CHRISTCHURCH SEASON ENDS

NZ Truth, Issue 1061, 25 March 1926, Page 15

CHRISTCHURCH SEASON ENDS

St; Albans Suffer Their Orily Defeat

(From ""Truth's" Special Christchurch Representative.) Saturday saw the end of the cricket season m Christchurch. It was not an exciting finish so far 'as the senior competition was concerned, for St. Albans were assured of the championship at the end of the eighth round.

ST. ALBANS : suffered- their first defeat on Saturday, and curiously 1 enough it .was at the hands of Linwood, who came last this year. . ''■ Linwood won ;Jiy72S runs on the first innings. . ' -i? ' '...■■ ' !: ; : ' .; ; This was onl^ the second win that Linwood have had this season. I In the:first round Vth'ey had ;a vie- ] tory over East Christchurch.. St. Albans were a strong batting side this year and during the season they made several good scores. , Their two opening batsmen (probably the best m Christchurch)^Frank Woods and C. G.- Crawford— frequently.- 1 gave them a good start and this,- of course, helped a lot. ; In bowling St. Albans were not so strong, the two veterans, D. Sandman and A. W. Thomas, being the mainstay 6f the attack. ' i ; Thomas was very consistent Avith the ball throughout the season. Sandman .was more, expensive, but on the .whole "he bowled- -well-. ■ ' West; Christchurch are lucky to be m the position of runncrs-up. They had two narrow, victories right at the stall of the season. In the first rou,"n«i they beat Riccarton by four runs on the flT.it innings, and m the second they beat Linwood, by three runs on the first innings. . , : ;• Bunt has been a tower of ■ strength to. West, both m bowling ,and batting. • : , ' Oil Saturdays there was an exciting struggle for victory m the game be -r tween ■ Riccarton .and Syclehharhfat ,Ha,gloy Park. ■■■ . -.'.".-..- • ',■■; - : : £■ . On the/ first day Riccarton made 157 and : Sydenham 'replied-. With 8? for 1 the loss of six wickots. ... _ •■. : - . . .'■■■■-■•:, : " ■ ■ " ■■-•i>f' ■■■'■ ' -. '

On Saturday Sydenham carried their total to within three of Riccarton's score before the final wicket fell. It was exciting whilst it .lasted. As a result of their win Riccar- .. ton finished up the season m third \ plaice, whilst Sydenham are fourth — equal with East Christchurch. Sydenham won the championshio last year. This ■ season they were weakened by the loss of two of their best bowlers, J. McEwin and D. J. Mc,Bealh, and for a part of; the season wero without the services of W. R. JPatiMek, C: Oliver arid W. Cunningham, who went to Australia With the New Zealand team. The team, therefore, was somewhat disorganized during , the season, but. giving this m, their standard. of> play •did not seem to be up to (.hat of last season. ' Jn the senior competition St. Albans finished up the season with - 17 points, West. Christchurch' 11, Riccarton 9, Sydenham and East ! Christchurch 8 each, and Linwood . ■In'' their second innings againstvst. Albans on Saturday Linwood made the ; big : score' of ,286 for; the. -loss of seven wickefv. ... ;•.■•■ ■./.-<. ';V'-*V.'-:; ' '-. Bad fielding on, the pq.rt of St. Albans materially assisted towards: this total. The number of dropped datches was \voefully large 3 and one could only come to the, conclusion that theiSt. Al r bans players were riot taking the gamfe very v seriously. ; ■■ "■'.: •. .'•;'. Tcp score for Linwood was madeVby R. Read with 92. He was unlucky not to reach his century, bui >! ..on the other, hand He was lucky to - ■.gel as far as he did. v /