CRICKET.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12176, 27 November 1917, Page 7

CRICKET.

At a meeting of the Otago Cricket Association a letter was received from the Canterbury Association with reference to playing interprovincial matches this season. The chairman, Mr J. J. Clark, expressed the opinion that the time was inopportune for representative matches, but said it might be possible to arrange a carnival between Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury and Otago in Ohristchurch, in which case the proceeds could be pooled. The association decided that Otago should not officially ta,ke part in a Shield match, but that if a representative team were selected it would go to Christ-church with, the sanction of the association, provided that the profits of the match be handed to some patriotic fund agreed to by both associations. CITY AND SUBURBAN ASSOCIATION. NOTES BY SLIP. Although the Druids had a. pretty hard tjask in front of them on Saturday, they appeared to enter into the game with one fixed determination in mind, and that was to win. That. Rix wa6 going to be troublesome was soon evident, and Green's made the fatal mistake iof going in for a stone-wail game. With the exception of Robertson and H. French, they are a team of hitters, and it was foolish to depart from their usual style of play, as by doing so they assisted in their own defeat.. Right from the start wickets fell quickly. Three were down for 7 runs and four for 17, and French was the only one to make any stand against the bawling. Throp was getting a tremendous lot of work on, and bowled G. Robertson with a ball that' appeared to possess about three breaks. A. Andrews, although, only a lad, promises to turn out something more than the ordinary in the bowling line, and is developing a fine swerve with a, break back tha.ti will prove destructive. Practically all the Green's players went out in playing too cautiously. The Druids' fielding was particularly keen, and not a chance went past. With a deficit of 128 to wipe off, Druids opened badly, as both Duggan and Langford went early, the la.tto.r only surviving one over. Woods and Rix, however, made a stand, and when Throp became associated with Rix, the pair gave a display of batting that was a treat to watch. For the first time this season Druids were taking the game seriously, and neither batsmen threw away any chance of soaring or made a single mistake. Although it was evidently Rix's aim to hit a six, he n p ver placed his wicket in jeopardy to achieve his desire, and the pair managed to carry the score to 98 before Dougall bowlfd Throp with a daisy cutter. Spicer followed, and set off to score, but after rattling up 13 in quick time, succumbed to one of Robertson's curly ones. Bellamy and Rix made the few remaining runs required to win.

Woolston hncl an easy task in disposing of Railway- " "With Y?.'2 on for seven wickets, Woolston carried their score to 140. Railway commenced their second innings with a deficit of 84 on the first innings, and were disposed of for 60, thus leaving Woolston victors by an innings and "24 runsWarren, the left-hander, and Taylor were the pick of the Railway players, the latter playing a, nice bat and giving promise of some scores in the futureHooper has not, yet got into his stride and does not appear to have much interest; in the game, which is a pity, as he has all the qualities of a. good bat and is pretty to watch when ho gets going. Brosnahan has been disappointing so far. and should moke better scores than he hap put up so far for a player of his experience. Perhaps lack of patience is the trouble, as he appears unablo to play himself in. Edmonds and Bates were very destructive for Woolston, the former getting four wickets for 10 runs and Bates three for 19. Saturday saw the conclusion of the third round, and Woolston, having won all their matches. Ien f ] with 8 points. Druids are second with 6; Railway have 3, and Greens have not registered a point. The Second Grade promises to be more exciting, as at present Belfast and Ward's are level with nine points each. Bible Class having eight, and St Albans six. Some fine individual scores were put up on Sat'urday in this grade, although there were no centuries registeredE. Buchanan got going for St Albans, and showed a return of his old form, hitting up 89 in a total of 16c* for five wickets.

Lyons and Glasson for Bible Class. both played, sterling games. Although the former has not an attractive style, nevertheless he has a fine defence and plenty of patience On Saturday h© played the only game possible, considering the position of his team. Glasson played a great game for a young player, and considering his small stature, his ability for making runs and keeping his end up is remarkable.

