CRICKET

Taranaki Daily News, 6 January 1927, Page 4

CRICKET

PLAY IN NORTH TARANAKI NOTES ON THE GAME. NORTH TARANAKI PLAY. (By “Not Out.”) FIXTURES AHEAD. (Hawke Cup match). January 14 and 15. —Taranaki v. Hawkes's Bay, at Ne\« Plymouth During the holiday season there has been practically no cricket played in North Taranaki. The trial game set down for Xmas day had to be abandoned owing to rain, and the only match played was a seniors versus juniors game on New Year s day. Cricketers will therefore welcome the return to the regular fixture which will be resumed next Saturday when Old Boys A meet New Plymouth, School meet Western Park, and Old Boys B play Urenui. The first two games will be full of interest, as all these four teams are in the running for championship honours, and much depends on the results of these matches. The Old boys A v. New Plymouth game is bound to be a hard struggle, as it always has been. Old Boys are not so strong this year as formerly” owing to dividing their strength into two elevens, but they are still a force to be reckoned with. Much depends on the form displayed by Clarke with the ball. It should be a game well worth seeing. The two leading teame, School and Western Park, will meet at the School ground. With full teams the writer is inclined to think School would win, but the eleven is broken up by the holidays, and as a result Western Park should win comfortably. The Old Boy B v. Urenui match should be an even game, but on previous form the former team should win. When these notes appear the match between the visiting Nomads and North Taranaki team will be in progress. At the time of writing, it is known that Clarke, Kingston and Nasmith will not be available, so we shall be considerably below full strength. Clarke and Nasmith find it impossible to obtain leave in view of the Hawke Cup match next Week while Kingston is unfortunately still on the injured list. The team, however, should put up a good fight against what appears to be a very solid combination. Well known names in the Nomads team are Bemau, Cameron, K. Cave, and Ongley. TARANAKI v| HAWKE'S BAY. Next week Taranaki will be called upon to defend the Hawke Cup against Hawke’s Bay, and the game is already arousing a considerable amount of interest in the province. The visitors are a strong team this year included in their number being Lowry, Worker, Mitchell and Stephenson, all of whom have been performing with credit either in the trial games at Wellington or in the Plunket Shield contests. Taranaki will therefore be up against a stiff proposition, and it behoves all members of the team to get down to solid practice so as to be able to produce their best form when called upon. A match of this description is bound to be a strenuous encounter, and players require to be in training to see it out to the end. "Not Out” would like to see the North Taranaki members out on the Recreation Ground every evening next week for practice, and hopes fielding will not be neglected. The South Taranaki men, being more scattered, will find it more difficult to get the necessary practice, but they will no doubt do all they can to get fit for the coming game. The Taranaki team has not been definitely selected, but one hopes to see several changes in the “tail” of the team, as it played at Wanganui. Kingston has hopes of being able to play, while C. Lash who missed the game in Wanganui, will also be available. The final selection, however, ean confidently be left in the hands of the selectors. The writer, in the course of a stroll through the Recreation Ground the other day, was mueh impressed by the splendid appearance of the playing area; in fact the ground has never before been in such condition as it is at the present time. A beautiful green turf covers the whole field, with no unevenness or bare patches. The wicket has improved out of all knowledge, and altogether the ground is one of which New Plymouth may well be proud, and reflects the greatest credit on the Sportsground Committee and Mr. Horton, (the superintendent of the park) and his staff. Visiting teams in the last few years have always spoken enthusiastically concerning the ground, and they cannot fail to be impressed on this occasion. During the last few weeks of inactivity the local cricketera have had only one source of interest in the game, namely the Plunket Shield games. These matches, which commenced on Xmas day and are still in progress, are of particular interest this year, for largely on the form displayed in them will the New Zealand team to tour England be eelected. The more one studies the score sheets in these games, the more intricate becomes the problem of selection, and those to whom the task is given will have mueh to take into consideration. SOUTH TARANAKI NOTES MATCH AGAINST NOMADS. (By “Short Stop.”) The match between the Nomads and South Taranaki ended to-day in a win for the visitors by 50 rune on the fir«t innings. Unfortunately rain yesterday afternoon prevented any play after the luncheon adjournment, otherwise a definite result would have been secured. On the general run of the play the margin of 50 runs represents the difference between the teams. Penny, the South Taranaki captain, won the toss and batted on a good wicket in perfect weather. The start proved disastrous for South Taranaki and wickets started to fall quickly. The earlier batsmen, with the exception of Lay, played too much on the defensive against bowling that was not really difficult, and, in consequence, were trapped into errors. Lay started by hitting Bernau for two

