CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 123, 17 October 1914, Page 7

CRICKET.

'Hatters are rapidly getting into train •for the seiwr.ii, and there is every prospect, despite viv war, that the 1914-1? season will U- one. of -the best that has been seen fur ii;:iny years in North Taranaki, and in New Plymouik. As in l'ooieaM and other sports, the divided' ha:M)uiiduy undoubtedly has a detrimental eir, a on the grand old summer g.i-ue. ,- : till this year there is tveryi pros; i < i of a keen comipetition on botlh days.' I,i [lie .Saturday competition teams have :" ■" n entered from United Service, Law, 'l'il.orangi, New Plymouth and Albion. Vi iii.'sc the first four were .competitors i.t.-l ;. ear, whilst- Albion i.-< a new cluix

The Thiiivc!a;,- ™m,petHion has si. far drawn l.hiv,- entries, viz., Tikorangi. High School, ami Phoenix. LaJst year the first-named played two teams viz., a Saturday v iii-T and junior. High School played in the <Saiturday senior competition la-1 \ ear, whilst Phoenix i:> a new club, ho far lngle-wood'ls in tentiong are unknown. The inwn for the inland town lune not had their meeting yet, but sir,., said to be certain to enller a- team in oin- of the competitions, if not in both. There are many, enthusiastic, keen and capable cricketers arciund Inglcwood and a team from that town would be heartily welcomed, and would have go.nl prospects of ■beiit,j victorious'. The competition will probably open on Saturday, October 31, and the Thursday division will take the field the following week.

Prospect for junior cricket are not so £epd, IflHfc yeftr'o junior champions will be found in the senior ranks, viz., Tikorangi, anil &■[■ {rfuS'Snt a?? 1 ' 3 ranees it looks as if the only eOlflJtetiiiors will be High School,' Technical Oollfigo nild United Service. Another team would be welcomed to obviate a bye. •Waitara and Urenui payers will probably throw in their lot with Tikorangi and play for one or other of that club's teams. The country club is to be congratulated on entering a team in the senior division on Thursday and Saturday. At an extraordinary general mocking of the Warehouse Cricket Club held on Thursday evening it was decided that the club disband and that tSie cash balance in hand be donated (to the Patriotic Fund. This club last year was bracketed with Tikoranki, junior champions.

The GnMket Council is losing no time now in getting the wickets ilie Recreation Grounds ajid at Western Park in order for the coming seaison, and special attention is also being paid 10 the outfield. Th t . matter of finance lias been arranged so as to enable tiie Council to eke out aJi existence ihig year. By tllie way, the Council should consider tie question of making a small charge for admission to club matches. The average cricket enthusiast, though at present there are only few of iimi. would not nuind assisidng the Counc.i with a sixpence for his afternoon's cricket, and, moreover, one feels sure ihat tiie introduction of some system auto the ma.ch arrangements, particularly with regard uo< punctual starting, will do much to encourage the enthusiast to at.«nd. if the cricketers take an interest in their own affairs, as they appear to be doing this year, that is the surest, way 'to induce the outside public to 'become interested in them. if the matter of finance could be overcome, the Cricket Council, a live bouy, could do much for the gamiie, not only in tiho matter of grounds, but in the engaging of a coach! to instruct our joung players. This latter would give Taranaki cricket a wonderful fillip. Practice wickets have been allocated to the New Plymouth, Phoenix, linitod fcervice and Albion Clubs at the li.ee reation Ground, and to Uuv at the Western Park. Phoenix made use of thesr practice wickell on Thursday. The other clubs will indulge in practice an. the Recreation Ground this afternoon. The Waikato Cricket Association's compet.ition opens to-day. Auckland starts its cup matches next Saturday. Tho report to be presented to At annual meeting of the liltham Club shows that the club wa a again able to retain the shield. The ground was unfortunately not kept in the condition it might be, but this might be improved in future. The club 'had to thank Messrs 'G. W. Tayler, G. Bennett and 11. A. Kuiil tall for financial or personal assistance. The liabilities had been reduced coo•idcrably, and the club would start tlu season with a small debit balance; but the members' subscription of Ids was inadequate to cover the expends for «i season's cricket. The but averages) during lihe past season \v:'"e:-Batting, J. Walker, 20.01} runs; ,1. .'•■iilii.-nn, A).a j urns; bowling, J. Feaion. 2<> wickets at a cost of 5.22 runs per wicket; J. Sullivan, 7 wifckeK 5.28; M. -'V (mgley, :tl wickells (>.;!. Ii is to be hoped thai the cl'U'b Will !l=i.ve another gufec,<|'n] ,?i\\soll uurlrig the coming summer, tV: n nminlUiniiu. •ita pi-eswit .good record, it liavng up to t'he present won the ;~e,n.h Taranaki shield six times in icu -i-.i----sons.

'Bhe Sydney crielict season was opened on October 3. The only century w;js compiled lv.i V. J. Truniper, playing for Gordon against tilebe. Losing the toss to Warren Bardsley, the peerless one went first to the wickets, and, battling almost! c'haneelessly, knocked up l - 23 cut of a total of 2<i9. Oil' Ivelleway's second over he scored IS. The Referee says his fornu was first-class, with till the old strokes from the glance to the '■•>ek-cut, .inoludiiig the lofty on-drives, *~- '''> the grace and charm which made ■ -, celebrity throughout liava won for '-, known . the world where eriek&i, .. asjainst Playing for JS'ortfli Sydney .„ a Petersham, A. ,T. Hopkins put UP ► great bowling perforjuance, ' sceuiiiT*< seven wickets for 23 runs, and six for 3?, or a total of 13 for 60. The Melbourne cricket Season opened the same day, and only one cen!«iry -,7, h obtained there. IX Smith, the .Richmond captain and Australian international, scoring 123 against East Melbourne. Vernon Ransford scored Bii. The Teteran Warne scored 78.

AVhile baiting for Punt-road Methodist Club against South Yarra Baptist C.C., at Fawkiwr Park, Melbourne, on Saturday, October; 3, [Reginald Martin was struck over tho heart by; a faßi Ball, il-l'e collapsed, and «, doctor was Bummoned, hut it was impossible to save the unfortunate young player's life.