Cricket.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 45, 4 December 1894, Page 2

Cricket.

THE ENGLISHMEN IN MIS- • THALIA. Sydney, December 2. The match, English Eleven v. 22 of New England, resulted in a draw in favour of the latter. Three mere of the championship cup fixtures in which Opunake had to take part came off last week. It was known on Tuesday evening that only two of the Opunake team,. Messrs Wagstaff and Edmunds, could go, and according to the ordinary rules of common sense the matches should have been forfeited. Messrs Wagstaff and Edmunds, however, evidently considered so long as they were there that the club was fully represented, and, like a couple of Don Quixotes of old, sallied forth to do battle, and have fairly well repeated Don Quixote’s joust with the windmill. On Thursday they met the Hawera Club, when, with their scratch companions, they knocked up 19 runs. Hawera replied with 204, when, tiring of the fun, they declared their innings closed. It is worthy of note that extras and substitutes contributed 15 out of the 19 for our champions. On Friday they met Stratford, who put up 178, and our champions answered with 90, three of the “subs ” putting on 63 out of this number. On Saturday, at Hawera, they engaged the Stars, who, after compiling 166 for six wickets, got tired of the farce, and declared their innings closed ; our reps putting on 33. We have no objection whatever to any man going away and engaging any team he thinks fit in single combat, but we must register a decided protest against any two members of a team, together with nine substitutes, claiming to represent a club, making a laughing stock of themselves, and dragging their club through the mire. Had they designated themselves “ The Wanderers ” or “ The Orphans,” they would have been within their bounds. Whilst on the subject we may remark that to attempt to play cricket without practice is the height of absurdity, and would recommend our enthusiasts to bear this in mind, and if they wish to see cricket flourish put in more time on the practice pitch.

The following team has been selected to play in junior matches on Friday and Saturday next at OpunakeA. Chapman (captain), J. Stewart, T. Martin, F. Des Forges, Nuttall, H. Corbett, Phillips, A. Elgar, J. Judson, 'E. C. Kaikes, W, Fowler, M. Simeon, and G. P. Armstrong.