Bowlers Had Their Day In Plunket Shield Match At Wellington

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27277, 31 December 1949, Page 2

Bowlers Had Their Day In Plunket Shield Match At Wellington

Sports Commentary

By the Sports Editor

The Wellin<;ton-Otago Plunket Shield cricket match -,vas one in which the bowlers called the tune, and at no time were the batsmen of either side able to take liberties, writes a special correspondent to the Sports Editor. The wicket was true, but there were times when it was lively and the prevailing north-west wind did much to cause the ball to swing to a disconcerting degree. Although Otago was beaten by seven wickets, the game was one which was full of interesting features to those lovers of cricket who understand the game.

From the Otago aspect the most pleasing' feature was the success of G. W. F. Overton and E. A. Watson in Wellington’s first innings, together with the steady bowling of L. D. Smith, and to a lesser degree I. Walsh. Bowling into the wind Overton swung the ball very awkwardly to leg, and as the day progressed his bowling became even more hostile, and he gave nothing away at any stage. His performance in taking five wickets for 60 runs off 29.1 overs was one of his most impressive in Plunket Shield cricket. Watson, making his first appearance in Shield cricket, was used judiciously and created a more than favourable impression, particularly noticeable being his ability to make the ball lift. This allied to his away swinger made him a very difficult man to score from as his figures of four wickets for 26 show. Walsh bowled better in the second innings than he did when Wellington batted first, but bowling with the wind he was unable to get the movement in the air that he has done on some previous occasions.

WELLINGTON BOWLING IMPRESSIVE

Smith, the left-hander, was treated with respect and was unfortunate in not securing the wicket of J. R. Reid In the first innings and J. A. Ongley in the second innings. Reid was dropped and Ongley was beaten by a clever change of pace. L. J. Groves bowled some excellent overs, particularly to Reid on a wicket that was taking spin, but was still in the batsmen’s favour.

In Wellington’s second innings the wicket was at its best and Otago did well to secure three wickets before the winning hit was made. At the same time, some catches were dropped and two possible run-outs were missed, these lapses marring an otherwise excellent display of fielding. B. Sutcliffe, Smith, and S. N. McGregor perhaps showed to more advantage than the others.

G. H. Mills again proved that he is among the top flight of wicketkeepers in New Zealand. His stumping of F. H. L. Mooney was a polished piece of work and generally his work compared with that of the New Zealand ’keeper, Mooney. Cyclist In Form

Glimpses of the form which made him a New Zealand representative for the Empire Games were displayed by L. F. Lock, when he competed in amateur cycling events at the St. Andrew’s Caledonian Society’s sports on Tuesday. Lock, who won the Twomile Handicap from scratch, showed splendid finishing ability. An excellent programme, including track and field events and piping and dancing, was staged, the attendance totalling nearly 2000.

