CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 184, 21 December 1912, Page 7

CRICKET.

NOTES. Interest in the Saturday competition was greatly enhanced last' week by the defeat of United Service by New Plymouth. Jt was Service's first defeat this season, and Bain was absent. Everybody is now asking the question: "Will Law repeat New Plymouth's performance?" Both Service and Law have some tall hitters, and there should in consequence be a big crowd on the Terraces this afternoon—but then the. New Plymouth folk do not give one the impression that they appreciate cricket, good, bad, or indifferent. Service, batted first, compiling 91 runs, Sumner and Colvile being the only batsmen to give much of an account of themselves. Mason, Arden, W. Sheppard and Harding made over 20 apiece for New Plymouth, the last two striking-up a partnership which won the match. Sheppard, in particular, played good, steady cricket, and immediately the opposition score was passed Harding opened 'his shoulders and made soine pretty fours, although his strokes were not orthodox.

Inglewopd again failed to make the journey to New Plymouth, thereby disappointing Law. It seems rather ungenerous that the country team have not once returned the compliment of the New Plymouth teams, who never once—no matter what difficulty was experienced in so doing—failed to keep their engagements at Inglewood during the first round. It would have been but an act of grace on the part of Inglewood to have withdrawn from the competition at the outset. In view of Inglcwood'a defection, New Plymouth should do its utmost to establish another town club next season for the Saturday competition. Perhaps High School might be persuaded to enter the Saturday arena.

It is to be regretted that the teams picked to go on tour during Christmas week are by no means representative of the full strength of North Taranaki. Unfortunately it is apparently impossible to get a fully-, representative eleven during the Christmas holidays, but in view of the comparatively snort notice it is only to be expected that many players have made other, engagements for spending the summer vacation, which they now find it is too late to cancel. It is pleasing to notice that Ardeh and Osborne, two New Plymouth. colts, are to make the trip. Anion does not seem to have' struck form yet this sqason with the bat, nor is his fielding as good as last year. No doubt, in view, of the special occasion he will put in! a little extrawork and do as well as ever. Bain, who is in such excellent form tins season, could not possibly have Tjcen left but of the team. It is reassuring to note that his services will be available. Perham and Sumner, 'have not; justified their places on {heir form this year, having so far done nothing rout, of the ordinary. Perham does not seen! ; t0 have got into his .stride, but this is-, only to he expected, seeing th.tt' he jievcr gets any practice. He is a man, however, of possibilities, nnd-onft'trusts! that his excel-, lent innings of 141 not .(jut on the Recreation Ground a; year or so back, will be repeated. Sarten, who has made a very good showing' with the ball thfc season, ought to he a Ijig help in preventing Wanganui repealing their performance against South' Taranaki this week', when they won by! an innings and 304 runs. Apropos of ■this, it is interesting to recall that in the'past North Taranaki have been considered to be strong, in batting and weak in bowling, and South Taranaki vice versa!

Glancing' through (lie headmasters' reports road at thV various breaking up functions this week, one cannot help being struck with tho pessimistic utterances regarding cricket among the schools, ft is to be noped that prior to the commencement of riext season the Association -will indulge; in a little, organising work. If tnis js not done the future career of cricket, locally, will not be very brilliant. I To-day Law will playjNcw Plymouth. Inglewood are billed to ;play Service at New Plymouth, but past experience, has shown that this is no criterion on which to base hopes of a match eventuating. Wanganui has a hot-stuff team this season, and the utter ; rout of South Taranaki this week was not unexpected. The Ilawera men's showing was very 1 weak, and the good bowling of Bernau and Holland did the rest. South Taranaki wickets fell in quick succession for 20. Then Wanganui banged up 453, Orton. as usual, playing forcefully yet with care for a beautiful 147. Bathgate smote vigorously for f>P>. , Tn their second strike South Taranaki feebly scored 33. leaving Wanganui winners by an innings and 304 runs. Four Taranaki batsmen were given out as ''caught behind tlie wickets" in the second innings, but at least two of the decisions were open to question. The umpiring at one end came in for hostile comment, and it is to he hoped that efficient umpires will be secured for the North Taranaki

Wanganui game next week. Bernau is a College boy. and is a very dangerous bowbr. swerving beautifully, and making 'lie ball fairly leap oil the pitch North Taranaki batsmen should treat him •with respect. AUSTRALIAN ELEVEN. ALLEGATH :: : AGAINST PLAYERS. C. IS. FRY INSULTED.

