CRICKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14928, 28 February 1912, Page 9

CRICKET.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. THE PLUNKET. SHIELD CHALLENGE. A cobeespoxdext writes to the Lyttelton Times as follows:— that Auckland .has again, with the aid of a first-class English professional, won tho cricket championship of New Zealand, the question arises— Will it pay Canterbury to secure, if possible, an equally competent English coach? When Auckland, with the help of that : great professional R-elf, won the shield from j Canterbury some four years ago, I then j thought it was incumbent upon our cricket '■ leaders to endeavour to get a man of similar calibre to Belf to improve local players; but the results since- that period have proved so unsatisfactory both from tho playing and financial points of view—despite the fact that much expense was incurred in. regard to the importation of Humphries, whoso coaching for the Auckland match some three seasons back was not entirely successful that I think the Cricket Association is by no means justified in seeking another costly professional. Unquestionably Auckland lost the shield to Canterbury last season simply because they had lost Relf, but it" that shield has to be regained at a cost of about £300 for the season, which sum I hear Auckland pays Thompson, then J. think it much too high a price to pay for the childish pleasure of possessing it. Indeed, I believe that these contests have become too farcical under present conditions to bo seriously considered at all. Those matches should bo played minus the aid of imported coaches, and each province should compete purely on the merits of its own players. If it is impossible for Canterbury to recover tho cricket supremacy without the help of an expensive professional, then I think it would be better for all concerned to allow Auckland to retain that shield for ever. Even on the score of improvement in local cricket, it cannot bo reasonably claimed that these costly coaches I are worth their importation; as, for instance, tho Aucklanders had Relf for two soasons without any great improvement in their play being manifested. This fact was patent the very next season, when without his presence Auckland lost badly to Canterbury. Moreover, this season's play, even with the valuable bowling services of their professional, cannot be said to be much better in Auckland than it is in Canterbury, without an English coach, if their recent weak display against Canterbury is any criterion."

THE DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIPS. Tho matches in the eighth round of the senior district championship competition are in a very interesting position, and it looks very much as if the three teams which are "above par" in the championship Ponsonby, North Shore, and Grafton are the only teams which at present havo not minus' points to make tipwill find themselves docked of 'some of their points when the matches in question finish on Saturday. Of the three leading teams, the one in the worst position is North Shore. With a first innings score by University of 221 runs to face, Shore have lost four wickets for 15 runs. However, they have most of their best batsmen yet to go in. In each of the three matches the result is still open, and it may be that the varying fortunes of cricket will again be exemplified. I Although University put up a very fair scoro against North Shore, there was very little attractive play in this match. Most of the University 'batting was dull and unenterprising, although it was useful and served its purpose. The North Shore bowling was much below its usual standard, and the fielding of the team in general was even worse. Ellis and Airey, who opened for University, did not provide the most prolific partnership -of the day, but they Avere tho brightest pair. Airey got some good strokes in his score of 58. This first partnership put on 39 runs.« Caradus and Jacobsen were associated in the best scoring partnership of the day, they putting on 75 runs for tho third wicket; but both were very cautious, and their batting was not bright, although each made a few nice strokes.!.} .Tacobsen's first 20 runs included four fours, but in the last 22 runs of his score of 50 there were no less than 14 singles and only one four. Walker, who went in when the score was 168 for five wickets, did most of tho scoring for the tail, getting 41 not out. The best of the North Shore bowlers was Howden, who got four wickets for 50 runs, but his trundling was not up to his usual standard. Three of his wickets he got with th.3 straight balls he mixes amongst his legbreaks— of them lbw. McNeill got better figures, taking four wickets for 37 runs, but he was very lucky. Quick changes wero the order of the day in the 'bowling. University's first 60 runs were made off six bowlers, and altogether eight bowlers were tried. Except for Ralfe and Howie, the North Shore fielding was wretched, the worst offenders being Bush and McNeill. When North Shore started their second innings thero were 35 minutes left for play, but in that short time much happened. Farquharson and Bush opened, and three of the first four overs sent > down by Jacobsen and Fenwick were maidens. Bush got a two off Jacobsen, but a few minutes 'ater he hit one hard to cover, called to Farquharson. and set off for the other end. But Ongley fielded and returned the ball smartly, and Bush, tried to get back, but failed. Farquharson had not stirred. Jacobsen was bowling well,. and the other North Shore batsmen who went in did not show much discrimination in dealing with his bowling. Dacre was caught behind tho wickets by Dettman, Ralfe was out lbw to tho same bowler, and Farquharson let a ba'l from Fenwick scatter his stumps three failed to score- Four wickets were down for 8 runsthree had fallen for 2. Howie and Townshend indulged in a risky partnership, 'but they managed to stay out time. Slow scoring marked tho match at Victoria Park between Ponsonby and Parnell, only 207 runs being scored during the afternoon. However, the wicket was worn at one end, and the bowlers made good use of this. Winning the toss, Ponsonby sent in Woods and Collins to the bowling of Olliff and Kerr. Woods opened well, bujt was unfortunately bowled off his pads after scoring 9. Collins shortly after followed him to the pavilion, his wicket being taken by a good ball from Kerr, who bowled well all through the innings. Kavanagh was next to go in, and quickv added 16 to the score before being bowled by Olliff. Wilson was dismissed by a good catch by Sutherland after scoring 13- 0. A. Sneddon got Olliff nicely to leg for four, but tho latter obtained his revenge later on by catching this 'batsman o!T H. Warner's first ball. Parnell opened their innings with Wright and Sutherland to the bowling of McMath and Woods. Both started cautiously, the first five overs only realising 6 runs. Sutherland was clean bowled by McMath with the score at 11. Then a useful partnership by Robinson and Wright put tho scoro up to 53. when Robinson was well caught at the wickets. Olliff, the incoming batsman, after scoring one, was dismissed by a good one-handed catch 'by Wilson, off Woods. Kerr assisted Wright to bring tho total to 70 before ho gave a chance that was well held in the slips by Woods, off McMath. The retiring batsman had made 9. Oato and A. Warner failed to male a stand, both being disposed of in the samo_ over by McMath. 11. Warmer then went in to bat, and helped Wright to play out time, th© score totalling 82 for six wickets, and stumps were then drawn. If all cricket were as slow and all batting as stodgy as that witnessed at Eden Park on Saturday, Board of Control controversies would "excite a greater interest, and draw larger crowds than any test, match in tho rid. To the charge of taking tho game ;oo seriously tho Grafton and Eden I teams must, on the day's play, plead guilty. They will have to do " things " if they wish to retrieve their reputations, and they j night a.s well remember, tney resume next Saturday that tho harder the ball is hit, and the keener the fielding, the more ! benefit will everyone concerned derive from tho game. Grafton went, in first, and dragged their innings through the best part of the afternoon, the last wicket falling when 183 runs were up. Hay (44) and Neill (36) are the only batsmen who can claim to havo played the proper game. Tho wicket, was a batsman's wicket, and true enough, and they hie out accordingly. Hay gave three chances altogether in the slips. Two were badly missed, but the third found Cummings safe' in the right place. Neill was also caught off Brooke-Smith's bowling. The firs;; wicket, went down for 11, the second for 83, tho third for 85, the fourth for 86, the fifth for 99. the sixth for 139. the seventh for 151, and then the remaining three for only 32 more. Brooke-Smith secured the best average, capturing four wickets for 55 runs, while Mills secured three for 45. Eden had lost four for 88 at the call of time.