Versatile Swimmer T. H. Logan, who represented Taranaki at the National Water Polo Championship in Wellington and has been selected in the New Zealand team for the Empire games, does most of his swimming in Dunedin where he is a dental student, but he has always represented his home province of Taranaki m national competition. Logan is unquestionably one of the most versatile swimmers in the Dominion and has done much to raise the sport at the University to its present high standard. He has filled the office of secretary and captain of the University swimming club and was primarily responsible for the organisation and success of the tour of Australia undertaken by a New Zealand University swimming and water polo team last season. Logan has represented both Otago and Taranaki at water polo, the former in interprovincial matches, and he has also represented Otago in interprovincial swimming competition. He has been placed in freestyle swimming events at the national championships and last season won the New Zealand Butterfly Championship at Auckland. He is one of the fastest swimmers over 100 yards freestyle in the Dominion, but in recent years has concentrated largely on breaststroke. Otago’s Batting Disappoints Otago’s batting in the match against Wellington was disappointing, comments a special correspondent. Sutcliffe did not appear to be his usual self in the first innings, but in the second innings he looked as though he were set for a big score when Ongley, the Wellington captain, brought off a brilliant catch at midd-off, inches oft the ground. R. T. Hunt gave a very sound display in Otago’s first innings and was responsible for the bulk ot the runs which made up the mediocre total. He watched the ball closely and his footwork to the slower bowling was first class. He got most of his runs with well-placed shots in front of the wicket and with several welltimed late cuts. ...... A. W. Roberts again proved himsell one of the best No. 3’s in. the country. In the first innings he was unfortunate in being run out when it appeared that he and Hunt were going to get on top of the bowling, and his dismissal somewhat altered the complexioh of the game. His second innings of 51 was a most valuable one. He played all the bowling on its merits and eventually fell to an excellent catch by A. E. Cressweil at mid-on on G F. Cresswell’s bowling. W. S. Haig and S. N. McGregor were disappointing but both have the ability to retrieve themselves in succeeding games. The later batsmen were faced in both innings with the need for extreme care, and this may have had something to do with Otago’s comparatively poor scoring. Discus Champion 111 The national discus throwing champion, A. E. Redmond, may not be able to compete in the New Zealand track and field championships at Napier today. He has been suffering from influenza and has been ordered to bed by a doctor. As the championships will constitute the final trials for the Empire Games, Redmond’s chances ol making the New Zealand team be prejudiced. Youthful Swimmer For Games The Australian swimming selectprs have selected 14-year-old Ron Sharpe to compete in the British Empire Games at Auckland. Sharpe is the youngest male swimmer ever chosen to represent Australia. He will compete in the 220 Yards Breaststroke Championship. Sharpe has been swimming the butterfly stroke for less than a year. Leading coach Forbes Garble believes that Sharpe has the capacity to break Empire Games records at Auckland. Sharpe attends the North Sydney High School ne weighs nine stone and in the winter plays a frontrow forward in Rugby. Oamaru Girl At Championships Miss Olwyn Kedzlie, women's discus champion of Otago, left Oamaru . on Wednesday to compete at the New Zealand track and field c ,h ai bpionships at Napier. She has held the Otago title for the past two years and last season competed in the New Zealand championships, but was not successful. Her winning throw at the Otago meeting was 101 ft 7in, the best performance in an Otago championship, and' sne was third in the 75 Yards and 100 Yards, and has been selected to compete in the New Zealand 75 Yards Championship. At the Otago meeting Mrs Woods and Miss Kedzlie gained sufficient points to place North Otago second in points. Mrs Woods was second in the Discus, and was equal in the High Jump, but lost on the count back.

The Wellington Plunket Shield team impressed particularly in the match against Otago at the Basin Reserve with its attack, which was largely of the meduim to fast-medium variety, writes a special correspondent. Never ) at any stage did the Otago batsmen take command. Most impressive was G. F. Cressweil who showed the benefits of his English experience. He was accurate with his medium-paced bowling with a pronounced swing to leg. but was possibly inclined to waste too many balls .pitched outside the leg stump. A. E. Cressweil had some distinctly hostile spells and although he captured only one wicket, his bowling was such that no liberties were taken. R. McK. Murray, with his “ hat-trick ” in Otago's first innings sent down some devastating deliveries, and the ball with which he completed the “ hat-trick ” by dismissing G. H. Mills was one that was virtually unplayable. C. L. W. Randall was another who impressed, and his fast-medium deliveries were always difficult to score from. G. O. Rabone supplied the slow spinners but on anything but its home wicket, Wellington might easily experience difficulty in dismissing the opposition because of the lack of variety in the attack. J. R. Reid was easily the most confident of the Wellington batsmen. His timing and ability to drive and square cut were most effective. J. A. Ongley, the Wellington captain, scored a good 52 in the second innings, and his batting was a mixture of good and bad. S. A. McVicar, who scored 73 not not in the second innings, was never hurried and used his feet effectively to L. J. Groves. Wellington thoroughly deserved its win, but at the same time it was perhaps fortunate that* the wicket on, the last day of the match was one that definitely favoured the batsmen. Olympic Hurdler In Form The Olympic Games 400 Metres hurdler, J. M. Holland, who has been teaching at Taradale, near Napier, has shown excellent form in meetings at McLean Park this season. Twice this season he has covered the 120 Yards Hurdles in 15sec, and has recorded 24.75ec for the 220 Yards Hurdles. He has twice run the 440 Yards flat in 50sec and has twice won the 880 Yards off five yards. He has also shown splendid form over 440 Yards hurdles. Loss To Nelson Sport