twos and a single and looked like making runs when he dragged a ball on to his wicket, a fate that befel him again in the second innings., The first 50 runs took an hour to get, and the 100 appeared on the board as the result of - 94 minutes’ play. Penny played a good innings for 74 not out. Starting quietly, he was troubled by Ongley’s slows and made a few mishits, but once in his stride he played good cricket for hie runs. His innings was all the more creditable as it was made at a time when runs were badly needed, and a failure on his part would have meant the collapse of the side. Grant (21) showed the best batting form in the team. Starting with plenty of confidence, he showed a sound knowledge of how to handle the slow bowling that was proving so troublesome to his mates and made his runs by really good batsmanship. The best bowling for the visitors was that of Bernau (four for 41) and Ongley (four for 58). The former was in good form, bowling with a strong off field, and proved troublesome. Ongley bowled his slows with good judgment, changing his pace and flight in a manner that puzzled most of the batsmen. Swainson bowled some good balls, and showed ability to vary his pace without the batsmen becoming aware of his intentions. The fielding of the Nomads in both innings was clean and neat, the ground work being first class. Wanklin, Maling, Carver and Cameron had a lot of work to do, and did it well. Fox, the wicket-keeper, got through his job in a workmanlike manner. Devoid of any frills or mannerisms, he is a very useful keeper to have in the team. When the Nomads went to the wickets they met disaster early, two.good wickets falling to Cole with only 28 runs on the board. Then Cameron was missed by Thomas, and the let-off proved expensive. Ongley got top score with 48, scoring quickly, and showing good forcing shots on both sides of the wicket. Cameron played a good innings for 38, and helped to play his side into a winning position. Bernau played free cricket during his stay, punching the ball hard in his scoring strokes. Cave was in difficulties at different stages of his innings, and was eventually trapped by a ball from Pratt, which came straight through and rapped the pads— I.b.w. Cave shaped for the break, which in this instance did not come. Fox laid on the wood for his runs. Pratt emerged with the best bowling figures, and in 15 overs, captured five wickets for 50. Lay bowled nine overs for one maiden, 21 runs and two wickets. Scarcely enough use was made of his bowling. Cole, opened with a burst of success, but was rather erratic. The fielding as a whole was not up to the Nomads’ standard, too many of the players being slow in moving and using their feet to stop the ball, where hands "Should have been employed. Lay and Court were the bright exceptions, and their work was a treat to watch. Grant kept wickets neatly and lost nothing by comparison with his vis-a-vis. When Taranaki went in to bat a second time the first wicket pair again failed to give the side a good start. Court was smartly thrown out, and Grant, Lay and Penny were all dismissed with 37 runs on the board. A good partnership between Betts (42 not out) and Cole (41) wiped out the deficiency and carried the score to 98, before Cole cocked one up on the off and Donnelly tossed it up. Cole played carefully but let drive with venom at anything loose. Betts played a solid, watchful innings for 42 not out, including four fours. He is a player with a good defence and gives one the impression of being quite at home to all bowlers. A little more power in his scoring strokes would increase his run-getting value, as at present he is inclined to push the ball with the bat instead of coming down hard on the loose stuff. Pratt (25) played brightly, showing a strong liking for onside play. The brunt of the attack was borne by Ongley, Prendergast and Swainson, who all bowled steadily but without much “devil.” Bernau was only given a short trial. C. Little, of the local team,, was absent to-day, and the writer understands that no intimation of his intention not to be present was given either to the association or to the home captain. It is to be hoped that the Association will take steps to deal with instances of this nature, as they place a captain in a most trying position besides being a breach of faith with the other members of the team and the public. I hope that Skipper Penny will report the incident to his association at the proper time. CANTERBURY V. All i AMD. Canterbury and Auckland had a very interesting game. The latter requiring 165 to win seemed to have an easy task considering their strong batting talen,t but 5 were down for 75, and Canterbury were jubliant. Frater and Gillespie then got going and knocked off the runs. Players who enhanced their reputation in thia game were Mills 55 and 29, Cooper 51 and 20, Gillespie 21 and 54 not out. Of the Canterbury men Page 30 and 78, Boon 2 and 72 were tile only ones to show good form. Two “certainties” for the New Zealand team, Alleott and Dacre, made 10 and 0, and 1 and 1 respectively, but they will soon show that this form is all wrong. Alleott bowled well but without much luck, obtaining 2 for 38 and 2 for 71. Player with 6 for 38 in the first innings got the best figures in the game. The second of the series of games are in progress as these notes are written. Wellington, against Canterbury, again showed what a strong bating side they are, by putting on 488 in tile first innings. Hiddleston 114, Kortlang 55, and James 56 did well, but Dempster 9, Bollings 8, McGirr 6, Lambert 16 failed to show form worthy of a New Zealand team. Against Otago Auckland could make only 155, Mills 29, Dacre 02 being the best scorers. Otago got 336 of which Blunt made 60 and Shepherd 46. The local papers have not yet mentioned whether fast bowler Dickinson obtained a wicket. From the above brief resume it can be seen that the selectors’ task is no light one, but the following must have already played themselves into the team: Batsmen: Hiddleston, Blunt, Worker, Lowry, Dacre, James and Kortlang, with the following in the running: Cooper, Gillespie, Mills, Page, and Boon. The disappointments have been Dempster, Hollings, Oliver and Lambert. With the ball the two English coaches Bowley (Auckland) and Badcock (Wellington) have done very well —a fact which shows up our bowlers in rather a poor light. On form displayed so far Player, Alleott, Cunningham and Meßeth have claims for inclusion. But what of a fast bowler? It seems as if we have none of real class in the country. What this means to a touring side all cricketers know,

