NOTES BY LONG SLIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2818, 18 March 1908, Page 76

NOTES BY LONG SLIP.

The following table shows the positions of the First Grade teams in the competition : —

The end of cricket in Dunedin 16 in sight and the ourtain will be rung down on the game at the end of the present month. At present Grange is leading by one point from Carisbrook A for championship honours. Despite the fact that the crowd on the North Ground appeared to be much dissatisfied the umpiring in the Carisbrook AGrange match on Saturday was eminently satisfactory. The consistent attitude adopted by the officials in the game m question was evidently not to the liking of oerjain casual spectators, whose knowledge of the requirements of the "1 b w" rule is not very extensive. One of the hest performances ever put up by Alex. Downes was that created last Saturday on the North Ground against Carisbrook A. The veteran's first eight overs produced seven maidens; 4 runs were made off the first one, and he took six wickets —that is to say_, the last seven overs Downes captured six wickets for no runs ! He finished up with the splendid figures: six for 12. Jas. Huesey, the ex-Hawke's Bay, exOtago, and ex-Auckland representative cricketer, has recently entered into business on his own account at Huntervillo, in the Wellington district. A. E. Relf, the English professional cricketer, who has done such a lot of good to Auckland cricket, left for England by the Ruapehu on Thursday, last week. He has been engaged for next season by the Eden Cricket Club, which is' a good move on the part of our Auckland friends. Commenting on the early history of New Zealand, P. R. May throws some interesting sidelights on the game: — °' Cricket of some sort, handicapped by want of cricket grounds, began to be played in New Zealand almost as soon as there were any colonists to play. In Dunedin, for instance, though the site of the present chief ground was a swamp, cricket was played under difficulties from about 1848, though it was not until after the influx of Victorians in 1861 that the marsh was explored and developed into a cricket "oval." In February, 1862, the first match was played there between Eleven of Dunedin and the 70th Regiment, then quar-, tered in the city. Planks had to be laid across the "Maoriheads" to enable the players to reach the arena without getting very wet. From this time cricket fairly took root in Otago, though to this day the wickets there are on the soft side. " But in 1863-4 cricket commenced in earnest in the South Island. At Dunedin an old Victorian player, Dick Couletock, was installed as groundsman and professional. At Ohristchurch the United Canterbury Cricket Club was formed. In this season the series of interprovinoial matches between Otago and Canterbury were oommenced, which have continued ever since. They were played in alternate seasons in Dunedin and Christchuroh, and so well matched did they prove that, though Otago won four out of the first five games, they each won six out of the first 12 finished. In 1864 also the Invercargill Club was started in the extreme south, and the Albion Cricket Club at Dunedin. More important, this was the first season of international cricket in New Zealand, for George Parr's team (the second English Eleven to visit Australia) spent a month in the South Island. " The first Otago v. Canterbury match was played at Dunedin in January, 1864. Amongst those who did battle for the home side were a number of old Victorians—namely, R. Coulstock, C. Mace, J. Mace, J. Redfern, C. Morris, and F. M'Donald, the remainder of the side being J. N. Jacomb, J. H. Hope, J. "Fulton, G. R. Lurton, H. D. Maddock. Of these Fulton was top scorer with 25 not out. The Canterbury team consisted of W. Wilson, C. Powye, ,Tennai>t, Lance, E. C. J. Stevens, J. S. Sale, J. Bennett, Mytton, Dickenson, Taylor, and J. W. Stevens, of whom, Sale, with 15 not out, did best. The scoring was very low, Otago/* who made 78 and 74 to Canterbury's 38 and 42, winning by 72 runs. This result was reversed in the following season, when Canterbury won at Christchurch by four ■ wickets. " The ' fathers of cricket in Otago ' are stated in an old Annual to have been Messrs Fulton, Hope, Borton, and Turten. j In the 6eason of 1870-1 Canterbury beat I Otago by an innings and 29, A. M. Ollivier (father of the present-day player) being top scorer with 45, and in the following summer Canterbury was a^ain successful by 10 wioket«, Saville making 58 and E. Fowler 40. Next year Canterbury again won easily, by an innings and 35, E. T. A. Fuller taking 12 wickets for 43 rune; but in January, 1874, Otago had some revenge, by an innings and 28 at Dunedin, D. Lynch 6coring 51. In January, 1875, however, at Christchurch. Canterbury broke the record by scoring 354 (A. M. Ollivier 52, C. O. Corfe 88, J. Fowler 48 not out, E. Fowler 40), and beat Otago by an innings and 151, G. Paramer (a man of Kent) making 62 for the losers, who won the toss, but put Canterbury in. Canterbury continued their successes during the two following years, winning by 145 and 151 runs respectively. On the earlier occasion A. M. Ollivier was responsible for the innings of 62 and 67 (run out), D. Ashby also making 56, not out, whikt Downes took seven wiokets for 39 in one innings, and in January, J877, H. W. Moore made 76, and W. F. Neilson 57 not out; whilse Millington took seven wiokets for 37 in one innings. " Several clubs and associations of clubs were established at this period. In 1876 the Carisbrook and other clubs, and the Otago Cricket Association were formed at Dunedin; also the Hawera Club (Taranaki), and the Tapanui Club (Southland). In May, 1&77, the Canterbury Cricket Association was formed. "In 1877 came the second English invasion, Lillywhite's professional aide (the

