CRICKET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14445, 11 February 1909, Page 4

CRICKET.

THE CARISBROOK INQUIRY. B TEAM ABSOLVED. A special meeting of Ihe Otago Cricket Association was held last evening to investigate the statements that th-a Carisbrook B team had not used every endeavour to win the match Carisbrook A v. Carisbrook B. M.r 0. R. Smith occupied llw ohair, and there was a large attendance of delegates and witnesses summoned to appear.

The Chairman said I hat, an thoy all know, they were there to sift to the bottom a serious charge, and as ho was a member of the B team lie. thought it was only lilting that ho should vacate the, chair hi favour of Mr Ulark, a vice-president; but he would ask the committee to weigh very carefully the evidence submitted. They did not- want to do anylhing to discredit the pime, which they were proud to see progressing amongst, 'them. If anything of the sort alleged had occurred it was only proper that it should bo investigated, but ho hoped they would find it was not, so.

Mr Ho)* said he did not think it was lieccssary for Mr Smith to vacate the chair. JIo was thcro as a member of fho association, not as a member of Carisbrook B team, and they had every confidence in him.—("Dear, hear.")

Mr Smith said he was in a somewhat invidious position conducting such an inquiry and yet being a meml>er of the torn charged. Ho would prefer that Mr Clark should tako the oliair:

A. Fisher (captain of the A team) wrofo from Milton stating that there was no arrangement liotween the teams with regard to whining or losing the match, or l>etween Mr Siedc-herg and himself, and Mich an accusation ho took as a positive insult.

Mr CanipMl said he had felt it his duty to report certain things in the match not in the interests of cricket. He averred that the 11 team allowed the A team to win (lie match. Ho was sitting on tlie pavilion next. Fisher (captain of the A team), when Blamires and Martyu, the last two men, went in. .Sicdolxvrg came up ami railed Fisher, and asked him how many they .required to win. Fisher said 18, and Siedeberg said: "AVe won't put them out." Later Sie.deberg again oa-mo a.r.d told Fisher lie could put another man in, and ho would not oiler any objections. Later a ball was played softly to Siedoberg, who mulled it. and overthrew it in such a manner that 4 more runs were scored. One of the umpires ma-do some nneompliineiniary remarks about the game afterwards. Mr Hope was present, and knew a lot about it. Ho thought that if what lie had stated was correct the match was not conducive to the interests of cricket.

11. 0. Siedoberg stated that the reason ho offered Fisher tho option of batting another man was because Fishor refused lo allow witness a man to run for him when ill last year, and ho wished to heap coals of fire on his bead. The. ball pfoyod to him from Blamires was driven hard, and struck him on (lie hand. Ho picked it up and threw it at the wicket. If he had bit it- the man would hove been out. He had heard remarks alxiut Uie umpiring. There was great keenness between the two learns. They had no idea of allowing Ihe A team to win tho niafeh, and if witness -had wanted to throw the match away, would be. have made 95 runs himself? A charge like that was degrading to cricket and lo the association.

Mr Ritchie suggested that all witnesses should retire, but this was vetoed.

Mr Martyn said he felt the accusation keenly. Ho thought Hint nothing of the matter should have been allowed to get into print without, a full invostigaiion. In his opinion tbo A team played to win, and tho match was always one of the keenest- of the season. Ho did not think that the catch Sicd-eborg missed was au easy one. It would have, been a 5-run hit. Ho saw nothing in the play lo make him think '.here was any giving away of the game. Atr West said he did not thuik it was a " put-up job," out it was his impression I hat some players were not Irving to win the game. He thought the fielding was iax. On this account ho Ikrl informed the club that he would not play any more tlris season. The catch referred to by Mr Campbell was a very difficult one.

Mr Drumm said he thought all the players were trying. The only thing he did not like was Sicdc.berg's overthrow. He might have said to Mr Campbell that he was dissatisfied with the play, but he only meant the catch.

