WITH BAT AND BALL

Taranaki Daily News, 10 November 1932, Page 10

WITH BAT AND BALL

INTEREST IN SENIOR GAMES

CRICKET AMONG JUNIOR GRADES.

THE OUTSTANDING ENGLISHMAN.

(By

“M.O.T.”)

After experiencing the unusual pleasure of a suitable opening day, Taranaki cricketers had to pay in full measure for that benefit by forfeiting the next two playing Saturdays; it was nearly three, but the rain which fell at upper Westown last Saturday failed to reach the town and matches were uninterrupted. The result was that instead of November being reached with three weeks of the season gone, it was necessary, in view of possible further interruptions to make alterations to the North Taranaki senior fixtures. A satisfactory solution has been found by making several of the matches one-day affairs. It is expected that the scheme will prove satisfactory, and it may mean brighter cricket. •

The First Senior Games. The features of the first senior games concluded on Saturday were the manner in which Old Boys eventually made a race of the contest against New Plymouth, and the scoring ability of the High School team. The recovery of Old Boys showed hearteningly that the competition in the division will be keen this season —the scoring was not a one-man business and the bowling merited respect by New Plymouth. Although Western Park, not too strong at any time, was weakened in. attack by the absence of Quickfall, a score of 245 by a School side is not attained by luck. Donnelly has been improving all the time, he, has been playing for School and suffers far less from his diminutive stature than might. be imagined. More innings like that against Park. will play him straight into the representative team. J. Elmes, who has been School’s fast bowler, will be missed from the team in the future, he having left school. With the Senior B’s.

On early form it eeems that the senior B teams that will be at the top when the season ends are New Plymouth and Waitara. The former team has not had to replenish its seniors’ ranks to a great extent and what gaps there were have been well filled. Consequently the side is a versatile scoring machine all down the list and the bowling cannot be trifled with. Waitara seem to have regained at last the standard of three seasons ago, when they won the Senior B grade competition. In both matches they have played they have scored over 100 runs, and the scoring has been shared. The fact that the Waitara ground has been the venue each time probably helped, but the fact remains the team will have to be reckoned with.

Old Boys, after a weak display at Waitara, came to light against Central —which is finding Senior B much harder than junior—and the run-getting was not all done by those from whom it was expected.

Among the Juniors. There will be no runaways in the junior grade this season. At present there are four teams with points to their credit. Which is likely to forge ahead first it is impossible to say. _ . The general opinion among the juniors is that the reversion to the system of three points for an. outright win was a good move. Two games have been won in that fashion. The winners have scored the extra point their enterprise deserved after a first-innings lead had been secured.

Old Boys, whose best player® have gone up to Senior B, are somewhat weaker and Central has been elevated. Consequently New Plymouth, Waitara, Regimental Band and Western Park have a Clear field so far and an interesting situation is developing. • Thursday Cricket.

The inability of Eltham to maintain a team in the Country Association's Thursday competition has robbed the organisation of a lot of its vitality. With but three teams taking part each side has a bye every three weeks. Such a state. of affairs is not conducive to stimulated interest. 'A move has been made, however, to raise a team at New Plymouth, not to take part in the competition but to play friendly games. Several of the players to take part are Saturday ericketers also and the expense of regular mid-week travelling added to the weekend outlay would he too heavy to permit of a definite entry.

Eleven “Ducks” at Stratford. There was a remarkable collection of “ducks” in the Hawera A-Stratford- B game. Seven Hawera and four 'Stratford men failed to score, hut although fewer Hawera men got going they did so to more purpose, Jennings alone nearly Teaching his opponents’ total. The wicket was just about as sodden as it could 'be. The bowlers reaped a rich harvest. . ' One Game Postponed.

Kaponga and Stratford A were to have played at Kaponga, but the “weather under the mountain was too bad, so these players will go a month; without a game. They are the only teams that have not been beaten. Patea’s Gain and Loss. >

'Patea has Idst a Jones and ..gained a Jones. The reliable all-rounder of the past few season's, who formerly played in-the North Taranaki Country competition, has 'been transferred to Wellington, where he is playing senior B. The new Jones comes from the Waikato, where he gained representative honours. He gives the impression of being a solid batsman with good defence and a. fe'w scoring strokes. He made the High School bowling look pretty innocuous on Saturday, and had the declaration not 'been made would have probably scored the first century of the season. As a bowler'-he is not nearly so impressive. Promising Schoolboy.