Four players, two in a minor degree as compared with the other two, are concerned in the allegations made in regard to the behaviour of the Australian eleven while touring England. It will be some time, however, before the special committee appointed by the Board of Control for the purpose will be able to arrive at a decision—which will subsequently go before the Board as a recommendation.

In the meantime some of the charges players will be called upon to answer arc becoming known. One of (hi' ni(i>:( serious relates to a Victorian member of the team. A dinner was given by Ranjitsinhji, and the Australians were present. The host, during the inevitable speech-making, made reference to C. B. Fry, and followed conventional lines when he expressed the view that he of all batsmen was more likely to make runs than any other player. The Victorian, in a loud voice, it is alleged, then gave his opinion of Fry. Tt is unfit for publication. His remarks, it might easily lie understood, caused painful embarrassment, and no end of indignation. This player-will be invited to give his explanation of the incident. On another occasion, in a public dining room, a player was asked by a waitress what bis next dish would be. His answer, iriven so loudly that it was heard in the contiguous street, was of so disgusliiig a character that he was promptlv ejected. He was wearing the colors of bis team, and it soon became known by the other diners that he was an Australian cricketer. On another occasion it is alleged that one of the players insulted one of the housemaids in one of the hotels at which the. team was staying, and that on a complaint being made the manager stated that he, would not allow any fu-

( ture Australian team to put up there. J Certain proceedings at Cardiff, Wales. / whore there was no play on the openI ing day because of rain, will also form tne subject of enquiry, w' 'le the doings of some of the players w the steamer trip from Ireland will als be investigated. On that occasion th.: master of the ship suspended the sale of liquor. The conduct of the players towards one another when on the playing areas will probably be outside the scope of the 1 enquiring committee which was appointed to investigate the conduct of players off the field, but it is stated that they were far from being a happy family. Earlv in the tour they split up into distinct groups, and it is stated that some of t!ie bowlers had no hope of securing a wicket by means of a catch when the ball went to certain players ,who were not friendly disposed towards them. "Lolly" catches, after much juggling, were invariably dropped.

Unseasonable cricket weather occasionally prevails in other parts than England and Taranaki. "Such hail and rain as fell in Sydney and most of the suburbs at noon on Saturday is rarely seen in the metropolis," says the Referee. "The hail piled up in the gutters, on housetops, and in streets, and the water overflowed, And at that hour cricket ■in the afternoon seemed as remote as the Arctic Pole. But after the deluge came the calm, with a bright, warm sun, and though another shower fell at ,3.30 p.m., some cricket was possible on the turf wickets, and a good deal on the matting wickets. The storm cleared the atmosphere, and then out in the open one felt it good to be alive." All hope of persuading 6. L. Jessop to withdraw his resignation as captain of the county eleven has been given up by the Gloucestershire County Cricket Club, which has opened a subscription list for a. public testimonial. The indentation will be made at the next annual general meeting.

The proposed benefit to Trumper was mentioned to Syd. Gregory, captain of the returned Australian eleven, on his arrival in Sydney. A glow, anticipatory of what a match it would he, Spread over his features as .he replied: "I realty think this team of mine against the Rest would ho the match for a benefit for Trumper. I'd certainly play in such n, match. I'd do anything for Trumper. The Xpw South Wales public would simply love to .see how this team plays together, and wo want the strongest combination in Australian against us to bring out the best in us." M. A. -\oble has also expressed his willingness to take part in the benefit match.

C, G. Macartney was in a very destructive mood with the hail for- Gordon against Waverley, and, thanks chielly to' his fine feat, Gordon won ftutright by five wickets and 4 runs, notwithstanding that at'the close of'the first innings the 'game looked a ''good thing"/for Waverley. The scores-were it—Waverley,' 117 and (ii); Gordon, 00 and .131 for five wickets. ; Macartney,' in the second innings of Waverley, took seven' wickets for- 29. and l 'in the • second . innings of Gordon scored 42 not out. Victor Trumper made 2G : and'F*rank Ire'dalv 24fl ■ It was a really admirable win. ; /

' About another mem.b'eV 'of the Australian eleven:—ln'the "match North fc'yd ; hey v.' University, Roy Miunett-made nis first appearance'in club'cricket since his return from England; and", favored- the spectators with a beautifully''compiled 63 of University's 230.' Vile" also took two wickets for 63;" ! The game was drawn. '

The lucky four! Macartney; Whitty. Mayne and Hazlitt 'are- the 1 members of the Australian cleveh'who accepted the guarantee of (he Board of Control for a lump sum of £4OO each.

1). Smith, another member of the team, injured his knee in one of the matches in America,'and it will be some time before he is able to play again, as he will have to undergo treatment, and perhaps an operation.