 55, 6 March 1911, Page 2

NOTES.

As the season draws to its close, it is only natural that interest, not only public but club, should wane, and the forfeiting, of a club, through, inability to get a team to meet its matches, is not an unlooked-for thing. Saturday was no exception to this, for out of the three senior games set down for decision, only one was played, Ferro forfeiting at the eleventh hour to Wairau A, and Awatere, which has not met any of its engagements this year, to Marshlands. This state of affairs is to be deplored, for if clubs «vittee no interest in the game the public.cannot reasonably be expected to do so.

Saturday was a real autumn day, a bleak southerly wind towards the close of the afternoon making it decidedly unpleasant for both players and spectators. The only senior match played was between Wairau B and Picton at Picton. Consequent •on a. Jight shower of rain the outfield was pretty dead, while the wicket assisted. Wairau B batted first, and after the first few wickets had fallen, the match resolved itself into n pretty tame affair. Runs came slowly throughout the game, greatly onoouraced thoreto, no doubt by the poor fielding of both sides. Whether

the ball came "from above or along the carpet, the fieldsmen found it equally ditticult to arrest. Chisholm and Martin both played good innings for* 32 and 35 respectively,;, while Prebble played a sound, defensive innings for 22. The remaining scores were trifling, and the effort was productive of 'only' 130 runs. i . , Pi'cton went to the wickets with excellent prospects', but after bowling seven overs without success, Martin "found the spot,* 3 and in six more -avers dismissed seven batsmen for eight runs—an excellent performance. Thus Picton's hopes of winning were dashed to the ground, and the innings closed for 79, of which CragK made 16 on the "hit hard and often" principle. ■ Martin always seems to do well on the Picton wickeVa fact which was again exemplified on Saturday., Bowl-, ing with the wind, he obtained plenty of pace and a good length. Jn his last three matches he has taken 16 wickets for" 52 runs. E. Carter and Barratt were the most successful tnmdlers for Picton. S High School is a team that has a pleasant habit of doing unexpected things, and its power" of recovery is sometimes good to watch. In the second round it appeared to dissolve anyhow. Perhaps, as stated, the sting of the attack, and the laxity in the field had something to do with it. However, on Saturday High School extended Onamalutu in such a way that must have filled the adherents of that team with astonishment and disgust. Owing to there being no senior match in town, a large number who would otherwise have wended their way to the Wairau ground "turned their steps towards the High School ground, where an,all-day match : was in progress. "High School, batted first, and were dismissed very cheaply for 31. In their second innings, however, they were more successful, compiling 153. Onamalutu began well by making 113, but, with 71 to get to win. could muster only 27. thus leaving High School victors by 44 tuns. . Goulding and Reid were the chief factors in High School's success. Goulding, though.dismissed for a few in the first -innings, displayed some of his senior form in the second innings. The opinion was expressed that his batting was not up to its previous high standard; but he made very few weak strokes, an 3 though he was always on the gui vive for a loose ball, henever—with perhaps one or two exceptions—showed any rashness. It was1 just a very sound and ..correct innings, in which beautiful. defence and good forceful scoring strokes were blended with fine judgment. • Reid, besides making 11 and. 14 with the bat, was, on the day's play; the best, bowler on the ground. Throughout, he - kept a^ splendid length, and with a little turn on the balFj always had the batsmen in difiV eulties. . His performance establishes him as one of the best bowlers in junior cricket, and if he goes on like he is _now he will in future.be an acquisition to any senior team. Dodson (25) batted well in the second innings. Although his scoring strokes are not attractive, he has got a strong defence, and with an unerring aim for anything on the leg he usually "gets ■™re- None-of the other High bcnool batsmen played to any advantage, although Wild made a good stand for 23 in his second "essay. 1 arrant, 41, was top scorer for Onamalutu m the first innings, and played a splendid innings, characterised by perfect freedom and style, flower. Smith and Lucas were also m^good form with the bat. ■i)t- the visiting bowlers, Lucas, Booker, P, Barton were the pick tricky deliveries causing disas^ ter amoitig the boys. The fielding o f the schoolboys was a^ revelation m the second innings, Thomson, Eyre, and Horton especially snowing out. "■ The final between High School and Onamalutu at Qnamalutu on Saturday week should be an interesting game. • &