Last season Duke was not far off being the 'best batsman in the Hawera High School,, and this year judging by his display on Saturday) he should have a successful season. He scores., fairly rapidly without appearing to do so, a sure indication that he is doing, things correctly. He is one of the most promising of the younger players. The Right Temperament.

The big quality in W. Barker and one that makes him a good opening 'batsman is his temperament. He is probably the most reliable opening batsman in South Taranaki, seldom-failing to make a fair score. His 90 on Saturday was carefully compiled and the result of his perseverance over the last few seasons may be a record year for him. He and Moloney supply the solidity to Old Boys’ batting, .with H. Barker, a pretty bat, and. Thrush supplying the brilliance. . ; H. Hughes Doing Well.

A spell from the game last Summer does not seem to have affected . H. Hughes’ cricket. He has jumped right

into the rune With two useful innings, and though he may not be the player of yore, is still. an acquisition for any team. As a.captain, let alone for his batting, he will, be appreciated 'by Hawera 8.. It is a pity, however, to see him keeping, wickets when his bowling would be useful. Bowling a Weakness.

It would appear that, apart from fielding, which is on the whole of a low standard, bowling will be the weakness in most 'South Taranaki clubs thia year. Several players who did well with the ball last year do not ■ appear to be bo dangerous this year. Perhaps more practice is required. In fact more practice is required not only in bowling but also in every department. A tennis player does not just play match games' once a week; every day practically he plays. He could not 'be ■ a good player without it. How then do some cricketers imagine that they can give their best -without practice? Dempster’s Record.

'Prior to the commencement of the present cricket season, C. S. Dempster had. established as new record for the number'df centuries scored in Wellington senior club cricket. His performance on Saturday brings his tally of three-figure scores in senior championship matches to 23. With it Dempster also gains' the further distinction of having, made 50. three-figure scores since he entered the ranks of senior cricketers. Although' he. 'has been a prolific scorer, Dempster has succeeded on only two ■occasions in scoring a century in Plunket 'Shield Cricket. For New- Zealand, however, he 'has scored 10 centuries. Two centuries in Town v. ■Country matches,., and four in Wanganui chib cricket are included in Dempster’s attractive list of big scores.

COUNTRY CRICKET. FIRST ROUND ENDS SATURDAY. The concluding matches in the first round of the country cricket competition ; which has been delayed for a fortnight by wet weather; will be decided on. Saturday next, when Tarurutangi will meet Tikorangi at Tikorangi and Urenui will be at home to Brixton. The matches are fraught with great interest as the check -that the leaders received when they drew with each other last week, and ■ Brixton's victory over Tikorangi. have added, to tile interest. Should .Brixton, maintain the form shown last week they will make matters very- interesting for Urenui, whilst Tikorangi so far have not struck their true form, which they are liable to do at any time. They should prove powerful opponents for any team in the competition. The result of last Saturday's match, when Tarurutangi were robbed of practically a certain win by time through their own fault in arriving.. late, will no doubt impress on teams, and particularly .'the local team, the absolutely necessity for being on the field up to time.

The usually consistent’ Stan Giddy was dismissed very cheaply, but Spence Giddy 47 and Sid Sampson 3.7, the latter of whom has struck form early now that he is back with his old team, put on .8 for the second wicket. Norm Giddy and R. Street djd their share, the Urenui bowlers being able to niase little impression, and with the total at 130 runs for four wickets J. Sampson declared, giving his side LJ hours to get Urenui out to win. The visitors, and A. Allen in particular, who carried his bat for IS not out, played the rock, and though they made only 41 runs they still had four wickets in hand when time was called. Thanks largely to a good score ot 30 bv T. Parkin, their opening batsman, Brixton- made - a total of 89 against Tikorangi .on the latter’s ground, O. Foreman, five for 22 and S. Cole three for . 24.- taking most of- the. wickets. Tikorangi, usually a solid batting team, could just pass the half way mark, of that moderate total against the bowlin" of G. Giddy (four for 13) and K. Macßae (two for eight). J. Sartell 14 and O. Foreman I'l were the only double figure scorers. The grass kept down the runs, while the fielding oh both sides was keen, Brixton, perhaps, excelling' in this respect, ■ L. Giddy made a remarkable catch.