The Late George Watson.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5168, 25 November 1884, Page 2

The Late George Watson.

BY A BEOTHER CRICKETEK. I ought to preface these few remarks about Mr Watson's playing career in Canterbury by chaining that, of course, I speak of him as a cricketer only. To do more would be entirely out of place. I ■will merely say of our late comrade's character, that its thoroughness and energy won respect from all. Had he not possessed vigour of character he could hardly have attained the position he gained and kept amongst cricketers here, by whom not only was his skill admired, but his love of the game for its own sake, and the amount of time and work he gave to the affairs of the Midland Club, were well known. It was, I think, in the season of 1877-78 that Mr Watson made his first appearance here in the ranks of the Club of which he remained an enthusiastic member to the last. Though not lucky in his first few innings, his style at once attracted the eye

<of that excellent judge of the game, Mr Edwin Fowler, who did not hesitate to predict for him the success which came later on. Though not chosen for some years to play in the Canterbury Interprovincial matches, he was included in the eighteen which met Lillywhite's eleven in 1878, and which, thanks to Friths bowline, made such a capital fight of it. Watson scored 9 and 6 in good style. He did not represent the Province in the season 1878-79, the year wherein Canterbury, led by Mr Neilson, beat Auckland, Otago, and Wellington on their own grounds, and Gregory's Australian Eleven in Christchurch. But in 1881 he was one of the eleven which journeyed to Melbourne, and there he played more than one good inning 3, notably in the match against the Melbourne Club." Tn the summer of 1881-82 bis batting began to show that marked improvement which thenceforward made him one of the test, if not the most valuable batsman of the Province. His scoring in local matches became more consistent, and towards the end of the season he played that fine innings of 179 runs against Otago in Hagley Part, which those who watched are not likely to forget. I have seen famous "batsmen score heavily; amongst others I have seen Murdoch make the century; ~bxA I remember no innings which contained more good hits and fewer bad ones, than this of Mr Watson. The bowlers failed to get near his ■wicket at all, and in the end he was run out. Though in the following year he did nothing to approach this feat, he played a good innings (24) against Shaw's eleven on a wet, difficult wicket at Lancaster Park. la 1882-83 he left his mark on the Auckland bowlers in Christchurch, by scoring 36 and 52 against them in a style that left no room for complaint. His success in club matches was also as marked as ever. In 1883-84 he represented the Province only once, and for the last time. This was against Tasmania. Sufficient to say that his 82 in Canterbury's first innings virtually won the match for his side, and showed no falling off in quality from his best performances. Perhaps the best feature in Mr Watson's batting was its straightness. This, for a left-hander, might be called extraordinary. .His favourite hit was the drive : woe betide the bowler who, deceived by his patient treatment of length balls, presumed to over-pitch ! If Mr Umpire had not right soon to call "Four" thereafter, it was because the ground was unusually large or the outfields unusually clever. In the field, Mr Watson was not reckoned good until about three seasons ago, when his fielding shared in the improvement which we have before said then took place in his batting. Whether lucky or unlucky, he always did bis best ; and his love for the game made him study it as others might an art or science. In him we have lost almost the last of the players who, from 1875 to 1881, caused Canterbury cricket to be spoken of •with respect: Ido not say that "we shall ne'er look upon his like again :" I think better of our future players. $Nt I do fear that we may look round us to-day without seeing the player of equal value to bis Province with George Watson.

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