Mr Thomson expressed the opinion (hat as long as the two fawns mot the public and othcre would be suspicious. He was quite satisfied that every member oE the B team had never been keener for any match.

Mr Smyth (umpire) said he was "satisfied that the 15 team had ndt. played the game, lie had asked Mr West, the other umpire, if he was prepared to leave the held, but, Mr West induced him lo slay. He thought Siedeberg could easily have pulled off the catch mentioned. Al, one time when Blamires was popularly supposed to be out Siedeberg said, "Go on, go on; you're not out!"

Mr Wast (umpire) said he did not see anything wrong with the game. Mr Smyth asked him to leave (he lield, but he refused. Siedeberg's would have been a smart- catch.

In reply to the witnesses Mr Siedeberg said that when the catch came he was Holding very close lo coverpoitit. When ho called to Blamires lo come back the umpire had given his decision.

Mr Campbell said that before the witnesses left, lie wished it to be made clear that he made no imputation against, the A team, and he did not allege that, there was an arrangement, between the captains, but on what he saw he considered it his duty to bring the matter before the association. The witnesses then withdrew, and after a brief informal discussion it was resolved— " That, having heard Iho evidence in the matter, wo are of the opinion that there is nothing to prove that the B team meant to give the match to the A team." CANTERBURY v. SOUTH CANTERBURY. FINE SCORE BY HUMPHREYS. > (Pes United Press Association.) TIMARU, February 10, The Canterbury cricketers broke their journey south to play a match at, Timam against a South Canterbury eleven. The latter was not so strong as was expected, as Ilowden (tteraldine) and Young (Timaru) were not able to play. The weather was variable, a strong southerly wind blowing, while later on light rain fell. Anthony, winning Ihe toss, elected to bat, on a wicket that was excellent at the south end but bumpy at the north.

Starting at, 1.40 p.m., Canterbury kept the local representatives very busy till 5.40, putting' np the large total of 345. Towards this Humphrey's contribution wa.l the most handsome. lie was badly missed by Cave in the longfield when only 10, and again later when he had scored 50 and 100. At last Lynch took a beautiful catch over the bowler's head, and the Englishman retired amid great applause. Anthony had bad luck. He got under a bumpy one front Bain, putting it high lo square leg, and the wicketkeeper. running out, held it. Neild and Hayes batted very confidently, but Ihe best, display of the day was undoubtedly by Humphreys, for at times he was wonderfully clever in cutting and driving. He lifted one ball to the pavilion, and put another over Ihe northern fence. All the biggest run-getters were particularly severe on the leg side. The fielding by the local men wes very keen, but their bowling, except thai of Donohuo, was not particularly good. Scores:—

Caxtkiibuby.— First Innings. IS'eild, b Donohue 32 Wood, run out , 4 Anthony, c F.oiighnan. b Rain. 0 Ellis, c (.'ox. li" 1,. Callaghan 22 Humphreys, c Lynch, b L. O'Callaghan 163 Hayes, b O'Callaghan 61 Bruges, c and b Donohue ... 2 Caygill, run out 11 Norman, c Overton, b L. O'Callagan 5 Bennett, b 1,. O'Callaghan ... 16 Ward, not out, 3 Extras .... 26 Total 345 Bowling Analysis.—Bain, one wicket, for 76 runs; Jordan, nil for 52; L. O'Callaghan, five for 67; Donohue. two for 58; Lynch, jun., nil for 13; S. O'Callaghan, nil for 25; Lynch, sen., nil for 30. OTAGO v. CANTERBURY. The forty-eighth annual fixture between these two provinces is causing more than ordinary interest this year, no doubt the fact that both teams put. up such good games against Auckland accounting in some measure for this, The match will bo played at Carisbrook on Friday. Saturday, and Monday, and as a splendid wicket has been prepared tall scoring should bo the order of the day. Both skies are represented by the Iwst team available, and both sides are exceptionally strong in batting. In Canterbury wo have. Humphreys, that fine all-round Kent plnyei- who-'e display in Christchurell last Saturday was described a? the pbanipagne

