SPORTS REVIEW

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2125, 6 December 1920, Page 2

SPORTS REVIEW

CRICKET.

€OOD ALL-ROUND PERFORMANCE A fine all-round performance by R. C. Blunt, of West Christchurch, was one ©f the features of first-grade cricket in Christchurch on Saturday. Blunt cap-! turcd five Riccarton wickets for 51 runs, took two catches in the field, and later eeored 93 runs with the bat. West Christchurch is 23 ruus ahead of Riccarton's first innings total, with seven wickets in hand. East Christchurch and Bt. Albaus are having an interesting contest, with the position on the first innings still open. Sydenham is well Ahead of Linwood. Eiccarton's Collapse. Riccarton dented its reputation as a food batting side by allowing itself to e disposed of by West Christchurch for 148 runs, on an "easy wicket. Mediocre batting was as much responsible for the team's downfall as was the quality of the West Christchurch bowling, for though some of the bowling was good it was not good enough to account for Jiiecarton's collapse on a batsman's wicket. C E. Evans, who made 30 in a neat fashion, and M. O. Sinclair, ■whose 25 included a hit for six oft C. B. Marshall's bowling, were the only two Riccarton batsmen who scored over 20 apiece. R. C. Blunt, who is bowling better than he did last seasou, broke the back of the Riccarton .innings. G. Haines and R. F. J. Powell had started quite well against the bowling of W. H. B. Buckhurst and C. B. Marshall, and had Bcored at the rate of two runs a minute, •when, with the total at 27, Blunt was put on to bowl at the southern end, in place of Buckhurst, who then took the ball from Marshall at the other end. The third ball that Blunt sent down was a wrong 'un, and Powell was Btumped off it. 27-1-12. .In his fourth over Blunt got two wickets, Haines "being bowled at 34-2-17, and G. W. Cox plaving the ball on to his stumps, at 85-3-4. Blunt had taken three wickets for five runs. C. E. Guihey, going out to the slow bowler, got two fours, a two, and two singles in Blunt's fifth n- -. but the last ball of it, almost a Xc"-toss on the leg-pin, bowled H. B. Whitta, at 52-4-5. Blunt now had four Wickets for 18 runs. In his next over —his sixth —Blunt got Guiuey 1.b.w., at 55-5-14. Blunt had taken five wickets for 19 runs then. He was kept on for four more overs, but he did not get another wicket, and when he was given a spell his analysis had become five for 42. Evans had played him well. Later, Blunt was given two more overs, with the result that when the innings was finished his analysis was five for 51 — Btill pretty good. Fielding at second slip, Blunt caught E. R. Caygill nicelv, off D. E. Parton's bowling, at 85-6-13. A. C. Fuller was bowled by Marshall at 100-7-11, and the same bowler got Evans (who had gone in fifth wicket down) at 113-8-30. Sinclair did some good driving until he was caught by Blunt, then at point, off Buckhurst, at 144-9-25. In the same over, T. F. Watson, an ex-Boys' High School lad, was caught by wicketkeeper C. L. Young. Two of West Christchurch's change bowlers went on to the casualty list. In his first over, Dr P. S. Foster tried to take a very hard return from Evans (who them had 11 runs), and bruised his right hand; so he did not bowl again after the over was finished. Barton, who took his place in the attack, Btrained a leg in his fourth over, and had to retire from the field. West Opens Well. Blunt and R. D. Worker put on 86 runs for the first wicket for West Christchurch, in an hour's play. The partnership should have been broken at 33, when Worker, who had scored 12, gave a good chance off Powell to Haines, fairly wide at mid-on. Worker made Beveral uppish strokes in the early part of his innings, but his batting improved later. When he had scored 35 he played on to his stumps a ball from Evans. Blunt's first scoring