CRICKET.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 101, 30 March 1925, Page 9

CRICKET.

I'HE JUNIOR COMPETITION

FINAL STAGES ENTERED. C' mditions were far from pleasant lor wicket on Saturday, a strong wind licit g particularly keen, while the light was indifferent throughout, the afternuo i. The games at the Sportsground were further robbed of interest by the fail ire of Woodville to complete the sen: or fixture which had been arranged. As a substitute, a match was played bet reen teams indeed up on the gro md, but the game was not taken seri jusly. Attention was more closely ceil red in the junior game between Old Boys and High School owing to its important bearing on the championship, due to the tact that, in the event of figli School proving the victors, the cha npionship will pass into their keeping while should Old Boys gain the da) the position will continue somewhat obscured. The termination of pla on Saturday found the advantage rat ler favouring Old Boys, their opponei ts having lost four wickets for 44 runs in reply to their first innings’ contril lution of 114. The continuation of the game should witness a close str iggle for supremacy. THE JUNIOR STRUGGLE. 'Phe High School skipper won the tos;, but elected to send his opponents in to hat, Broughton and Mitchell being the opening pair for Old Boys, La.-sen taking up the attack for High School. Broughton sent the first ball he received to the boundary, following it with a single off the next, bringing his partner facing the trundler. The latter, however, failed ter survive the fifth ball, and one wicket was down for five runs. Webster the incomer, thi! pair opening up a free scoring partnership, and the telegraph had signalled the arrival of GO when a return to the wicket by Bradley caught Broughton mi; of his ground. Anderson failed to stay, but McDonald had run into double figures before he succumbed to a catch in the outfield with the total standing at 81. Garey partnered Webster long enough to see the total advance a further five runs before he was caught at the wickets with his score sheet a blank. Matters promised to improve with the arrival of Piercy, but

six runs later Webster brought his innihgs to a close by putting a ball from McKay into the hands of Hollier. He had compiled a valuable 43, which included five fours and one five. South joined' Piercy, who was steadily advancing his total, two lours and a six in close succession carrying his quota, to 18, at which stage McKay sent him back"to‘the pavilion. The tail-enders failed to stay, and when the final wicket fell the total was standing at 114. McKay, with five wickets lor 32, and Hollier, with three for 29, shared the bowling honours for High School. llradly and Hillier opened for High School, and before the attack of Dulfield and South runs came slowly. With only 10 on the hoard Hollier, in backing up, was thrown out by Webster, who had smartly stopped a drive towards mid-on. Disaster further befell High School, for Mason, the incomer, had only contributed a single when, in attempting a run, ho was caught out of his ground. Matters temporarily improved with the entry of J. Gallichun, and the total had been carried to 39—of which the incomer had been responsible for 14—when in attempting to turn a ball to leg from Piercy, who had relieved Duflield, he was bowled off his pads. Young succeeded him, and opened his account with a pretty square cut for two, but in attempting to repeat the stroke lifted the ball into the hands of Garey at point. At this stage an appeal against the light brought the game to a premature close. High School having four wickets down for 44 runs, The match will be carried to completion next week-end. OLD BOYS.—First Innings. Broughton, thrown out 23 Mitchell, b Larsen 0 Webster, c Hollier, b McKay 43 Anderson, b McKay 0 McDonald, c Cameron, b Hollier 11 Garey, c Heard, b Hollier 0 Piercy, b McKay 18 South, b Hollier 3 Duflield, not out 6 Morris, b McKay 0 Oathro, b McKay 0 Extras 10 Total 114 Bowling analysis: Larsen 1 for 26, Hollier 3 for 29, Mason 0 for 17, McKay 5 for 32. HIGH SCHOOL.—First Innings. Bradly, not out 23 Hollier, thrown out 3 Mason, run out 1 Galliclian, b Piercy 14 T. Young, c Garey, b South 2 Extra >. 1 Total for 4 wickets 44 SECOND TEST MATCH. TC BE CONCLUDED TO-DAY. Per Press Association. GIIRISTt:'4 URG'D, March 28. At 2.45 play in the second test cricket match was abandoned for the day on account of the rain. The match will be resumed on Monday, and will conclude the same day as the Victorians leave for the north on Monday evening. FUTURE OF GAME IN DOMINION. CHRISTCHURCH. March 29. The annual smoke concert of the I.inwood cricket club last night was also a complimentary social to the Victorian and New Zealand teams. Mr J. S. Barrett, chairman of the New Zealand (Ticket Council, presided. Mr Bean, manager of the Victorians, thanked the Cricket Council for the fine arrangements made for the tour of the team, and the people of New Zealand for their hospitality. There was no doubt ill his opinion that New Zealand, in a few years, would be able to compete on equal grounds - with -Australia and -England -iutest matches. Australia would do what ii could to assist the New Zealand Council to foster tho game here. Mr Mnyne. tho captain, said the game had improved ’n New Zealand, but the wickets hud not, and th 3 game would not go ahead as it should until the wickets were put right. Criticism hud been levelled at the Victorians for not making big scores, but it was not his policy to “belt the life out of country teams,and not a member on his side would do it. He believed a New Zealand team would receive more good by. visiting England than bygoing to Australia, ns the men -would play cricket in England for five or six months on end. and it would be a wonderful education for lit mi. The postponement of play on Saturday will probably be the means of a loss of over £4OO to the New Zealand Cricket Council. The rain cleared oil’ during the night and to-day the sun is sinning brightly with a strong, bitterly cold southerly wil d- This wind, if it continues, will dry tlie wicket, which has not beer, covered.