CRICKET

Southland Times, Issue 20445, 24 March 1928, Page 18 (Supplement)

CRICKET

(By ‘Onlooker.’’) HONOURS BOARD SENIORS. —Batting.— —Bowling.— N. Nisbet . . . 61' T. Groves . 5 39 A. Driscoll . . *49! J. Doig .... *46[ SECOND GRADE. Thomson .... 95 McMillan (U.) 7—30 Lock6l Watson . . 5—12 E. Keast ... 49 and 2—14 Kingsland . . . *43 Titchener . . 4—29 Thomas .... 35 McKenzie . 4 —43 Riddell .... 34 Corkin . . . 5—30 Watson .... 32 Keast . . . 3—24 G. Fraser ... 33 THIRD GRADE. Angus .... 106; Purdue . . 3 7 Shaw 6 3; Gutzewitz . 4—48 Gutzewitz ... 42 j Mclvor . . . 6—24 Wybrow ... 44’ Wybrow . . 6 —46 Purdue .... 42 Angus . . . 4—26

To-day will decide. I.C.C. look to be assured of the championship. It takes the veterans to stand up to the more serious play required in finals. • Driscoll. Doig, Hammond and Groves, all I older heads, performed excellently last week. Norman Nisbet once more displayed his ability with the bat by top-scoring for I.C.C. Nisbet is by no means graceful in his scoring shots, but he gets there and that’s the main thing. The runs count. It i doesn't matter much, after all, how one gets them. Jack Doig and Gus Hammond must have been a bit of a bore to Union by staying so long at the crease for the last wicket. It was any odds that I.C.C. would stop at the second century. It’s an old saying that a game is never won until it is lost and as cricket is a funny game there is no knowing what can happen. Doig and Hammond proved this. Contrast th (fir partnership with that of Poole and Keast in the Otago game. The latter partnership failed to add any runs to the score while Hammond and Doig were responsible for Not one of the appointed umpires put in an appearance at the senior games on Saturday. The games went on just the same, however. And, be it added, there were l.b.w. decisions given, too. I wonder who the bowler is that claims a couple of dozen (according to Mr Driscoll! l.b.w. decisions in his number of wicket victims? I know of only one senior bowler to top ten 1.b.w., decisions this season—a vast difference between 10 and 24 Rood juniors in a senior side is a good thing, but when too many are included, most being unable during the first season to stand up to the big stuff, it is a costly business. I infer, of course, that the importance of the occasion, such as a final, is too much for some or the promoted juniors. It is a pity the Union captain persisted in sending Campbell in to open the Union innings, especially after a run of outs by this young batsman. Undoubtedly Campbell is the best and most promising of the Union colts, but too much has been asked of him. Cherry and either of the Hamiltons would have been a good opening against Agnew and Doig. Mention of Doig reminds me that the one and only, the evergreen “J.D.,” is as good as we have bowling in Southland just now. His arm is as supple as ever and his length—well, according to figures, is better than ever. His delivery looks simple, but it spells disaster Io the unwary or impetuous batsman looking for the other side of the fence. I think Doig will be good enough to represent Southland yet another year, so don’t be surprised to see him leading the maroon caps next season. In the Bluff-Appleby game the Southenders appear to be in a good position for a three-point win. Vernon Poole has commenced well and should he get a start to-day may carry his 34 to quite a substantial total. Groves bowled well during the Bluff innings and captured the first five wickets which fell. If Groves’ knee does not hamper his fielding, I would nominate him as the best of the all-rounders of the season. “T.G.G.” (not Tin Gee Gee) has scored hundreds of runs for his side and taken tens of wickets this season—a useful man and good for a season or two in representative cricket yet. An art which appears to be lost to the majority of local cricketers is the getting of runs when runs are waiting to be got. I refer to running between the wickets for the short ones and for balls hit slowly to deep fieldsman. A run saved is a run gained, they say, but that applies only to the fielding side. An exception to this rule is the running of the Hamilton brothers. I believe their work between the wickets last week was an object lesson. Take note, you younger men and leave the mark in backing up as these men do. Third-grader Angus covered himself with glory by notching 196 for Post and Telegraph last Saturday. It is pleasing to record these performances, as it reveals talent in the lower grades—talent that will be required to look after Southland’s interests on the cricket field in the near future. Thomson, a High School boy, was another to bat well on Saturday, his score just faffing short of the coveted century by five runs. Union fielded a particularly strong side against I.C.C. in the hopes of lowering the leaders’ colours, but on the present state of the game, I am afraid that Union will play second fiddle for the third time this season. Bob Fogo is sorely needed to stiffer up the attack. Why the Union selector* even considered dropping Fogo is a puzzle to me.

COMPETITION POIN TS TO DATE. —Seniors 3Pt. Pld. Win. 2Pt. Win. L. D. Pts. I.C.C. .. . . 8 5 1 z 0 17 Appleby .. 8 4 - z 0 16 Union .. .. 8 4 0 4 0 12 Bluff .. .. 8 0 0 8 0 0 I.C.C. .. —Second Grade.- .. 16 4 5 7 0 22 Mariet .. .. 16 4 4 6 9 Tisbury .. 16 3 o 6 o 21 Waikiwi .. 15 1 7 5 2 19 Appeby .. .. 16 1 6 7 2 17 Union .. 15 1 6 7 1 16 High .. 10 9 4 3 1 15 Bluff .. .. 14 1 1 12 0 5 Woodend —Third Grade — .. 16 10 4 0 38 Marist .. 16 9 4 9 1 36 I.C.C. .. .. 16 8 9 7 1 25 Appleby .. 16 6 1 7 2 22 P. and T .. 16 4 4 8 0 20 Technical .. 10 4 1 5 0 14 Union .. 12 3 9 7 0 13 Tisburv .. .. 12 0 10 0 6 High B .. 9 0 1 8 0 2 High A .. .. 9 0 1 8 0 2