shot was an uppish one on the off, which fell out of reach of any fieldsman. Once or twice after that he put up the ball a little on the off. In the twenties, too, he gave a sharp chance at the wickets, on the leg side, off Sinclair. But he made nearly all his runs with graceful ■hots along the carpet—mostly squarecuts, off-drives and leg-shots. His 93 Tuns were scored in 90 minutes and included a five (four from an overthrow) and 10 boundary hits. He was caught at'mid-off, by H. E. Bell, off Watson. At the fall of his wicket—the second—the"total was 139. W. Hayes was quieter than usual, taking an hour for the scoring of his 25 runs. The over in which he gave a catch to the bowler, Evans, was the last of the day, and was started after the pavilion clock showed 6.30 p.m. Uneven Batting Strength. The batting strength of East Christchurch is uneven. Having compiled 214 runs against St. Albaus for the loss of four wickets, a big score, in the ordinary course of things, could have been expected. But the last wicket fell at 254, aud to this total St. Albans has, so far, replied with 129 for the loss of one wicket. East Christchurch's innings was marked by two especially good performances—R. Gregory's 82 and F. Woods's 74 not out. As a batsman, Gregory has few '' regular'' strokes. Indeed, on Saturday, he committed all kinds of faults, and took all manner of risks. A favourite procedure •was to pull a ball off the middle stump. Obviously, he has an excellent eye, and watches the ball all the time. He joined E. Brosnahan at first wicket down, after 10 runs had been scored. Brosnahan was not very happy, and gave one decided chance to C. W. Allard in the slips. He also survived a double appeal for bowled and caught behind the wickets. The ball was sent down by D. W. Reese, and was touched before being caught by L. R. Brunton. A bail was also displaced by the ball. The view of the umpire immediately concerned was obscured by Brosnahan, who swung round, and as he did not actually see the incidents, that umpire disallowed the appeals, although he should have consulted the other umpire. Brosnahan did not altogether appreciate I). McK. Sandman's deliveries, particularly when tossed to leg. In contradistinction to his innings on the previous Saturday, he compiled ;i few runs with leg strokes, but his main scoring was done with off drives. Eventually, lie played on to his stumps a ball from D. W. Reese. The score was then 88, and a partnership between Gregory and F. Woods, which followed, netted a further 60 runs. It was not Sandman's lucky day. Really, he bowled quite up to standard, but it was his fate to be punished by both Gregory and Woods. Gregory hit two sixes off him. A certain amount of discretion tempered Gregory's play, and any really dangerous ball from Bandman was usually met with a straight hat. He hit up one ball towards Jong-off, but D. VV. Rcose just failed to

get it. Allard got him, l.b.w. As stated, most of his strokes were entirely unorthodox, but an exception was a powerful square cut. I A. R. Blank continued with Woods until the score had reached 214. Blank played forceful cricket, "laying on the iwood" a great deal. He also hit Sandman for six. A moment later he rejeeived the same kind of ball, and made [the same attempt. But the ball fell, i just short of the boundary, into C. G. ICrawford's hands. Woods made some j beautiful carpet drives, but departed \ from his usual methods in an over from j Sandman. He hit two successive sixes slightly to the on, returned another I delivery, and then hooked the next over the boundary to square leg—lß runs in one over. Sandman did not bowl again, his average being three wickets for 109 runs. R. H. North's deliveries should not have presented great difficulties to the "tail," but they did, and he secured three wickets for 22 runs, most of this