AUCKLAND V. WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15521, 31 January 1914, Page 5

AUCKLAND V. WELLINGTON.

HORSPOOL MAKES 113. VISITORS IN GOOD POSITION. [BT TBLEOBAPH.—PBESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Friday. Play in the Auckland-Wellington cricket match was resumed this afternoon. The weather was fine. The rain last night dulled the wicket somewhat, but it improved rapidly under a drying wind. The following are the scores: AUCKLAND. First innings 136 Second Innings: Brooke-Smith, c and b W. B. Grimmett 30 Wright, c Hay, b Saunders 0 Smeeton, c Hay, b Saunders 7 Brook, b Saunders ... 5 Horspool, b Hiddleston 113 MacOormick, c Howe, b Hiddleston... 4 Sloman, b Hiddlestone ... ... 46 Taylor, lbw, b Saunders 7 Clarke, not out 3 Woods, b Hiddleston ... 2 Mayall, not out 3 Extras 24 Total for nine wickets ... . ... 244 Bowling Analysis: Robinson took no wickets for SO runs; Saunders, four for 63; Grimmett, one for 39; Hiddlestone, four for 61 ; Smyrk, none for 16. WELLINGTON.—First Innings. Midlane, o Mayall, b Taylor. 18 Hay, b Clarke 10 Hiddlestone, lbw, b Clarke .... .. 10 Joplin, lbw, b Woods ~ ... 10 Howe, c and b Clarke 31° Qnin, b Taylor ... , ... ... . ... s 4 Aldercley, b Woods ' ... ... " ... '" 4 Smyrk, run out .... . ... .-; ... 13 Grimmett, c Taylor, b Woods.l. ... 24 Robinson, o MacOormick, - b Taylor... 13 Saunders, not out ... ... ... 10 Extras 17 Total ' ... 164 Bowling Analysis: Clarke took three wickets for 61 runs ; Taylor, three for 58; Woods, three for 23; Horspool, none for 5.

I HAWKE CUP MATCH.

WANGANUI RETAINS TROPHY. [BT telegraph.— assooiatiox.] WANGAmn, Friday. The Hawke Cup match between Wanganui and South Taranaki was concluded to-day in sultry weather, the local team retaining the cup. Wanganui led the visitors by 73 runs on the first innings, and in their second strike put on 176 (Orton 68, Johnston 43). Dunlop took five wiokete for 53 runs- Requiring 250 runs to win, South Taranaki could only get 141 (Penny 28, Dunlop 24). Hußsey secured five wickets for 44 runs, and Hot j land five for 58. Wanganui won by 108 I runs.

NEW ZEALAND TEAS* RETURNI

RESULT OF' TOUR.

INTERVIEW WITH MANAGER. ' Wellington, Otago, and Canterbury members of the New Zealand representative cricket team, with the exception of Mr. D. Reese, the captain, returned to Wellington by the Moeraki on Wednesday. Interviewed by a representative of the Evening Post, Mr. S. Orchard said:— "We had a very fine trip and good weather,'.' he said. " One and all, I think, have enjoyed the experience of the prolonged tour, particularly those youngsters who have not been out of New Zealand before. We have learp. many lessons from a cricket point of view. In fact, one could not help learning after going through what we have. The wickets were entirely different from anything we see here; particularly in the centres, where they were as hard as flint. It was a matter of impossibility for our bowlers to do anything with the ball, and they had practically to rely on good length bowling. Anything loose was punished as it deserved. Contrary to expectations the slowest wicket we struck was in Adelaide, and our men did full justice to their powers, so that we made a very fine fight. The Adelaide people were particularly pleased with the game, and expressed the opinion that it was one of the finest matches witnessed on the ground for many year*. Not Sufficient Practice. "We were unfortunate in not getting sufficient practice on the hard turf | wickets before we played New South Wales. We expected to get the benefit of a fast wicket in Queensland; but as it rained the ground was even worse than in New Zealand. In fact, we played .in the mud. That match was really our best effort. The only opportunity we had for practice before the Sydney match was spoilt by heavy rain, which sent us back to the dressing-room. The cricketers on the other side can teach us a lot in the batting department, and also in the fielding. We reckoned that we were a firstclass fielding side, and on our own grounds we were; but the grounds over there are so fast and the ball travels at such a pace that it is into the fieldsman's hands before -■•—■■ —

he is aware of it. Consequently the picking up was not so clean'as I would have liked to see, although there was brilliant fielding on occasions. . We did not learn a great deal in the "bowling department. Our bowlers were not bad, and we were only treated the same as Australian bowlers, as large scores are of everyday occurrence over there, and a bowler has got to have any amount of perseverance in order to do any good. Our fast bowler, Robinson, was very useful in test matches, and his performances were much the best of any of the side. Of course, runs were scored pretty freely off him, but he got wickets where others of the team were not so effective. Sandman in the country matches bowled really well, but when pitted against the batting strength of Australia he was made to look easy. Bennett kept a good length, but suffered from the hard grounds, which affected his feet, the same as the other men. . That took a good deal of the sting out of his bowling, but in Adelaide he was far and away the best man.

