DIED OF WOUNDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25172, 12 March 1943, Page 2

DIED OF WOUNDS

LIEUTENANT D. A. R. MOLONEY FORMER NEW ZEALAND CRICKET CAPTAIN Private advice was received in Dunedin yesterday that Lieutenant D. A. R. (“Sonny”) Moloney, who had previously been reported missing and wounded, died of wounds on July 15 1942. Lieutenant Moloney, who was aged 32, was a son of Mrs Moloney and the late Mr John Moloney, of 159 Cargill street. Lieutenant Moloney was educated at the Arthur Street and Otago Boys’ High Schools, at each of which he had a distinguished sporting record, playing a full part in all the school activities, He was the captain of the Boys’ iHigh School cricket eleven and deputy •captain of the Rugby fifteen. As an athlete he enjoyed, most success in hurdling, and while at the Boys’ High School lowered the senior record tor the 120 Yards Hurdles. It was as a cricketer that Lieutenant Moloney was most widely known, and in this sport he gained the distmc-

tion of being appointed captain of a New Zealand team. He showed unusual promise as a and as a youth played his first game tor Otago in the 1929-30 season. A stylish and sound batsman, he made steady progress, and in the 1933-34 season averaged 31.83 for six innings. The following season he was selected to represent the South Island against the North, securing a fine double of 70 and 71, and also performing usefully as a slow bowler, in which capacity he had been successful in club games. His transfer to Palmerston North followed, and, in addition to playing for Manawatu in Hawke Cup games, he was also selected to represent Wellington and gained a place in New Zealand elevens which played against E. R. T. Holmes’s M.C.C. team. In the 1936-37 season he played for New Zealand against aO M.C.C. test team which was visiting the Dominion after a tour of Australia, scoring 42 not out and 18. In the same season he made 190 for Wellingtoh against Auckland, and in eight innings in first class matches secured an average of 64.14. In addition he made 184 for Manawatu against Wairarapa. These performances gained Lieutenant Moloney a place in the New Zealand team which toured England in ,937. He was one of its most successful members, averaging 34.83 for 46 innings, and taking 57 wickets. His performances included 140 against an English eleven. On his return to New Zealand he again played for Wellington, and captained the New Zealand team which met Sir Julien Cann’s eleven. Later he was transferred to Dunedin, and then gave Otago useful service as captain of the representative eleven.

Although he did not engage seriously in Rugby football after leaving school, Lieutenant Moloney was a member of the University Club for a short period. Before enlisting he was chief clerk of the National Insurance Company, Ltd., at Dunedin, and he left New Zealand for the Middle East early in the war.