Championship Matches.

NZ Truth, Issue 82, 12 January 1907, Page 2

Championship Matches.

Aftsr a fortnight's adjournment/ brought about by the Xmas and -New Year holidays, senior championship matches were gone on with on .Saturday, m "perfect weather The wicket was very much on the fast side; and a good downpour 'of rain in^ the earlier part of • the week would nave exercised a beneficial influence on the turf. . •

The spectators' attention ■"■ was mainly rivetted on the Old Boys'Midland oontest, wMch, at the close of the afternoon's proceedings, made pleasant reading for the younger club's representatives, who had: 71 runs lead on the first strike and notched 117 m their second essay for the loss of only two wickets. The bright features of the Midlatiders' innings was the batting ; of Williams and Bruce ■, a promoted, junior; whose debut m senior cricket was. an auspicious one. Claude Hiekson put 21 on the slate when a chance m the deep slips, off Beechey, was accepted by Dixon,'and Old Boys were relieved of a troublesome- customer. Murphy, was shapingpro/misingly towards a respectable tally when Beeohey disarranged his timbers. r ■ ■ .

On Bat-ron^ .ioiriiripr Williams -4he score „ was carried from 4-9 to "31. The y.ex-C-ariterburyite went along solidly, ■if not brilliantly, until an almost unanimous appeal* for a catch by wicketkeeper Blacklock, off Tucker's bowline, was promptly answered m the affirmative!. There was no question as to the correctness of .the umpire's- decision; the "click" could be plainly heard over the. field. ' The Williams-Bruce partnership was responsible for the a/ddi<tion of .76 runs, toe skipper being .the first to go, clean bowled by Wills. Williams made his runs (75) on both sides of the wicket. He executed some sweet cutting— square and late— one to the Sussex side of the enclosure being a gem. Plis timing and placing was first-class, and on the le£.*-side he let little pass. Arnold eschewed that risky on-stro-ke to good purpose. He gave one chance at 12. Bruce, m compiling 45, played steady, confident, and correct' cricket. He is a m6st promising youngs-, ter, and now that he has made such a fine .start should be more confident m the future. He showed capital defence, and judging by Saturday's display, should be a consistent fungetter against any bowling. His. strokes all. . round : were clean and crisp- .andi a nattier showing .- by a senior beginner could not have: been wished for. The crowd- gave the lad a great round of applause following on the flooring of .his off, pin* by Beechev.- ; - • • " .'■■

■Atkinson was caught by the wicketkeeper 1 from the first ball -he-re-ceived from Wills, and- -Stepfcepspn: s career was -quickly- ._terminatedi.-l»Y ■Dick-son, getting one past/ him. /;•

Upham, '. however ,• .. batted well, .. his strokes including a superb square cut for five, all run out.tr He -drove ..one hard to Collins,, vrtra effected a.- good patch. •■■:.: ':■■■: , :■ : "

. The Old Boys did not field with their.: usual celerity and sureness, the heat apparently 'giving, them . a . tired feeling. Beechey secured the bulk of tfhe wickets.yat -Wills broke up the Williams-Bruce partnership m the first, over: and snared. At-: kinson with his nejxt ball. His success ended here. , ':. : ./. ,-. > J. Blaclclock and i ßeechey opened the Ojd Boys;' second essay, thefornier quitting the . field siter,, put-, ting 16 orii the slate,. and Beechey made a fine stand- apd, v all efforts to dislodge him were futile until five minutes to jfehe drawing- .of; stumps, when Tucker, jwas^cau^it Jby , Hickson. off Upham. He .had stayed long enough to see the century passed. Ken played nicely and executed some characteristic strokes. -„ Beeohey batted m forceful . style, his off-strokes being clearly and finely executed. He ! gave two possible, chances, but otherwise his innings Was an attractive, one. The Wellington and Phoenix match was continued on Saturday ; both sides had completed an innings before the holidays. Wellington 166, Phoenix 110. .. Naughton and Richardson opened the second innings for Wellington, but the partnership did not last., long, Laws 'getting one past the for 11. Naughton batted m fine style for 35, and made some good drives, especially one for 5. Stan Hickson gave a fine exhibition for 91 not out, his driving ana cutting being perfect; he hit two s's and five 4's. H& save a chance m the slips at 34, but otherwise the innings was a faultless one. i Mahoney started well by making a few good cuts offtCobcroft, but Laws found his weak spot after he had scored 16. Weybourne's first stroke was a beautiful drive for 5, but after Retting 3 more was caught m the slips off Laws. Gore scratched up 7 and was then caught by Laws off Brice. O'Sullivan ,did not give much trouble and Laws found him »n easy victim. Quinn, a promoted junior, had the bad luck to be snapped up at the Wickets after making a ninjde. Luckie, everybody was pleased to see, made 22. Included ra his score was a beautiful drive far 5. . ' V

Hales was . 'shaping- well when, he had the misfortune to-be run out owine; to Hickson calling him for, an impossible run. Hill was absent, being m Taranalci on holiday. . . ■. .- . • . Laws bowled splendidly and got the fine average of G for 55. The Phornix, requiring 283 runs to win, opened their second innings ..by sending m Cobcroft and Laws, and

fch«y held possession until dra^ag ot stumps, with the fine total of 10^The former scored 32 m his usual defensive ;style, aud the latter oi»---tainad 60 by real good cricket, and should be a certainty for the reps m the next match against the English team.

Gas Cempany, with 5 for 139, agamsfc Newtown's first tally of 186, completed its innings for 213. The scoring, was < very even, Topp and Hawthorne notching 36 es.ch, Waugii .34, McKay 32, .Lingard and Ashbolt 16 ' each, and, Burke 15.

; Gourley base;ed 3 .wickets for 4, Rothe; 3- for 4.8 and. Spfaggon 2 for ■45-i.: ■.-:...: . ."..-■■

Tfaa .Newtown . team's second effort at./ the crease resulted m 373 beinu; made. The consistent .Waters and the skipper (Spraggon) again leading the way ; with 50 and 36 .respectively. The scores of these two players merit a line. The former, has, m consecutive strikes, made 55, .44, 5, 7, 1, 49 hot out, 13 and 50, and the latter 11, 12, 36, lv, 5. 33. 11 and 36. ,

G-ourley hit up 21. Frank Alpe and Gosling 20 each (the latter not out), whilst George Day notched 11. The wickets were pretty . evenly divided . by Hawthorne (3 for 4.9), Burke (3 for 58) and Li-ngard (2 for 13). '•■"■ '

MrVDermid again kept the sticks m excellent style. With' 127 to win (las Company lost one wicket for 15, Wat»gh being run out through no fault of his own for the second time m tttf match. Tin's youna; olay*r I'.ps greatly imnroy£<d ih.Vhis . bat'tinp: -this yfeaf^rid pejisrally ipft^rs.'. n strict resistance*' to the opposing txundlers