CRICKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13727, 18 April 1908, Page 8

CRICKET.

'Thebe -will be no matches to-day owing to the run of Easter holidays. Most clubs are away touring, having arranged matches for each of the Easter holidays. Eden left on Monday by the Manuka for Gisborne; Parnell Jeavo this afternoon for Waikato; and Ponsonby left yesterday morning for the Franklin district. The final matches of the district championship wero commenced last - Saturday in rather good weather conditions, and many of them are in interesting stages. At Eden Park Grafton were disposed of for tho total of 83. Eden have scored 51 for the- loss of three wickets, and should have no trouble in securing a two-point win. At the Domain Parnell kept Ponsonby in the field the whole afternoon, the total runs for the innings l>eing 149. Ponsonby may reach this total next Saturday, but it is doubtful, and Parnell should at, least equal Grafton in points for the position cf runnersup for the championship. A three-point win wo»"m "• '. Parnell one point ahead of Grafton. At the North Shore Ground the home, team are going down to City, who put up the moderate score of 116 in their first innings. But even though the City score, was moderate the start made by Shore was even worse, and they now have four wickets down for 3/ tuns. Last year's champion team was a team of probabilities then, and there was no end to the succession of brilliant scores. It. did not matter last season it two or three of the leading bats failed, for one of the others in the team was sure to " come to light" with a score of 50 or 60, but this year the conditions have changed, and the very bats who could then be relied on can now scarcely reach double figures. Surely tho moral to adorn this tale should be no practice, no runs." A feature of the Eden-Grafton match last Saturday was the brilliant catching done by both teams. Elliot with a side leap reached for and caught a ball one-hand; it was an almost impossible chance accepted. Elliot also caught Mason. There were two other doubles in this line, G. Mills and Grey both catching- two men apiece. S. Jones and P. Lepine both brought off good catches against Eden, that of Jones Wing most unique. Elliot made a mowing stroke at one of Mason's slow leg breaks, and playing late caught it as it was turning in. It came straight at Jones behind the sticks from whoso chest it bounced in the air. With the instinct born of long experience, Jones, although greatly surprised, ' clutched at the flying ball, and literally caught it on the bounce off his chest. Le- | pir>e, in running forward to catch a ball put up by Brook-Smith, fell, but got up in time to secure the leather before it reached the ground. The score of the day was made at Domain for Parnell against Ponsonby by L. Robinson, who ran up the respectable total of 62, before being caught by Kemp off McCoy. Tho Robinsons had a day out, for against Parnell the Ponsonby Robinson kept the "sticks" in brilliant style, catching two men, stumping one, and running one out. . Across the water at North Shore, City ■went to bat on a fair wicket, and ran up 116. Shore were without the services of Hadden. who was detained at business. Hemus played a good innings for his score of 34, showing soma very stylish strokes. Prime, whom I saw drop a catch for the first time, ■went on to bowl at the "tail" and secured three wickets for two runs. He made a most brilliant catch in dismissing Hemus. He also scored 28 (not out) in the Shore's score ' of: four wickets for 34 runs. ■ With one more round to be finished die position of the various clubs in the competition is as follows: — Matches ! Cham'ship Played. Won. Lost, Points. Eden ... ... 9 9 0 .21 Grafton ... 9.5 4 • 12 City 9 4 5 10 North Shore ... 9 4 5 9 Parr.ell ... 9 3 6 8 Ponsonby ... 9 2 7 5 Playing at Thames last Saturday V. Adams, for West against East, took five wic- ■ liets for 6 runs. Gordon, for East, took throe wickets for 7 runs. There has been • some sensational bowb'ng at the Thames lately. The second-grade match. Eden A v. Parnell, which will about decide the championship, is in an interesting stage, Eden having -scored 117. of which E. C. Beale made 24, and Parnell having three wickets down for 15. Eden should win, for runs are difficult to get now, and it is better to have a hundred than have to get them. Should Eden win they will secure the championship. The Devonport School is now leading by ono point for the Public Schools' Cricket Competition. The leading school's position is largely due to the tine bowling of L. Dacre, who, on Saturday, bowled 13 overs, eight of which were maidens, 'or seven wickets and 16 runs. A match was played between the (Trammar School IV. A team and the Kings Hi., and resulted in an easy win for the former team. In IV. A'first innings they made 105 for three wickets (Senior 28, retired; Walker, 25; Wallace, 26, retired; Armstrong, 8, retired). King's College then went in and made 16, all out (Barstow, 9). Walker in his first over took three wickets for I run. King's College followed on, and made 36, all out (Barstow, 8; Chisholm, 8; Brown, 7; Stone, 5). Marks took two wicket' for no runs. Senior in the second innings took ten wickets for 15 runs, a very fine performance. Thus IV. A won by an innings, 7 wickets, and 53 runs. The Taumarunui touring team meet a local eleven on the- Domain to-day, play commencing at 10.30 a.m. The following will represent the local team: —Mason, Kavanagh Greville, Wilkes, Foster, Russell. Gatland, Peachev, Jack, Newdick, and Bell.

HERALD V. STAR. The above match took place on the Domain yesterday (Good Friday), and resulted in an easy win for Herald by 68 runs on the first innings. The following are the scores:—Star: Flower, 4; W. Drummond, 34; Glass, 0; .1. Drurnmond, 2; F. .Drum, 0;' Early, 8: Duncan, 2: Newbegin, 0; Good, 3: McLeod, 0; Davidson, not out, 0; extras, 6: total, 59. Bawling for Herald, E. Horspool took eight wickets for 8 runs fall being clean bowled); Ninkie, one for 23: Milford, one for 8. Herald : Horspool /retired), 46: Sinlin (retired), 28; Milford, 0; - Ninkio, 12 Reeves, 8; Cook, 1; W. O'Connor, 1; M. O'Connor, 6; Krebbs, 4; Tmpey, not out, 4;' extras, 12: total, 127. Bowling for Star, Duncan took three wickets for 15 runs; Glass, two for 14; Newbegin, one for 3. EDEN CRICKET TEAM'S TOUR. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. GtSBORNE, Friday. The Eden cricket team to-day commenced the principal match of the tour, being pitted against the Poverty Bay " reps." Eden won the toss, and elected to bat. Buckley played a splendid innings for 25, and was ably supported by Hobson (19), Murdoch (17), Brown (12), and Buckland (11), a total of 115 being compiled. The local team opened very badly, and at one stage of the game had three wickets down for seven runs (all extras), but Howden (late of Auckland) and Gibson became associated, and runs came freely. Howden gave a good hitting display for his score of 30. Latter, a brilliant hitter, rattled up 34 in good time, and with the assistance of extras (20) the local team were all out for 129. Continuing in the failing light the Edenitee lost three wickets for 23 runs, and a close finish in the concluding clay's play is anticipated. Bowling for Poverty Bay, Young, Howden, and Pine were the most successful, whilst of the Eden trundlers Mills, Somerville, Olliff, and Murdoch came out with the best averages. The weather is all that can be desired and the wicket i«, playing fairly well.