GORDON C.C.

Observer, Volume 5, Issue 112, 4 November 1882, Page 118

GORDON C.C.

— Anyone looking at our beautiful Domain cricket ground on a Saturday afternoon and then harking back through "the mist veiled years of the vanished pasty cannot but see the early probability there is of a New Zealand eleven tackling All-England before vex"y many years have come and gone, and that too with a big chance of success. I can remember, and not long ago either, when there were only two or three recognised clubs, and even they had a job to find an eleven to put in the field. Now there are quite ten town clubs, many of them with three, or at least two, preventable elevens, while every country district possesses its cricket club. With so many to choose from, and the constant succession of matches to afford good practice, weruay reasonably hope to see the time when our cricketers, like our footballers, will be. able to more than match any visiting team which may be opposed to thorn. Patience, practice, and organisation, with submission to captain and coaches, is now all that is needed here. Our boys, the bright band from which all countries cull their strongest, bravest, and best, soldiers, sailors,- cricketers, footballers and scholars, > ore - becoming thoroughly imbued with a love of this matchless game. We are rapidly getting geanological cricketers (it I, may use the term), i.e., our one tin"-; champion's sons, impregnated by birth and exam pic >fii-h a taste for the game, arc growing up in ont midst, ;md every year adds to the ranks of our "coiti,"' aii>.t without a strong reserve force of " folk;" tin rou-n or oi';iiiry can hope ito improve in cricket Auol;V'-.u boys ore my especial pets, having been mi Aue!:">. .-.'A ;.».;> 'oy^olf once, long-ago, when we had no such jovsti; o-js v.i live schools, scholarships, or even ground v. hew ,s.> coi-irt lev.vi any game requiring.a level bit <v cos.- n uy. l , Viiovi I say Auckland boys, I mean boys, And *>ut the preoofi'M'.- 1 ;-'')i':'g devils, with foul nuraths stuif'jt) vitii tobf-rt^, ,'ou.-ing forth 'alternate squirts of juice iuul 'nlackgiifirdi'mi. I mean the sturdy youiig urchins >vHh t):nli ):-v I:.-; and books mixed, who one loves to'so*.- cro%vdJng aio';; 1 '.o, of away from, the numerous educ-t'oi-.c" (is-f-ftiiH-'Ui-ieiit'i of our beautiful city. I cannot p.ist a H'o.tj o; 1 Kitcli, ii.urei'ly contesting a miniature' cricket o'. i'oot'i'wif. ;nal-uh, without staying my footsteps and odmiri.vj tit niv sturdy limbs andbright eyes,, and wishing iu,v;=(,-" i a bm- o-.m-o nun a that I might join them and enjoy myself for once if:;in d.-. only a boy can. Stick to your V :■><>'»; in i<or.]< hotu-u, b'.-ys, but in play time be boys tlio-'<.<>.if,b. t>nfi. i...;w. Vhy up hard and study your g'aijde, wntoh for n tho.nc ■ iwid mike the most of it. Instead- oi moping .'ivujk!, vxo raise your young limbs in every boyish iias-.irno. I'h\a will ,iid you in the tough battle of life no;. Wy or ovito in; muol.i as your sedentary studies can do. .Anyhow, if nub earned to that excess which alono reiiO.ta-.s a'.Jil'itics a tMy, -MiMse maul}- attainments will never .hurt ,/rm. tec "ally or physically, while they will Sv.. 1 - c ii- 't-;/ yoiirs sis a delightful recreation and relaxn/iioa tv .a-. i;he cures and toils of a cruel world.

Ist innings. G. Kissling, b. Webster ... .... ,\ 4' Ryburn, b. do. 1 Ansenne, l-un oat 16 Harrington, b. Webster •. & Sykes, b. do 0 Whitaker, run out ... - - 0 Wayte, b. Beale 6 Gouia, c. Webster ... „ '.. .:. 0 Clayton, b. do 3 Kenderdine, not out 1 H. Kissling; run out ~ 0 Extras .- 4 Total ... ■ 39