CRICKET ASSOCIATION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 92, 18 March 1936, Page 14

CRICKET ASSOCIATION

EXECUTIVE MEETING. At the meeting of the executive of the Manawatu Cricket Association, hold last evening, Mr A. M. Ongley presided. Also present were Messrs J. It. Hardie, E. Weir, G. Griggs, E. J. Worry, E. Hubbard, N. Galliclian, K. G. Biss, G. Dawick, and the secretary (Mr It. Brace). _ An apology for absence was received from Mr W. H. Wilson. CORRESPONDENCE. From the Dannevirke Wednesday Cricket Sub-Association requesting a match with a Manawatu representative "Wednesday team:—lt -was decided to advise that owing to the number of wet playing days experienced, the Wednesday competition was not yet concluded and that it was not considered advisable to interrupt the series. If it had been in any other season the association would have jumped at the chance to play, said the secretary. From the Wellington Cricket Association advising that the suggested match between ’the Manawatu and Wellington representative elevens could not bo played. The Basin Reserve would not be available on account of the varsity sports, which were to be held there, and it was considered that the match should be postponeduntil a more convenient date.—Received, it being decided to make no further arrangements for cricket at Easter in the meantime. From the New Zealand Cricket Council advising that if the home team Avere successful in their match against Rangitikei for the Hawke Cun they would not be called upon to defend the cup again this season. —Received.

GENERAL. A protest was received from the Optimists Club against the action of the United Club ("Wednesday) in playing Cockery as a bowler in the Wednesday series, as it had been understood that he was to be registered as a batsman only.—lt was resolved to register Cockery as a player in the series with no restriction on his bowling. y Applications were received from several clubs to register new players. —All applications were granted. The secretary reported that the expenditure in connection with the recent visit of the M.C.C. cricket team had been £72 9s. The receipts had been £sl 4s, plus sundries, leaving a loss on the match of £2O 16s 9d. A guarantee of £125 was due to the New Zealand Cricket Council and this would make the total loss £145 16s 9d. —It was reported that the Manawatu Association had requested the New Zealand Council to refund the guarantee, but the matter had not yet been confirmed by the council. The chairman reported that owing to the inability of the Feilding representative team to secure their home ground, the Goldfinch and Cousins Cup had not been contested on Saturday as had been arranged. He considered that a challenge match should be played this season, and it was decided that it he left in his hands to arrange a date for the match. , , , The chairman further reported that the City Council were considering erecting a new grandstand at the Sportsground, and he moved that the Council be asked to forward a copy of the plans of the building to the association for its consideration. Carried. Mr Ongley reported that it had been suggested that as the match in the senior competition between Y.M.C.A. and. Palmerston, to commence on Saturday, would be in the nature ot a linal, the oval at the Sportsground would be reserved for that match and a charge made for admittance. It was pointed out, however, that there would be no ground available for the team deposed. —The matter was not proceeded with. It was pointed out that as the Y.M.C.A.-Old Boys junior A game had been completed in one day oil Saturday, and High School had de' faulted to Kia Toa because ot their annual match with the Dannevnke High School, no matches In the junior t competition would be played on Saturday in the ordinary course ot events.—lt was decided that the batches between Y.M-C.A. and Kia Toa and High School and Old Boys be commenced on Saturday, subject, of course, to the clubs’ consent. Mr Brace was instructed to try and arrange a junior representative match with Wanganui at that centre or at Palmerston North at Easter or failins that, on April 4. . . It was decided to grant permission to the Y.M.C.A. club to take a team to Napier at Easter. SATURDAY’S FIXTURES.

The cricket fixtures for Saturday are as follow: — Senior.—Y.M.O.A. (mi v. Palmerston Sportsground, No. 1; United (m) v. Old Boys, Sportsground, No. 2; High School (m) v. City Council, High School. Junior A. —Kia Toa (m) v. Y.M.C.A., Sportsground, No. 3; Old Boys (ni) v High School, Sportsground, No. 4. . Junior B. —Combined Services (m) v. H. L. Young’s, North Street; Y.M.C.A. (m) v. Kiwi, Sportsground, No. 5; United (m) v. Old Boys, Sportsground, No. 6. NOTES ON THE GAME. THE HAWKE CUP MATCH. (By “Slip.”) The Hawke Cup ntatcli wliicli concluded on Saturday again demonstrated that there is plenty of cricketing talent in the Manawatu, for, like its three predecessors this season, it was won easily. The Manawatu Cricket Association now has the record of having defended the trophy successfully four times this season and eight times since it last came into their keping. Gallichan and Murchison were responsible for the dismissal of. . Rangitikei so cheaply in their first day’s play. The averages they secured were meritorious, Gallichan leaving the field with 3 wickets for 4 runs and Murchison 5 wickets for 24, The trouble started for the visitors when Norris brought off a sensational catch behind the wickets, thus sending Cameron, an opening batsman, from the field. Lowry’s 24, the top score of the first innings, was made in good fashion, blit he practically threw his wicket away in trying to force the pace. Spence was tile only other batsman to show any' appreciable form, reaching 22, Hodder, the third man to run into double figures, being very quiet in his effort for 13. For Manawatu, McVicar and Robertson, the Opening batsmen, gave their side a splendid start, the first wicket not falling Until there were 101 runs in hand. Robertson, particularly, batted very confidently. He scored at q reasonable pace, especially in the first part of his innings, but later a packed off-side, in which the men were effectively placed,' considerably slowed down his' rate of scoring. The batsman might have shown a little more enter* prise at that stage (as the _ visitors were playing without an outfield) in lifting drives to the open spaces. McVicar was his old reliable self and after a slow start he scored well. His 40 runs were made with his usual careful play.

