CRICKET.

Thames Star, Volume xxx, Issue 9473, 16 October 1899, Page 4

CRICKET.

(By Trundler.)

Although the weather experienced lately has been anything but favorable for cricket, the summer game is now much in evidence ; and as will be seen by the above programme> the cnam* pionsbip contests begin next Saturday, weather permitting, of course. It is unfortunate that because the majority of cricketers thought it desirable to have two day matches that the Rovers no longer exists. That the innovation is a change for the better can acarcely be denied, but with a view of meeting the exigencies of the district it would hive been advisable to have the continuation of matches carried to the altercate Saturday instead of the successive Saturday, tlad this been done the Rovers deles gates' contention would have been robbed of what force it had, for their strong team couM and would have been pitted against their strongest opponents and their weak team would have been played against their weakest opponents as easily as in one innings matches of the past. Another new junior club, the Essendon—how this reminds one of the record score 1094, Melbourne Univeisity v, Essendon, March 5,19, and 23, 1898—whose members make no pretence to play cricket, but want a game. I wish them a fair share of success.

Tararu juniors are about to experience a serious loss in the removal of Mr Adam Wilson, who. is. I under* stand, +o be transferred to the Palmereton North Branch of the Bank of New Zealand. His removal will be greatly and generally regretted, for he is deservedly popular not only as a sportsmanlike cricketer but also for his sociability.

Turua does not this year appear among the list of-competitors for the junior championship. It was, I under* stand, their intention to compete if the Classification Committee would reinstate Bennett as a junior, but the Committee #as unanimously of opinion that that player from last season was quite good enough to warrant his retention in senior ranks', and I am sure that his presence in a junior team would rob the junior contest of all interest, and be manifestly unfair to all the other teams. Moreover Turua without Bennett would on last year's form have a good chance of winning )he championship. Tararu Cricket Ciub have made a bold experiment this year, and laid down a concrete wicket for practice. It was in use on Saturday for the first time, and although th* new matting was not available, the pitch quite fulfilled all expectation?. There was a good attendance at practice, and some useful work was put in.

Foundry journeyed to Parawai for practice, and had a good time, al. though the wicket proved soft, and the outfield was very soft.

St. Albans is absorbing the Rovers en masse, and is putting two junior teams in the field this year. These have been picked by the respective captains, taking turn about, and in accordance with the rules of the T.O. A. will be kept quite separate during the season.

The team that went to Te Aroha on Thursday had a right good time of it. A brake was in waiting far them at the station, took them to the hotel, and thence to the ground, backward and forwards at lunch time, and to the station, when play oeae«d. An excellent lunch was provided at the Palace Hotel, and it is little:wonder that the Thamesitea cannot speak too. highly of the kindness and hospitality of the Te Arohans.

The match was played o* a soft wicket, which matting made quite easy, but both bowlers aud batsmen were not a little handicapped by the howling gale which blew right down tha pitch. The easy victory of the local wanderers was due to no little extent to Lewis being hurt at the very outset of his innings, so that he could scarcely bat, and later on found it impossible to bowl.

J. Lang started the season well, and although he had a most unusual amount of luck—was it 5 catches that were dropped off his bat and !wo easy chancos of being run out that he gave? Still I am 1 old he made some really good strokes. P. Derecourt, too, played really well.

Most of the wickets, it seems, were taken by slow half volleys, so our local bowlers may take the hint.