Effect of Weather.

" The'weather, taken all round, wae not 60 bad as we expected. Still it was a continuous heat and we all felt it verymuch. It affected the team's rest at night very considerably. By the end of the tour we could not put a sound team into the field, which proves very conclusively the necessity for taking an extra man.

"Some of the team did not do themselves justice, but one could not expect all to adapt themselves to Australia's conditions in a month or two. All showed glimpses of New Zealand form, but, unfortunately, they were not all consistent. Although the matches were hard, the experience was fine, and the team stuck to

their work like Britons, on many occasions leaving the field in a fairly exhausted state. "Taking the result of the tour as a whole, it cannot be called unsuccessful. We were well beaten in New South Wales and Victoria, but to my mind the importance of the occasion had a great deal to do with the exceedingly poor play of our members. The bowling against us was not of a nature to get our side out for such paltry scores, and I

am firmly convinced that if we had to play those matches over again we would do very much better. "The team was a very happy family, and so far as I am concerned it was a pleasure to do what I did for them.

uring the whole tour there waa no

formation of cliques, and each appeared to do his best for the others. Thus the work of management was comparatively easy, though there was a great deal of detailed work. Unfortunately an accident on the voyage across laid me up, and I had to cut out the Brisbane portion of the tour. Mr. Boxshall carried out my work very efficiently '. Mr. Reese made a very able and popular captain, and. although Mr. Hemus acted as vice-captain bis services were not often required, but what he had to do he did well. "I should like to give a word of praise to Reese for his magnificent performance in Adelaide. It was beautiful cricket, and I think the Adelaide team were very surprised to find that we had such a batsman on the side. Sneddon was the most consistent batsman in the test matches, and put up some very good performances. Sandman also performed exceedingly well with the bat, and his play was very popular with the crowds. It was breezy and full of enterprise." Play in the Tour. '

Mr. Charles Boxshall, wicket-keeper with the team, in conversation, with a Post reporter, said, taken all round, the tour had been' most successful. The batting in : the big matches, especially against. New South Wales and Victoria, was disappointing, for even after making allowances there was something wanting.' Some of the mem-, bers of the team were too raw,. the youngsters lacked the cricket temperament. It would have been better had more experienced players, such as' Lusk and Collins, been included. On the other hand, some of the experienced players failed. But one must not forget that the colts oi to-day would be the seasoned men of the future, and it was of course necessary that they should make their initial tour. The cricket of the team was much better than reading tie figures of tie matches would lead one to suppose, said Mr. Boxshall. The match at Adelaide was a. fine one, and the home team included three international players—Hill, Mayne, and Crawford and Steele whom Mr. Bbxshall declares is the best colt in Australia, and who wiE undoubtedly attain international honours, It was a strong side, and the New Zealanders made an excellent fight. The wicket was slower than those in Sydney and Melbourne, and suited the tourists. Reese's 96 and 130 w.>s a splendid effort. The match, against Melbourne was more a social game, but the second innings showed, though the score was not a large one, that the men were all striking form. Mr. Boxshall is convinced that had the team met Victoria and Sydney again, in the light of this showing, they would have done well indeed.' New South Wales was the best team; "MacCartney would demoralise any • team when going at top," said Mr. Boxshall; "he would break the heart of any bowler." There was no suspicion in any of the matches that weak teams were being pitted against them. The new men who were being tried in the teams were fighting for fame and were very keen. Robinson, Wellington's fast bowler, said Mr. Boxshall, was a discovery. He is undoubtedly the fastest bowler in New Zealand, and the Australian wickets suited him. He was too fast to be played on the matting wickets. The Australians were impressed with him, and one great player of a few seasons ago characterised him as a coming champion. At persent he lacks design. Sandman was the most successful bowler of the team, and he also shone in the field.

Socially the team was well treated, especially in the country districts, though in Sydney the team was left to its own devices, but private individuals were most kind. The expenses of the tour it is understood are about £20 under the estimate, and the receipts from £180 to £2CO above. The Auckland members leave Sydney to-day in company with Sims's team, and Tuckwell is returning via the Bluff.