A LOST OPPORTUNITY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 89, 14 March 1934, Page 9

A LOST OPPORTUNITY.

PALMERSTON’S CLEAR LEAD. (By “Slip.”) Old Boys lost a great opportunity to attain championship honours on Saturday. However, they lacked the team and individual spirit of their opponents. Leet proved himself to be a match winner, for his partnership with A. McVicar on the opening day was very valuable, while lie carried the effort further by capturing four wickets for 20 runs on Saturday. In the 1926-27 season Old Boys and Railway tied for the season’s honours and it marked the change in title of the latter club to Palmerston in the succeeding season. The change was entered upon auspiciously, .for they have won the championship for six years in succession.

Cottier played a splendid innings of 51 for Old Boys and it was rather by way of contrast that, whereas he registered his best figures for the season -in what amounted to a championship, final, the recognised contributors found the occasion too great for them. When N. Gallichan entered to commence his strike for Old Boys, the match with Palmerston was at a most important stage, and had the representative player produced what his club-mates hoped for, the tide might have definitely set against the champions. However, Leet got him l.b.w.— the batsman’s third successive dismissal by this manner—before he had opened his account With a season’s play behind them, Old Boys batsmen displayed little improvement on their first innings total of the opening game for the term, but in that respect they were not alone, for Palmerston’s total at their first visit was also mediocre. However, the wicket probably played a part to that end although it is significant that the Palmerston batsmen took charge in the second innings. That a game is never lost till the winning run is made was demonstrated in the United-High School game. On the opening day the former eleven appeared to hold bright prospects of deposing their opponents from the third rung on the championship ladder, but it was not to be and High School emerged with, an advantage of 29 runs on the first innings., United appear fated to be the “wooden spoon” holders for the 1933-34 season.

It was remarkable that Howard, the High School trundler, should have claimed three rather sensational bowling returns this season although his other efforts with the ball were unimpressive. On two occasions when opposed to Palmerston he secured bags of five wickets for 43 runs and seven for 99, yet at the third meeting with the champions he took only one wicket at a cost of 48. Apparently he once again found a wicket to his liking, for his efforts on Saturday brought him eight wickets for 50—a very fine effort. A. Cutler played a worthy role for United, for in addition to capturing four wickets for 49 runs on the opening day he registered top score for the side on Saturday. However, the support forthcoming from the other members of the team was not sufficient to bring victory. Sandman made a bid to save the day, being unbeaten with 16 to his credit when his final partner went. It was his second successive contribution of 16. WITH THE JUNIORS.

There were some good returns again forthcoming in the junior competitions on Saturday, the highest batting contribution being returned by Burgess, of City Council,- who compiled 125. It is the first occasion on which this player has figured in the honours list. L. Hart, the Combined Services batsman, has been registering some excellent figures of late and in three recent strikes he has credited his account with'totals of 95, 59 and 83. Few players are as consistent with bat and ball as Gavey, of the City Council eleven, for hardly a week passes without his rendering his club good service. On Saturday he compiled

77 at his turn at the wickets and took the two Kia Toa wickets which have fallen at a cost of nine runs. Greer (Combined Services) has repeatedly returned figures..which have brought hnn close to his half-century without actually reaching that figure. Prior to the Christmas break lie not only topped that figure, but went on to get within 14 of liis. century. Saturday saw him again enter the honours list with a contribution of 57.

Y.M.O.A. are in a promising position to force a four-point win over Qld Boys in the Junior A series. For the fourth occasion this season G. Griggs, the leaders’ skipper, returned 70-odd With the bat, but the bowling of McMinn and Peterson played a material part towards Y.M.C.A. securing the upper hand, each member capturing five apiece at cheap cost. 'The position of leaders in the Junior B division became a little more defined on Saturday as a result of Y.M.C.A. B’s victory over U.S.C. B. Mortensen, O’Keefe and Miller contributed practically all of the latter’s total of 88. Despite the poorness of the return, Y.M.C.A. were only able to top it by 15 runs. Massey College and Y.M.C.A. B will now be required to play off to determine the champions. Old Boys B have been improving their position in the Junior B series of late, and they were able to turn the tables on U.S.C.A. Bon Saturday, a magnificent bowling performance by Nansett (presumably a newcomer to the ranks) being the determining factor. He took six wickets for nine runs and he thus made an excellent substitute for Penny, who has been doing great execution for the club in that department.