OLD-TIME CRICKET

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 62, Issue 4427, 19 May 1941, Page 5

OLD-TIME CRICKET

SOME TE AWAMUTU DISTRICT MATCHES. OVER FORTY YEARS AGO. Cricket in this district before the turn of the century was of even more importance in the world of sport and recreation than Rugby is to-day, judging by a score-book that has been unearthed by one of the participants in those days—and kindly made available for perusal. It would seem that cricket teams were active in Te Awamutu, Ohaupo, Kihikihi and Waotu, and it is the Kihikihi Club’s scorebook that we have before us. The date of the first game recorded is not stated, but early in the book there is reference to a match between Waotu and Kihikihi elevens on Mr Laurie’s farm, April 3rd, 1897.—presumably the second match. The first match was between these same clubs on Gorrie’s Station and Waotu were all disposed of for 29 runs. Seven batsmen were bowled out, one was out l.b.w, and two others were caught. Top score was eight, recorded by Aubin and T. Barnett. J. Corboy captured seven wickets for 12 runs, and Ross took 3 wickets for 15 runs. Kihikihi’s team—E. Short, F. Gordon, McGhie, J. Corboy, A. Ross, Hutana, McDonald, J. Gardiner, Gorrie, Corboy and Edwards—only made an aggregate of nine runs, of which McGhie provided 4, being not out. Aubin and Hitchman were the bowlers, but their averages were not shown. Waotu’s second innings yielded 20 runs, of which Waia made 7, Skaife 5, and Bell 4. Corboy got four wickets for 11 runs, and McGhie six for 11., Full of hope, no doubt, Kihikihi went to the wickets again, but Aubin and Hitchman were too good, for all were out for 20 runs. Top scorer was McDonald, with 4. The return match was played at Mr Laurie’s farm. Waotu knocked up 12 runs, of which D. Barnett provided 6. McGhie and Corboy each accounted for five wickets. Kihikihi did much better, compiling 60 runs, of which McGhie scored 29 not out; he seems to have been a versatile player, good with the bat, ball and in the field. Next best score was 7 from Webster, last man in. Aubin, Hitchman and H. F. Barnett were the successful bowlers. Waotu’s second strike yield 34 runs, of which the best contribution was 7 from H. Barnett. Corboy and Webster shared the bowling honours. The next match was between Te Awamutu and Kihikihi, played at Kihikihi. Te Awamutu opened with C. Bowden (a newcomer from near Auckland) and Howard. The innings closed for 49, of which Bowden provided 21 before Webster clean bowled him. Webster, Bishop and Wilson were the bowlers. Incidentally the score book only records nine players for Te Awamutu—C. Bowden, Howard, Bond, Taylor, Singleton, Griffiths, McDonald, Missen and Lewis. Kihikihi beat Te Awamutu’s tally, scoring 66, of which McGhie hit up 29. Another match between Waotu and Kihikihi, on November 9th, 1897, was played at Maungatautari. Waotu batting first, hit up 37, Ramsay 14 and Tiepa 12, being best. Corboy and Clifford were the bowlers. Kihikihi were all out for 42, of which MfcGhie provided 19. Waotu’s second strike provided 44, and Kihikihi got 29 for 7 wickets in their second innings (Gordon not out 9). Kihikihi met Te Awamutu again, on November 27th, and Te Awamutu had for its representatives, C. Bowden, N. Reid, D. F. Reid, Blackett, R. Griffiths, S. Conn, D. Bain, G. Dodd, H. Mandeno and A. Carley—apparently there were only ten players. Bowden, the hope of the side, was out for a duck, being caught by Webster off Corboy; the innings closed for 25, Blackett being top with 9 runs. Kihikihi replied with 36, of which Gardiner was top scorer with 11, Neil Reid got six wickets, Blackett three and Bowden one. Te Awamutu closed their second innings with two wickets down for 54 (Bowden 18, S. Reid 33 not out), and then disposed of Kihikihi for 43 runs, of which Gardiner provided 15, and J. Corboy 6. Ohaupo was next tackled, at Kihikihi. The home eleven hit up 34 runs, Webster being top scorer with 6. Mears and Gillett were the bowlers. Ohaupo’s first effort was 32, Tizziman 11 and Edwards 9 being the best. Kihikihi’s second strike yielded 115—a record tally. McGhie provided 47 not out, W. H. Short 21. and Webster 11. Ohaupo’s second innings could only provide 55 runs Colhoun 11, Tizziman 10 and Ryder 10 being the best contributions. Again Kihikihi and Te Awamutu met, on February 19th, 1889, at Kihikihi. The visitors hit up 104 runs, thanks to C. Bowden’s 28, G. Blackett’s 19, S. Reid’s 17 and J. Case’s 14. McGhie, Corboy and Clifford were the most successful bowlers. Kihikihi failed dismally, providing a total of only 11, J. Corboy’s 5 being the best individual effort. F. Bowden, Case, Blackett and G. Bowden did the skittling. Kihikihi’s second strike provided 33, with Corboy’s 13 not out the best, followed by G. McGhie’s 7. Case took 6 wickets, G. Bowden 3, and Drabble 1. Te Awamutu thus recorded an easy victory. Kihikihi visited Ohaupo, on March 6th, and the home team was out for 44 runs, Colhoun hitting ten to be top scorer. Corboy and McGhie were the bowlers. Kihikihi’s first innings closed for 16 runs, with six wickets down and Corboy not out. The team must have been short-handed. Ohaupo hit up 73 runs in the second innings, Tizziman’s 27 being the best effort. Though short-handed Kihikihi replied with 60 for two wickets, when time was up. McGhie scored 19, and Corboy 23 not out, with Gardiner 9, and “Mr Extras” 10. That apparently was the last match of the season.