OPENING DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26709, 2 March 1948, Page 9

OPENING DAY

WATERSIDERS' CRICKET INTERPORT TOURNAMENT Entertaining matches, a happy camaraderie among the players and perfect weather made the watersiders’ inieroort cricket tournament, which began at the Oval yesterday, a pleasant day’s entertainment. Such was the opinion of the spectators, numbering several hundreds, •who followed the fortunes of their favourite or home side with keen interest. Teams from Auckland, Wellington. Lyttelton, Greymouth, Timaru, Port Chalmers, Dunedin and Bluff are competing in the tournament, which will continue until Friday, when a North Island v. South Island match will, it is hoped, be played. In the games yesterday, Dunedin, which fielded two Otago representatives, R. H. Robinson and G. H. Mills, was beaten soundly on the first innings by Auckland. A similar victory was gained by Lyttelton over Wellington. The Port Chalmers representatives were too good for the Bluff team, winning by an innings and 25 runs, while Greymouth also won a convincing outright victory over Timaru. A promising young player from Port Chalmers, A. Jenkins, scored the first century of the tournament, compiling 142, against Timaru before retiring. He played an attractive innings, punishing loose balls very severely. Jenkins also achieved success at the bowling crease, securing four wickets for 4 runs and five for 50. Batting for Dunedin, Robinson made 47 out of 92 in its first innings against Auckland, and 47 again in its second innings, which realised 105 runs. Both times, lie hit the same number of boundaries—six 4’s and one 6. In his role as a bowler, Robinson was treated in rather a cava.ier fashion, his five wickets costing 65 runs. Other notable performances were those of J. Best (Timaru), who made 57 .and took five wickets for 20: W. A. Braithwaite (Por Chalmers), who made 64; R Speechley (Auckland), whose bowling average was six for 31; and J. Ellis (Auckland), who made 36 and took six for 36. The teams have been divided into two sections, those from the four main ports comprising the A section and the others the B section. The winners of each division will play off for the championship honours. At the end of the first day's play Auckland and Lyttelton in the A section each had five points, and in the B section Greymouth and Port Chalmers were equal with eight points. The Mayor, Mr Cameron, opened the event at 10 a.m., wishing the players a successful tournament, and Mr H. Lawrence, president of the New Zealand Watersiders’ Sports Council, also spoke. Mr Cameron showed a keen interest in the games, being present as a spectator during the afternoon. Results;— A SECTION Lyttelton, 179 for nine wickets (Hanniean 46, E. Parrott 34; Ward three for 21), beat Wellington, 150 (Watts 49 not out; Hannigan four for 40). Auckland, 159 (Takerie 36, J. Ellis 36, R. H. Robinson five for 65), beat Dunedin, 92 (Robinson 47; Speechley six for 31, Ellis two for 19) and 105 (Robinson 47, Ellis six for 36, Groves two for 10). B SECTION Port Chalmers, 264 for five wickets, declared (Jenkins 142 retired, Braithwaite 64; Barnett three for 87), beat Bluff, 96 (Diamond 24; Jenkins four for 4, Ives three for 21) and 143 (Barnett 42, Jenkins five for 40. Goding four for 22). Grevmouth, 168 for six wickets, de(J Best 57. I. Mallett 28; McMasters two for 35. Riley two f for 3 7) ' a t, Timaru, 71 (W. Jones four for 18) and 56 (Best five for 20, W. Jones two for 3, Mallett %e draw for matches to _ day is.— Auckland v Lyttelton; Dunedin v. Wellington; Timaru v. Bluff; Greymouth v. Port Chalmers.