and it is to be’ hoped that somewhere will be found a really good fast bowler before our team sets out fop the Old Land, The Wellington v. Otago match was won by the former on the first day, when in drizzling rain Hiddleston and Worker put on 149 for no wickets. Thereafter Otago had no chance and were soundly beaten by 446 runs. Hiddleston 121 and 21, Worker 7'3 and 25, Lowry 90 and 44, Lambert 49 and 25, James 16 not out and 107 not out maintained good form, as did Blunt 45 and 38 for Otago. Failures with the bat were Dempster 9 and 6, McGirr 0 and 11, Hoflings 0 and 23, and Shepherd 2 and 9. Dickinson, whom many critics consider a certainty, for the New Zealand team as as fast bowler, obtained the following averages: 0 for 80and 0 for 68! Blunt bowled extremely well, getting 7 for 121 and 3 for 113. He is assured of the first place in the team as New Zealand’s best all-round player at the present time. Following is the position of the teams in the North Taranaki competitions to date: — SENIOR GRADE

M.P. 3-pt 2-pt T’l Pt. Wins. Wine. Dn L’t High School 3 1 2 — 7 Western Park 4 1 2 1 7 New Plymouth 3 1 1 1 5 Old Boys A 4 1 I 2 5 Old Boys B 4 — 1 3 2 Urenui 4 — — 4 — JUNIOR GRADE NORTHERN DIVISION. M.P. 3-pt 2-nt T’l Wins. Wins. Dn L’t Pt. Waitara 9 5 3—1 21 Technical School 8 6 1—1 20 Old Bojvi .... 9 13 14 10 Council B 8 2 114 9 High School B 8 11—6 5 Band 8 — — — 8 First round matches still to be played: Technical School V. Band; School £ 1 V. Council B. WESTERN DIVISION. Matches 3-pt 2-pt T’l Prd.Wins.WinsLosB.pt. Council A .... 9 4 3 2 18 Okato 9 4 2 3 16 High School A 8 2 4 2 14 Western Park 8 2 2 4 10 Avenue Road 9 2 — 7 6 New Plymouth 9 — 1 8 2 First round match still to be played: High School A v. , Western Park. COUNTRY ASSOCIATION. Matches T’l Played. Won, Dn. L. Pt. Tikorangi 6 6 — — 12 Tarurutangi 5 3—2 '6 Brixton 6 3—3 6 Egmont Village 5 1—4 2 Bell Block 6 1—5 2