fourth English, team to AustraJia) touring? for two months in New Zealand. The tourists met 18 of Otago at Dunedin on. March 2, 3, and 5, and played a draw — a moral victory, England at the finish requiring 19 to win with an inning's to play. Otago scored 76 and 106, England 163 (Uiyett 3Q. The Otago team was: Meeres; Cargill, Millington, Dixon (who made 18 and 13), Fulton, Morrison Austin, Clarice, Spring, Nichols (9 and 21), Paramor (0 and 171, Coliinson, Sutcliffe, Lathbury, Roae, Allen, Rhodes, and Everest. For Otago, Millington took six wickets for 54, ana Everest three for 40. "The second Australian team, that of 1880, also visited New Zealand, but this time on ! its return from the Old Country. A com- , meneemont was mad© with 22 of Invercargill, who were worsted by an innings and 88 runs, though Australia only totalled 200 (W. L. Murdoch 40, run out, P. 3. ! M'Donnell 36, F. R. Spofforth 33). Inver-carg-ill made 43 and 74 ; in the first innings Spofforth took 10 wickets for 19 runs, Palmer nine for 21. In the second, Alexander 11 wickets for 45, Boyle seven for 25. Twenty-two of Dunedin nexti went under, after a better fight than usual, by 44 runs, Australia scoring 112 and 105, and the Otago men 83 and 90. Spofforth and Palmer bowled throughout, the " Demon " oapturing. 16 wickets for 84 runs, his confrere no fewer than 23 wiekete for 72 runs. M'Neil, Moore, Carr, and Haskell took most wicket* for Dunedin. " As ret the standard of cricket in those highly favoured islands can scarcely be considered to have advanced far beyond in* fancy, for the reason that only quite recently has the serious necessity for pro l viding expert and regular coaching to the rising generation been brought home to the authorities and definitely taken in. hand. Already cricket has benefited much, and it is certainly my hop© that the daj is not far distant when the New Zealand crioket team will be able to enter into friendly competition on even terms with their at-preeent more powerful rivals." A comment by P. R. May, in his book " With the M.C.C. to New Zealand." Cansbrook B and Albion match was ra* sumed afc Carisbrook. The latter, with eight down for 137, continued their inning* and owing- to the splendid batting of Corbett (22 not out) oarrie-d their score to 171, or 100 runs ahead of the Cariebrook B. I hope to see Cor bet t put in ja, bit sooner next match, as on his form on Saturday he ranks with the beet bate in the Albion. He eeemed quite at home to th» bowling, jutting and driving in rare style.. With 100 to the bad Carisbrook opened with Siedeberg and Roberts. Both batsmen played a forcing game, and the partnership was not dissolved until the wore stood at 56, Roberto being the first to go, bowled! by a good one from Oummings, for 31. Roberts at the wiekete is a delight to the spectators, most of hia runs coming from powerful drives, one off Cummings for 6 being a real beauty. He also executed one or two pretty cuts. Roberts evidently believes attack iB the best defence, for he goes at the bowling from the jump. Siedeberg gave one of his best exhibitonß. Included in his 48 were some beautifullytimed strokes, his driving being perhaps his best stroke. I am not in love with his pull-stroke, as he risks his wicket where ha could- safely drive it to the off boundary. Most bowlers have a man waiting for that pull. Drumm showed some of hia old form before being well caught by M'Farlane in the slips for 16. Drumm is understudying Siedeberg in some of his stroke*, the pull in particular" being noticable. Austin was again unfortunate, being dis* missed by a bailer from Cummings befors he had settled down. Thompson appeared well set when he was beautifully taken by Duthie at cover-* a splendid effort. West, the ex-Christchurch player, was not at home to Cummings, whoee pace seemed to trouble him. Burt batted aggressively for 18 before being nicely taken by Williams behind th* stumps. Ussher, who was indisposed, did not trouble the bowlers, being dismissed by, Corbett for 6. Stables, after making 6, was clean bowled by Worrall, a player promoted from Third Grade. The Campbell- Virtue partnership did not last long, the former foolishly running himself out, and the innings closed for 152. Cummings, with five for 57, again bowled well, keeping a good length with plenty of pace. As this bowler also secured six for 25 in the first innings, the Albion can thank him for their victory. The fielding of the Albion was again solid, Duthie's catch being perhaps the feature. Requiring 53 runs to secure a threepoint win, and 40 minutes to do it in, the Albion commenced with Williams and M'Farlane. Williams did not last long, being bowled by a good ball from Austin. The name bowler accounted for N. Cramond with his second ball to that player. One ball from Austin proved too much for Hiddleston, of I whom something was expected after hia score in the first innings. Drake and M'Farlane made a short ! 9tand until the former was caught by Austin high up in the slips for 8. D. Cramond partnered M'Farlane, who was playing free cricket, and a few runs were notched, including a fine hit by M'Farlane for 4. M'Farlane's time had now come. lie was dismissed by a beautiful ball from Austin, which pitched outside the off wicket, broke, and took the leg stick. M'Farlane batted in his best style for hia runs (24), playing steadier than usual, as both Austin and West wore keeping an excellent length, the former bowling at hia top form. Duthie and Stranjr were both dismissed for singles, and with seven wiekete down and still a dozen or so runs to get, things did not look too bright for the Albion. Corbett now joined Cramond, who was playing very stead owrnar to having' received a nasty hit off a rising ball. Corbett got a lucky tip through the slips fo* 3 and was then bowled by West in the last over of the match. With the score atf 49 for eight wickets the Albion lost ths three-point win by 3 runs. Cramond being not out with 10 to his credit. Austin, with five for 20, took full advantage of the bad light and bowled with" plenty of pace and a nice off break, which accounted for most of his wickets. West, with three for 30, also bowled steadily, keeping a nice length throughout. Ths fielding of the B's was very fair, every man doing his best to keep the runs down*

First Second rrange . . . . fonsbrook A .Ibion lunediE larishrook B ipoho Innings. lnnings. Lost. ..1 5 3 ..6 2 2 ..1 4 4 ..i 2 2 5 ..4 — 5 ..1 — 8 Pts. 17 16 14 10 8 2