total being hit up by Woods. At 5.20 p.m. C. W. Allard and R. H. North opened for St. Albans. With the total score at 34, North was clean bowled by Ward. I). W. Reese was not greatly at home to Ward, and he gave a hard chance to Elvy. Reese and Allard batted with some vigour, and the century was passed .in an hour. They are not out. Sydenham Ahead. On a fine-weather wicket at Lancaster Park it might have been expected that Linwood would put up a couple of hundred against Sydenham, but bad luck dogged the Easterners on Saturday. They started fairly well, but Sydenham 's bowlers, especially McEwin, got the upperhand before long, and in an hour and a-half the innings closed at 117, three of the batsmen having failed to score. Sydenham responded with 194 for seven wickets, the top score (57) being made by J. Barron, a young Otago representative player, who has just arrived in Christchurch. He played very sound cricket, scoring with a variety of strokes, and making few weak ones. Barron should be a real source of strength to his new club. Linwood won the toss, and opened with A. Grant and N. Jones, 11. Watson and J. McEwin bowling. The score was 38 when W, R. Patrick went on at the south end, and, next over, Watson changed across, relieving McEwin. The first ball of Patrick's second over got Jones's wicket for 14, the total being 45. M. F. Pengelly went in, and, four balls later, Grant, who had already sent a couple .of rather unsafe shots into the slips, was caught there by Watson, retiring with 26. The next five wickets were unprofitable, aud when they had fallen the total was only 72. Things brightened up a good deal when A. Jones and G. W. Russell came into partnership. Jones started in at once to punish the bowling, especially Patrick's, and, with frequent boundaries on both sides of the wicket, he took the total up to the century in another 20 minutes. Russell contributed only a couple of singles, but after the century was passed he scored brightly off Watson for a while. At 106, McEwin replaced Patrick, and his second ball, a big off-break, got Russell's stumps. F. Grant came in, and two balls later was bowled round his legs for no runs, and the innings closed for 116, after 95 minutes' play, Jones having made 28. Sydenham started its innings unluckily, but Patrick and M. O 'Malley put on a good second-wicket partnership for 54. Patrick was partnered by Gasson and Barron, and, in company with the latter, took the total to 132, when he was dismissed by Read for 48. McEwin partnered' Barron till he was dismissed, leg-before, by Read, for,; 15, with the total at 160. Soon afterwards, Barron reached his half-century, in company with Watson, and a little later was bowled by A. Grant with a big break for 57, at 186. Watson and J. Gray played out time, and stumps were drawn with 194 for seven wickets. Read bote the weight of the bowling, his tally being five wickets for 49 in 20 overs. THE HONOURS LIST. FIRST GRADE BATTING. R. C. Blunt (West Christchurch) 93 R. Gregory (East Christchurch) 82 F. Woods (East Christchurch) .. 74* C. Allard (St. Alhans) .. .. 01* J. Barron (Sydenham) .. 57 SECOXD GRADE BATTING. R. J. Nixon (Riccarton B) .. .. 12f> C. L. King (Christchurch B.H.SJ 83 F. R. Powell (Christchurch Bovs' High School) 04* L. P. Blunt (Christ's College) ..i 57* Mayo (East Christchurch B).. CO FOURTH GRADE BATTING. Mason (Christchurch 8.H.5.) .. 07 Parkes (Technical College) .. 53 •Not out. FIRST GRADE BOWLING. J. McEwin (Sydenham), three for 15. R. H. North (St. Albans), three for 22. D. W. Reese (St. Alhans), three for 30. R. C. Blunt (West Christchurch), live for 51. W. R. Patrick (Sydenham), three for 30. SECOND GRADE BOWLING. H. B. Godfrey (Christ's College), four for 33. M. L. Page (Christchurch Boys' High Srhool), five for 38. Stewart (Technical College), five for 59. R. O. Talbot (Christ's College), six for 53. THIRD GRADE BOWLING. Williams (St. Alhans), Ave for 48. FOURTH' GRADE BOWLING. Porterfleld (Christchurch Boys' nigh School), four for 30. Booth (Technical College), five for 23. THE SCORE BOOK. RICCARTON v. WEST CHRISTCHURCH. RICCARTON. First Innings. G. Haines b Blunt 17 R. F. J. Powell st Young b Blunt .. 