NOTES ON THE GAME.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 303, 20 November 1935, Page 11

NOTES ON THE GAME.

IMPROVED BATTING RETURNS. Y.M.C.A. HOLD THE LEAD. (By^SHp.”) As had been rather anticipated, Palmerston's total of 230 proved to he beyond Old Boys on Saturday, thfe highest contributor for the latter club being McKay who, by the judicious selection of the ball to hit, ran up 40. Five fours and two sixes were included in his scoring shots. The former Southland representative, Hallaniore, gives promise of proving to be one of Old Boy’s most profitable batsmen, his two strikes to date bringing him an aggregate of 78 runs. Ho was batting strongly when, at 2J, lie was given out lbw.

Lumsden made a good stand for Old Boys in the closing stages of the innings, his stay at the wickets being productive of 28 runs. His great reach enables him to play on the full balls which would he beyond the powers of others. He followed up his 28 runs by taking two wickets for 42 runs in Palmerston’s second strike, and he promises to be quite a useful change bowler for the club.

In the second match of the season last year Berquist captured five wickets for 18 runs for Palmerston against City Council, and Saturday saw him emerge with a bag of six wickets for 53 runs. Now that the club has lost the services of R. Hatch, ho will be in greater demand than ever. AVhilo Aloloney failed to got going with the bat ill Palmerston’s first innings, he proved to be quite useful in the bowling department, taking a brace of wickets for 45 runs. Actually, he might have secured them at much cheaper cost had the chances offering been availed of

Robertson and Al. A. Ongley, who had been the stumbling blocks to Old Boys in the first innings, maintained their form in the second strike. The former went to still greater heights by compiling 60, but his partner gave a chance in the field at 24 and it was accepted. In four strikes Robertson has compiled 129 runs, while Ongley has made 119. In the first game of the season O'. McVicar played a magnificent innings of 99 not out for Citv Council. Against United he again played a prominent role and appeared to he well set for his century when ho was given out, stumped. The partnership between AicVicar and Gavey was productive oi 91 runs—an excellent effort. Last season Gavey was more to the, fore for City Council in the bowling rather than the batting department, but this year he has had the satisfaction of twice occupying second place in the list of contributions. His o 9 of Saturday was a particularly good effort. He displayed freedom, in true strike, eight fours and one six being included in his figures. Olliver, the United wicketkeeper, had quite a field day on Saturday, being responsible for the dismissal of five opponents by smart work behind the sticks. Both G. and At. AVheatley were dismissed by him, the former having just reached double figures at the time, while the latter was just short of the twenties. Last season A. Cutler captured 35 wickets for a total of 446 runs, which gave him an average of 12.74. On two occasions he captured six wickets in one innings at the respective costs of 45 and 50. On Saturday against City Council he effected the dismissal of seven opponents at a cost of 46 runs. As he had taken three wickets for 35 runs in the opening game, lie now has 10 wickets for 81 runs to his credit, which gives him a still better average. Y.M.C.A. experienced quite a narrow call from High School, their winning margin on the first innings being restricted to five runs. The same clubs had a great struggle at tlieir second meeting last year when the honours went to tile schoolboys by the narrow margin of two runs. ’ High School’s eleven on Saturday included two newcomers to the side, and one of the promoted players, Cameron, went close to winning the game for his team by contributing 14 in the late stages of the innings. Fletcher displayed an improvement on his earlier efforts by furnishing 22, his total ranking as the highest individual contribution. As on the opening day, Y.AI.C.A. relied on four bowlers to carry the attack, K. Hatch and Murchison taking four wickets apiece at the respective costs of 33 and 43, while Spelman was credited with the other two; at a cost of 17. Loudon’s turn was not productive of any wickets but he had only three runs knocked off him. Strangely enough, his turn against United also cost him three runs. The new coach, G. AYheatley, spoalis in eulogistic terms of the local umpires, being of the opinion that those he had seen in action at the Sportsground were quite of the standard of Australia umpires. The gentlemen who are devoting their afternoons to the good old game are fully deserving of the high praise which has been accorded them, and players are very grateful. AAIONG THE JUNIORS.

The loss of a playing day on the preceding Saturday apparently told against the junior A batsmen, for the returns in that grade on Saturday were mediocre, not a single half-century being registered at the Sportsground. Playing for City Council at Terrace End Park, Loveday made 63 not out. There was little between the opposing elevens in this grade at the Sportsground, Palmerston leading High School by 14 runs at the close of the first innings, while Kia Toa lead Combined Services by eight. The teams in arrears have thus still the opportunity to make up the leeway on the final day. Four half-centuries were registered in the junior B competition, AValdin (Kiwi) heading the returns with 71; Hoare (Services) made 61, and Nansett (O.B.) and Hassell (Young’s) each compiled totals ot 58. It was the second occasion on which the last-named pair have figured- in the honours’ list. The bowlers in the lower grades continue to hold the upper hand, and there was the customary batch of sensational bowling returns on Saturday. In the junior A section Brady (Palmerston) headed the list with six wickets for 27 runs, but Oman (Services) secured a splendid average by taking four wickets for five runs. In the junior B division Hassell (Young’s), AlcGregor (United) and Nansett (Old Boys) each took six wickets at the respective costs of 16, 20 and 42. A junior cricket week is to be held in Napier at Christinas time and Air E. Weir, of the Y.AI.C.A. Club, who was largely instrumental in promoting the scheme locally last season, is hopeful that Alanawatu will have two teams

to represent it at Napier and players desirous of making the trip are advised to get into communication with Mr Weir. The invitation embraces junior B as well as junior A players. There were at least three players at the Sportsground on _ Saturday who had to receive attention from the St. John Ain balance members in attendance. A senior player was struck between the eyes by a ball which cocked up off his bat, while two junior A wicket-keepers were in the wars, one receiving a blow on the cheek as a batsman swung round to play a shot to leg, while a flying bail caught the other wicketkeeper just below -the right eye.