ATHLETIC SPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15237, 26 February 1913, Page 10

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

CEICKET, THE DISTRICT COMPETITION. EDEN CLUB'S AVERAGES. As only two more matches remain to bo piaved, Eden cannot lose championship honours this season, the team being 10 points clear of Ponsonby, which team leads Grafton by throe points. Captain Hemus's team have been very consistent this season, and only on one occasion have they suffered defeat. The batting and bowling averages of the team to date are as follows: — BATTIN3. In"s. U.S. N.O. Tl. A'co. 0 Cnmmings ... 11 119 1 587 55.7 I, Q. Hcmus ... 12. 164 1 437 39.7 11. W Gordon ... 12 45' 3 263 29.2 L. O. Taylor ... 10 64 — 248 24.6 W. Brooke-Smith 11 60 - 263 23.9 Rev. Hay 7 41* 3 79 19.8 W. Smeeton ... 11 45 2 140 16.2 Heighway 11 32* 3 127 16 I. Mills 11 55 — 124 11.3 ii. Rountree ... 5 8 2 19 6.3 E. Honoycombo ... 7 16* 1 34 5.7 Also Batted: Tattersall. Burton, Murdoch, Punch, and Harris. 'Denotes not out. BOWLING. Ovrs. Jfdns. Ens. Wktg. Ay. a Oummings ... 97 30 226 23 9.8 1 Mills 42 8 122 10 12.2 Kev. Hay 115 31 246 20 12.3 L. G. Taylor ... 101 18 305 24 12.7 L. G. Hemus ... 15 2 7s 4 18.7 E. Heigh way ... 35 • 7 99 4 24.7 11. Honeyeonibo ... 106 27 301 7 43 Also Bowled: W. B. Smith, K. W. Gordon, W. Smeeton, F. Punch, 11. Burton. NOTES AND COMMENTS. For a. match in which tho scoring was so low on both sides, the game between Ponsonby and University, at Victoria Park, provided a vc.-y exciting finish, the margin by which the latter team won, two tens, giving an indication o' tho closeness of the game.

With a load of 10 runs on the first innings, Ponsonby was not faced with a formidable task at the opening of the second, as 97 runs would have given them a threepoint win. Of the 107 scored by University the 23 contributed by Caradus—the top score for tho match—was th© most impoitant item. The score was the result of patient rather than brilliant batting, no fewer than 15 of the total being singles. Tho batsman was content in the main to watch both tho bowlers and tho pitch, and played confidently, if cautiously, until one from. Kavanagh doming sharply off the pitch best him. Of tho rest of those who "batted on tho second day, Baker, with a brightly-com-piled 21, shaped confidently, and got hit! runs with a nice variety of strokes, while Fisher's farewell performance of 9 not out proved exceedingly useful in tho end. The bowlers were helped more than a little by the wicket- although it was not quite so bad as on the previous Saturday. Nevertheless, it was soft, and tho surface broke badly in places. McMath canto out best,, with tho very reapectiblo average of four for 15. Kavanagh also performed well, and this in the face of the fact that the wicket was not so much in favour" of his style of delivery as in that of come of tho other bowlers. Of Ponsonby's innings the two features were the 25 contributed by 0. A. Sneddon and tho 27 by F. R. Wilson. The latter batsman exhibited a, lively contempt for the bowlers, and made the runs come 'n quick time, until Fisher's one over accounted for him. Tho first ball ho hit for four, the second he punished to the extent of three, while the third 'he put up at mid-off, and Graham, whipping in, took a smart catch, and, as the outcome sbeaod, probably saved the match. The remainder of the batsmen made no great impression oh the howling. _' r The dismissal of N. C. Snedderi, -when, he had scored only, 3, was undoubtedly .< '& heavy blow} to the team, and the justice of the decision 'which .gave him,- out 3bw was stand. _ The wicket at Victoria Park, however, is so placed that it is impossible to judge from' the stand, and the umpire did not hesitate IE! iSaking his ruling. The bowling certainly was not of the easiest to play, inasmuch as the wieket did not improve with 4 wear, but several of the batsmen shewed an undue anriety to have the matter oyer and done with. Doubtless it was an excellent sporting spirit which made Ponsonby go for the three points or nothing, but considering thev had a certain two points in hand if they were still batting at the call of time, it would have been better tactics to have gone steadily, especially in view of the small total they were called upon- to overtake. Supporters, of Ponsonby were in hopes that either Gavin or Osborne would make a substantial contribution to the scone, but the former was beaten by Taylor 'before the hod added anything to the total, while the latter let one ifroin F<?;nwick past him when 8 runs had come from his bat. .

The last two men, McMath and Robinson, realising the position, played for safety, no fewer than four maidens being bowled at them in succession; but at a time wher a single good drive would have decided the match '.Robinson tried to bring it off. sending the hall into the air at mid-off, with the inevitable result. Taylor and Fenwiek howled practically unchanged throughout the match, the former coming out with the excellent average of fivo wickets at a cost of '8 runs a-piece. He kept a good letgth, and at times came very fast off the pitch. Some of his deliveries kept low, and it was a ball of this description which clean bowled Gavin second ball. Fenwick tended to keen the batsmen quiet, with the exception of Wilson, who helped himself to ono six and a number of fours 03 his deliveries. Fisher's ono over has already been described. Dairymen will be represented against Waterside to-day by Robinson, Ooatea, Baker, Stolz, Gotterall, Ooppins, Josey, Horspool, Sparkes, Bridgen, H-Tvoy, and (Webber. *