12 G. W. Cox b Blunt 4 H. B. Whitta b Blunt 5 C. E. Gulney lbw b Blunt 14 E. R. Caygill c Blunt b Parton .. .. 13 C. E. Evans b'Marshall 30 A. C, Fuller b Marshall 11 H. E. Bell not out 9 M. O. Sinclair c Blunt b Buckhurst 25 T. F. Watson c Young b Buckhurst 4 Extras (byes 3, leg-bye 1) .. .. 4 Total 148 Bowling: W. H. B. Buckhurst, 6.4 overs, 1 maiden, 21 runs, 2 wickets; C. B. Marshall, 5,0.43,2; R. C. Blunt, 12,1,51,5; D. Reese, 3,0,8,0; Dr P. S. Foster, 1,0,6,0; D. E. Parton, 4,1,15,1. WEST CHRISTCHURCH. First Innings. R. C. Blunt c Bell b Watson .. .. 93 R. D. Worker b Evans 35 W, Hayes c and b Evans 25 Dr P. S. Foster not out 13 Extras 5 Total for three wickets .. 171 EAST CHRISTCHURCH v. ST. ALBANS. EAST CHRISTCHURCH. First Innings. E. Brosnahan b Reese 32 S. O. Jones b Reese 2 R. Gregory lbw b Allard 82 F. Woods not out 7.1 A. R. Blank c Crawford b Sandman 43 J. P. Flood b Sandman 5 H. L. Elvy b Sandman 0 J. Kane b North 0 A. E. Ward b North n H. S. Feast b North 0 W. Howell c North b Rcece .. .. 1 Extras (byes 6, leg-byes 8, wide 1) 15 Total 254 Bowling. D. McK. Sandman, 19 overs, 1 niuiden, 10'J ruus, 3 wickets; D. W. Reese,

8.7,1,30,3; C. W. Allard, 9,0,27,1; J. Lamb, 5,0,27,0; P. S. Martin, 7,1,24,0; R. H. North, 4,1,22,3. ST. ALBANS. First Innings. R. H. North b Ward 9 C. Allard not out CI D. W. Reese not out 44 Extras (byes 9, leg-byes 6) .. 15 Total for one wicket .. ..129 LINWOOD v. SYDENHAM. LINWOOD. First Innings. A. Grant c Watson hj Patrick .. .. 20 N. Jones b Patrick 14 M. F. Pengelly hj Watson 1 J. Jack c Bellamy b Watson .. .. 0 F. Smith hj Wittson 12 A. Thomas c Barron b Watson .. .. 0 R. Bead c Bellamy b Patrick .. .. 0 A. Jones b McEwin 28 G. W. Russell b McEwin 8 F. Grant b McEwin 0 H. M. Taylor not out .. 7 Extras (byes 12, leg-byes 3) .. 15 Total 117 Bowling: 11. Watson, 14 overs, 2 maidens, 51 runs, 4 wickets; J. McEwin, 6.2,2,15,3; W. R. Patrick, 8,3,30,3. SYDENHAM. First Innings. J. Young b Read >, 0 M. O'Malley e Road b Thomas .. .. 22 T. Coomber c N. Jones b Read 4 W. R. Patrick b Read 48 E. Gasson b A. Jones 10 J. Barron b A. Grant 57 J. McEwin lbw b Read 15 H. Watson not out 13 J. Gray not out 7 Extras (byes 10, leg-byes 2) .. 12 Total for seven wickets .. 194 SECOND GRADE. Riccarton B 234 v. Technical College 59 for five wickets. Christchurch Boys' High School 301 v. East t.i.i istchurych 124. St. Albans A 181 v. West Christchurch 117. Sydenham 177 v. East Christchurch 88. THIRD GRADE. Sydenham 101 v. St. Albans 180. , West Christchurch 01 and 30 for two wickets v. Christ's College 202. FOURTH GRADE. Christchurch Boys' High School 146 and 71 for two wickets (beat Riccarton 115 and 46 by eight wickets. Technical College 120 beat Boys' High School 78. i BOYS' LEAGUE. FIRST GRADE. Boys' Gordon Hall A 84 beat St. Bede's 65. St. Andrew's CO beat Cadets A 05. St. Paul's 132 beat Boys' Gordon Hall B 47. SECOND GRADE—A SECTION. Christchurch Boys' High School B 70 beat Normal 31. Technical College 114 beat West Christchurch District High School 22 and 27 by an innings and 05 runs. SECOND GRADE—B SECTION. Christchurch Boys' High School A 101 beat Boys' Gordon Hall 9 and 20 by an Innings and CO runs. Marists 138 beat Christchurch Boys' High School 24 and 32 by an innings and 82 runs. REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES. FLAYERS TOE PRACTICE. Twenty-eight players have been chosen by Messrs D. Reese, E. R. Caygill, aud 11. B. Whitta for practice in view of the selection of Canterbury teams to meet Wellington at Christmas and