of cricket. Besides being a dashing batsman, ha is also a fine bowler and a brilliant field. Then we have tliosc two well-known players Artliur Sims and D. Reese. Sims is considered by many as the soundest bat in New Zealand. He' has only once shown a glimpse of his true form in Dunedin, but still his performance:! for his province stamp him as one of the best bats in New Zealand. He has been Home for the last two seasons, and played a, good deal of cricket and has greatly improved. Dan Reese, that dashing lefthander, is well known both as a bat and bowler, while at tltt wickets he is very busy, and, like all left-handers, has thatfree and aggressive style that Ihe public relishes. Orchard is another aggrossivo batsman who has many a time Ijccii a thorn in the sides of Otago bowlers. Those who had the pleasure of witnessing h-is 85 against 01-a-go in 1904 will remember the scant courtesy he showed lo Downcs, Fisher, Shneklock, and Co. Anthony is considered a bat without a superior in Christcliureh at present, and lias been scoring very consistently all the year, his averago for the season at present being just on 50 runs per innings, including representative matches. Wood and Kllis are both making their first appeaittficc in Dunedin, aJid are very sound batsmen, the latter notching «- century in his last match, while he is a- very useful bowler. Bruges is the colt of the team. 11-e played fox ihe College team last year, and is a batsman who puis plenty of |xiwer behind his strokes. It is pleasing to see young players coming to Ihe front- in this manner. Boxshall, the wicket-keeper, and 15onnctt ; the crack Canterbury howler, are both well known to the Dunedin public. Patrick is unable to make the trip, and his place will probably bo Idled by A. Norman. To come to the Otago players, we have the Otago skipper. C. G. Wilson, who is on Ihe top of form, following tin his three, centuries on Ihe northern lour "uy another .for his club in its last match. Wilson is a liatsman when sen-Js the bad Hying to the boundary with no apparent eli'ort, his timing- being well-nigh porfecl, and the Dunedin public will no doubt lie glad to see this player, (rive one of his best exhibitions. 11. G. Siedeberg is another plavor who has put up some line innings, notably his 102 ngainsl the Melbourne team and his 95 against Canterbury, when he made some lovely pull strokes oil' Callaway. A. Eckhold is ■,% player who takes a lot of shifting, and while he has plenty of patience is capable of imrking a big score. Rutherford is a- voting player who has come lo the front with rapid"strides, ami has been Iw.ting' most, consistently this year. \Yatron_is an aggressive batsman who scores quickly when going. A. IT. Fisher when going is probably the most attractive batsman in New Zealand. Those who had the good luck lo see his 72 against Canterbury some seasons hack am] his 52 for New Zealand against New South Wales could not wish for anything bettor. Hopkins, the young Sydney player, who is making his first appearance in a reprcsentalive uialclr in Dunedin, is without doubt one of the most dashing batsmen in New Zealand. While he is there the spectators will not- have many dull moments. Being used to fast wickets, he is particularly strong on the off-side. Torrance and Williams are aggressive batsmen, but who 4i.l the same time can play good cricket. Ayles and Wordsworth, the two coaches, hail from Australia. Though neither has yet showed liis true form, they have shown that they are capable of bettor performances. Ayles is a good, steady bal, and Wordsworth is a fast bowler. As this is the only opportunity the public will have this year of witnessing a representative match here, and n,s it may be the only opportunity it will ever have of seeing Humphreys, that fine all-round Eneli-h player, it is expected that there will he a ia-rge attendance at Carisbrook. Every consideration is lying given to (he comfort of spectators. Luncheon and afternoon tea can be obtained at the ground. The tramway department is running special cars to the gates. The association Im.s decided to reduce the price of admission to 6d after 4 p.m. each day.

THE PLUNKTCT SHIELD. (Per Umtkd Pkkss Association.) AUCKLAND, Webruary 10. The Auckland Cricket Association has received a challenge from tho Wellington Association for a Plunkct Shield contest, the dates suggested being next Christmas and New Year, 1910.