GENERAL SPORTS NEWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24196, 11 February 1942, Page 4

GENERAL SPORTS NEWS

VETERANS' CRICKET MATCH Sergeant J. Butler, former Wellington, Auckland and North Island representative Rugby forward, has been reported missing. A good footballer, Butler went to Wellington from Waipukurau and joined the Marist Club, for which he rendered excellent service for some seasons. Later, he came to Auckland, where he also played for Marist. Not long before the war he returned to Central Hawke's Bay, and was playing there right up to the time of his entry into the Army. A recent meeting of "the executive of the New Zealand Bowling Association was asked by one of the centres if there was any rule forbidding tournaments on Sundays, and, if not, what was the council's "attitude toward the matter. The reply forwarded to the inquiring centre stated that there was no rule forbidding such tournaments, nor was the executive able to express the opinion of the council on the subject. Nevertheless, any application to the present executive for an open tournament on a Sunday would be refused.

There is every possibility of the annual veterans" cricket match between players representing Auckland and Wellington taking place again this year at Eden Park. Mr. J. D. Howitt, chairman of the Wellington Cricket Association, who was manager of the Wellington team which was defeated by Auckland last week-end. is anxious that the fixture should continue as an annual event. The content was inaugurated two years ago when the teams played' a drawn game at Eden Park, each side scoring a similar number of rnns. Wellington won the match played at the Basin Reserve last year.

Thirty-two fours took part in the annual Veterans' Day tournament, held on the Wellington green under the jurisdiction of the Wellington Bowling Centre, every one of the players being 70 years of age or over. The total of years represented on the green was 9541, and the average age was 74 l / a years. One four from. Eastbourne represented 333 years, with an average of 83Vi years. The oldest player was Mr. Lodge, of Eastbourne, who is 90 The next oldest player was another East Harbour player, Mr. Gilbert, who is 86. and he was closely followed by a Well ington Club player, Mr. P. Christensen, who is 81. The youngest player was Mr. A. Pol lock, who was boYn at 0.30 a.tn. on February I 70 years ago

It is rarely that three days of cricket pass without someone hitting a six. At one stage of the Auckland-Wellington game at Eden Park during the week-end it appeared likely that it would conclude without a hit over the fence being recorded. The Wellington captain, D. S. Wilson, however straight drove a ball from Kerr high over the boundary. It was the last delivery before the luncheon adjournment—a stage at which the majority of batsmen are endeavouring to Keep their wickets intact for a fresh start later on. This was the only six of the match, the nearest approach to another one being O'Brien's deep drive in the second innings when he was caught just in front of the sight screen by Ellifl.