NOTES BY SLIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 1932, 30 November 1888, Page 27

NOTES BY SLIP.

A two-days' match between the Albion and Phcenix Clubs was started on Saturday. The Albions going first to the wickets put together 68 runs. Crawford (25), Gordon (19), and Gollar (12) gave the bowlers a little trouble. Six of their opponents' wickets fell for 72 runs, W. Morrison and West being the not outs with 13 and 4 respectively. In bowling A. S. Malcolm captured eight wickets at a cost of 29 runs— a very creditable average. M'Farlane and Turnbull about divided honours for the Albions. The fielding of both teams was very good. The match is now at a very interesting stage, and should attract a good crowd on Saturday next to witness the finish.

The Grange Club easily defeated the Taieri men by 38 runs at Mosgiel. The Taieri Club Club only made 12 in their first innings. Dr Allan being highest scorer with 3.f The small score made was no doubt owing mainly to the good bowling of W. Parker and W. Espie, both of whom were very destructive with the ball, the former securing four wickets foreruns, and the latter four wickets for 3 runs.

Owing to the absence of a number of the Phoonix Second Eleven on Saturday it was found necessary to include several players of other clubs in order to have a match. The Phoenix combination going in first kept possession of the wickets till a quarter to 6 o'clock, giving their opponents a nice taste of leather hunting to the tune of 234 runs. Of these Crawford, an old Southern Club player, claimed 116, and D. Niven 41. Stephenson and Eadie both reached double figures. Being a one day's match it resulted in a draw greatly in favour of the combined team.

The match between the Carisbrook and Albion Second Elevens resulted in a decisive win for the former, the scores being Carisbrook 155, Albion 38. For Carisbrook, H. Stronach (46) and C. Fenwick (42) played freely, E. R. Bowler (23) and T. Sonntag (18) also batting well. For Carisbrook, Sonntag and M'lntosh divided the honours in bowling, and for the Albion M'Glashan bowled the best.

A Wellington telegram states that another heat for the senior cup commenced on Saturday between the Midland and Poneke Cricket Clubs. The former losing the toss were sent to the wickets and they totted up a score of 116, H. Blacklook contributing 35, A. Blacklock 28, and Maxwell 24. Ponekes made a wretched stand, and the last wicket fell with the total at 42. Tucker was the highest scorer with 9. The weather was very cold and bleak, and the wicket wet from the morning rain. The game will be resumed next Saturday.

TTP-COUNTB.Y CRICKET.

The following letter signed " Stonewaller " appeared in the Dunstan Times :— Sir,— During the season 1882-3 a team of cricketers, comprising representatives from the various clubs of the Otago Central goldfields, visited Dunedin, and played against the leading clubs very successfully — so much so that the Otago Cricketers' Association, in their annual report of the doings of the season, failed in any shape or form to recognise the visit of the O.C.C. Such an omission may have been an oversight ; but to me, one of the team, and I can safely answer for the others, the cut was none the less unfciad. In any case the association may very appropriately make the amende honorable by inviting a team from the interior of Otago to again visit the metropolis during the present season. Though a considerable space of time has elapsed since the visit of the Goldfields Eleven, the feeling of satisfaction arising from the enjoyment which characterised the trip will doubtless still be fresh in the minds of those who constituted the team, and I have not the slightest doubt that many of them will only be too happy to again take up the cudgels on behalf of the goldfields. Of course the inevitable changes that time has wrought would make it necessary, as well as advisable, to infuse a good deal of new blood into the selection, by which it would be materially strengthened ; and I confidently contend that we could put an eleven into the field who would acquit themselves very creditably indeed against any of the metropolitan clubs. The energetic secretaries of the several clubs in the interior are the proper persons to whom the carryingoutof this suggestion should be entrusted, and if placed in their hands I feel confident that they will use their utmost endeavours to secure suincient inducement from the association to warrant us again trying conclusions with the various clubs playing under their patronage. I am sure that sufficient could be easily obtained to meet the expenses that such a trip would entail.

BOYLE AS A BOWLER.

The Sydney Mail has the following : — Our special correspondent, writing from London, says that M'Donnell was not altogether a success as captain because he did not use the change bowling, but always worked Turner and Ferris. We can acquit Percy of any error on that score, because he was perfectly aware that there was not a good change in the team. Of course the memory of Boyle is conjured up, and our correspondent wants to know why he was put in the team if it was only to bowl 149 overs. The fact is that Australian cricketers, unlike English cricketers, cannot prevent themselves

growing old. Boyle has been playing big oriokefe for 16 years, and cricket under an Australian sun takes the stamina out of a man just as boiler-making, or quarrying, or humping coal does. An old cricketer in the colonies is another term for an old man, and that is why Boyle cannot bowl to-day. .He was at his best in 1878 (and that is not yesterday), when his average with the first Australian Eleven was 10*5, or just a shade under Garrett. With the second Australian Eleven his average fell to 157, bat with the third it improved to 116, when he headed the bowling among the Australians. Then he waned perceptibly, and bis average with the fourth Australian Eleven was 17 f OS. He did not go Home with- the next team. If our correspondent knew who wera the promoters of the sixth Australian Eleven he would,, perhaps, understand why Boyle went Home. What is the use of fretfully recalling these memories of the past. No one in the colonies thought seriously that Boyle was being taken Home for a bowler, except those who are unable to dissociate what a man could do 1Q years ago from what he can do to-day. We might just as well [ask why the old mare Kinosem, with her unbeaten record, is not still brought to the post, why the once-famous sprinter Frank Hewitt, is not still breaking evens, or why Misterton is not still running for the Waterloo Cup. Of Boyle we can only say now, he was a good bowler.

A STORY OF GBACE.

Many years ago, it is said, that on going up to see his sweetheart one evening, Mr W. G. Grace, the champion cricketer, was surprised to find himself received in an exceedingly icy manner. As the frigidity did not seem to melt, he asked for an explanation. "Mr Grace," said the lady, " I have regarded you as being an honest man, but, from what I heard of you last night, I confess that my opinion of you has changed." " What in the world do you mean ? " " Why," faltered the damsel, "papa said last night that you were caught stealing a run." There were immediate explanations, and W. G. kissed his affianced three times on the chin in a wild attempt to reach her rosy lips.

INDECISION.

An umpire once gave the following extraordinary decision : — "No ball— wide ball— no, by jingo, he's caught it! Out. Over."