On the first, dav Woolsfon had put up 178. and Bible Class had 85 for three wickets, Glasson and Lyons being not. out. The latter played a fine defensive game, and carried his bat.for a well-plnyed 63. Patterson lost no time in knocking up 33, and is a player of a, different style entirely, while another player in the team that, will develop into something above the average, is M'Kav, who. although he has not done a great deal so far, has a good idea of a straight bat. An unfortunate feature of this match was the unsporting attitude of a few players in taking exception to the umpire's decisions. The. umpire T happen to know, is a man who would give a decision as he saw it, without fear or favour. Judging by report, l ; from both sides. I would recommend that a number of the players secure a copy of the. M.C.C. rules and read, mark and learn them. There have been a number of attempts to form an Umpires' Association, but without success, and the pro-

ject will not be assisted by occurrences of the nature referred to above"^WELLINGTON. [From Our Correspondent.] November 26. Wellington cricketers were favoured with perfect weather for the playing of the- summer pastime Last Saturday afternoon- One can be pardoned at this stage for expressing the wish that the associated .sports bodies may have, the good luck to experience, such a glorious week-end this week- The occasion is a supreme effort to assist Mayoress Luke with her Comforts Fund for our boys in the trenches. Primarily, the cricketers are providing a cake, and sweets stall on Lamb ton Quay on Friday, and any well-wisher of the game who can make a cake or manufacture sweets is asked to help. The boys want as many comforts as can be sent to them and it is up to those of us who cannot get away, from one reason and another, to do our share.

This digression may be out of place just now. bMt. as Gillie Wilson, the chairman of the Cricket Association, says:—_" It is the only thing that matters this week." That, being so, I claim no indulgences for the references I have made-

To get back to my main theme. The Old Boys and North match was continued on the No. 2 wicket under conditions that were as well-nigh perfectas they well could be. The previous Saturday North had left off with 217 for seven wickets, but the remaining wickets caused little trouble, and the innings was over for 246 runs (M. J Crombie 20).. By some mischance I forgot to pub-* lish the details of the Old Boys' innings last, week, and rectify it this time. They totalled 108 (E. M'. 26, J. P. Blncklock 23, K. H. Tinker 22- not out, H. Lambert 18). They madp a much better showing on Saturday, thanks mainly to a century innings by K H. Tucker, and some missing of catches early in the innings by the North fieldsmen- The ex-Collegians occupied the batting crease practically all the afternoon for 306 runs (K. H. Tucker 138, E. M. Beechey of), B. Marris fit)). As there were 240 runs on the board when the third wicket fell I make no apologies for repenting the remark that the Old Boys team have, a very long toil. Tim Returned Soldiers and East occupied the No. 1 wicket, but the former wero so far behind as the result of the first day's ploy that they could not expect anything but an innings defeat, which happened to them. The figures of this game, were :-—Ea*t. 378 for six wickets (declared) (J. "W. Cnndiiffe 64, Chriptopherson 22); Returned Soldiers, 113 and 84 (Berry 1«, Hicks 13. Hntehard 12. Boulton 10). At, Pot one the Trent ham team made merry at the local team's expense, -J. N, Crawford getting the satisfactory total of 138. After ho passed his century the. Englishman treated the spectators to some spectacular batting, scoring 27 runs j n one over. The rioidiers declared, iheir innings closed at 300 for eight, wickets, others to get runs beside Crawford being J. A. Bruce 80, N. C Sneddon 27 and H. B. Lusk 33. Petone were beaten, by an innings, their two strikes producing 109 and 80 (W. R Brieo 21. E, Nichollp 11). The successful bowlers on S.irnnhn-nere:~-North-- J. .S. l-frddtoton. two wickets for 105 runs; E. Wmdlev. one for 43; J. Mackio. two for 51;' A. R. Barker, four for ofi ; FT. E- Burton, one for 3. Old Roys- -K. H. Tucker. PI. Lambert nnd W. Garrod. one. wicket each for 16, 10 and 4,run* respectively East-—A. Dind, five for 23; J. Nash, cne fc. r M ; ,1, .Mulchings, two for 22; A. Fenton. two for 22. ' Returned Soldiers—Hatohard, two for ]7; Bcrrv. three for 70; Longhurst. one for 50. Front ham-J. N- Crawford, live for 31 ■ N. C Sneddon, four for 31. f\,jone--W. S. Briee, four for 04; A. Bennett, two for 148; J. T. Stephens, one for The scoring of a century by Ken Tucker on Saturday against No'rth reminds me that many years ago T compiled his performances' in figures in Sen'or cricket, in Wellington." When time hangs heavy on my" hands I will search my records once again and bring the performances .of the" old-time .Midlander up io date. Suffice it to say.K. M. Tucker first played in the Senior ranks for the old Midland Club in the 1804-95 seasonThis Jmakes his twenty-third year as a Senior plnver, and be has been plaving continuously. In 1898-99 he scored' 221 not iout in ;y single innings, whi.ch stood: as a record until it was beaten by F. A. Midlane (222 not out;, playing for Wellington against Otago in 1915. Midlane's score, was eclipsed the same season by W. A. Baker (East), who totalled 241 not out against the Trentham team.