Auckland at- New Year, in Christchurch. Practice will start to-day at 4.45 p.m., and will be held every evening thereafter. The selectors intend to place the practising for representative matches on its pre-War basis, and so attendance and form at the nets will have a considerable influence ou the picking of the representative teams. Amongst the players chosen is D. C.; Nixon, Riccarton's fast bowler, who has been absent from Christchurch for several weeks, but who is expected to 1 return in a day or two. As part of a policy of encouraging promising coits, M. L. Pago (Boys' High School) has been selected as one of the players to practise. The chosen are:— | E. Brosnahan, R. E. Gregory and F. Woods (East Christchurch), A. Grant, N.I Jones, R. Read, H. M. Taylor and A. W. I Thomas (Linwood), E. R. Caygill, C. E. Evans, D. C. Nixon and H. B. Whitta (Riccarton), C. W. Allard, L. R. Brunton, D. W. Reese, and D. McK. Sandman (St. Albans), T. Coomber, J. Gray, J. McEwin, W. R. Patrick, H. Watson and J. Young (Sydenham), R. C. Blunt, P. Dwyer, W. Hayes, D. Reese and R. D. Worker (West Christchurch) and M. L. Page (Boys' High School). CANTERBURY ASSOCIATION. MEETING OF DELEGATES. A meeting of delegates of the Cantorbury Cricket Association was held on Saturday evening, when there were present: Messrs W. Simpson (in the chair), R. B. Ward, J. S. Barrett, W. Skelton, C. S. Thompson, *. Woods, E. R. Caygill, C. W. Allard, A. Grant and G. Russell. The chairman said that the Competitions Committee recommended that the representative fixture against Wellington be played in Christchurch, at Christmas, and that against Auckland, commencing on New Year's Day. It was suggested that the match against the Otago association be played at Dunedin some time in February. The Now Zealand Cricket- Council had asked that an endeavour be made to play Invercargill while the team was on its southern tour. Regarding the Boys' League, Messrs D. Redpath and S. Barrett hail again guaranteed to find the money to run the competition this season, and the Christchurch Domains Board had granted the use of the ground, free of rent, for the season. The league could not, however, bo maintained indefinitely by the generosity of these gentlemen. He held the opinion that the league games should be played in the fifth and sixth grades of the association's competition. Members probably did not realise that the league was a part of the association. F. Shacklock was coaching the boys, and meeting with success. In this instance, Mr I). Reese was providing the necessary financial guarantees. In order to let the public see what was being done, a team, {licked by Shacklock, would meet another team from the league on December IS, on No. 1 ground, Hagley Park. A sub-committee had been appointed by the Management Committee to go into the whole question of the Boys' League. The chairman moved: "That finals and semi-finals be played in the second and third grades." lie said that it was intended that the other matches would bo played whilst these games were in progress. A greater interest would be created if the innovation were made. - Mr A. Grant moved an amendment, to the effect that the same principle be also followed iu the frst-grade competition. Mr J. S. Barrett considered the amendment unnecessary. In the first gracfe, the teams met twice, in the ordinary course, but it was impossible for some teams to meet at all in the second aud third grades, and the difficulty thereby could only be got over by playing semifinals and finals. / The chairman remarked that the Competitions Committee opposed a semifinal and finals in the first grade. Ordinary matches would not be affected by the proposal in the second and third grades. Mr R. B. Ward: What about the Petersen Shield contest. You can't fake that! The chairman: It will not be necessary to faifl that.

