Onlooker’s Notebook.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19280, 17 January 1931, Page 10

Onlooker’s Notebook.

A. W. Roberts, the young Riccarton all-rounder, had a great day with the ball against Hast this afternoon at Lancaster Park. His figures for his ten overs included 8 maidens, 3 runs, and 3 wickets. lie had East completely tangled up. He bowled eight successive maidens. When R. O. Talbot took the field for Old Collegians this afternoon he appeared resplendent in a new royal blue cap. It was the first appearance of the latest colour scheme adopted by Old Collegians The blazer also is royal blue, unadorned by any other shade, with the Christ’s College crest on the poGket. 55 j.j *.• Crowds lined the boundary at Hagley Park to-day, testifying to the increased popularity of cricket in Christchurch. The enthusiasts of the city have been reinforced, and the reason is a good one. Cricket is brighter. For the whole season the grade games, after the teams had been re-arranged, have provided closer and more interesting contests, and the standard of play' has improved. It only needed the two fine wins in the Plunket Shield matches to clinch the game’s increasing popularity. No team playing in grade cricket in Canterbury to-day contains so many illustrious names as the West Christchurch senior B team. The eleven which turned out at Lancaster Park today against East was as follows: —K. B. Bain, R. Camm, D. E. Wanklyn, Y. Ramsden, E. R. Caygill, E. E. Luttrell, F. W. Gurnsey’, G. Gambles, S. Milne, R. G. Taylor and C. S. Gibbs. Most of these men have represented Canterbury or some other province. Camm was a Southland representative, and for many years represented Western Australia. While in Western Australia he had the distinction of making seven centuries in succession. Four members of the team are members of the New Zealand Cricket Council. “ I’m looking for the score-board.** said an old lady looking expectantly up to the scorers’ perch at Sydenham Park after half an hour's play in the Syden-ham-Old Boys’ match. “ The board is a blank y’et,” was the reply. She looked puzzled, and her face was a large question mark. “ Only eight runs scored, lady',” was the explanation. She went away still puzzled. Her state of mind was shared by many others on the ground, for a lot of loose stuff had been sent down at which V. Hahn and C. Oliver, the Sydenham opening batsmen, let go.