Some oilier centuries by Ken Tucker ivo as follows:--180, 141 not out < 1807- !"*•. 116 not out. (1890-1000). 12-1, 100 (1000-1001). 110 (1906-1007), 101 (19081000), 108 (1911-12; ;nd 102, 101 not out, (1914-K)). The century stands for a wicket in which he has taken port, are very numerous, as follows:—Fir.cti wicket, 176 (with E. M. Beechey); second wicket, 181 w:th F. A Mi'dlano), 206 (with A. B. Williams'); third wicket, 141. 180 (uith A. B Williams); 160 (with E. M. Beechey), 100 (with J. J. M'ahony), Ho (with'B. IMarris): fourth wicket, US (with R. Blacklock). 110 (with A. B. Wilkams), 108 (with J. Jones). 128 (with C P. Blacklock), 128 (with J. J. Mahom-); fifth wicket. 118 (with H. C Hickson). 103 (with F. C Stephenson); sixth wicket, 118 (with H. (.'. Hicksonj; eighth wicket", 103 (with V. W. Lasli). _ c Barring one shot, which found C. G. Wilson temporarily anchored, Ken Tucker gave an excellent display of batting in scoring his 138 runs on Saturday. He went along nice and quietlv. making his runs with wellplaced hits all round the wicket, the only ones that did not get a,s much lotting as they should have being those going down leg. At one stage of the innings the Old Bovs captain intimated that he had an idea of declaring, and Tucker got a little hit reckless, but when the probabilities in that direction passed by the oldtimer settled down and piayed good sound cricket. Altogether k was a line innings by a man v.-hose name now fills the biggest ,>pace in the reof Wellington cricket. With regard to that declaration which did not eventuate. 1 rertainlv think J. P. Blacklock was quite right in speeding up his batsmen with the idea, of setting the north men a main. But when there were not enough runs on the hoard to permit of his doing so he a'lso did the right thing in keeping C. G. Wilson and his men in the field. And the batting practice, was sorely needed by some of his later batsmen. There sureh tm.st be some stronger ex-Wellington College, boys from the batting standpoint than, those at pre-ent forming the tail of the Old Boys team.

E. ]\J. Beechy is generally a prolific scorer for Old Boys, and on Saturday ho was given every opportunity b\ the Norsemen. "Mel" Crombie dropped an easy catch, and an Old Boys fellow fielding substitute tried to stop one of liis straight drives and rung his fingers for some time afterwards. Later on in the innings the same fieldsman was noticed to pull night away from another drive—he was taking no chances. The left-hander was merry while he was in. but he tempted Fortune, once too often md was caught out at the finish.

B. Marris, is a promising youth with plenty of defence in his batting and a. good weighty drive in hi : - kit. The young fellow is also a fine, legbreak bowler, but he does not make by any manner of means the us? he should of his best ha'M. When 0. G. Wilson was busy making his cemury the previous week Marris got a beauty past him. It missed the wickets, it i<; true, but the Old Boys bowler did not try the same ball again. Why,' I cannot for the life of me understand. There should be a. good hint for him n'n this paragraph if he cares to take.