Mr Barrett asked that the, recommendation of the New Zealand Council, that a match be played at Invercargill against Southland, be acceded to. The council looked to a strong association like Canterbury to encourage cricket asmuch as it could in the remote parts. | The Southland association was keen — when the English tour was being considered it was prepared to guarantee anything in the way of financial support. He did not think there would be any trouble on the financial side if the match were arranged as suggested. It was decided to ask the Management Committee to favourably consider the proposal to play Southland, as suggested. On behalf of the Coaching Committee of the Boys' League, Mr C. W. Allard asked for support from the clubs. lie suggested that they should give free membership to the boys. Mr W. Skelton said that, as far as (Sydenham was concerned, this was already being done. CITY AND~SUBURBAN. Y.M.C.A. BEATS CROWNALL. Of the first-grade matches conducted by the City and Suburban Cricket Association on Saturday, the contest between Y.M.C.A. and Crownall was the most interesting, for Crownall, a useful side was pitted against the strongest all-round team in the competition. With Crownall defeated, Y.M.C.A. should not be extended seriously by the other first-grade teams. In such a disciplinary game as cricket it is regrettable to see players go "to the wickets smoking cigarettes. This is a habit with a great number of firstgrade players. Are club captains not capable of exercising their authority? jAgain, some matches may as well be 'played minus umpires. Some players iadopt, a very unsportsmanlike attitude and question an umpire's ruling. One .player on Saturday, when given out jl.b.w., voiced his grouch in no uncertain terms. Hood advice for City and [Suburban players is to quit Unnecesjsary talking and smoking on the field, .accept the umpire's decision as impartial and final—that's what he's there ifor—and play the game for the game's jsake. In B. Kelly, Y.M.C.A. has a compejtent batsman with a good, clean style. IHe was not out on Saturday week, with |57 on and two wickets down for 77. 'Y.M.C.A. continued its second strike on I Saturday, and Kelly, with forceful strokes all round the wickets, brought |his total up to 113. With the exception of a "life" when 30, it was a bright display. He hit 17 fours and three sixes. H. Peck and K. Watts are depeudable men. their scores being 32 and 36 respectively. The only other double-figure contributors to Y.M.C.A.'s total of 238 were H. Fraser (15 not out), T« Graf (10) and extras (16). Langford captured three wickets for 27 runs. «, '•■ • Y.M.C.A. made 153 in the first innings and Crownall 68, so that Crownall, with one man absent, was faced with 323 runs to make. The opening batsmen commenced promisingly, and jthe total mounted up to the hundred, but the "tail" did not afford much hope, and the side was all out for 176. With about two hours of play left, some of the batsmen set up half-hearted jßtoncwalls, instead of punishing the jloose stuff, of which there was plenty. jC. Rix, particularly, could have left the I wickets with his score nearer a century |than 51, with the use of a little more aggression. He does not lack confidence, and two splendidly-hit sixes proved 'that he could lay on the wood when he | wanted to. Still, Crownall earned | every run in a field having no loopiholes. Langford puts-in a lot of useful work for Crownall with bat and ball. !He hit eight fours in compiling 55 I when, through a