CRICKET. O. C. C. ELEVEN V. EXCELSIOR C. C. FIFTEEN.

North Otago Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2095, 20 January 1879, Page 2

CRICKET. O. C. C. ELEVEN Y. EXCELSIOR C. C. FIFTEEN.

Excelsior ! 'tis a noble shout. I'd climb up any rainbow ridge, To let my heart look farther out. These words, by the poet Gerald Massey, I think are correctly quoted, but I am not quite sure, as thirty yean have elapsed since I heard the author recite them. I am reminded of them by the title of one of the contending clubs of Saturday — a club which is yet of tender age, but possesses an enthusiasm and a vigor which gives high promise that its motto (" We desire to excel ") will be an appropriate one, and that it will greatly strengthen cricket in Oamaru. As a proof of this, although it is in its first season, it numbers nearly eighty members, and in the six matches it has played victory "sat upon its helm," the banners of Palmerston and of tho Dunedin Excelsiors, among others, having been lowered in its presence. The success which has attended it hitherto inspired the members with what appeared to no temerity In challenging the Oamaru Club for contest, and the match which commenced on Saturday was the result ; but their boldness was tempered by wisdom, for they stipulated that they should be allowed to play 15 against 11 of the veteran club. A considerable amount of interest was excited by the contest, and the hearty cheers which welcomed every successful hit on the side of the Excelsiors showed that the partizans of the younger club mustered strongly on the field. The afternoon was favorable, the wicket better than I had hitherto seen on the club ground, and the captain of the I senior club (Mr Lowe), having won the toss, called on the junior club to handle the willow. Nothing loth to this, the loser of the toss (O. Fenwick, captain) sent to the wicket Snow and Finch, to the bowling of Lowe and J. Milling ton, and there they stayed, defying all efforts of the bowlers to separate- them until 30 runs stood to their joint credit, and then the wicket of the latter player fell to Lowe. Finch's score was a well got 16 ; he played patiently and well, and on returning to the pavilion received repeated rounds of applause from his con-

freres. Athsrton filled the vacancy caused by hU retirement, but vu well caught at the wicket by Sumpter, off Castelli. 2—0—31. Tarawhiti assumed the position Atherton had vacated. He is a left-handed player of great promise, and the six, with which he was credited, before Lowe took his bails, were well deserted. 3—6 — 40. Cooke now joined Snow (who was still defending his wicket with great patience), and batted, as he always does, gracefully and well, but making a mistake in playing a ball from De Lautour, was well caught by W. Booth. 4—4—51. T. Hewat next faced the bowlers, and commenced in a vigorous style which gave promise of a good score, bat Trhen he had marked 5, he was well caught by Castelli off Tempest. 5— 5w67. Howorth followed, and he and Snow con* tinned to increase the score until 106 had been reached, and then Snow wai caught by Lowe at point off Walls. He retired with a score of 53, having given but two chances in his well played innings, during which the bowling was repeatedly changed, without result He has an excellent defence ; he is deficient in style, perhaps, and utterly fails to hit leg-balls, but as his cricketing powers mature, these defects will be remedied, as he evidently has adopted the motto of the club, '• I desiro to excel," and hns humility enough to consent to he taught — a virtue in young players. Ho was loudly cheered by his comrades and was borne in triumph to the pavilion on their shoulders. 6—53—106. A. B. Church joined Howarth, but the bowler who had been fatal to his predecessor, removed his bails the first ball Marshall succeeded him, and he also failed to score, Lowe scattering his stumps remorselessly. G. Fen wick followed, bat before the score was altered Howarth was unfortunately run out, and retired with 16 to his name, 12 of which were singles* He played very well, and, no doubt, had he not been run out, he would have increased his total considerably. 9—16—106.9 — 16—106. Lowe was bowling admirably about this time, and it will be seen that four wickets fell without the score being increased. Glasson then joined the captain, but was soon bowled out by Lowe. 10— 2— 112. Kett followed and then Fen wick's wiclet fell for 3 to Lowe. 11—3—115. A. O Hardy came next, and he and Kett kept up their wickets until time was called. The same therefore stood at 121 runs for the Excelsior Club, with three wickets to fall. During the play Lowe bowled 38 overs, 19 of which were maidens. He bowled from the north end, at which no change was made ; 40 runs only were made off him, and his bowling was quite equal to his average. Six changes were tried, at the other end, but as a rule it was not too good for the batsman. Mr Sumpter was as industrious as usual, and the fielding generally could not be complained of. It is to be hoped this interesting match will be continued Saturday after Saturday, until it is played out, being assured that the cricketing public of Oamarrt, and the players of the old club especially, must be gratified in finding that the younger club is providing no nn worthy successors to the veterans who have, on so many occasions, sustained the honor of Oamaru in past cricketing contests. The score now stands as foltows :—: —

Snow, c Lowe, b Walla 53 Finch, b Lowe ... 16 Atherton, c Sumpter, b Caatelli 0 Tarawhiti b Lowe 6 Cooke, c Booth, b De Laatoor 4 T. Hewat, c Casielli, b Tempert 5 Howarth, run out 16 Church, b Wall* 0 Marshall, b Lowe 0 G. Fenwick (capt.), b Lowe 3 Glasson, b Lowe 2 Kett, not out 9 A. O. Hardy, not out 0 A. Hartley ) . „ E.Howat { tob * t * Byes 4 Leg-bye» . 1 Wide* 2 Total 121 With three wickets to fall. Jacqubs.

EXCEUSIOB CRICKIT CLUB. — FIRST linTING*.