PALMERSTON’S BAD LUCK.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13175, 6 February 1936, Page 5

PALMERSTON’S BAD LUCK.

M.G.G MATCH ABANDONED. ENGLISHMEN’S GEAR SOAKED. Electric Telegraph—Press Association PALMERSTON N., February 5. Manawatu experienced further bad luck to-day in their match against the M.C.Ck. eleven, which had to be abandoned. The position at the close of play yesterday was that M.C.C. had made 176 in the first innings and Manawatu had lost seven wickets for 85 runs in their reply. The match originally was set down for January 22 and 23, but the death of the King caused a postponement. A sporting gesture on the part of E. R. T. Holmes and his team in forgoing a fishing trip to Tau,po made it possible to arrange later dates for the match with Manawatu, the game being started yesterday, when some fine cricket "by both teams gave promise of better to come to-day. Unfortunately, however, the action of the visitors in bringing all their cricket clothes and material to the ground and leaving them in the pavilion overnight, proved very expensive not only for the tourists, but also for Manawatu.

The roof had been blown off tlic pavilion in Sunday’s storm, and as there was nothing but bare boards over the room in which the M.C.C. clothes and material were locked, last night’s downpour thoroughly soaked clothes, bats and pads, doing irreparable damage to many bats, besides making clothes and boots unfit for wear.

Although the wicket was dried and rolled out in time to start as usual at 11.30 it was decided that there be no play in the morning to enable the visitors to have their clothes dried. The Englishmen, however, felt that it was necessary to wash the clothes before drying them, and as it was impossible to have this done in time to commence in the afternoon the match was abandoned.

Although Manawatu coulcl have claimed a win under rule 40, which says if a side does not appear, the defaulting side shall lose the match, the umpires, Messrs P. O. Skoglund and C. M. Woodham, were at one stage considering giving M;®iawatu a win by default, but having to all the circumstances, such a decision would have been unduly harsh on the visitors, while Manawatu had nothing but a technical and worthless victory to gain. Manawatu’s luck was also bad in respect to insurance over rain. Three or four showers fell .in the hours covered bv the insurance, but there was insufficient to exceed the stiprdated ten points. The gate takings at yesterday’s match amounted to £-50. but as' Manawatu had to guarantee £l2-5, and had double expenses through the original postponement, the association will lose a pproxiina tely £1 -50.

N.Z. S THIRD TEST TEAM. ( HR ISTCHFRCH, February 5. The New Zealand team to play the M.C.C. team in a match at Auckland, commencing on February 28, was announced to-day as follows: i. B. Cromh (Canterbury), captain. P. E. Whitelaw. (Auckland). H. G. Vivian (Auckland). M. W. Wallace t Auckland). J. Cowi e (A uckland). •I. A. R. Bland ford (Wellington). B. Griffiths (Wellington L J. L. Kerr (Canterbury). A. W. Roberts (Canterbury). D. A. R. Moloney (Wellington). C. J. Elmes (Otago).