NOVEMBER BEGINS

Northern Advocate, 8 November 1934, Page 8

NOVEMBER BEGINS

LONGER HOURS FOR CRICKET. WHANGAREI CHAMPIONSHIPS. NOTES ON SATURDAY’S PLAY.' Scoring was again of modest proportions in the Whangarei. Cricket Association’s senior championship on - Saturjiay. ,So far, although few remarkable howling averages have been recorded, the fifty has been rarely topped byjindividual batsmen. Even Weir has been content with' 62, not out, as his highest total. With the advent of the junior grade the way has been left open for competition ’ between evenly matched teams. The best; performances were:— Batting.?—Grieve v( CombinedServices),,43;> Weir (Services);'3B; Hudson 1 (iKaramea), 33? not out; j Crawford (’Karamea), -33, A Mason; (Onerahi), 29; HawkeS t‘(High' School)',. 29. ' Bowling.—Nisbet (Whangarei), 5 for 48; Fayn.e. (Maungakaramea), 5 for SQ; •'DM«e : ;rCOQerahi) ,• > 4 for 7; Matthews (Services),* for; , ; ‘.V All organised cricket ? having been postponed on account of the races—why; it is difficult -to- reason—attempts are being made to arrange a visit to Dargaville oh Saturday; Before the representative season proper commences a trial match would be a useful guide'in Sorting out a field of possibilities' which tapers sharply after the first two .or three. . , Nomads Slip.' On results Nomads are experiencing the 'wdifst'season since the club was established in 1928. The club has hitherto always been regarded as one of -the strongest in the district, but seetns to be temporarily out of the hunt. This falling away is difficult to un(ierstahd,v. : as'the personnel is practK cally the same as that of the team which did so. well last season. In fact, if -anything, the strength has been augmented by the presence of Godfrey, whose batting ,in the last two matches gives prospect of big totals later on. Last Saturday he ran to 23 quickly with well executed shots, mixed with pulls and drives which still lacked correct timing. Godfrey was unlucky enough to encounter one of the few shooters of the afternoon. He made to get his bat. down on it, and in doing so flicked, the off bail with his bat. Morton gained, most of his 17 runs with a peculiar, but most effective, half-cut ; half-cover drive. After an uncertain beginning, Cotterill loosened up to revpal some nice stroke play, and the partnership between Kelly, batting with plenty of assurance, and F. Collins*, was a valuable one. Fayne was bowling so*well that he could not afford to take himself off. At times he got well away from the mark, but then would return with an over fraught with danger to the batsmen. Child deserved the respect with, which he was treated, and Attwood, whose delivery at times approaches a no-ball, was difficult on a slow wicket, which would also have suited Crawford. j

Splendid "wicket-keeping by McKay and' accurate bowling resulted in Maungakaramea making an inauspicious opening. L.-O’Carroll gave the Northland ; "keeper ' his first victim, which flew low into the Windlef, audaciously wearing: hut one pad, went to a still

more difficult flick, but the gem of the afternoon was when Howie popped one up'in front of the wicket, and McKay, with great anticipation, dived round to take it almost off the bat. McKay, also contributed towards the. running out of Berdich, although not nearly to the same extent as did the dashing Howie. Like Godfrey, Child was unlucky, deflecting a fast one into his stumps.

Backs to the Wall. From the start of his innings Hudson ' was coolly confident, but with seven wickets down for 49; the position was a desperate one for the local side. However, Crawford chose the occasion for a remarkable return to form. Much more enterprising than his partner, he made some forceful strokes in front of the wicket. However, at the start it was apparent- he was not sighting them too well, as in ‘one over he failed to connect with two slow full pitchers on the leg side. The first struck him in the body, and the second, deflecting off the bat, caught him a nasty blow just above the eye. However, these painful interludes only served to pul Crawford on his mettle, and, with Hudson batting steadily and relentlessly, Nomads’ chances were frittered away. Neither Morrison nor Morton could pitch a length, the most impressive of the half dozen bowlers used being Cot- ■ terill. However, it was Morton who got one through Crawford’s defence, after the partnership had added 57. Massey made the winning hit, and Hudson was still undefeated at stumps. He did not give a chance, but on one occasion there was a very confident appeal for caught behind. It takes a yeoman’s strength to hit a boundary at Maungakaramea. Twice on Saturday batsmen made such powerful shots that they Were conceded fours, but on each occasion a breathless fieldsman returned later from his chase to say that the ball had not passed the line. Conditions At Onerahi. Teams visiting Onerahi this season have commented upon the tricks of the pitch and the roughness of the outfield. Good cricket is - impossible unless moderately favourable conditions are available. However, Whangarei had no excuse for again dropping a number of chances in the air on Saturday. In a short stay Fyfe was let off twice and Hewlett once. That was only the opening of the chapter,;;-however. Although Hewlett made 26 he never settled down, and has yet to reproduce the form which stamped, him ,as the most successful Clpb batsman at the beginning of last season. Mason enjoyed a very merry knock indeed, being particularly severe on Nisbet,. off whom he hit two sixers and two fours in an over. Drake, who was dismissed by a full toss, the first ball he received, the previous week, stayed to make 21.'

Onerahi made 119 runs off 20 overs. To reach the same total occupied the visitors 33 overs.

Jennings and Jones gave Whangarei a start of 28, and Gash, out to a ball which clung, hit up 19 smartly. The best stand of the innings, however, was between Nisbet and Wilson, who have both been very consistent contributors this' year. They had taken the score to 95 when Drake appeared at the bowling crease and skittled the Whangarei captain in his first over. Drake

then took command, and, with the tail wilting badly, Whangarei could do no .more than tie the match.

By Singles.

Evidently the strain of fielding two elevens is being felt by Combined Services, who could muster only nine men for their' game with High'School A. However, solid batting tided them over their difficulties. Weir exploited the cut to great effect, this stroke earning him most of the singles which, predominated in his score. Some of the boys must have felt quite elated in keeping the champion so subdued, but it is doubtful of any except Falvey and Kermode, who trundled really , well, deserved such flattery. Matthews (18) was also content to pick them up in singles, and with McKenzie (16) made ja stand of 36. Grieve batted with great judgment, playing each ball on its merits, and punishing, the loose stuff. School were! rather monotonous at the wickets, a notable exception being Hawkes, who repeated his distinction secured in the Maungakaramea match of being the only double-figure scorer for his side. Alison, another natural hitter, was content to play everything back along the wicket, making the intention to play for a draw very apparent. These tactics succeeded, and with Murdoph the essence of safety, two wickets still remained to fall when play ceased. Matthews was more like his old self, maintaining a consistent length and turning both ways. In 13 overs he took four for 15. Weir was content to roll them up.

The Ladder. SENIOR. P. W.O. W.F.I. D. Pts. Onerahi . 5 — 2 3 7 ’Karamea . 4 — 3 — G Services . 4 — 2 • 1 5 Whangarei . . 4 — 1 2 4 High School . 4 — 1 2 4 Hikurangi .. 4 — 1 1 3 Nomads — 5 — — 1 1 Kamo * JUNIOR. . 4 1 2 7 High School B 4 — 2 1 5 Rovers 4 — 2 1 5 Maungatapere 4 1 2 : — 5 Unemployed . 4 1 — — 3 C. Services B 4 ,— 1 — 2