misunderstanding, he was run out. Hooper enhanced the ■ score b.y 30 runs, the only other doublejfigure player being Bennett, with 11. To Letter-carriers' first innings total of 160, Railway had 65 runs on for six j wickets, and, continuing on Saturday, reached 127. Alan Brown compiled 35 towards this total, the other contributors being Crossan (19), "Andy" Brown (14), Stevenson (14), Felton (11) and Cross (11). Olsen took five wickets for 48 runs, and Bugg three for 19. Letter-carriers were all out for 119 in the second venture, but even that small total " proved .beyond Railway, which succumbed for 94. Railway was three men short. Bugg, the captain of Letter-earriers, plays an earnest game for his side, and is a capable man with the bat or at the bowling crease. lie hit seven fours in his total of 40, and Peters gave good support . with 24; Turner made .15 not out and Watt 11. Lyons, for Railway, dismissed three men for 13 nius. 'The Brown brothers compiled more than half of Railway's second innings total, Alan Brown making 37, including six fours, and his brother 21. Stevenson scored 16. Bugg, for Letter-carriers, took three wickets for 13 runs. Very low scoring was a feature of the match between Green's and St. Albans, played at St. Albans Park. Green's in the first, innings made 96 and in the second strike declared with 90 on for nine wickets. St. Albans made 87 in the first innings, and in the second had 72 runs on for five wickets when time was called. Green's thus won by nine runs on the first innings. Bowling for St. Albans, W. Scott took four wickets for 22 runs, R. Winter two for 20, and E. Colville two for six. Bowling for New Brighton against Woolston, third grade, N. Smith took five wickets for 16, and three for 13, .T. McCree two for eight and four for 11. For Woolston, Spiers took four for 34. SUMMARY OF MATCHES. FIRST GRADE. Y.M.C.A. 153 and 238 beat Crownall 68 and 170 by 117 runs. Letter Carriers 1(10 and 119 for nine wickets (declared) beat-Railway 127 and 94 by H.S runs. Green's 9(1 and 90 for nine wickets (declared) bent St. Albans 87 and 72 for live wickets by 9 runs on the first innings. SECOND GRADE. Railway 25 and 125 for five wickets beat St. Albans 83 and 54 by five wickets. Templetoil 215 beat Woolston 210 by 5 runs on the first inning';. St. John's 237 and 2;i for six wickets heat Belfast 125 and 142 by 112 runs on the lirst innings. THIRD GRADE. Y.M.C.A. 134 beat St. John's 75 by 59 runs on the first innings. New Brighton 1(11 for five wickets (declared) beat Woolston 24 and 25 by an innings and 52 runs. D.I.C. 163 beat Templcton 20 and 34 by an innings and 103 runs. Riccarton 12(1 beat Crownall 35 by 91 runs on the first innings. FIXTURES. Following is the City and Suburban Cricket Association's round of matches for the next two Saturdays.— Senior Grade—St. Albans v. Letter Carriers, at St. Albans Park; Railway v. Y.M.C.A., at Sydenham, No. 9; Crownall v. Green's, at Sydenham, No. 4. Second Grade—Woolston v. St. John's, at Woolston; Dunstable v. Prcbhlcton, at Prchhleton; Templcton v. Green's, at Sydenham, No. 3; St. Albans v. Relfast, at Sydenham, No. 2; Riccarton v. Railway, at Sydenham, No. 1. Third Grade—First day: Crownall v. Woolston, at Woolston; Templcton v. St. John's, at Templcton; Riccarton v. New Brighton, at Riccarton; D.I.C. v. Y.M.C.A., at Sydenham, No. 5. Second day: Crownall v. New Brighton, at Sydenham, No. 5; Y.M.C.A. v. Riccarton, at Riccarton; D.I.C. v. St. John's, at Woolston; Templcton v. Woolston, at Templcton.