Cutler was rather shaky at the on™' niencement of his innings, but lat er commenced to bat splendidly., Ihe spectators were sorry to seo him go out in the way he did. M. A. Ongley showed that he is losing the nervousness he lias experienced previously at the commencement of his innings. He opened confidently and several slashing hits soon raised his individual total to an appreciable figure. His contribution of 33 was made in good time and it was regrettable to see him run out when he was playing soundly. Galliclian’s innings, in which lie made 64, was one of the most solid efforts he has made with the bat for some time. Whilst always looking for runs, he did not undertake indiscriminate hitting and the value of his curbing a naural impetuosity with the bat was shown in that his was the second highest score of that innings. Hearsey shaped soundly for 21 and helped materialy in adding 55 foy the ninth wicket. Throughout the Manawatu innings the excellent placing of the field by Lowry undoubtedly saved many runs. Fours were not very easily obtained at any part of Manawatu’s turn at the crease. He skilfully placed his men to meet the favourite strokes of the batting side and in that way cut off their best scoring shots. It was noticeable that he quickly sized up the batsmen and then arranged his field accordingly. Rangitikei’s second innings had a much blighter opening, Spence making 41 in a sterling knock. He was careful with the dangerous bowling but was very severe on anything loose. Cutler succeeded in enticing him out qf his crease. Cameron’s 44, although not without blemish, was a valuable contribution. One lofty off drive which went for G was greatly appreciated In- the spectators. LOWRY’S DISPLAY. _ The best performance by the visiting side was tile score of their captain, Lowry, 71 not out. Although not as active as formerly, he picked uj> many smart singles. He defied the bowlers and played attractive shots all round the wicket. j Murchison and Galliclian bore the brunt of the attack, obtaining six j wickets between them. Galliclian bowled with the wind for a space but when lie was changed to the other end to bowl over the wicket- instead of round it, lie proved much more effective. He was then able to flight the ball well and had all the batsmen in doubt. Gallichan’s performance of sending down 29.3 overs and having only 47 mils scored off them was an indication of his value as a bowler apart from the four wickets he took. The wind did not quite suit Murchison, but he kept an end going for long periods and his 28 overs for 68 runs proved that he was not taken lightly Cutler did great- work in breaking up the opening partnership and obtaining two wickets in succession. He sent down only two overs and in view of his success, 2 wickets for 5 runs, it was surprising that more use was not made of him.

The fielding of the home side was quite satisfactory, although its members were not given much work in Rangitikei’s first innings. The wicket stood up very well, still being in fine playing order at the close of the second day. The Rangitikei players were very pleased with it and expressed the view that they had no wicket as good as it was in their own district. THE LOWER GRADES.

The defeat of the Manawatu B representative team by the ’'Feilding eleven on Saturday demonstrated the very wide difference in both the batting and bowling ability of our A and B grade plnyeis, This has been apparent for sonic time, but in spite of this there were some surprises. One of the biggest was the fact that W. Pollitt and K. OlltVer, both cf wholn have been considered of Hawke Cup standard, were together unable to compile more than eleven runs. K. Hatch who, it could be said earlier with confidence, was the home team’s best bowler, did not secure a wicket, though in all fairness it must be said 'that his bowling was treated with respect and few runs were knocked off ! it. None of the home bowlers, however, was very successful, and although seven of the team had a. turn with the ball, little damage was done. The [match was a friendly one, and not for the Goldfinch, and Cousins Cup, but it should have been productive of brighter displays in both departments. Rodgers, a P.D.C. player in the Wednesday series, gave a great perfornmnee with the ball in the final stage of the match against Combined Services. With four nicely pitched balls he secured fohr successive wickets. It can be justifiably said that his performance saved the team, for Services needed only 57 rulis to win and had 7 wickets in hand. Rodgers was also responsible for the fall of two wickets while in the field. Some excellent bowling fismres characterised the junior B match between Y.M.C.A. and Old Boys on Saturday. Dilring Old Boys' first innings Watt secured 4 wickets at a cost of 11 runs and in their second strike 4 for 34. Gaston put up an excellent performance to take 6 for 27. Bowling for Old Boys, O’Keefe secured 3 for 5, Bailey 3 for 19 and Naiisett 5 for 21.