Nelson generally, and Nelson College in particular, will suffer a loss when Mr W. A. C. Smith leaves within the next few weeks to take a special post on the staff of the Palmerston North Boys’ High School. Mr Smith has built up a wide reputation as a Rugby coach. He had charge of the college first fifteen for eight years and in six of those the team won the annual quadrangular tournament with Wellington, Christ’s College, and Wanganui Collegiate School. While serving with the army in thd Pacific, he coached the 37th Battalion team which won the Barrowclough Cup for the championship of the Third Division from 46 other teams. A former Otago University player, he subsequently represented Nelson, and this year was president of the Nelson Rugby Union as well as .being a vfeepresident of the Nelson Cricket Association. He has represented Southland and Nelson at cricket on many occasions.

Losing Tactics J. Cornish and I. Simpson, the Otago Slazenger Shield second Doubles players, forsook the accepted method of playing a Men’s Doubles in favour -of one which almost certainly cost them the macth, writes the lawn tennis correspondent of the Daily Times. It is unlikely that the boys were playing to instructions, as no competent manager or coach would approve of their positional play. They hugged the back line with a peculiar tenacity, on many occasions each standing behind the baseline on his partner’s service. Simpson made an occasional sortie toward the net, Cornish very seldom. Their attempts, however, appeared half-hearted and were usually only to half-court, where they were caught by awkward shots to their feet. Simpson attempted several drop-shots, but the opposition had no difficulty in reaching and hitting them for winners. Doubles is a game of position and almost without exception the winning position is the net position. Both these players volley well so there is no reason why they should not use the orthodox and successful Doubles net formation. Junior Wins Rep. Honours Forbes Sonntag, who filled a lastminute vacancy in the Otago team for the New Zealand Water Polo Championship. is a third-year pupil of Otago Boys’ High School, and still a junior ! member of the Kaikorai Amateur I Swimming Club. He has won the Senior Swimming Championship of ! his school for the past two years and has represented Otago in Natipnal Junior Freestyle Swimming Championship Competition. He is a very promising water polo player and the experience gained at Wellington should be of considerable benefit to him. He is a son of Mr and Mrs Charles Sonntag. both prominent in Otago sport. The former was an Otagq Rugby forward from 1915 to 1930 and made the record number of 58 appearances, as well as playing for New Zealand ,on the 1929 tour of Australia. Mrs Sonntag was an Otago representative women’s hockey player and since her playing days ended has been president of the Otago Association as well as the New Zealand Women’s Hockey Association. Games Boxing Officials Mr R. Dunn, who has been appointed trainer to the New Zealand boxing team at the British Empire Games, is one of a family which has been prominently associated with boxing in New Zealand for many years, both as competitors and as trainers. Dick Dunn has been associated with the development of Bos Murphy, Lyn Philp and Alf McMullen, and has had the training of Jim Brandon, who ,will represent New Zealand at the Games, since he started boxing. The referees appointed include Mr H. Mallin, of England, who was the Olympic Middle-weight boxing champion in 1920 and 1924. The others are Messrs E. C. Armishaw (Auckland). A. E. Tall (Invercargill) and E. Rigg-James (Rhodesia), and Dr J. R. Moore (Wanganui). Mr Tall is one of New Zealand’s best known boxing officials and one who has done much to promote the sport in the south. Dr Moore and Mr Armishaw officiated as referees when' the New Zealand Championships were held in Dunedin last year and both are first-class officials. The former was at one time a New Zealand University title holder and captain of the Otago University Boxing Club, and Mr Armishaw won the New Zealand Amateur Welter-weight Championship at Invercargill in 1927. The judges include Messrs V. Porker and R. M. Morris, two well-known Otago officials, the latter also being a New Zealand selector. The manager of the team, Mr K. A. Meale, of Wellington, is a former New Zealand amateur champion.