NORTH CANTERBURY ASSOCIATION. Rangiora bent Woodend nt Woodend by 74 runs on the first innings. Rangiora made , 147 for four wickets in the first innings and I declared (Rossiter 48 not out, Cockroft 47,1 Moore 22 not out, and Mehrlens 70). Wood-] end made 73 (H. Little 28, R. Smith 22) and I 08 for six wickets. For Rangiora, Moore took seven wickets for 24 runs, and Lock- I hart three for 8 and four lor 28. Loburn 75 (Borland 17 not out and Metherell 11) beat Ohoka 40 (Sheat 2:i not out). For Loburn, B. Pearce secured six I wickets for 41 runs, and for Ohoka, Bennett j j nine for 18. i I Cust 126 for four wickets (H. Feary 70 retired, J. Cowens 21 retired, and G. McGre- ! gor 15) beat Swannanoa 59 (E. Yerrell 25,1 IF. Verrell 13, C. Belly 10) and 31 (Grant I i 10 not out) by an innings and 30 runs. j Seftou 113 (Giles 23, Reeves 1(1, Thompson 15, Day 11, Henry 11, Nicholls 10) beat i EyretOn 55 (Bennett 14) and 19 for six j wickets on the first innings. Cust Juniors 117 (Hlunden 22 retired, Robb !22 Silvester 20, Sail 17, Dixon l(i, Nankoville 14) bent Amberlcy Juniors 73 (Winskill 30). ELLESMERE ASSOCIATION. Wccdous 143 for six wickets (Walker 79 not out, Chambers 23, Ilulton 1(1 not out) beat Irwell 08 (J. Hcslop 23, J. Coc 14). ENGLAND v. AUSTRALIAN XL CLOSE SCORING. By Cable. — Trett Association. — Covyright. BRISBANE, Dec. 4. ' The weather was hot and muggy for jthe continuation of the match, England Iv. an Australian eleven. The attendance was large. The scoring was slow in the early stage of the game, the first 100 taking 11.0 minutes to make. In spite of several changes in the bowling, i the score steadily rose, and the partnerjsliip between Russell and Heudren 'yielded 87. Through a misunderstanding, Woolley was run out. Douglas succumbed to Marsden without scoring. I Armstrong tool; the ball, but the scero steadily mounted. Heudren, who played ! a steady, chanceless innings, was bowled by- Hornibrook when near his century, lie batted for 182 minutes, and hit 10 fours. The last batsmen played out time. Following aTe the scores:— AUSTRALIA. I First Innings. Collins b Waddington 3 ' Moore b Waddington ........ 0 Kippax b Woolley .. .. 18 Tozer c Heudren b Waddington .. 51 Macartney Ibw b Douglas 9ti Tronncry c Strudwick b Douglas .. 2 Carter c Hitch b Douglas 8 Marsden Ibw b W 7 oolley 0 Armstrong c Strudwick b Douglas 63 Hornibre»k c Strudwick b Douglas 0 McAndrew not out 1 Extras 23 TotaL' 255 Bowling Analysis—Waddington, 3 wickets for 03 runs; Hitch, 0 for 31; Douglas, 5 lor '45; Woolley. 2 for 37; Fender, 0 for 29; Wilson, 0 for 27. ENGLAND. First Innings. Hobbs c McAndrew ii 'irennery .. 26 Russell c Macartney b Hornibrook 72 Rhodes Ibw I) Trennery 3 Heudren b Hornibrook 9(1 Woolley run out 2(1 Douglas Ibw b Marsden 0 Fender c Trennery b McAndrew .. 8 Wilson not out 22 Hitch c Moore b Hornibrook .. .. 2 Strudwick c and b Hornibrook .. 4 Waddington not out 15 Extras • 11 Total for nine wickets .. 285 N.S.W. v. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. SYDNEY, Dec. 4. The. weather was fine, -ami the wicket good for the continuation of the match between New South Wales and South Australia. New South Wales, in its lirst innings, has lost seven wickets for 675 (Bogle 103, Bardsley 235, Kelleway 1(18). The Bardsley-Kelleway. partnership gave a very sound' exposition of batting, and the batsmen occasionally were brilliant. INCONSIDERATE N.S.W. (Rcc. Dec. 0, 10.20) SYDNEY, Dec. 6. The South Australian cricketers are indignant, owing to the refusal of New South Wales to postpone the opening day for the mattih. The South Australian team arrived in Sydney at noon, and was on the field at 2.45 p.m. Mr McCarron, manager of the South Australian team, in making a strong protest, said the players were disgusted. They were weary and sore, and it was a pity that the opportunity thus presented was taken by New South Wales to amass a big score, with the aid of such a handicap.