HAWKE CUP

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 23 December 1933, Page 2

HAWKE CUP

TARANAKI’S CHALLENGE MATCH COMMENCES CHRISTMAS DAY Considerable interest is being taken in the Hawke Cup match between Nelson (holders) and Taranaki (challengers) which commences on the afternoon of Christmas Day at 2 o’clock: Nelson will field a strong batting and fielding side, but with D. Freeman and J. Newman not available, the bowling strength may not be all that is desired. The teams will be as follows: — Taranaki: Lash, Parlunson, Christensen, Dormer, W. Barker H. Barker, Giddy, Biggar, Betts, Donnelly, and Groombridge. Nelson: M. Jenkins (Belgrove), D. C. Morgan (Brightwuter), C. A. Kinzett, S. Stewart, L. Browns (Wakatu), H. M. McOirr (Athletic), It. K, Karsten, T. G. Rall'e, R. A. Buddie (College), A. Newman, E. R. Neale (Old Boys). The visiting team will arrive in Nelson by to-morrow morning’s boat.

ALL=ROUNDERS IN TARANAKI’S TEAM (By Telegraph—Special to "The Mail”) STRATFORD, 22nd December. Half-a-dozen seasons ago Taranaki had the English coach, B. M. Wilson, as & batting sheet-anchor; when C. N. Kingston (also of All Black Rugby fame) was batting and wicket-keeping up to New Zealand standard; and when C. G. Clarke was the best fast medium bowler outside the cities, Taranaki gained the Hawke Cup. Cricket has again been booming in Taranaki this season, and at Christmas time the butter province is visiting Nelson in an attempt to bring the Hawke Cup back to the province. Although Wilson has long returned to England, Kingston is out of the game, and Clarke in the veteran stage, Taranaki appears capable of nutting in the field this season a team fully comparable •.with the successful 1926 eleven. The province has been fortunate in recently acquiring two former Wellington players, known in Dominion cricket circles, A. Biggar and E. Warnes. Biggar. a good wicket-keeper and a hard-hitting opening batsman, has formerly played for Nelson College, Nelson, Hutt senior team in Wellington, and touring Wellington teams. He is a real acquisition to Taranaki cricket. Last season in Wellington, Warnes, also playing for Hutt, earned the reputation of being one of the most promising slow bowlers in ’the Dominion. Since taking up his residence at Hawera, Warnes has only lately shown his real form with the ball. He fills a long-need-ed want, as good slow bowlers in Taranaki have been almost as scarce as goldmines. Warnes is also a very useful batsman.

Another valuable all-round Taranaki cricketer is 0. M. Naismith, who has represented Taranaki for the past ten years in succession. As a High School boy at Gisborne Naismith was responsible for record-breaking innings in Poverty Bay representative cricket. He has long been recognised as one of the best all-roundei’s outside of the four big centres. Naismith has been batting better than ever at New Plymouth this season, and has also been troubling batsmen with liis googly bowling. Then Taranaki has W. Downer, a wellknown Victoria College (Wellington) batsman of a few seasons ago. Dormer is a consistently big scorer in Taranaki cricket, and also bowls a dangerous ball. Other good batsmen selected for the Nelson trip are the South Taranaki trio, W. Barker and H. Barker and “Stan” Betts. These three all have club .averages round about the half- century mark, while Betts knocked up well over a century in a' Hawke Cup match last season. Like Naismith and Warnes, the Barker brothers and Betts are also regular stock club bowlers. Another good all-rounder is Norman Giddy, who was one of coach Wilson’s star pupils when the Englishman was in these parts. Giddy belongs to a family that must be almost unique in New Zealand cricket. The family can place a "complete eleven,' nearly all of them senior players, and some of them representatives, in the field!

Back to batting form this season is also Cyril Lash of New Plymouth. Before the New Zealand team was selected for the last English tour Lash’s batting earned him a place in the Country team against Wellington. Purely selected as howlers in the Taranaki team are Groombridge and Christensen, both New Plymouth players. Warnes is Taranaki’s “trickster” bowler.

Since the above details were forwarded advice has been received that Donnelly and Parkinson will replace Naismith and Warnes.