Cricket.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1024, 16 October 1891, Page 37

Cricket.

FIXTURES FOR THE SEASON". Following are the First and Second Class Championship fixtures for the season : First-Ceass Championship. FIRST BOUND. October 17 and November 24—Wellington v. Midland , _ October 31 and November 7—Phoenix v. E November 14 and November 21 —Wellington v. Rival December 5 and December 12—Phoenix v. Midland , , December 19 and January 2 (1892)—Rival v. Midland „„ January (1592) 9 and January IG—Wellington v. Phoenix SECOND ROUND. Januarv 23 and January 30 —Wellington v. Midland " , February 6 and February 13—Phoenix v. Rival February 20 and February 27—Wellington v. Rival . .... March and March 12-Phoenix v. MidMarch 19 and March 20—Rival v. Midland April 2 and April 9 -Wellington v. Phoenix All the First Class Championship marches will be played on 1 wicket, and will be continued for two Saturdays, and if not completed on the second Saturday, _ the match will be played out during the following week m the evening. Second-Class Championship. FIRST ROUND October 17 —Phoenix v St Patrick’s October 24—Kival v Midland October 31 —Wellington v St Patrick’s 'November 7 —Phcenix v Midland November 14—Rival v "Wellington November 21 —Midland v St Patrick’s December s—Rival ,v Phcenix December 12—-Wellington v Midland December 19—Rival v St Patiicks January (1592) 2—Phoenix v Wellington SECOND ROUND. January 9-Phce dx v St Patrick’s January 16 —Rival v Midland # v January 24—Wellington v St Patucks January 30 —Phcanix v Midland February 6—Rival v Wellington February 13 Midland v St Patrick’s February 20—Rival v Phoenix February 27 —Wellington v Midland ‘ March 5 -Rival v St Patrick’s March 12—Phcanix v Wellington .A.ll second class matches will be played on No. 2 wicket, and will be decided on the first innings. If not finished on the Saturday afternoon the malch will be completed during the following week in the evening. The Coinmittee reserve to themselves the right to t. ik 6 No. 2 wicket for the Senior Championship and No. 3 for the Second Class Championship matches, OPENING OF THE SEASON. The cricket season was formally opened on Saturday afternoon under very favourable conditions. The weather was simply delightful, and a good wicket was provided for the principal match by Mr Twist. On No. 1 wicket a match was played between teams captained by Messrs Salmon and Dry den, the former being composed of Wellington and Midland Club players, and the latter of Phcenix and Rival players. Mr Salmon’s team won by two wickets and ten runs. Considering that it was the first match of the Besson exceedingly good form was shown by several of the batsmen, Collins, Cross, Holaswortb, Gillon, Lynch, and Stevenson especially. The Phcanix-Rival team batted first, and scored 101, Cross (35), Holdsworth (30), and Lynch (16) being the principal ran getters. Rath Cross and Holdsworth hit well for their runs. McGirr bowled well, securing five wickets for 26. Stevenson, a Dunedin player, who has joined the .Midland Club, also bowled well. The fielding was only fair. Harley and Stevenson are deserving of mention for their clean picking up, and Longden for a smart catch in the 'slips. The Wellington - Midland team knocked up 111 runs for eight wickets, when stumps were drawn. Salmon (12), Stevenson (15', Coffins (who played a fine vigorous innings, 45), and Gillon (22) were the principal scorers. Considering that the latter has Dot played Bince the beginning of last season, he showed excellent form. Taylor and Dryden were the most successful trundlers. Niven wa3 in fine form behind theEtieks, and this is shown by the fact that only one bye was scored during the innings. The following are the scores— Riyal-Phojnix Team . Harris, b McGirr ... ... ... ••• 1 Taylor, b Stevenson 2 Read, retired hurt u Holdsworth, b McGirr ... ... 39 Dryden, b Stevenson ... ... ... ••• 3 Benbow, b McGirr ... ... ... ••• 7 Fuller, st Collins, b Stevenson 3 Ogier, c Longden, b Stevenson ... ... ' 0 Lynch, b McGirr ... ' ••• I{> Cross, b MrGirr ... ... ••• ••• 35 Niven, c A. Blacldock, b Stevenson ... 2 Barlow, not out ... ... ... ... 0 Byes 2 Total 101 Wellington-Midland Team. Salmon, thrown out ... ... ... ... 12 Crawshaw, b Dryden 4 Longden, b Taylor ... 0 Stevenson, st Niven, b Dryden 15 Collins, b Fuller ... 4o A. Blacldock, c Cros3, b Fuller 11 Gore, b Benbow ... 0 Gillon, c Holdsworth, b Benbow 22 Harley, not out ... ... ••• ••• 1 Bye ... _ Total for eight wickets 11l The Petone Club defeated an eleven from the Rivals on Saturday by 34 rniiß. The suburban team went in first, and put on ss, Wynyard (22) and Wallis (14) playing well for their runs. The Rivals only realised 24

runs. Arnold (5 wickets for S runs) and Wheatley bowled splendidly for the winners, aud MoMasters (4 wickets for 4 runs) and Smith (an ex-Dnnodin High Sohool toy) trundled best for the losers. Messrs Luuny and Ledger umpired, while Messrs Warner and King acted as scorers. The Columbiaa defeated the Roscb at the Railway Reserve on Saturdaj' by 5 runs. The scores were—Co'.umbia, 55 (Holmes 13, M. Crombie 10), and Roses, 50 (Shout 10, Grimes 8). M. Crombie and Weybourue for the winners, and McColl aud Grimestone for the losers bowled well.. The Thorndon Club held a practice match on the Reclamation Ground on Saturday afternoon, sides being chosen by the captain and vice-captain the former’s team winning easily. The new asphalt pitch laid down by the Club proved a great Buocess. The Wellington Club have engaged W. Frith as ground howler. lie will, of course, play for the Club in the championship contest, and his services should prove of great value. The Third-Class Championship Committee have received eight entries for that championship, the matches to he decided in one innings. If the game is not finished on the Saturday, it will be concluded during the week on No. 3 pitch. The Committee expect the competing clubs to jrlay four game 3 on the Basin Reserve, Thorndon, and College grounds, and two on the Kilbirnie. And Mr F. IC. Kelling, who has devised this scheme, deserves the tliank3 of the third-class players. The fixtures for next Saturday are as follows : Rival v. College, at the College ground ; Midland v. Wellington, on No. 3 pitch at the Basin Reserve ; and Phoenix v. Thorndon, at the Thorndon ground. The remaining fixtures for the season will be drawn early next week.